Little Brother's Sailing Trip

Little Brother sat on the warm rocks by the shore while his two big sisters mended a sail. The gulls cried, the waves whispered, and the summer sun shone on the blue water. “Stay close to us,” said the sisters. “You are too little to sail alone.” Little Brother nodded, but his eyes kept slipping toward the boathouse.

Inside lay a small white boat with a bright red sail. He climbed in just to pretend. The little rope on the ring slipped, and a soft wind puffed the red sail full. “Oh!” cried Little Brother as the boat glided away from the dock. He reached for the rope, but the wind laughed and tugged him past the point.

Out on the water the waves rose and fell like breathing. “Sit still, little sailor,” called a gull, swooping low. The South Wind brushed his cheeks and sang, “I will be gentle. Keep the bow to the wave.” A shining seal bobbed up with round, curious eyes and snorted a hello before vanishing again. Little Brother’s heart beat fast, half scared and half glad.

But then the sky grew gray at the edge. Wild West Wind came racing, hair like flying spray, and whipped the water into white horses that ran and ran. The boat bounced and leaped. Little Brother clutched the tiller with both hands. His cap flew off. “Hold tight!” cried the gulls. Sharp rocks showed their black teeth, but two gulls beat their wings and pushed a gust just right, and the friendly seal nudged the little boat away from the danger with its nose.

Rain pricked his cheeks. Thunder rumbled far away. Then, just as quickly, the storm grew tired and the Sun peeped out again, smiling. A rainbow arched over the skerries like a bridge to a secret place. The waves smoothed. In the quiet, a small porpoise rose and whistled. It swam beside him, rolling like a shiny black moon, and Little Brother felt braver with a friend near.

Back on shore, the sisters looked up and saw the empty ring at the dock. “Where is Little Brother?” they cried. They ran to the boathouse and saw the red sail far, far out like a poppy on the sea. Quick as the wind, they pushed their larger boat into the water, hoisted their white sail, and set off. “Hold on, little one! We are coming!” they called, though he could not hear.

The day grew golden and the wind turned kindly toward land. The gulls circled and called, “This way! This way!” One gull darted ahead of the sisters’ boat and showed the path over the shining water. The porpoise clicked and splashed beside the red sail, as if keeping watch.

At last the two boats were close enough to hear each other. “Little Brother!” shouted the sisters. “Here!” he cried, standing up carefully. They threw him a line and tied it fast. The big sister took his little boat in tow, and the little sister gave him her warm shawl. Together they sailed toward home, with the gulls laughing and the seal popping up now and then, as if to count them.

Back at the pier, the sisters lifted Little Brother out and set him on the sun‑warmed boards. He was damp and salty and full of stories. They wrapped him in a blanket and gave him hot milk and bread. “I will not sail alone again,” he promised, and he meant it.

That night, tucked snug in his bed, Little Brother listened to the faraway hush of the sea. He closed his eyes and dreamed of a red sail, friendly gulls, and the song of the wind—safe and brave, with his sisters near.