Over the River

CHAPTER ONE

Jake’s Place

Jake walked toward his favorite bend in the creek, listening to the muted sounds of last autumn’s leaves crunching underfoot, still wet from the spring snowmelt. He marveled at the feeling of the soft earth, molding itself to his every footstep. With the new grasses and buds pushing their way up through the mulch, he could smell all three seasons coming together; last autumn’s leaves, the winter’s snow, and springtime coming to life.

Spring Break delivered a perfect day for his regular visit to The Spot. The creek was at its widest here, far from all the neighbors and roads and small towns. The woods were so thick that other kids seldom ventured anywhere near this far from the school, and adults had simply never, ever been seen out here.

To Jake, this was his perfect, secret place to get away from it all. The big turn in the creek got so wide, he’d never been able to skip rocks all the way to the other side; so wide that he couldn’t imagine casting a fishing lure all the way over; so deep that you could swim in it without touching bottom in the middle. And so big, it made the perfect skating rink in winter. There were just enough big trees to make shade for fishing, and just enough room between them to cast his fly rod without the hook getting caught in the branches. But most important was his seat in the big weeping willow tree.

The willow reached majestically toward the sky, its limbs waving at the gentle foothills on the horizon. Jake was convinced that this willow had no equal. The trunk’s thickest branches wrapped almost to the ground, spaced like a rustic spiral staircase. After many practice attempts, Jake now believed he could take a running start and scamper up the first six branches with no hands!

Higher up is where Jake found his natural chair. A huge branch as thick as an elephant’s leg, and smaller branches as thin as baseball bats curving upwards in a row created a natural chair back. Jake could sit on the huge elephant limb, and lean back into these branches, rest his head between two, and let his legs swing free. A branch on the far right had a crook that zigged and zagged and created an armrest. These branches were shaped like a nap, just waiting to happen!

Before him in his willow throne, in full view was the big pond, made by the curve in the creek, and the tree-lined grassy hill beyond. Many a day, Jake came to this spot to fish, to swim, to skip rocks, to read, to practice tying flies, or just to fall asleep in his secret spot, in his perfect willow tree.

But today felt special. There was a certain crispness in the morning air that seemed to energize him. The breeze was light, and the sun warmed his face through the cool air.

Jake approached his tree from a swift walk, and, beginning to run, he launched himself up into it with a burst of energy. No hands - he leaned in, looked up, and brisked his way up the first five branch-steps as swift as ever. Today, he was determined to make that larger reach for number six… he felt sure he could do it. He could see it in his mind. As he crested number five, he pulled his arms in for the extra shot of momentum… he made fists… he made the reach, turning slightly… extended… checked his footing in a split second, looking skyward he pressed hard into it… YES! That’s it! A quick grab at the branch to steady and – he had reached the elusive number six! No hands! YES!

Jake turned and inhaled deeply as he felt his heart begin to pump hard from his swift climb. The morning air was totally filled with spring now. Nothing had ever smelled more exciting. Jake got hold of his armrest and lowered himself back into his perfect tree chair and let his legs swing free.

What a day! He looked ahead, surveying his private domain. The cool breeze tickled the grasses on the other side of the pond as a few ducks bathed on the bank. Birds giggled overhead, and Jake felt like he was in heaven. He watched a big old Military cargo plane fly over, almost silently above the clouds, as he relaxed into the big willow, setting his head back into the crook between the branches, his dark brown hair against the branch. His elbow found its rest, and he closed his eyes so he could just breathe for a moment, just soak it all in.

As water danced over the rocks just downstream, he began to daydream about all the things he would do this summer, all the places he’d go, all the new things he would try. Maybe he would climb to the very tip-top of the big willow, where just maybe, he might be able to see all the way to Sun Dance lake! Sometimes in this spot, he would drift off into this delightful dream state, since he knew that he’d never be interrupted. There was nowhere in the world he felt safer. He sat alone, perfectly still for quite awhile, and just listened to it all - the wind in the willow tree vines, the random wildlife, the ducks making their occasional splashing sounds, and the footsteps that were snapping twigs as they made their way through the tall dry grass on the hill on the other side of the pond…

CHAPTER TWO

The Intruder

FOOTSTEPS? Jake’s eyes snapped open like a vintage camera’s shutter. A shot of adrenaline rushed through him like a bullet. He felt a chill and every tiny hair on his neck stood up. He suddenly went from his blissful state of tranquil relaxation to a wide awake state of utter surprise. He had never, ever shown anybody this place. He hadn’t talked about it. He had never, ever seen anyone else here - ever! How could anyone have found him? He’d been careful to never even show anyone the trail, not even his buddies at High School! Who could it be?

Jake braced himself and carefully sat up straight on the big branch. He rubbed his day-dreamy eyes so he could focus on the invader. He tried to remain absolutely quiet to avoid giving away his position. Slowly, he moved his hands down to get a firm hold on the branches. He steadied his gaze on the other side of the pond, and skooched himself into position for a better view, preparing to size up the intruder. When he spotted her standing atop the hill, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a girl!

A girl? Of all people! Why would she have hiked this far out? What on earth was she doing way out here? Jake’s mind swam with questions. The situation was very suddenly quite uncomfortable. Was his perfect, private spot now lost forever? Would there be others? Would she spot him? Would she tell anybody? Would he have to actually talk to her?

Slowly, she turned her face into the breeze, brushing her long blond hair with the wind. She walked carefully, measuring her steps over the soft ground. She looked curious, and somehow, fearless. She was just wandering ahead, periodically stopping to look around, seeming to be headed nowhere in particular but wherever her spirit moved her.

