Fynn's Cove

Chapter 1

Noah stared out the window of his classroom, watching palm trees swaying in the summer breeze. Paper planes flew overhead despite the teachers call for the class to settle down.

"Everyone," Mr. Smith called out, his grey mustache bristling. "We have fifteen more minutes left of this school year. I have an especially important announcement that regards your next academic year..."

His ominous tone caught the class by surprise. Most of the kids in the fifth-grade class did quiet down, staring at the portly man before the blackboard.

"Next year you will all be in secondary school," Mr. Smith stated. "Lockers, multiple classrooms, textbooks that will break your arms with their hefty weight. It will be overwhelming for all of you to settle into the new norm of increased work and responsibility. Because of that..."

His lifted his left hand, pointing at all his students.

"I want you to make the most of this summer! Have fun and go to the beach every day!"

Everyone in class started to laugh and cheer except for Noah, who abruptly turned his attention back to the window, nervously tapping his right foot.

Noah was the only child in Mr. Smiths classroom, possible in the in the entire town, who was not looking forward to summer.

He, in fact, was dreading it. School was a good time for him where he could learn new things and focus on matters that had nothing to do with his family.

Noah didn't have a bad family. His family was exceedingly kind and believed in strong family bonds. Bonds that Noah could no longer reciprocate.

He put his head in his left hand, watching the clouds move across the sky as he contemplated if he could have any fun during the summer. Eleven-year old's in Port Douglas didn't ask themselves if they could "have fun".

Between the Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef; four miles full of sandy beach; ten thousand plus acres to explore in Daintree Rainforest cut through with a river, streams and lots of caves and tide pools and tons of other cool places in town like the zoo and shops, there was no shortage of adventure to be had.

At least, not when you had both feet to get you around.

Noah rubbed the front of his sneaker on his prosthetic foot, feeling the silicone through the front of his other shoe.

In the next aisle he could hear his best friends Brandon and Hudson excitedly chatting about going out on Brandon's' family's yacht, which was docked at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, where all the high-end boats were traditionally docked in town.

He had liked to go out with his friends but hadn't been on a boat since his accident.

"Hey, do you think Levi will come Noah? It's been forever since we've seen him!" Brandon asked suddenly, spinning in his chair to stare at his friend.

"Oh," Noah scrambled to remember when his older brother was coming home. "He comes back next Thursday. I'm sure that he'd love to go out with your family. He's missed everyone since he started college."

"Alright!" Brandon and Hudson clapped hands, happy to know that the coolest teenager the three of them knew was going to be back with them so soon.

"We'll go out fishing and my dad said we can go kite sailing!" Brandon went on, a dreamy look in his green eyes.

"Mate..." Hudson slapped his shoulder, reminding him who he was talking to.

"Oh, right," Brandons dreamy smile vanished immediately. "Are you sure you don't want to go out with us? It's been three months. You walk fine."