Turi and the Little Boat That Was Not in a Hurry

Turi had built a little boat out of a piece of wood smoothed by the sea, a small stick, and a sail made from an old handkerchief.

It was beautiful. At least to him.

He painted it blue, drew a white line along its side, and named it Nina of the Wind.

“Tomorrow we will win the little-boat race,” he said.

The race took place in the small harbour, where the water was shallow and the children launched little boats without engines. The winner was the one that reached the red rope first.

The next morning Turi ran to the pier. The other children were already ready.

“Go!”

Turi pushed Nina of the Wind with all his strength. The little boat made half a turn, took in water, and came back.

“No! You have to go forward!”

He pushed it again. The same thing happened.

The others laughed, but not unkindly. Their little boats were gliding slowly.

Turi was almost in tears.

Then he heard a small voice.

“I am not in a hurry.”

He looked at the boat.

“Was that you speaking?”

“Yes. And I would like to leave when the wind finds me, not when you push me.”

Turi snorted. “But the race will end!”

The little boat rocked. “Starting badly wastes more time than waiting well.”

Turi took it in his hands. The sail was crooked. The wood was not balanced. In his hurry, he had not noticed.

He sat on the pier and fixed the sail. Then he removed a little bit of wax stuck beneath the keel. Then he waited.

The wind did not come at once.

The other children finished the first race. Some began the second. Turi watched the water and breathed.

At last a light breeze passed through the ropes of the real boats.

“Now,” said Nina of the Wind.

Turi placed her on the water without pushing. The little boat set off slowly. She was not the fastest, but she went straight. The sail filled. The sun shone on the white line.

One child said, “How beautiful!”

Nina of the Wind reached the red rope after the others, but she reached it without overturning.

Turi lifted her as if she were a treasure.

“We did not win.”

“We started well,” answered the little boat.

From that day Turi built boats more calmly. First he checked the sail, then the weight, then the wind. Sometimes he won. Sometimes he did not.

But he no longer pushed journeys before they were ready.

He had learned that even a small boat knows its own moment.