Read Online White Dolphin by Gill Lewis - Free Book Online

his poor parents.’
    ‘Me too,’ I say. It’s the first time Aunt Bev and I have agreed on something. ‘I don’t know how they can stand him.’
    ‘Kara!’ Aunt Bev frowns at me. ‘You shouldn’t say that. He’s . . .’ She pauses as if she can’t find the words she’s looking for. ‘You should feel sorry for him, is all I’m saying. He’s not like you or me.’
    I pick the picnic bag up and walk out of the door. ‘Doesn’t seem to stop him being rude,’ I say.

    Dad’s standing inside Moana , pulling the mainsail up the mast. ‘We’ll have to put a reef in,’ he says. ‘It’s a bit fresh out there.’
    I look out through the gap in the harbour walls. The sea beyond is lumpy and flecked with white. ‘It’s not that bad,’ I say. ‘We’ve been out in worse with full sails.’
    Dad runs a fold along the bottom of the sail to make the mainsail smaller. ‘We’re not racing,’ he says. ‘We’re giving Mr Andersen a gentle trip out.’
    ‘We should charge him for it,’ I say. ‘He’s got enough money.’
    I heave the picnic bag and swimming bag and spare towels into the boat and push them into the locker under the foredeck. I tie the bucket with the bait around the mast base to stop it rolling across the deck as we sail. I want it to be just me today. Just me and Dad. I don’t want anyone else on our boat.
    ‘Here’s Mr Andersen,’ says Dad.
    I look up to see Mr Andersen walking along the pontoon followed by Mrs Andersen and Felix. I’m surprised they’ve come along to see him off. The wooden boards of the pontoon bounce with their footsteps and I see Felix stumble to his knees. His mother tries to help him up but he brushes her away.
    ‘All set?’ says Mr Andersen. He puts his bag beside the boat.
    Dad nods. ‘It should be fun out there today.’
    Mr Andersen glances back at Felix. ‘I hope it’s still OK with you, but Felix has changed his mind. He’d like to come along too. I’ve borrowed a life jacket for him.’
    ‘That’s fine with me,’ says Dad.
    Felix glares at me and looks away.
    I climb out on to the pontoon to take Mr Andersen’s bag.
    Mrs Andersen’s scarf flaps across her face and she pulls it free. ‘I really don’t think this is a great idea, Matt,’ she says. ‘It’s too windy today.’
    ‘It’s fine,’ says Mr Andersen. ‘What d’you think, Jim?’
    Dad looks up at the flag on the chandlery. It’s flying full out, rippling in the wind. The top branches in the tree beyond are swaying. ‘It’s a force five, I reckon,’ he says. ‘But I checked the weather report and it’s going to settle down later.’
    I dig my hands into my pockets and take a sly glance at Felix. ‘Looks like a force six or seven to me,’ I say.
    Mrs Andersen wraps her coat around her and folds her arms. ‘I don’t think you should go, Felix.’
    Mr Andersen turns to her. ‘But, Sarah . . .’
    She lowers her head next to his, but I can still hear them. The wind is blowing this way.
    ‘Anything could happen out there,’ she says. ‘What if you capsize, what then?’
    Mr Andersen runs his hands through his hair. ‘Nothing’s going to happen, Sarah.’
    ‘Look, Matt, buy the damn boat if you must,’ she snaps. I glance at Dad and I know he can hear them too. ‘But don’t expect either of us to step foot in it.’
    ‘I want to go, Mum.’ Felix is grim faced, staring at the water. ‘I’ll be fine.’
    I pull my life jacket on, zip it up and pull the Velcro cords tight. I can’t imagine Felix enjoying this trip.
    Mrs Andersen glares at Felix. ‘What’s changed your mind?’
    Felix doesn’t take his eyes off the water. ‘I want to go.’
    Mrs Andersen spins round to her husband. ‘Have you got your mobile on you at least?’
    ‘Yes, Sarah,’ he says. He puts his arms out to hug her but she walks away. The thud of her footsteps on the wooden boards jars through the bare soles of my feet.
    I watch Mr Andersen fasten Felix’s life jacket and help him into