A True Captain

The Seagull edged carefully towards the green boat. Layan threw a rope to Majid and shouted, "Hold on tight! Tie it to the front!"

Majid tied the rope with trembling hands, and Layan pulled it fast with the captain's knot she had learnt — the knot that never comes undone, however hard the wind pulls.

Then the Seagull began slowly towing the little boat back towards the shore. At that very moment, the red Lightning whizzed past them, then another boat, and another.

Layan, Hamad and Majid reached the beach in last place.

For a moment there was silence... then someone began to clap. Then another person, and another, until the whole beach was cheering with one voice: "Layan! Layan! Layan!"

Majid's mother ran to hug her son, and then she hugged Layan, crying, "Thank you, my dear, thank you!"