Just Sh*t: A New York City Story

Chapter 27: Captain Killjoy and the Kayak Crew

As Jackson and Ryan settled into their fishing spot along the riverbank, Jamie, Judah, and Alex launched their kayaks, eager for adventure. Judah, full of confidence, took the lead, glancing back at Alex with a competitive grin. "Catch me if you can!" he challenged, paddling hard.

"Sure thing, Speed Racer!" Alex shot back, grinning. The guide, a no-nonsense type, quickly intervened. "Hey, slow down! Stay with the group!"

"More like 'Buzzkill Bob,'" Judah quipped, glancing at Alex with a wink.

"Or 'Captain Killjoy!'" Alex added, giggling.

"Let's not forget 'Sir Buzz-a-lot!'" Judah chimed in, both of them laughing as the guide rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, Jamie struggled to keep his kayak straight, bumping into nearly everyone in their group. The guide tried to keep the peace, but Jamie's tail-ending antics made that difficult. "Jamie! Can you try to stay off my tail?" the guide snapped, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry!" Jamie called out, a sheepish smile on his face. Determined to improve, he paddled to the side, only to misjudge his distance and get stuck against the shore. "I'm stuck!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic.

"Looks like you're playing pinball with the river!" Alex joked as he paddled over to help. "Let me give you a hand."

With Alex's help, Jamie freed his kayak and joined the others as they continued downstream. As they approached the end of the river, excitement bubbled in the air. But in a sudden twist of fate, Jamie lost his balance while trying to disembark, falling into the water with a splash.

Panic set in as he flailed about, screaming, "I can't swim! Help!"

"Jamie, stop moving! You're fine!" Judah shouted from the bank, but Jamie's instincts kicked in, and he continued to thrash around, splashing water everywhere.

"Jamie! Hello, Jamie!" Alex yelled, trying to get through to him.

Nothing. Just frantic splashes and heavy breaths.

"Jamie!" Judah shouted again, louder this time. "Stop!"

Finally, Jamie froze, looking around wildly. "What?"

"Stand up. The water isn't that deep," Judah instructed, exasperated.

Jamie hesitated but then slowly stood up, relief washing over him as the water barely reached his knees. Embarrassment flooded his cheeks when he realized how ridiculous he must have looked. Just then, a kid walked by on the bank, staring at Jamie with a puzzled expression.

"You're so weird," Alex quipped, chuckling as Jamie soaked in his own humiliation.

"Yeah, yeah," Jamie retorted, finally laughing at himself. "Next time, I'll stick to fishing."

As they shared a laugh, the group's bond grew stronger, each moment of chaos becoming a cherished memory of their trip.