Ethan put his breakfast plate in the washing-up bowl. Dad sat quietly at the table sipping his coffee. Dad hadn’t spoken about school this morning. His gardening job had been cancelled and his forehead was etched with lines again.

“Hope it doesn’t rain.” Mum was at the countertop folding skirts she had made for the market. Next to her was a box of jugs she’d painted.

Merlin sat on the floor at Mum’s feet. She meowed when she saw Ethan.

Dad got up and pressed his face to the window that looked east over the water.

“Holiday-makers,” Dad tutted. “They’re mooring their flash new boat on the pound.” He turned to Mum. “I told you, the canal’s changing.”

Mum rolled her eyes. She went over to the window and looked out. “Don’t worry about that,” she said. “They’ll be gone soon.”

Ethan was surprised. A new boat on the pound? This hardly ever happened. Boats passed by, but they rarely stopped. Deity was the only boat that was always moored on the pound.

Before Mum and Dad had got married, Dad and Gran lived on Deity. When she died, Gran had made Dad promise that he would never sell Deity and never stop being a boater, because her family had lived on the water for generations. Dad said he was proud that Deity was so old. But Ethan had caught Dad on the laptop, looking at big new boats like the one he had called “flash”.

“Can you get that box, Jake?” said Mum. “We’re going to be late.”

Dad lifted the box of jugs and took the van keys from the sideboard.

“We need to set up the stall, Ethan,” said Mum. “I’ve left you my mobile and Dad will be back in a bit, OK? Do the next chapter of your science book and your maths. Then carry on with your knight project; we’ll have a lesson when I’m back.”

Ethan nodded.

“Take the rubbish out for me, son.” Dad nodded at the black bag by the countertop. He smiled but his eyes didn’t shine. If Dad was helping Mum, that meant he didn’t have any gardening jobs booked in for this afternoon either.

Dad said he’d have to drive lorries if the business didn’t pick up. That meant he’d have to get up really early and he wouldn’t get back till late at night. Ethan would hardly see him. And if Dad didn’t get more gardening jobs, Mum would have to find work that was better paid than the market stall, but Dad said he wouldn’t let it come to that. Ethan hoped not. He couldn’t stay on Deity by himself if Mum and Dad were at work all day.

Mum and Dad climbed the front stairs and shut the bow doors. Ethan went to the same window Dad had looked out of. It was a grey, misty day. The new boat was moored three boat-lengths away with its wide stern facing Deity’s bow. The boat was blue, bright blue against the dreary sky. It had a matching blue railing that curved around the stern like a horseshoe. Its stern doors were the colour of honey. The blacking around the bottom was so new that it gleamed.

It was the most beautiful boat Ethan had ever seen.

He was about to come away from the window when the blue boat’s stern doors opened. A red figure climbed out on to the stern deck. It was a girl in a red coat. She had long black hair. She looked down the canal to Deity. Ethan flinched and pulled back from the window. He waited a little, then slowly drew his face back up to the glass. The girl walked along the stern deck to the horseshoe-shaped railing. She folded her arms over the railing and leant closer to the water. She kept leaning until her feet lifted off the deck, and she stayed like that for a while, just staring down at the water, her feet swinging to and fro in the air, like her head was heavy with thinking.

The girl dropped her feet to the floor and backed away from the railing. She was in the middle of the stern deck now, with her arms stretched out. She began to spin around and around. She was dancing, smiling. Her head dropped back and she stared up at the sky.

The girl began to slow. She wobbled a little as she stopped twirling. She laughed, and then she took her eyes from the sky and looked right at Ethan’s window.

Ethan flinched.

Did she see me?

The girl waved and smiled. She turned away. She skipped back to the stern doors and climbed into the boat.

She saw me!

The doors shut.

Ethan watched the empty stern for while.

He stepped away from the window.

 

Ethan stared down at the bag of rubbish by the countertop. He’d done his maths. Dad might be back from the market soon. He’d better take the rubbish out. Dad wouldn’t understand why the girl on the blue boat made Ethan afraid to go down the canal.

Ethan went to the window. There wasn’t any sign of the girl. The dump shed was just a few metres from Deity towards the blue boat. He’d be really quick, in case the girl came out. Then he’d come back and do his science chapter.

