We decided to take a ride on the steamboat, Natchez. The experience proved to be a lot of fun. The boat went downriver for several miles, and the personnel narrated quite a lot of history. We lunched on the boat; a lunch of fried chicken, red beans and rice, salad and bread pudding; all very tasty.
A group of students boarded the boat; these students appeared to be a group from a charter school for African American kids. Several of them sat on the top deck where we were. We sat up at the front of the deck so we could see all of the river from one vantage point. One of the students sat in the chair next to mine. He was a tallish, kind of awkward appearing 14 year old. After a minute or two, he turned to me and with a very expectant expression on his face he pointed out to the river and asked me, if he were to go out there would he drown?
I was somewhat dumbfounded and was a bit taken back, but told him yes that it was very deep and very swift.
He looked at me, seemed to be satisfied and walked away with the other kids.
Finally, a meal without fried food! Oh, wait.
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Interesting, the little window that young man opened in himself. Was he worried the boat might tip over? What if he fell off? Likely you confirmed his fear that he could drown. He was perhaps hoping that you could swim... and in the worst-case steamboat scenario, you would look for him as he flailed in the water.