IT WAS A SATURDAY I think We'd decided to go to the creek Our side was covered in thick snow and we had to bounce our way through it We used to go fishing there There was a summer house and an old jetty But now spring had begun and the creek had grown into a river with a lot of water Big ice floes were sailing down it but some thick ice still clung to the bank 10
Jack thought he saw otter tracks and walked gingerly out on the ice Come back said Max It'll hold Jack said I followed him Look it's holding I said So Max came out too though you could see he was afraid He brought a branch with him Once he was on the ice we stood still and looked into the black water There was a quiet crack Then the entire sheet broke loose and began to move Max started yelling We all yelled but it was too late There was no time to jump ashore The ice floe was drifting away slowly and almost elegantly It spun a little at first but then it sailed on like a boat 13