Ethan got his fleece from his cabin. He lifted the bag of rubbish and climbed the stairs to the bow. He pushed back the doors. The cold air nibbled his nose and fingers as he climbed out on to the deck. He looked down the canal to check the girl was still inside. It was safe. He took a big breath.

The plank from the bow to the bank was slippery with frost. The grass was tipped ghosty-white. There were shiny frozen puddles in the dips near the towpath. Ethan walked as fast as he could, but the bag was heavy.

He passed the tree where Dad had tied up the hammock to surprise Mum last summer. Dad was good at surprises and building things. He had built Ethan an amazing sledge when it was snowy last year, and a big run for the rabbit he used to have. But Dad only seemed to think about the business right now.

Ethan turned away from the canal path to the dump shed. It was just a few more steps to the dump-shed door. Then he slid back the bolt and swung the bag inside.

Crack! Ethan jumped. He turned to face the canal. It was the girl in the red coat. He’d been too busy thinking about Dad to notice her. She was jumping on a frozen puddle near the stern of her boat. She wore blue wellies with green spots. The ice on the puddle cracked; there was a splash. She looked up and saw him.

“I did it.” The girl smiled like she had when she was dancing on her boat. “I need another one now.” She stepped out of the icy puddle and on to the towpath. “Not that one, it’s too pretty,” she said.

Ethan hurried back to Deity. He didn’t turn around.

In the lounge he peeped out of the window and looked east down the water. He couldn’t see the girl on the towpath. She’d gone.

 

Ethan had just finished the science when his Mum’s mobile rang. He saw it was Dad on the display and pressed the answer button.

“I’m staying to help Mum run the stalls,” said Dad. “Hope your work’s gone OK. See you later, son.”

Ethan hung up. He’d read his knight book in peace for a bit, and then he would do his journal. He found the book on the floor of his cabin. He climbed up the cabin steps and out of the little double doors, on to the deck of Deity’s stern. Ethan shut the cabin doors and sat against them, pulling up his knees to get comfy. He looked out over the back of the boat and down the canal. This was the best place to sit, looking west over the water. There weren’t any blue boats moored down this end of the canal.

Ethan opened Life of a Knight. He started reading all about the Knight’s Code. How a knight had to speak the truth at all times and do the right thing, even if that made the knight unhappy. How knights defended those who could not defend themselves.

“Hello?”

Ethan put down the book. He froze for a moment, just listening. Someone was coming down the towpath; he could hear their footsteps. He shuffled to the left of the stern deck so he was closer to the canal bank. He ducked his head around the left side of Deity’s stern so that he could see who was coming. It was the girl in the red coat; she was only a few steps away from him. His heart started to beat fast. But it was OK; she hadn’t seen him yet.

Ethan shuffled to the right of the deck so he was closer to the cabin doors. He quickly made a plan. He’d turn around and open the doors and get inside fast, before she saw him.

“Why are you hiding?” The girl was on the bank beside Ethan. It was too late. She was already there and she was waiting for him to speak. He just wouldn’t look at her. He’d look out over the water, like she wasn’t there. He’d stare at the moorhens bobbing on the canal. Then she might leave.

“You’ve got a little dinghy.” She pointed to the dingy that was tied to the right of Deity’s stern.

“I dropped our boat hook,” she said quietly. She smiled. “It’s floating on the canal, but I can’t reach it, it’s too far out. Could you help me?” She looked at him silently for a moment. She didn’t leave.

He shook his head. Why was she bothering him?

“How long have you lived on the canal?” she asked.

He didn’t say anything. How could he?

She waited for his answer, but she didn’t seem to mind when he didn’t reply.

“It’s lovely here,” she carried on. “You saw me spinning on my boat.”

It was hard to keep staring ahead. The girl was still there, watching, waiting for him to speak.

“Are you going to help me?”

Ethan’s legs ached from sitting too long. He could climb back in his cabin but that would be rude.

“It won’t take long,” she said.

He looked at the girl. Her hair was as dark as a moorhen. Her nose turned up at the end. For just a second Ethan didn’t look away.

“I don’t think you like speaking,” the girl said gently. She gazed at him for a while. “That doesn’t matter.”

Ethan’s legs twisted with cramp. He stood up, but kept staring out at the water.

