Whoops.

“We’re gonna need a bigger boat,” said John. He yelped as he ran out of the ocean that was oh-so-steadily flowing in. Our small vessel rocked and swayed under our feet. John danced away from the water while I tried to plug the hole.

I sighed. I’d tried fruit, cloth, tarp. It was hopeless. Another sigh.

“And how, tell me, do you expect to get a new boat?” I asked sarcastically. John ignored me and yelped again. I sighed once more. Our boat was beyond repair. I steadily reached under the seat and grabbed two life vests. I blew them up and handed one to John. He looked at it in horror and hesitated. I shrugged, dropping it into the water next to the boat. He screamed and dived in to get it. I grinned as he scowled at me, bobbing in the water. I put some fruit, the research, and our radio in the waterproof bag and double-knotted it to my jacket. I gave one last sorrowful sigh, and dived in to the ocean.

Once in the water, I tied our life jackets together. I looked back towards the boat, and all I could see was its mast, almost upright before it plunged under. All of that research we weren't able to save... I thought. I allowed myself one more sigh before we set to paddling into the open ocean.