The Storm

You’ve got to be kidding me! The old guy is loving this! I bet this is the most fun that he has had in years! I felt a sense of false bravado rise up within me, and I got a little smug myself. Inexperience with confidence is a dangerous thing, but I settled into a little bit of a comfort zone anyway, based on the look on Henry's face. Bad mistake! About the time I got to thinking, that I was an experienced first mate on a high seas pirate sailing ship... WHAAM! The boat shuddered and went partially airborn. What in the world! My heart jumped up into my throat and Henry came crashing down into the bottom of the boat, losing his grip on the throttle. BAM! Henry hit with the thud of a boulder hitting the ground. The rudder control of the motor, now pilot-less, jammed itself left and threw the boat sideways into the channel, pushing us sideways downstream! Henry yelled, “Good Lord, Boy! Lean to the high side of the boat or we’ll swamp! Do it now!” We both took to the upstream side, trying to keep the downstream side from scooping up water. “Stay on it, Zach!” Was the next command, and I certainly obeyed. Henry moved slowly to the rear of the boat, still pressing down on the upstream side to keep weight on it. “Hang on son! Just keep doin' what your doin'!” That was my plan anyway. Henry reached the back of the boat, and then, sitting on the high side of the boat, he lunged for and grabbed the control handle of the boat. Henry wrenched the handle in it’s straight position and hit full throttle, and the boat responded, righting itself with the bow facing forward once again.

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