The girl clapped her hands. “Brilliant. You’re coming.”

His head began to spin. That wasn’t meant to happen. Now the girl thought he was going to help her.

Ethan didn’t move.

“This way.” She started to walk down the towpath. She turned back and beckoned him. He stayed still. Her smile dropped. Her forehead scrunched up. She looked sad, like she had staring out at the water.

“Are you coming?”

Ethan didn’t know what to do now. He didn’t want to go with the girl, but she looked so disappointed. It was like he had no choice.

“If you help me, you don’t have to say anything.” She smiled. “Don’t be scared.”

She didn’t seem like she would tease him. But still, Ethan was afraid. He looked at the book in his hand and remembered that knights defended people who couldn’t defend themselves. Knights helped others. But could he help the girl? She said he didn’t have to speak. Maybe she understood.

Ethan turned around and eased Deity’s boat hook off the roof by grabbing the pole and inching it down over his cabin doors.

Slowly, Ethan walked along the plank on to the bank, his stomach tight. He wouldn’t be with her for long. He’d make sure of it. He’d get her hook as fast as he could, and then he would head back to Deity and his knight book.

The girl started walking and Ethan followed.

“We’re new to the canal,” she said over her shoulder. “It’s just me and Mum now. Mum’s gone for milk.”

He nodded. His heart thumped with each step.

“I’ve left my school. I’m having time off until we find a permanent mooring to settle on. We won’t be here for long. Do you go to school?”

Ethan shivered and shook his head.

“Are you taught on your boat?”

He nodded, but kept his eyes on the towpath ahead.

“Here we are.”

Her boat was even more beautiful up close. There were metal flakes in the blue paint and they shone when they caught the light. On the side it said Moon’s End in twirling yellow letters.

“The hook’s down there.” She pointed to the left of the stern.

It was floating on the water about two metres away from the bank. He would have to use his boat hook to pull it closer.

Ethan knelt down to the water and leant out. Slowly, he got hold of the floating pole with his boat hook, then, carefully, he pulled it towards to the bank. When the pole was close enough, he reached out with his spare hand and grabbed it, lifting it into the air with a shower of drops.

The girl took the hook and smiled. “Thank you,” she said.

Ethan wiped his hands on his cords and looked down at the ground.

“I’m Polly,” she said. Her skin was white. Her eyes were green like a cat’s. Like his cat, Merlin.

He nodded and started back down the canal.

For a second, he wanted to turn back and say, “I’m Ethan,” but he’d kept his words inside for too long. He didn’t know how they would ever come out again.

Ethan put his boat hook on Deity’s roof. He found Life of a Knight on the deck of the stern and stepped down into his cabin. He unfolded his bed and turned on the laptop. He was ready to write his second journal entry now.

The words came fast. His page had met the lady of the castle; he’d found her comb in the moat and she’d smiled at him. She said her name was Isabel. The page wished he was a brave knight so he knew how to speak courteously and win her favour.

Ethan stared at the words on the screen. He was good at writing stories. He could always find the words for stories. So why couldn’t he say them out loud?

Ethan was saving his entry when Mum and Dad got back.

Mum came into his cabin. “How’s it going?” she asked. She sat next to him and marked his science and maths.

“All your answers were right,” she said. “Now, let’s see this knight project.”

Ethan passed Mum the laptop. His breath quickened as she read.

“Ethan.” Mum smiled and her eyes danced. “This is such a good idea. I want you to keep going. I’ll read it all when it’s done.”

 

Dad smiled at Ethan over dinner. “You did some good journal writing today, then?”

Ethan nodded.

“I’ll have to take a look sometime.”

Ethan sat very still.

“Ethan?” said Dad.

He didn’t move. He looked at Mum. He wasn’t sure Dad would understand the journal. What if he teased him about Isabel?

“What do you think?” said Dad. But still, Ethan didn’t nod.

Dad let out a sigh. He finished his food and pushed his plate away.

“He’s only just started it, Jake,” said Mum. “Maybe have a look when it’s finished.”

Dad gave a small shrug. He stood up and took his coat from the hook.

“I’m going for a cigarette,” he said.

Mum reached out and held Ethan’s hand. “He’s worried about the business, that’s all.” She spoke softly. “And he wants to help you.”