didn't fall out.
Once I was settled onboard, Drew smiled at me and nudged his chin toward Mac. "Little man is so cool."
I smiled. "I wasn't lying when I said he was Prince Lionheart," I said.
"I see that."
We were smiling at each other as I made my way to the seat to sit next to Mac. "So, does that make you Princess Lollipop?"
"Lady," I said.
"Princess Lady?" he asked, misunderstanding on purpose.
"Lady Lollipop," I answered, smiling at him.
"Lollipop, huh? Why did you pick that?"
I shrugged, thinking about that. "I do like lollipops," I said. "Candy in general. There's a cool candy store in Garden City. It belongs to the turtle. I love the looks of candy. It's bright and cheerful."
"Okay, so, Lady Lollipop and Prince Lionheart. Welcome to my boat. What sorts of adventures did you two get into today?" He spoke in his best imitation of a tour guide, using the pole to push us into deeper water.
"Can I help you?" I asked, starting to stand again when I saw that he had to push harder with the extra weight in the boat. "No, no, I've got it, sit down with the young prince and tell me what you did today."
"My mom went to work in the morning, and I stayed at Nana and Pap's, and then Mom came back, and we ate chicken nuggets and tater tots and then, after we went on our walk, I took a nap on the dock and then we took a boat ride with you."
Drew listened closely, trying to hear everything Mac said. "What'd you see on your walk?" Drew asked.
"Mac hunts and keeps the path clear of snakes and snapping turtles," I said.
"Good man," Drew said.
Mac nodded with a totally serious expression.
Drew used the pole to guide us into the open water in the middle of Oak Bayou. It was a small area that was open only on one side like a longer version of a lagoon, and he pushed us into the middle of it. He put the engine down and started it, taking us slowly into the bay.
Mac and I rode in boats all the time with my father, uncle, and grandfather. I was happy that Drew handled the boat carefully just like any of them would have.
We rode a little way into Dana Cove before Drew found a place to stop. I thought he was going to turn around and head back right away, but he didn't. He killed the engine and let down the anchor. He had a fishing pole stashed in the back of the boat and he grabbed it.
"Would you like to cast the line a few times, Little Mac?"
I liked that Drew called him Little Mac. He had other people in his life who called him that, and I always liked it. Little Mac was a video game character that had gotten popular just before Mac was born. I hadn't named him Mac for that reason, but it worked out that way because my uncle Billy was a famous boxer, and Mac spent a significant amount of time in his boxing gym. Uncle Billy was retired now, but he still coached and he owned the gym on Bank Street.
People called Mac Little Mac all the time in reference to that character. Uncle Billy said all the time that he hoped Mac would grow up to follow in his footsteps. I was adopted, and Billy was in the family by marriage, therefore he and Mac weren't blood related, but you couldn't tell Billy that. He loved having Mac at the gym. No one ever spoke of me and my brother being adopted by the Kings, so Mac knew nothing of it. I was sure he'd hear something one day, but for now, it didn’t seem relevant.
"Little Mac is a character on a boxing game," Drew said, talking to Mac.
"I know, and I can box like him, too. I go to train at Bank Street all the time when my mama's at work. It's right across from Pap's store, and you can catch me over there just about… what Mama? Three times every week? I even take my own class. And I go there when Evan and Jacob and Will are in there boxing, too."
Drew glanced at me, trying to keep up. "He practices boxing with his cousins and his uncle," I clarified.
Drew nodded. He cast the line and handed the pole to Mac who was standing on the bench seat next to me. I had a hold