simple nickel.
My mouth felt like I’d eaten dirt for dinner instead of meat and potatoes. After a day in the sun, my entire body needed to be saturated with water, my skin so dry it flaked and cracked.
From the road, the store windows were dark and the door held closed with a single padlock. That meant Dave would be waiting for me at the rapids. I shivered with anticipation and quickened my steps.
After making my way through the initial driveway of the round, gravel parking lot, I reached a patch of knee-high grass and towering pines that blocked my view of the rapids behind. I knew the woods would open up into the rocky terrain of the rapids if I pushed just beyond the natural boundary of the trees. I could hear the water pounding below as it hit the rocks, churning and swirling.
I broke through the trees, pushing the grass to my side and saw the massive river. The brown, rusty water had caps of white foam, reminding me of a frosty mug of root beer.
Immediately, I spotted Dave resting on an outcropping of rock that overlooked the rapids dumping into the river beyond. He sat at the very edge of the rock, dipping his feet into the brown bubbling water.
Picking my way carefully through the last of the grass, I held onto the last few tree limbs for support to keep from falling down the slippery incline leading to the rocks. My nervousness didn’t help my stumbling feet as I climbed the first of the black jagged rocks.
A whisper of fear crossed my mind, reminding me of Sarah’s death. But I’m not alone , I argued with my fears, and I’m the furthest thing from suicidal. Although a quick Baywatch-like rescue scene flashed through my mind; Dave pulling me from the frigid water, clutching me to his chest.
Half-crawling across the giant boulders, I caught myself twice from falling into several cracks and crevices that hid amongst the rocky floor. “It’s not exactly dinner and a movie,” I grumbled to myself, afraid I would end up with a broken leg before I could spend even a minute with Dave.
The roar of the rapids covered any sound of my approach. The rushing sound comforted my nerves, sort of a lulling, repetitive sound that cleared my mind. I reminded myself that I was supposed to be my Aunt Sarah, who had probably been there alone with Dave tons of times, but knowing this didn’t tell me what I was supposed to do, what I was supposed to say.
Dave turned then, as if sensing my presence, and spotted me standing awkwardly at the base of the ledge where he sat. His smile flashed, brilliant in the setting sun and he leaped effortlessly to his feet. Crossing the rocks with ease, he danced along the edge of the rock, not seeming to notice how close he was to the unforgiving pounding of the rapids.
His beautiful, rugged face was inches from mine in seconds. Before I could think of something to say, he pulled me into a crushing embrace and covered my lips in a hot, eager kiss. My body froze, stiffening in his arms like a corpse. I’d never been kissed before, and instead of enjoying the experience, my brain jumped into overdrive, from analyzing my technique and worrying if I was kissing right, to freaking out, wondering if he could smell the farm in my clothes and hair. There was no doubt Dave would figure out I wasn’t Sarah. My stomach felt full of lead as I dreaded his response.
Dave pulled away. “Is something wrong?” He stared at me, eyes probing my face, questioning my cold reaction.
My lack of experience made me feel vulnerable and self-conscious of my body in ways I had never felt before. I felt silly and childish, like a little girl playing dress up, pretending to be something I wasn’t.
I ran my fingers nervously through my hair. Keep cool. This is all supposed to be normal. Reaching a shaky hand out to Dave, I grasped his fingers in my own, steeled by the warmth and strength of his grip. “Sorry, just felt a little dizzy there for a second,” I said, using my recent accident as a crutch…again.
My mouth felt like I’d eaten dirt for dinner instead of meat and potatoes. After a day in the sun, my entire body needed to be saturated with water, my skin so dry it flaked and cracked.
From the road, the store windows were dark and the door held closed with a single padlock. That meant Dave would be waiting for me at the rapids. I shivered with anticipation and quickened my steps.
After making my way through the initial driveway of the round, gravel parking lot, I reached a patch of knee-high grass and towering pines that blocked my view of the rapids behind. I knew the woods would open up into the rocky terrain of the rapids if I pushed just beyond the natural boundary of the trees. I could hear the water pounding below as it hit the rocks, churning and swirling.
I broke through the trees, pushing the grass to my side and saw the massive river. The brown, rusty water had caps of white foam, reminding me of a frosty mug of root beer.
Immediately, I spotted Dave resting on an outcropping of rock that overlooked the rapids dumping into the river beyond. He sat at the very edge of the rock, dipping his feet into the brown bubbling water.
Picking my way carefully through the last of the grass, I held onto the last few tree limbs for support to keep from falling down the slippery incline leading to the rocks. My nervousness didn’t help my stumbling feet as I climbed the first of the black jagged rocks.
A whisper of fear crossed my mind, reminding me of Sarah’s death. But I’m not alone , I argued with my fears, and I’m the furthest thing from suicidal. Although a quick Baywatch-like rescue scene flashed through my mind; Dave pulling me from the frigid water, clutching me to his chest.
Half-crawling across the giant boulders, I caught myself twice from falling into several cracks and crevices that hid amongst the rocky floor. “It’s not exactly dinner and a movie,” I grumbled to myself, afraid I would end up with a broken leg before I could spend even a minute with Dave.
The roar of the rapids covered any sound of my approach. The rushing sound comforted my nerves, sort of a lulling, repetitive sound that cleared my mind. I reminded myself that I was supposed to be my Aunt Sarah, who had probably been there alone with Dave tons of times, but knowing this didn’t tell me what I was supposed to do, what I was supposed to say.
Dave turned then, as if sensing my presence, and spotted me standing awkwardly at the base of the ledge where he sat. His smile flashed, brilliant in the setting sun and he leaped effortlessly to his feet. Crossing the rocks with ease, he danced along the edge of the rock, not seeming to notice how close he was to the unforgiving pounding of the rapids.
His beautiful, rugged face was inches from mine in seconds. Before I could think of something to say, he pulled me into a crushing embrace and covered my lips in a hot, eager kiss. My body froze, stiffening in his arms like a corpse. I’d never been kissed before, and instead of enjoying the experience, my brain jumped into overdrive, from analyzing my technique and worrying if I was kissing right, to freaking out, wondering if he could smell the farm in my clothes and hair. There was no doubt Dave would figure out I wasn’t Sarah. My stomach felt full of lead as I dreaded his response.
Dave pulled away. “Is something wrong?” He stared at me, eyes probing my face, questioning my cold reaction.
My lack of experience made me feel vulnerable and self-conscious of my body in ways I had never felt before. I felt silly and childish, like a little girl playing dress up, pretending to be something I wasn’t.
I ran my fingers nervously through my hair. Keep cool. This is all supposed to be normal. Reaching a shaky hand out to Dave, I grasped his fingers in my own, steeled by the warmth and strength of his grip. “Sorry, just felt a little dizzy there for a second,” I said, using my recent accident as a crutch…again.
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