He told me to come over. He said "Look, we want you in the canoe. You take the second spot on that side. Don't paddle or do anything. You're our twelfth man. Just kneel down and go along for the ride."
I mumbled "Okay." I was careful getting into the canoe, not wanting to look awkward in front of the guys and definitely not wanting to fall into the water.
The canoe rocked slightly under me as I took my position. I knelt with both knees on the bottom of the canoe and one hand on the edge. The other team members got into the canoe and it rocked a bit as each one stepped in, then settled into a kneeling position with their paddles across their thighs. The leader was the last one in.
With a seemingly effortless stroke the canoe slid away from the dock and out onto the lake. The team paddled in unison and the canoe surged forward with each stoke. I felt a bit of wind in my face and, at first, a little foamy water splash on my hand on the side of the canoe. We moved down the lake quickly, then manoeuvred into our start position next to a floating buoy.
When all three war canoes were lined up, the team prepared for the start. Each guy leaned forward with his paddle held at the ready beside the canoe. They froze in that position, silently waiting for the signal. When the starter's pistol fired, they dug into the water and pulled back in unison. I felt the canoe surge forward under me as I shifted backward.
The team dug hard into the water in unison. The war canoe came to life gaining speed. Then the team was paddling in a steady, united rhythm. I glanced to my right, then my left, at the competing canoes. They too seemed to fly over the water's surface. We were neck and neck.
As we passed the mid-race marker, I felt myself gripping the edge of the canoe harder and settling in more solidly to my position. The team kept a steady quick pace, their paddles coming cleanly out of the water at the finish of each stroke. The wind blew in my face but no water splashed me now. We were moving fast and high in the water.
The pace picked up as we neared the end of the race. The team, still in unison, was making a push for the finish line. I didn't see the finish line flag, but when the team lifted their paddles in the air and began to cheer, I knew we had won.
After a few minutes of celebrating, the team, still in unison, paddled for the dock in front of our club. Being careful again not to look awkward, I climbed out of the war canoe. The team members were patting each other on the back and talking excitedly. They lifted the war canoe out of the water and carried it into the warehouse-like area of the clubhouse.
A teen with blonde hair looked at me. He was not part of the war canoe team. He asked me "You were the guy in the war canoe who didn't paddle, right?"
I said yes.
He said, "Well good job. Great race man." He walked away and I felt a little taller, not so new or out of place on the dock.
