“What kind?”
The older boy dug the paddle into the ground and leaned on it easily. “Now that you’re such an ace in white water, let’s you and me go through some rapids. Whoever gets dumped loses. The winner gets to keep the paddle.”
Sandy shook his head firmly. “The paddle doesn’t belong to either of us, win or lose.”
“Afraid?” The question came like a slap in the face.
“No.”
“I think you are.”
Sandy breathed heavily, but managed to keep his temper. “All right,” he said, biting off each word separately. “I’ll go through any rapids with you. But we’ll settle the business about the paddle afterwards.”
“Done!”
Doug shook his head and grabbed Sandy’s arm. “Don’t do it!” he pleaded. “He’s not going to take you down the Kindergarten.”
“That’s right,” the older boy nodded. “I wouldn’t ask an expert like you to go down a playground for kids. We’ll try something more interesting.”