CROSSING THE LINE
BY
BARBARA DURLACHER
Clad in yellow fright wigs and silly costumes, King Neptune and Queen Ampritite
presided with their retinue over the Crossing the Line ceremony. “The name of the fat
man in a red suit and a white beard the children love?” they asked. Correct answer or
not, the novice walked the plank and was tipped into the pool.
“What’re they doing Mommy?” the five-year old wailed. “Silly grown-ups, darling, don’t
take any notice,” she replied carelessly. “But I want to join IN!” the little boy insisted,
grabbing her hand, dragging her towards the pool again.
Hilarity was at its height, everybody roaring with laughter and fun. The Royal Constables
were chasing the Royal Baby around the edge beating it with huge rubber truncheons
and throwing the onlookers into the pool.
Unnoticed, the small boy slipped into the water, and dog-paddled across the shallow
end. Then silently, he slipped under the water.
“Where’s Danny? My little boy. Have you seen my little boy? He was here, I saw him,
paddling across the pool, I know he was here!”
After they had drained the pool his small limp body was discovered, “And I said to him,
Danny, I said, always hold your breath!”