Free The Adventure of a Lifetime by Ravina Thakkar Page B

commented. “Why does Mona have a boat?”
    â€œShe said that she liked to go to a serene river and boat there. She doesn’t go there now though and the boat was rarely getting used, so she said I could borrow it.”
    â€œI wish we were going to a serene river,” Betty muttered. She had a feeling that the Roaring Rapids weren’t going to be so easy to cross.
    ***
    The cashews had left a hollow feeling in Betty’s stomach, and the taste of food left her wanting more. “You didn’t bring anything else, did you?” she asked hopefully.
    Amber handed Betty a piece of bread and a bottle of orange juice.
    â€œThanks,” Betty said, cramming the bread into her mouth and sipping the orange juice.
    â€œOkay, let’s go,” Amber said, once Betty had finished.
    â€œMan, why I am so itchy?” Amber suddenly asked.
    â€œRight? I’ve been feeling like this since when I woke up. I think it might have been the grass.”
    â€œBetty, look at that sign.”
    â€œWhat sign?” Betty said, following Amber’s finger. Sure enough there was a sign written. in thick black lettering:
    Beware! Poisonous Grass.
    â€œPoison!” Betty cried. “How did I not see that? I’m stupid, stupid, stupid,” she said, thumping herself on the head. “Could I die?”
    â€œI don’t know. But if you do, you probably wouldn’t really die, since you’re not from our world.”
    â€œTrue, but d—”
    â€œCut the chit-chat. Let’s get on with it!” Amber interrupted.
    â€œYeah, but you’re sure—”
    â€œOkay, let’s get the boat in the water.” Once she had set it in the water, she shoved Betty onto the back seat. Then she climbed into the front seat. The purple backpack was wedged between them, and Betty, whose knees were already cramping, knew it was going to be a long ride. Amber handed Betty an oar and they both starting rowing, Betty gently and Amber like a maniac.
    â€œI still can’t believe Mona’s your—”
    â€œI said sorry.”
    Now, Betty wasn’t usually a temperamental person, but that was the third time Amber had interrupted her and she was getting ticked off, as her mom would say.
    â€œLook Amber, stop interrupting me!” Betty finally said.
    â€œI didn’t interrupt you!” Amber said heatedly.
    â€œYes, you did!”
    â€œOh, well since you don’t want to be with me and my big mouth, maybe we should just paddle faster so you can get away from me.”
    â€œMaybe we should!”
    And then Amber grabbed Betty’s oar and started paddling on both sides, ferociously, rocking from side to side. And then the boat was rocking too. Betty’s back hit the back of the rowboat and she tried to get back on her seat, but couldn’t. The waves were tossing her, and she shouted “Amber, stop.” But Amber wouldn’t stop, and soon, Betty went overboard.
    Amber kept rowing, furious. How dare she! Betty was just a big brat, a tag-a-long, a baby who needed to be watched every second! Still fuming, she paddled faster and faster, not noticing that Betty had fallen off the boat.
    Now—Betty was sure of it—she was going to die. She tried to swim. She had once seen people swimming in the Olympics and they looked like they were just flailing their arms and legs. So, she tried that, too, but it was no use.
    Amber still had not noticed that Betty wasn’t behind her. When she finally calmed down and looked back, Betty wasn’t there, and the boat was still being shot around by the waves.
    â€œBetty, where are you?” Amber cried, while paddling back.
    â€œBetty!” Amber cried again.
    Suddenly, a gurgling noise came from the water on Amber’s right. That must be Betty, she thought, and she paddled toward the gurgling. Betty must have gone all the way down, and that made Amber think. If she swam right into the water, she would