{"seoTitle":"Little Defeats — A Short Story | Pemba Umoja Stories","seoDescription":"A short story about two eleven-year-old girls, a paddleboard far from shore, and the small defeats we quietly explain away. By Pemba Umoja.","keywords":"short story about childhood, coming of age short story, story about pride and fear, literary short stories, story about friendship and teasing, Pemba Umoja","content":{"p1":"They were way out in the middle of the lake. Two eleven-year-old girls setting out on life.","p2":"I’m going to jump out here and swim to the shore.","p3":"All the way?","p4":"Yes, I can do it.","p5":"Okay, said the friend with a wry smile, as she paddled away, leaving her alone in the middle of the lake.","p6":"You’re going really far away.","p7":"Do you want me to come for you?","p8":"No, I can do it. I know how to swim.","p9":"Okay, said her friend, paddling even farther away, her wry smile growing broader.","p10":"Hey, you’re going really far.","p11":"Do you want me to come get you then?","p12":"No, I can do it. I know how to swim.","p13":"Her friend chuckled.","p14":"There are some really big fish here.","p15":"Oh no. Do they bite?","p16":"Yes.","p17":"Does it hurt?","p18":"Yes.","p19":"You don’t seem to be getting very far.","p20":"I am. It’s just that you’re moving.","p21":"Her friend splashed the paddles roughly, her smile widened.","p22":"Come get me. Turn around and come get me.","p23":"Her friend turned the paddleboard around.","p24":"Her mom and friend let out a laugh on the shore.","p25":"Hey, are you laughing at me, Mom?","p26":"No, honey, we are just talking.","p27":"She climbed onto the paddle board a little more unsure.","p28":"On the way to the dock, she didn’t see any of the big fish.","p29":"They must have swum away, far, far away."}}