Page 22 of The Hitchhiker in Panama
“What did he teach you on the boat?”
I told her about our lessons and some of the sailing terminology I had added to my vocabulary.
“Has he shown you how to tie a bowline?” she asked me.
I shook my head.
She set her drink down and clapped her hands. “I’ll teach you! I have a fun way to learn it. Come on!”
Poppy led me up onto the bow of the boat, opened one of the lockers, and grabbed a small line for our practice.
“The bowline is one of the most important knots to learn,” she told me, sounding like the former teacher. “It makes a strong loop at one end of the line, and sailors all practice till they can do it quick and easy.”
She showed me how to hold the line and loop one side of it. “Now the rabbit comes out of the hole,” she said, “around the tree, and back in the hole.” She pulled her hands apart and showed me the tidy and tight loop. “You try.”
I made the rabbit run its lap a few times until I got the hang of it.
“Here’s how you can tell if you’ve done the knot right.” She held the line in front of her hips, the loop dangling down on her thighs. The end of the line stuck straight out of the knot, pointing towards me. “It’s a boy knot.”
I burst out laughing, and Poppy grinned at me. I practiced a few more times, and then she showed me how to tie the knot with one hand behind my back. Poppy and Fred were avid divers, and she said knowing how to tie the bowline with your eyes closed and one hand behind your back might save a life.
We fumbled and laughed, and I never quite got the bowline right with one hand behind my back, but I practiced the regular way more and felt proficient enough. After wandering back into the cockpit, we refreshed our drinks and found Fred and Eivind in the main salon, Eivind strumming a guitar.
When I walked in, Eivind looked up at me and gave me a soft smile. He strummed quiet and low, chatting with Fred as his hands worked.
I took a moment to admire the sight—and of course, he caught me doing so—before I slipped back out into the cockpit.
Poppy, the perfect hostess, brought out nibbles and topped up drinks. My day in the sun was catching up to me, and I yawned with more and more frequency. Marcella asked if I wanted to join them for dinner, and I declined, opting to call the multitude of Poppy’s cheese and crackers I’d eaten a meal.
I made my goodbyes, and Eivind appeared by my side.
“Let me walk you back home,” he said, looping an arm over my shoulder. We ambled down the dock. “Did you have a good day today?”
“I did. I almost got sucked into another boat project with Peter, but Edith came to my rescue.” I grinned at him sideways.
“Boat projects are not fun.”
“Not fun at all. I’ve only done one, but it was oily.” I wrinkled my nose. “And a little smelly. Andreallyhot and sticky.”
He laughed. “So, we cannot expect you to help with the bilge?”
“You’d have to make it worth my time.”
“Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow.
I nodded and yawned yet again.
“The free-diving lessons wore you out,” Eivind said.
“Yes, I think so. I’ll sleep well tonight. Hey, did you hear on the radio about the open mic night tomorrow?”
“Yes, I did. That is what Fred and I were talking about.”
“Are you going to borrow his guitar?”
Eivind chuckled. “Maybe. Or maybe I will play my ukulele. One way or another, do not worry.” He leaned into my ear. “I will seduce you.”
I blushed and we laughed together, walking up toSilver Lining. Peter and Edith were sitting in the cockpit and Eivind waved a hand in greeting.
