Malorie draped the blanket over the heads of Girl and Boy before covering herself.
“We are near the rapids. You remember the rapids I told you about? They are going to be rough. The water will be bumpy. It will be the hardest thing we’ve ever done. One of us is going to have to look.”
A long, empty silence.
“I will do it” said Boy, finally.
“No,” Malorie answered sternly “I will decide who looks.”
Girl and Boy looked on solemnly.
Malorie sighed shallowly before putting her blindfold back on and continuing to row.
As they approached the rapids, the air became thicker. The wind picked up and the river loudened. Malorie went under the blanket and removed her blindfold once again.
“The rapids are coming up,” Malorie began.
The children looked on, unsure of what to make of the situation.
Malorie just stared at their blank faces; intensity quickly rising.
Tears welled in Malorie’s eyes; she had to briefly cover her mouth to prevent from screaming out at how unfair the situation was.
“I will do it.” Girl said quietly but firmly.
Malorie paused for a long moment - attempting to breathe steadily.
“Okay, Girl.” She said “You need to be brave. Boy you will keep your blindfold on. I will keep my blindfold on. Girl, when I tell you, you will take your blindfold off and look. You will tell me what you see, and you will tell me where the shore is. You will have to guide us to the shore. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Malorie.”
“Alright.” Malorie said, breathing deeply now.
Malorie exited the blanket, blindfold on, and took in the cold air. The rapids were nearly upon them.
“Okay, Girl, it’s time.”
Girl left the blanket with her blindfold on, awaiting the signal from Malorie.
“Girl, take your blindfold off.” Malorie said after a few beats.
Girl did as she was told; removing her blindfold, and beginning to see. She saw the river, she saw the trees, the sun, the leaves - she saw everything. She saw the rapids; the dangerous, treacherous, harsh, and unforgiving rapids. Girl directed Malorie all along, until finally reaching what appeared to Girl as a waterfall. Girl struggled to comprehend precisely what she saw, which was in fact nothing but a small drop into the water. Girl conveyed this to Malorie, shouting: “Waterfall! Waterfall!”
“What?! Where!?” Malorie screamed, suddenly aware of the imminent danger.
“Right there!” Girl said - not knowing any better, being only five years old.
“Hold on!” Malorie yelled, exhausted from attempting to fight the current, and now anticipating a massive drop.
As the boat drifted forward, and eventually sailed off of the edge of the precipice, Malorie held her breath, as well as the two children. She was not expecting to make contact with the water again for at least a few seconds. However, the boat touched down into the rapids again almost immediately. “Was that it, Girl? Was that the waterfall?” “Yes, Malorie.” Girl said, completely shaken, blindfold back on.
Malorie let out a sigh of relief. The boat crashed roughly into something that behaved like dirt. They were no longer being carried by the river. They had made it.
Written by Jack Fowler
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