Jake could tell she had never been here before. She appeared unsure of her footing, acting as though she might be lost. Maybe she needed help? He began to wonder… if he shouldn’t… maybe, ask her if she wanted him to… No WAIT! That was absurd! He couldn’t give away his position! He couldn’t let anyone discover his lofty perch! Just think! What if she came back! All the solitary perfection might be over!

He could see her clearly now, as she raised her head to see further over the hill. He saw her turning into the scene, looking almost at him…and then he saw her face. Every hair stood up on the back of Jake’s neck as he took in the sight of her. His eyes took a moment to absorb this vision. He hadn’t been prepared for this at all. She was definitely not from around here. Jake was quite positive he’d never seen her before. As his mind began to try to get itself around this image, he suddenly became aware of his heartbeat again. It was much stronger now, and a good bit faster, but he hadn’t moved a muscle! He was confused at his excitement, but mostly, he was spellbound by this face. Jake was not at all ready for this realization; she was absolutely beautiful.

As she turned back into the wind, Jake looked at her profile, backlit by the morning sunlight. He could see her little upturned nose, her wispy eyebrows, and the shape of her mouth. He watched the wind toying with her hair, and her big flannel shirttails wandering aimlessly behind her in the breeze. He noticed her faded blue jeans, and the grass stains on her knees. One knee was worn right through, just like his! She wore a blue bandana around her neck, tied loose, like a cowboy’s. She didn’t seem to have any jewelry on, and he noticed she wore none of that stupid makeup like some of the girls at school were beginning to wear. They looked so ridiculous! No. She looked much better than them. She looked totally natural standing there. He thought she must be much cooler than those other girls. They would never hike out this far. They wouldn’t come out here on a dare! This girl was much more like…

Jake suddenly realized how long he’d been watching her! He must’ve been staring at her for… well, he couldn’t tell. Somehow, he felt like he’d lost track of time! Had he drifted into daydreaming again? But she was still there! She wasn’t walking at all anymore. She was just standing there in the clearing in front of his Willow. Is this where she’d been headed? Slowly she turned around and faced the other way. She’d looked almost right toward the tree again! Had she seen him this time?

Now he could see that, over her left shoulder, she was carrying something - a purse? No - was it a backpack? It was white, and it swung under her arm as she took a few steps, and, no – wait - there were two. And as she turned a bit more toward the tree, the sun glinted off the blades, and the reflection flashed right into Jake’s eyes. It didn’t make sense: It was a pair of figure skates.

Figure skates? Why on earth was this beautiful girl carrying figure skates in the springtime? The pond hadn’t been frozen since February. Was she goofy? She should be carrying fishing tackle, or at least a butterfly net, or something. Jake was suddenly somehow disappointed. He wondered, "How could a girl who seemed so nearly, you know… normal, be doing something so…you know, so, goofy?" He wasn’t anywhere near ready to admit it to himself, but in all these minutes he’d been… admiring her…he must have been secretly hoping that they might become friends or something. But now this?

She made her way down to the bank of the pond, and then downstream to where it narrowed again above the little rapids. She began to pick her way across the creek to his side, stepping from rock to rock, then waiting, before jumping athletically from step to step, until she stood right at the other edge, looking over the water. Now she couldn’t be more than fifty feet away from him! Jake measured his breathing now, careful not to move, for fear she might see him. He was in plain view of her now, so he just hoped that he could stay still enough to blend in, to go unnoticed. He wasn’t ready for this. Not for any of this. Not today, not yet, not now.

The flowing water lapped at her old, beat up hiking boots. They had yellow yarn for laces, and looked like they might be a bit too big. There was something splattered on the tops, a few different colors, was it paint? Her pants were rolled up at the bottom, and she had a rope for a belt. The skates over her shoulder were in even worse shape. A bit of rust had tinted the edges of the blades, and Jake could see quite a few knots where the laces had been broken and re-tied. The white leather was cracked and old, and it was worse around the ankles. She couldn’t be old enough to have worn them out this badly. They must be hand-me-downs. Maybe even double hand-me-downs!

Jake watched as she stood at the water’s edge, as she seemed to be carefully scanning the scene. Slowly, she looked back and forth across the pond, almost as though she was watching an imaginary swan slowly swimming back and forth, back and forth….

Standing here on this side of the pond she had become different; calmer, more at peace. She almost seemed to be looking into another dimension, viewing a place that only she could see. Jake wondered what she was thinking. She stood so nearly still now, moving only her head, almost like the old blind guitarist Jake had met in the Town Square one day. Just like him, she had a faraway gaze that seemed to be looking somewhere wonderful.

Jake found himself so curious now. He just had to know what she was thinking. And who was she? What was her name? Where did she come from? Where did she live? How did she find this place? Would she be going to his school? To Jake, she was so disarmingly beautiful. He was beginning to get butterflies in his stomach. But still, why was she being so still? He couldn’t sit motionless in this tree forever! He began to worry… if she looks up and sees him… it might scare the willies out of her! She might get mad! She might think he was spying on her! She might run away, and then he’d never…

Slowly, she took a step into the edge of the pond. And another! She was up to her ankles in the cold water now, over the tops of her boots! What was she thinking? She closed her eyes, and turned her body back into the wind. She began to sway, ever so slightly, back and forth with a rhythm, as though she heard music. And Jake began to hear her singing under hear breath.

Her voice was like nothing Jake had ever heard, and a shiver swept over him. She just stood there on the sandy river bottom, gently swaying, quietly singing to herself, with her eyes closed. And suddenly, Jake thought he understood. Inside her head, he thought, she must be