At the Harbour

by Louisa Adjoa Parker (Weymouth)

It’s Christmas Day, so as usual, they go down to the harbour. Hundreds of people are gathered there. Some faces he knows, others he can’t recognise as they’re dressed as Santa Claus or have bright yellow ducks sitting on their heads.

This year he’s going to join in. He’s a big boy now, wants to be like his brothers. He’s been practising swimming at school. He likes the moment everyone jumps in. The crowd will go ‘Oooh’, as though they are all one person.

Canoeists are ready, waiting to pick them up in boats like red bananas floating in the water. The siren goes off, making a sound like a seal. It’s so loud people all over the town will know the Christmas swimmers are about to jump.

Brave and ready in his trunks, goose-pimples standing out on his skinny arms, he jumps in. The water makes him gasp. It’s like being inside a snowman. He thrashes around like a fish. It’s too cold. With his hair smoothed back flat, he turns and swims back.

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What Louisa Adjoa Parker says about At the Harbour:

This was inspired by talking to two cousins, Jack and Henri, who told me about this local custom and how one year a little boy decided to turn back straight away.