All Write, Already!

Stepping onto the slickened stone in the riverbed, Jake held out his arms and bobbled a bit to maintain his balance. Slowly he made his way across the rapidly running waters of the stream, a step at a time. As he neared the far edge he saw a tree branch hovering over the surface that looked strong enough to hold his weight. He decided to reach out to it and use it to help him make it the final distance. He reached the branch and stretched out to grab it as the wind gusted. The branch bent down and whacked him on the head knocking him into the cold stream.




He was carried away by the current and drug under the surface of the rapidly moving waters. He kicked out and tried to find something to grab onto or push off of so he could get back to the surface and grab that much needed breath. He felt the solid barrier smash into his back and hold him in place, the water pushing him against it. Jake felt out and found a piece of wire near his right hand. He tugged on it and was able to pull his body around the barrier. After what seemed like 20 minutes he was released from the turgid waters and steered into a calm, warm backwater.



He tried to stand up and found his legs too weak to support him. He was able to reach the bottom with his arms and crawl and claw his way to the side. Sitting up in the reeds at its edge he sucked in huge lungfuls of air and just lay there, panting and exhausted.