Saturday morning, walking my paper route. I was about halfway through when I was surprised by my friend Skeeter. He seemed exited, then he told me of a plan that Owen and he had dreamed up. They want to "borrow" this row-boat and take it for a ride on the Oakland Estuary. Owen had seen this boat sitting in the same spot for a week or two, and reasoned it must be abandoned.

Well I really didn't want to get involved with this thing, and I told him I had to finish my route and it would be another hour before I could even think about it. Ok he said, I'll help you finish and we can all go together. I was glad for the help and soon we were back on our street and I could question Owen about this boat. But he said, lets start walking and we'll figure out a plan. When I talked of not going with them, they began to call me chicken. So I said I would go with them on one condition, if I thought it was too risky for any reason, I could back out. They were happy with that because they wouldn’t go without me. We got to the docks, and there it was , just like Owen said ! We watched the docks and that boat for about 20 minutes and Owen was right, there wasn't a sign of life anywhere. Quietly we snuck towards the boat, and then untied it. It was a nice big wooden row-boat. Skeeter and Owen had decided they would be the first to row, and that was alright with me, besides, none of us knew how to row anyway. Now Captain Owen was manning the port oar, and Captain Skeeter the starboard side, my job, sitting at the back of the boat was to watch out for any traffic that could be dangerous. After a few minutes the boat was actually making some headway and almost in a straight line! The sunshine sparkled on the water, the breeze had a slight chill to it, but the salt air seemed to charge us with energy for our great adventure, there we were.......the three captains. Far from the shore now, we headed for what we hoped was a deserted ship anchored in the middle of the Estuary. Captain Owen was yelling at Captain Skeeter that he wasn't pulling hard enough on his oar, we were making a zigzag course to the old navy landing craft. Gray and mysterious she was, and there was a ladder hanging down the side! My friends decided that I should climb the ladder, reasoning that they would handle the oars and it would be easier for me to get out of the boat. Once up at the top I could see if it was safe to go aboard, they think I’m braver than them and I cant tell them I’m not, so up I go. The ladder is shaky and slowly I reach the top and peek over the rail. At first glance I saw no sign of life and almost signaled the all clear. There were hatches and crates, and even a picnic table on the deck, but something wasn't right. I thought I saw some movement, and I was watching a doorway very intently when, there it was again! To the left of the door! With a relieved chuckle I saw it was some laundry on a line waving in the breeze. Then it dawned on me, the laundry meant some one was on board! Down the ladder I went as fast as I could, but Skeeter and Owen were asking "what’s wrong". Answering back in a loud whisper I said, "some one's on board".

The three captains row swiftly and silently away. Now, as we wondered where our next adventure was, we heard a shouting voice drifting across the water, and then we saw two men yelling and waving at us from the dock where we "borrowed" the boat. (It seems like our next adventure is about to begin.) "They think we're stealing this boat!" the captains screamed! We heard an engine roar to life, and the two men were getting into a boat." We're caught!" Owen said, "This was your great idea" Skeeter said to him. But the boats engine was not running very well, and after awhile, it stopped! We made a hasty decision to row to the Alameda side and abandon the boat in the mud flats, and escape on foot to Alameda. This was a dangerous idea, but it was all we could think of.

The three captains tried to row for the shore, but panic set in as we heard the power boats engine start again! The heavy row boat swung to the left, and then to the right. Across the water we heard the engine sputtering and dying. A hope jumped into our minds that maybe it won't run! Owen was yelling at Skeeter, and Skeeter was yelling at Owen about how to row. I was sitting in the of back of the boat anxiously watching the men struggling to start their engine. Owen called for me to replace Skeeter at his oar, saying that Skeeter was not strong enough to pull his side. So we traded seats and I started to pull together with Owen.

But we still couldn't keep a straight line. One time we even found ourselves doing a complete circle! Va-room! The engine starts again, and this time it sounds healthy. This time we knew it was over, all we could do was wait for them. The "boss" was mad at us, and didn't believe that we were just borrowing the boat. They tied a line to the row boat and towed it back to the dock where we had started. Then they took us into the office, and the boss called the police. In about 15 minutes a policeman showed up. We were very nervous by then, and the boss was talking about teaching us a lesson and sending us down to the police station. But the officer was calm and I think a little amused at our short trip. He wanted to question us one by one, so the other two captains sat at the end of the room while I gave my name and address and told him our intention was not to steal the boat, but to take it for a joy-ride and bring it back. After all, we had no place to keep a boat anyway. The officer fished his report with me and a warning that if my name appeared at the police station again my parents would be notified. Then he told me to sit down and he called Owen to the desk. I couldn't see Owens face, he had his back to me, but I could tell by his voice that he was almost crying. When Owen returned to his seat he had tears in his eyes!

I couldn't believe it! With Skeeter, it was obvious, he was blubbering like a baby! Then the officer said we could go home, and the boss said he never wanted to see our faces again!

Walking back home, there was a strange silence among the three captains, then I made a joking remark about our adventure, (just to lighten the mood) and the two of them turned on me angrily (another surprise) They were mad at me for NOT crying! I could not believe it! "If we hadn't of cried, we would be in jail right now". I started to laugh and say those looked like real tears to me, but caught myself when I realized their honor was at stake, I didn't want to take away their dignity.

I let them chastise me a little, until they felt better. Then we spoke of it no more.

Now, so many years later, I see the three captains as little boys in their quest for manhood, brave enough to seek adventure, yet young enough to shed a tear.