BOAT RIDE

“ Nothing” he says and didn’t leave my hand, I didn’t struggle as well”

He pulls up somewhere not far from the dock.

The Toto was beautiful. Gleaming white, it hovered in the water as Alex led me along the jetty. It was a narrow, long craft with a pointed bow and a riotously red racing stripe across its side. He open his palm for me to “What is it?” he said. But his grumpy tone just made me laugh even more.

“Toto?” I said, incredulously. “As in, the little dog from the Wizard of Oz.”

“I didn’t pick the name,” he said. “Besides,” he added quickly, “it’s bad luck to change the name of a ship. Don’t you know that?”

“Aye aye captain,” I replied cheerily, and felt more than a little pride when I heard Alex growl under his breath. I loved teasing him. It had become my way of showing affection towards him.

“Come on,” he said. “I thought I’d take you for a spin today.”

He reached out a hand, and I took it and stepped down into the hull of the boat. Inside it was more comfortable than I