by Nadia Promi

Created on: May 02, 2008

HIDE-AND-SEEK

"Daddy, can I go?"
There was more to Andy's appealing glance than to his words.
"No, you can't," dad retorted. "Not today, Andy. Maybe next time," he tried to make up for it a little bit later.

"Next time, when is that?" Andy thought and silently went to his bedroom. He was only five, but he could understand if the things were explained to him.
"You could've let him go. Seen his face?" There was a tone of accusation in Sergio's question.

"Next time, I said. This would be too hard for him. And three days, far too much." Rick's reply didn't allow for any commenting. "Taken the maps? And the compass?"
Both were busy with getting ready for the yacht race and they took no notice of Andy any more. Neither did they hear the sound of the front door opening and closing slowly.

Nikki, Rick's wife, wrapped up the sandwiches, then she washed the tomatoes and capsicums and put them cautiously in a plastic box. "Just for two days, this will do. They've got a couple of cans, too." She didn't want any food to be wasted. She heard Andy's question and knew the answer. Yes, this would be a challenge. There was no place for kids. Though, it could have been explained to him, she thought. However, she carried on with packing up.

It was time to go. "Ready?" Rick called out before he and Sergio disappeared through the back door. Nikki went to see them off. Their house was only about three minutes walk from the marina where the boat was moored. A smile and kisses in a hurry, as there wasn't much time left. They had to sail for more than an hour to reach the port where the regatta started .

"Good luck, guys!"
Back home, she quickly washed up a couple of tea cups and then had a look through the window, over the curve of the bay. The boat was disappearing in the distance, slicing through the water and leaving a long foamy line behind. A few minutes later it was just a pearl glittering in the morning sun, fading in the horizon as the sea and sky were getting closer and closer in a huge hug. The morning appeared to be quiet, promising a warm summer day. Though, you never know what the afternoon may bring. The weather forecast was not optimistic.

"Andy, where are you? Come down love. Want some juice?"
There was no answer. "Come on, don't be angry. You've heard what daddy said. Next time. You know, sweet, this one is going to be hard. It's not for you." Nikki really wanted to sound soothing and friendly.
"Where are you, boy? Come on, get out of your room. There's no reason to make problems

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