The little girl, let’s call her Lina, is a real adventurer – at least for today. With steps that are half full of courage and half full of “Oh boy, this water is cold!” she fights her way through the rushing river. As she stomps through the roaring water, you can almost see the thought growing in her mind: “Today I’ll conquer this river – and maybe even the current. But first, the river.”
Lina dodges the slippery rocks, hopping here and there, and sometimes just straight into the water, because adventure is calling. Sure, she could just sit by the shore with a book or enjoy an ice cream, but no, Lina wants more – she wants to get to the island.
This island is really just a pile of stones in the middle of the water, but for Lina, it’s her own personal sun oasis. With one last determined push against the current – okay, maybe it’s more of a wobbly jump – she lands on her destination. Full of pride, as if she just conquered Mount Everest, she plants herself in the center of the island.
And then the magic happens: Lina sunbathes. Yes, you heard that right. There she is, lying on her stony throne, arms stretched out to the sides, eyes closed, her face lifted toward the sun. In this moment, it’s hard to tell if she’s a human or a sun-worshipping cat.
Her face glows with contentment as the sun gently dries her wet hair, and the warmth wraps around her like a cozy blanket. She looks as if she hasn’t just conquered half the river, but as if she’s the most relaxed person in the world. You couldn’t resist taking a picture – and yes, it’s a masterpiece. Lina, the little river conqueror, lying there like a mix of a daring heroine and a lazy sunbather.
When she eventually opens her eyes, she squints at the camera and asks, “Can I have my ice cream now?” And just like that, Lina’s summer is perfect.