BEHIND THE SUN story

Sheldon looked around at unfamiliar surroundings. Scotch thistles were ready to tear his skin apart. Horseflies buzzed around his head. By now, mosquitoes had taken most of his spare blood. What next? He really didn't want to come today.

He was tired of people feeling sorry for him, just because dad had died a few months ago.

"It will be good for you," mom had said. "You never go anywhere. This is your chance to go fishing. Now scoot."

He really didn't know his neighbor, that well. How much do you get to know a person when you deliver his paper for two months? Sheldon couldn't even pronounce the guy's name. Mr. Pro… something.

Sheldon stood up. A twig tried to scratch his eye out. His pants felt wet. The man told him early morning dew is never dry. How come Mr. Pro... thinks that's funny?

Sheldon was pretty smart for a ten year old. But not smart enough to figure out a good excuse to stay home. His Super Nintendo would be lonesome.

"COOOMMMMIING?" The sound of a voice carried from below the hill. It drifted slowly at first. Then it seemed to pounce on him, like a command.

Sheldon looked over the edge of the hill. Rocks were piled up below. Does he think I'm a mountain goat? The man looked like a midget. How did he make it down there? He must have parachuted or flew. "No way! Not me!" he shouted back.

"It's not that bad," the man said. "Come on down. I'll help…if you're afraid."

"Who says so?" the boy shot back. Call me a scared-cat? He thought. But he was really afraid. He remembered the time he fell off a ladder. Dad said to wait. But Sheldon didn't. He learned the hard way, and his rear end still felt sore thinking about it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that!" the man yelled up.

"That's okay!" Sheldon hollered back.

The man came part way up and helped Sheldon down to the edge of the Debert River. It was such a magnificent view. Rocky cliffs followed the current as far as the eye could see.

"Speckled trout in all those waterfalls too," Mr. Pro… said.

"Why do people like to catch fish anyways?" Sheldon huffed. "Besides, they stink."

The man pretended not to hear the boy's comments. He wasn't going to allow the peaceful spell of the outdoors to be spoiled.

"Well?" Sheldon was being ignored and he didn't like it. Not one little bit. "All I can see is a lot of bush and rock," he added.

"This place is magic," the man answered. "You'll see."

"I'm going to sit right here and not move. You can't make me fish in that river. Keep your old worms. Why did you bring me anyways?"

“You said you wanted to come.”

“Well, I’ve changed my mind,” the boy snapped. Hey, what's wrong with this guy? He's still smiling. Even after all the mean things Sheldon had said. He knew Mr. Pro... was just trying to be nice.

"I'm sorry for being so mean," he said. This was the second time he had apologized. If mom were here, she would have fainted. His blond hair blew lazily in the wind. It was confusing. It should be his dad here, not this stranger.

The man slowly answered, "I accept. Now I hope you're old enough to listen and stay in one spot.”

Just the way dad would have said it, Sheldon thought.

“A person could get lost if they wandered around. I'll be up ahead. When you're ready to fish, call me. OK?"

"Okay." Sheldon watched Mr. Pro... move silently away, firmly holding his fishing rod. His floppy hat brim blew up and down from the wind. Now he was alone. What to do?

He looked at the river. “Magic,” the man had said.

"KERPLUNK!" His rock skipped four times. Not bad, first try. After awhile it got boring. What do you do for an encore after wrist-shooting about 25 flat stones?

Sheldon watched a crow sweep upwards to a crevice in the cliff. Must be almost a hundred feet up, he figured. The river wasn't very wide. It was mostly full of little waterfalls, where the current bumped and scraped over boulders.

He had to admit it looked pretty.

A squirrel raced along the bank towards him. Then stopped suddenly and tore off in the opposite direction. Was it afraid Sheldon would hurt it? In fact, Sheldon was the one who was afraid. "Of his shadow," chums at school often said.

He was afraid of swimming in water over his head. And climbing high places. Even hiking in the wild woods. Then how come he's here? His mom must have told Mr. Pro... about his fears. Thinking about everything made him sleepy. He lay his head on the nearest soft rock, eyes barely able to stay open.

The sun felt so warm and comfortable. As if his mom was giving him a goodnight kiss. Sheldon thought about his dad. He missed him so much. He should be here, right now. Taking him fishing. Not some neighbor. It wasn't fair.

Time seemed to stand still as images and memories swept through the young boy.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes. Had he been dreaming? He felt so rested. As his eyes began to focus he saw a man standing over him. He recognized the glasses and floppy hat. It was Mr. Pro...

"Feeling alright?"

"I think so," the boy answered.

"Let me help you up," and a strong hand pulled Sheldon to his feet.

"Thanks."

"Want to try some exploring?" the man asked.

"Sure," Sheldon said eagerly.

The two of them sloshed through the river’s edge in their sneakers. Sheldon couldn't believe how 'cool' this was. It didn't even bother him to get his jeans wet. And the bug juice Mr. Pro... gave him actually kept the little devils away.

"This is fun," Sheldon said.

"And there's lots more," the man added.

They sat on a fallen tree and rested. Sheldon listened quietly to tales of camping and fishing, and other hiking adventures. Something like this one, right now. He absorbed stories of animals in the forest. About how and why they should be respected and protected.

The boy gasped when he turned and saw a whitetail deer leap over some driftwood. It seemed to float through the air. Such a beautiful sight, he thought. As the afternoon slowly moved along, Sheldon felt relaxed. For some strange reason he didn't feel so angry. Maybe this was a magic place like Mr. Pro... said.

“Ready to go on?” the man asked.

"Okay if I sit here, just for a few more minutes?" Sheldon asked. He watched as the man walked a short distance away, giving him some privacy. He saw how easily the man was able to cast his line out. Must have had lots of practice he thought.

Sheldon wondered if he could ever be like Mr. Pro... To have fun, not worry so much. Like always expecting to get A's in school. Or being the fastest runner on the block to escape the bullies. There must be another way.

He wished he could cast like Mr. Pro... Even learn how to swim. It would be great not to be afraid of everything. Would Mr. Pro... teach him?

"HEEYYY, Mr. Provost! Wait for me!" Sheldon startled himself as the words roared out of his mouth. It felt good to be running through the shallow part of the river. Water splashed in all directions. It didn’t really matter if his jeans got soaked. This was fun.

Just before reaching the waiting man, something made him stop and turn. Looking back towards the sun, he could sense someone watching.

He knew somewhere up there, it was dad. And he was smiling.

* * *

(c) 2008 Richard and Esther Provencher
All Rights Reserved

URL for Richard L. Provencher
http://writers.ns.ca/Writers/rprovencher.html