He Waved Every Time
Brian Armer
Her father had three pieces of advice before she pushed away from the dock. Keep the paddle steady. Watch the breeze. And, apparently, don’t miss the heron.
“Is the heron giving lessons?” Nora asked. “Better balance than either of us,” he said.
She laughed and let the kayak drift clear. They had paddled this cove together, but today she wanted to make the crossing on her own. Dad had offered to wait on the dock. No instructions shouted across the water. No second boat following close behind.
A few strokes out, she glanced back. He waved. She lifted her paddle in answer and almost turned it into a lesson in why both hands belonged on it.
Across the cove, the shoreline opened around her. Water tapped the hull. She found a rhythm that was hers, not borrowed from the boat ahead. For a while, she forgot to check how far she had gone.
On the return, she looked toward the dock again. Dad was in the same spot. His arm went up before she could lift hers.
He caught the bow when she came alongside. “Well?” he asked. “The heron declined to comment.”
As they brought the kayak in, a rough edge of the dock scraped her forearm. Dad noticed her pause and held the boat steady while she stepped out. They rinsed the scrape with clean water from their kit and took a moment to care for it.
Nora opened the small balm tin she had packed. She remembered checking the ingredients before their trip: coconut oil and shea butter for conditioning, beeswax for protective coverage. Different jobs in the same little tin. She applied a small amount of Zombie’s Regenerate RX according to its directions once the area was clean and dry, then covered the scrape appropriately.
Dad handed her the towel. “You know I can manage out there,” she said. “I know.” She looked at him. “I still checked.”
“I know,” he said again. “I waved both times.”
They carried the kayak up together. She had made the crossing on her own. She hadn’t had to make the day alone.
Who is your familiar wave from shore? Share this with someone who gives you room to try and stays close enough to care. You’re welcome to explore Zombie Sport Co’s care for active days.