cue and paddled in earnest.
The wind increased, causing ripples to cover the water’s surface. After fifteen minutes, she despaired of ever finding shelter. “Say, Tarzan, do you have any idea where we’re going or are you just, you know, using ‘The Force?’”
“As a matter of fact, we’re totally lost. But on the up side, we’re making great time.” He laughed outright at her threatening look. The amusement in his voice warmed her even as his words frightened her.
“Actually, we’re right on course. See that trail over to the left? Our first platform is directly beyond the curve. We’ll pitch camp there for the night.”
Catching the phrase “pitch camp” over the howling wind, she doubled her paddling efforts. Light raindrops danced on her face. The droplets became larger until they were in an all-out downpour when they reached the platform. Lightning flashed, followed by a crashing roll of thunder.
“Welcome to the Hilton,” yelled Eddie, waving his hand expansively as they pulled alongside the platform. “All the luxuries anyone could want.”
She sat stock still, a paralyzing fear gripped every molecule in her body.
Standing a foot and a half above the waterline, the platform looked about twenty feet square, constructed of heavy wood with a rudimentary wooden roof over two thirds of it. She was going to catch pneumonia, be eaten alive and die, not necessarily in that order. Did he really expect her to spend the night on that rickety dock? Any gator with half a mind could easily climb up there and have her for lunch. Not to mention all those other creeping and slithering things she’d rather not think about. Maybe she could call 911 and get air lifted out of here.
As if part of a precision drill team, Eddie secured the canoe and clambered onto the platform. He signaled for her to pass up a bright orange bundle peeking out from under the blue plastic covering their supplies. Pulling and heaving, she struggled to free the lightweight canvas that was their tent while he removed several branches from under the wooden roof.
Handing it up was another production entirely. One that required standing in a rocking boat. Gingerly, she braced her feet in the swaying canoe, rose slowly and hurled the tent at him before plopping back on her fanny. His laugh was louder than the pelting rain against the platform. Within minutes, the single man drill team had the tent assembled.
“Okay,” he yelled, a large clap of thunder nearly drowned out his voice.
“What?” She held the sides of the canoe as it pitched wildly in the churning water.
It took another minute of yelling and hand signals before she caught on. Reaching under the tarp, she grabbed a few items. The canoe wobbled beneath her feet as she slowly stood and gave him her unicorn bag and several other parcels. He jogged to stow them in the tent, and she gathered up more gear.
Rivulets of water ran into her eyes and ears, the little pink cap useless now. A loud crash of thunder sounded, and she stumbled backward. Eddie’s quick grip on her forearm saved her and their Styrofoam cooler from a swim in the swamp.
Don’t think about the creepy crawlies in the water. Only a few things left. I can do this. Leaning back, she reached for the last item.
In her eagerness, a backpack slipped from her grasp, creating a splash loud enough to be heard over the storm. She stood, stunned, watching as it sank below the surface.
Eddie fell onto his stomach and leaned over the side of the platform. He quickly grabbed it before it disappeared forever in the murky water. He hung so far off the side, she wondered that he didn’t follow it in.
Easing himself up, he sat cross-legged in the downpour, the backpack nestled in his lap. He turned a reproachful look on her. Streams of water trailed from his face to his soaking shirt.
“Oh, no!” She flopped back onto the canoe bench, covering her face with her hands. He thinks I did it on purpose! Because of her,
The wind increased, causing ripples to cover the water’s surface. After fifteen minutes, she despaired of ever finding shelter. “Say, Tarzan, do you have any idea where we’re going or are you just, you know, using ‘The Force?’”
“As a matter of fact, we’re totally lost. But on the up side, we’re making great time.” He laughed outright at her threatening look. The amusement in his voice warmed her even as his words frightened her.
“Actually, we’re right on course. See that trail over to the left? Our first platform is directly beyond the curve. We’ll pitch camp there for the night.”
Catching the phrase “pitch camp” over the howling wind, she doubled her paddling efforts. Light raindrops danced on her face. The droplets became larger until they were in an all-out downpour when they reached the platform. Lightning flashed, followed by a crashing roll of thunder.
“Welcome to the Hilton,” yelled Eddie, waving his hand expansively as they pulled alongside the platform. “All the luxuries anyone could want.”
She sat stock still, a paralyzing fear gripped every molecule in her body.
Standing a foot and a half above the waterline, the platform looked about twenty feet square, constructed of heavy wood with a rudimentary wooden roof over two thirds of it. She was going to catch pneumonia, be eaten alive and die, not necessarily in that order. Did he really expect her to spend the night on that rickety dock? Any gator with half a mind could easily climb up there and have her for lunch. Not to mention all those other creeping and slithering things she’d rather not think about. Maybe she could call 911 and get air lifted out of here.
As if part of a precision drill team, Eddie secured the canoe and clambered onto the platform. He signaled for her to pass up a bright orange bundle peeking out from under the blue plastic covering their supplies. Pulling and heaving, she struggled to free the lightweight canvas that was their tent while he removed several branches from under the wooden roof.
Handing it up was another production entirely. One that required standing in a rocking boat. Gingerly, she braced her feet in the swaying canoe, rose slowly and hurled the tent at him before plopping back on her fanny. His laugh was louder than the pelting rain against the platform. Within minutes, the single man drill team had the tent assembled.
“Okay,” he yelled, a large clap of thunder nearly drowned out his voice.
“What?” She held the sides of the canoe as it pitched wildly in the churning water.
It took another minute of yelling and hand signals before she caught on. Reaching under the tarp, she grabbed a few items. The canoe wobbled beneath her feet as she slowly stood and gave him her unicorn bag and several other parcels. He jogged to stow them in the tent, and she gathered up more gear.
Rivulets of water ran into her eyes and ears, the little pink cap useless now. A loud crash of thunder sounded, and she stumbled backward. Eddie’s quick grip on her forearm saved her and their Styrofoam cooler from a swim in the swamp.
Don’t think about the creepy crawlies in the water. Only a few things left. I can do this. Leaning back, she reached for the last item.
In her eagerness, a backpack slipped from her grasp, creating a splash loud enough to be heard over the storm. She stood, stunned, watching as it sank below the surface.
Eddie fell onto his stomach and leaned over the side of the platform. He quickly grabbed it before it disappeared forever in the murky water. He hung so far off the side, she wondered that he didn’t follow it in.
Easing himself up, he sat cross-legged in the downpour, the backpack nestled in his lap. He turned a reproachful look on her. Streams of water trailed from his face to his soaking shirt.
“Oh, no!” She flopped back onto the canoe bench, covering her face with her hands. He thinks I did it on purpose! Because of her,
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