The ice was cracking everywhere now. Bones turned the Barge around, the rope tied to the back of his seat, and he started pedaling. When the rope became taut with the weight from me and Murph, Bones nearly lost control. He swerved and nearly wiped out on the ice, but somehow he kept his balance and pulled me and a soggy Murph to safety.

Of course, when he got close enough to shore where there wasn’t really any danger, a few kids ran out and helped pull the rope in as Bones kept pedaling. Murph’s bike had been lost, sunk in the water, and he wouldn’t get it back until spring when the ice melted, but he walked over, wet and shivering, to Bones and hugged him and thanked him for saving his life. 

I knew Estelle was going to be really angry that we had stayed out past dark, never mind coming home soaking wet in brand new shoes that were now frozen.

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