Chapter 19: more play

As soon as we got back, Randolph and I got changed into our swimmers, grabbed the boards and began paddling around in the cove. I was starting to get really confident and was trying a few fancier manoeuvres. I fell off a couple of times but kept going.

I teased Randolph with, "You'd better watch out, Randy, pretty soon I'm going to be better than you."

He laughed and retorted, "Still dreaming, Lyndy, still dreaming."

The day had warmed up quite a lot, so after lunch the four of us went swimming - with more lessons for me.

Then Mr Keaton suggested that we get the boat out and try fishing out in the deeper water in the morning. Yeah, good idea.

Now, because the house was built on a slope there was a good-sized area under the front part. It had been turned into an enclosed (and locked-up) space used to store all the equipment. I hadn't been in there before.

As I helped drag the dinghy out, I noticed something. "Is that a fishing net, Mr Keaton?"

"No, Lynda, that's a badminton net. Have you ever played badminton?"

"Er, no."

"Okay, if you like, we'll get the boat set up and then get the badminton gear out and have a hit."

"Sure."

"I'm pretty good at Badminton as well, Lynda," Randolph crowed comically.

I just laughed and responded, "Yeah, yeah, I thought you would be, Randy."

"You're going to come unstuck one day, Randy," Mr Keaton remarked with an amused grimace.

"Just getting some licks in while I can, Dad."

I was shaking my head and grinning at him.

Randolph and I dragged the dinghy down to the lakeside while Mr Keaton lugged down a heavy car battery and Mrs Keaton carried what looked like a toy outboard motor. She saw me looking puzzled.

"It's an electric outboard motor, Lynda. Dad's carrying the battery that will provide the power for it."

"Er . . .?"

"Power boats are not allowed over this side of the lake, Lynda," Mr Keaton explained. "They are restricted to a prescribed area over near the camp ground. It's intended to reduce the risk of pollution."

"Oh yeah, I get it. Electric motors are less polluting, aren't they?"

"Yep, and no danger of fuel spillage."

Once we had the boat organised, we set up the badminton net on the flat area near the foreshore.

Well, Randolph could certainly hit the shuttlecock more effectively than I could, but I was a much quicker mover and it didn't take long before I was holding my own with him.

We had a game of doubles - boys against 'girls'. That became pretty silly but was a hellva lot of fun.

It had been a big day and I was happy to go to bed soon after dinner. Mrs Keaton came in to say goodnight.

"Have a good sleep, sweetheart," she murmured before kissing me on the forehead.

I reckon I was asleep before she had closed the door.