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“But you’re the best!” Po exclaimed. “You can’t be afraid of the water.”
Kai knelt down and met Po’s gaze. “You and I went through a lot. You were way braver than me. I’m scared.”
Jun’s stomach tightened. Anytime she tried to imagine what Po and Kai had gone through, her mind went black and her skin turned cold. She hated that Po had experienced such trauma and she hadn’t been there to protect him. She’d go to her grave thinking she’d disappointed him in the worst way possible. She should’ve been there. Instead, Kai—a stranger—had given him comfort. Protected him when she should’ve.
Po tugged on Kai’s arm. “You have to go in a little,” Po said, pulling him to the water’s edge.
“I’ll go if you go.” Kai nodded at the water.
Po eyed the water, biting his lip. He seemed to be making a decision. Jun hovered as if she might reach out and grab him, but Kai held up a hand. Po shook his head. “I’m scared,” he conceded.
“You know what? Fear is a good thing—do you know that?”
“It is?” Po seemed skeptical. “That’s not what my teacher at my old school said.”
“Well, your teacher was wrong. Fear tells us all kinds of things we need to listen to, like if our house in on fire, we should get out. Nobody makes fun of anybody for being afraid of fire, do they?”
Po shook his head.
“Right, because fear is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. But too much fear, when you know it’s not dangerous, that’s just a little too much of a good thing.” Po stared at Kai, the little boy trying to process the thought. Kai put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Everybody has to decide when to listen to fear because it’s the right thing to do and when fear is just getting in the way of having a nice swim at the beach.”
Po grinned and nodded. He seemed to get it.
“But me, see, I’m too afraid these days to surf right. That’s my problem. I forgot how to listen to fear that makes sense and fear that’s just in the way.”
“So if I go up to my knees in the water, will you go up to your knees?” Po asked.
“I don’t know.” Kai shook his head. “Up to my knees might be too much.”
“I can do my knees.” Po took a deep breath and then took his first shaky step into the surf. The wave came in, sloshing across the top of his foot. Jun expected shouting and screams, but none came. He flinched a little, and Jun almost leaped forward and whisked him out of the sea.
She gasped and covered her mouth. Kai held up a hand, his meaning clear: It’s okay. Po pulled on Kai’s arm. “Come on, Kai,” he insisted. Reluctantly, Kai followed, clearly pretending to be scared for the little boy’s sake. She didn’t know whether to hug Kai or punch him as opposing feelings battled in her chest. She was glad he was helping Po, and yet she hated that he was doing it without her.
Kai stepped into the surf, up to his ankles. Po squeezed his hand.
“Let’s go deeper,” Po said.
“I don’t know.” Kai grimaced, acting fearful. Whatever he was doing seemed to be working, better than Jun had ever thought possible.
She watched Po take another step, leading Kai deeper, without screaming and without biting or crying. Seeing her son helping Kai even though Jun knew it cost him a lot to do it, she felt tears sting her eyes. Tears of pride. That was her brave little boy, her sweet little boy.
“Okay, my turn, right?” Kai said, and took another step after the boy. Before she knew it, they were to their knees, a wave splashing the scar on Kai’s leg, soaking the skin. Po took another step out and he was up to his waist. Jun couldn’t believe it and neither could Kai, if the surprised look that crossed his face was any indication. He quickly hid his surprise as he followed Po deeper.
“Do you think you can surf now?” Po asked Kai, gazing up at the man, blinking back against the sun.
“Since you came all the way out here, then, yes, I’ll try.”
Po’s face broke into a huge grin. “Good!” He splashed up to the shore and then ran back to Kai’s patio, bouncing with each step he took.
