Another composition by Anthony

A Narrow Escape

"We got the whole beach to ourselves!" James exclaimed as he walked across the powdery sands of Changi Beach. It was a picture perfect at the beach, the water glistened like sapphires, sea gulls screamed at us as they soared into the creamy white clouds. Despite that, the beach was deserted other than a man who was rafting, owing to the fact that it was a Thursday. James, his friends, Tom, Jim and his little brother had come to the beach because they were bored and it was a school holiday.

Picking a shady spot under a coconut tree which was weighed down with ripe coconuts, they began to unpack their haversacks. Easing back into his self-made hammock, James fished into the picnic basket and whipped out a double-decker chicken sandwich. After discussing for a minute, they decided to swim in the sea. Cramming his sandwich into his mouth, James got into his swimsuit and waded into the cool inviting blue water up to his waist. They played "Ball" for an hour before James yelled to his friends, "I'm going deeper!" His little brother hollered,"I am following!" Wading up to his chin, James started standing on tiptoe to avoid gulping in the water. His little brother started to tread water.

James was about to go deeper when a scream sliced through the afternoon air. Whipping around, James saw his brother flailing his hands desperately for help as his head disappeared under the water. He reappeared again, bellowing, "Help! Stomach cramp! Too young to die!" Everything else was incoherent. James instinctively began swimming towards him with all of his might. By the time James arrived, his little brother was in full panic-mode. James was about to cup his hand around his brother's chin like his instructor had demonstrated at every life-saving lesson he had attended when his brother lashed out his leg and accidentally kicked him in the face, forcing him to bite his tongue. With his eyes watering in pain, James screamed at his brother, "By Christ, stop struggling!" His little brother, who had just swallowed his eleventh gulp of seawater, was by now seriously freaked out, grabbed at the nearest thing which was James, dragging him under the water as well. James fought for air as his little brother clinged onto him. Just as James thought he was going to die, a firm and strong hand lifted James and his little out of the water.

James found himself on a raft with all his friends and the man who had rescued them. James heaved a sigh of relief, the man and his friends had arrived in the nick of time. James then chided his little brother for kicking him in the face. As the saying goes "Experience is the best teacher", after his close brush with death, James became more careful in the water. After thanking the man, they went back home