tell ya` what,I`m not of the younger posters on this site, but I`m going to put in my piece anyways,,you never mentioned if your brother had any problem or if he even encountered them, but they were just what you said, kids,,being a young buck yourself, you`ve probably been in a situation similar to that one, maybe not on a river or even a playground but I can`t imagine kids never having been in a situation similar, Even myself had been there,(many moons ago) but minus the racial burbs you probably should have tried talking with them , although not being there, nobody can say for sure but yourself, (like asking them if they seen your brother perhaps)may have been a break in the ice..just guessing at this stage..