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Chapter 4: The Adventure Begins...

Getting dressed took a long time 'cause I couldn't find my shoes. Mum said I needed to hurry. But I still couldn't find them. I didn't mind much. They pinched my toes anyways.

Mum finally came in and she found one of my shoes playing hide and go seek in the dirty clothes hamper. She found the other one on top of the wardrobe.

"How on earth do you get your clothes in such places?" she asked me while we got my shoes on my feet. She was moving real quick and before I could answer she was helping me hop down from my bed. She took my hand and we walked fast to her bedroom.

"Wait here."

"Mum?" I called after her. She didn't answer.

When she came back she was holding that funny chest that I seened a few nights ago.

"Mum?" I didn't think this adventure sounded so nice now.

"It's going to be fine." She straightened my coat collar and gave me a smile that didn't really look like a smile. "The storm is a little worse than we expected and Mr. Jensen wants us to spend the night at Fort Andrew. Won't that be exciting? We'll get to cross the channel in boats like you have always wanted to and maybe you can meet a soldier. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Fort Andrew was big. Big enough that you could see it from market even on nasty weather days. I always wanted to go there but Mum said that it was a very busy place and didn't have visitors very often.

I asked once if we could be an 'xeption. She said no.

But she was going to let me go there tonight. I just wish the thunder and lightning would go back to bed 'cause they are causing distractions.

"We get to ride in boats?" My eyes widened. "Like Papa?"

Mum laughed but it almost sounded like she was crying. "Yes, Willie. Like Papa. Now come on. We've got to hurry."

We went outside and it was raining very hard. The trees' branches were shaking very bad. The thunder and the lightning were having an argument I think 'cause they got louder and louder and louder as we sloshed through the mud.

The rain kept getting in my eyes and the thunder hurt my ears. The wind tried to pull my coat off but I wouldn't let it. Mum was walking fast and I had to almost run to keep up with her.

Suddenly, I wanted to back home. This was too big and loud. "Mum?"

She didn't turn.

"Mum?" I called louder but the thunder wouldn't be quiet.

She still didn't turn.

"Mum!" I tugged on her hand real hard.

She turned this time.

"I don't like this!" I told her. "I want to go home!"

"Willie, we've got to keep going!" Mum sounded like she was desperate and I could barely hear her over the nasty storm.

"But-"

"Be brave like your father." She smiled and this time it was real.

I nodded but I didn't feel very brave.

We started walking again. I fell twice before we got to the docks. But Mum helped me up both times but it still hurted.

There was a bunch of people crowded around the boats. Mum pushed her way to the front and I saw-ed all the boats lined up in the water.

"Laddie! Missus Turner! Over here!"

I knowed who that was. Mr. Jensen had a funny way of speaking 'cause his "r"s were all messed up. Mum said it was 'cause he was from a far away place called Scotland. I don't think Mum heard him calling to us over the rain.

"Laddie!" he called again and Mum heard him that time.

"Mr. Jensen!" Mum and I found him at the very end of the dock and he stood by a boat half filled with people.

"I've saved the two of ya a spot on this 'ere boat! Best be going before the swells get larger!"

"Thank you!" Mum yelled back. She helped me get into the boat and we scooted close together in the very back.

"Willie," Mum shifted the chest to her other hip and leaned in close so that I could hear her. "Whatever happens, don't let go of me."

"Yes, Mum."

"Good." She kissed my forehead.

We waited longer while more people got on. I didn't like it when they stepped in 'cause the whole boat tipped like it wanted to dump me out. And that wasn't a very nice feeling.

I held a real tight to Mum's coat but it was slippery and I couldn't get a good hold. Mum knew, I think, and she put her arm around me.

Finally the boat was filled and we couldn't have any more people get on. A man at the front yelled some words and off we went.

I could see the men who were dipping the big sticks that made the boat move into the water from were we where sitting. They kept looking at the splashy water. I think they thought it was a monster, too.

"Half-way there, Willie." Mum said in my ear.

The men kept moving their big boards until a wave taller than Mum hit the side of the boat. It shook real bad and my grip on Mum slipped a little.

One of the men sitting across from me started to drop his stick. His face went all white and pasty.

But Mum snatched it from him. "Move aside or row properly!" she said in her snappy voice.

While she was talking I saw-ed an even bigger wave coming towards us. "Mum?" I tugged on her sleeve. I really wanted to go home. I didn't like this one bit.

The water hit us and I went flying up. I called for Mum but water filled my mouth and choked me. I reached for Mum's coat and I couldn't find it anymore.

My fingers and toes went real cold and it was hard to kick like Mum had taught me to do. Finally my head came out of the water. "Mum!"

"Willie!" She sounded very far away.

"Mum!" I started to cry. This adventure wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to be warm and safe. I wanted my Mum.

I looked all over and saw her leaning out over the boat. It was a long way away and I couldn't get over to her. Her eyes were wide and two men were keeping her from jumping after me. "Willie!"

"Mum!"

My head went back under and my mouth filled with water. I kicked hard again and when I got to the air I couldn't find Mum. Waves were everywhere and I couldn't see.I called for her.

Nobody answered.

TBC...