Just a Hike

Sun streamed through Andre’s bedroom window, promising a warm March day. Freckles danced and jiggled across his face. His smile was wide as the sky.     

 

The phone rang. "Andre!" His mother called, "for you." 

 

Quickly as a jackrabbit Andre fished on his jeans. Then climbed into socks and shoved feet into sneakers.

 

"Cool!" he shouted, pounding down the stairs, "Michael didn't forget to call."

           

"What's up hon?" mother asked, chewing on a piece of toast.

           

"Can't eat, we’re going on a hike to Victoria Park. Michael says he has a surprise for me."

           

"Breakfast first, son."

           

"Mommm. I have to go."

 

"No! EAT first."

           

"Okay, I give." Mom’s smile changed her back into a friendly teddy bear. Andre ate breakfast and scooted outside, then upstairs to his friend’s apartment.

           

"Let's climb Victoria Park Falls," Michael stated firmly.

           

Andre had already climbed partway once before. But, that was in summer when the rocks were dry. After mom found out, she gave strict orders not to try again.

 

Andre shook his head. He wasn't afraid, either.

 

"You comin’ or not?" Michael asked, making it more like a dare. Both boys were nine years old and best friends. "Yeh, cool. Let's do it," Andre answered.

 

Last night's rain left puddles in different spots. Can't get my new sneakers dirty, Andre thought. Mom would roast me if she found out where I was. However, it didn't take long to get them wet and muddy. The trail they followed was full of mucky ruts.

 

Victoria Park on the southerly edge of the town of Truro stretched far ahead. All 400 acres of playground looked inviting. Andre and Michael had great fun climbing trees and scurrying down ravines.

 

They even walked their soggy sneakers through the creek.

           

"Look!" Andre yelled. "Someone lost a fishing bobber." He rolled up his pants and waded into a deeper pool.

 

"Neato," Michael said. "Can I see it?" He grabbed it with a quick hand.

 

"Give it back!" Andre demanded.

 

"Catch me first," Michael said, heading across the playground to the woods. Both boys played hide and seek for the next ten minutes. Finally Andre lunged at Michael and pulled him down.

           

"Ow. That hurt."

"Sorry," Andre said as he snatched back his red and white prize.

           

"No fair, you tripped me."

 

"Did not."

 

"Did too."

 

They continued on their hiking trail until they reached the Falls. Standing below the tumbling water, they noticed patches of snow still clinging to moist rocks.

 

“Ready to climb?” Michael asked.

 

"Not me," Andre answered.

           

Both boys stared as water foamed over the waterfall.

 

Michael headed over to the lower rocks. Andre hesitated then followed, hoping to convince his friend to change his mind.

 

He watched nervously as Michael climbed higher.

 

"Looks slippery," Andre called from below.

           

"Nah, don't be a little baby. Come on."

 

At first Michael found good stepping-stones. He was able to climb about fifteen feet up the side of the waterfall.

 

Then he slipped and fell. As his body tumbled along with the watery Falls heading below his face grazed a few rocks. Good thing there was a pool of water to break his fall.

 

At first Andre couldn't move. Then he was off like greased lightning. His wet sneakers skidded down like a runaway train. Andre waded into the pool below, grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him to shore.

 

Michael's face was red as if he had splashed paint on it.

 

Andre screamed. "You're all bloody!"

 

Luckily a neighbor walking nearby heard the commotion. The man carried the bleeding Michael to his car then drove him to the Truro Hospital.

 

That night beside Michael's hospital bed, Andre watched his friend carefully. He had been so worried. Both mom’s had hurried over to the hospital when they first received a phone call from the man who helped.

           

Michael lay quietly and tried to smile. One side of his face was badly swollen, as well as black and blue. Stitches crisscrossed his left cheek, and one eye was swollen shut.

           

"You look like a pirate," Andre said.

           

Michael gave his mother a crooked smile. He could barely move his lips to mumble, "I won't do that again."

           

Everyone was happy to see Michael would be alright. However, the doctor said he had to remain overnight.

 

"Want to get me a pop sickle?” Michael asked.

 

"Cool," Andre answered. Now he knew for sure his friend was going to be okay.