Yes, in summers in the countryside, when I was 10-11 years old, I worked on a real crossing and ran a real boat! 🚤

I have to say that I just loved that job! The water, the waves, the oars - I loved the feeling of a whole big boat "going" wherever I wanted!

Of course, when people came on the boat for the first time, they were frightened and worried (after all, they were being taken by an 11-year-old girl), but as soon as they saw how deftly I steered the boat, how I tried not to splash them or spoil the food packages, how I kept a safe distance from the passing ships and barges, how neatly I docked the boat at the pier, their lack of confidence disappeared and turned into admiration and peace of mind. Often they would say to me, "You know, it's so peaceful and safe with you!"🧘♂️

I, in turn, felt very needed. If it weren't for me, these people would have stayed on the other side and wouldn't have been able to get home for a long time.