Alex ran down the school steps to grab his bike from the bike rack. It is so hot out! I’m glad it’s the last week of school. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. Spotting Markus, he swung his leg over the bar of his bike.“Markus, ya wanna go swimming with me?” Alex invited, catching up to Markus on his bike. The walkers blocked his way on the sidewalk. He rode his bike off the sidewalk and onto the road.
“Yea! Stop at my house so I can get a towel.” Markus answered, pulling into his driveway, he threw his bike down and ran into the house.
Alex watched as the walkers passed the driveway. Raising his hand to flag Jeff down while he past by. Alex watched as Jeff spun around with his bike.
“Hey Jeff! Were going swimming. Wanna come? Markus is getting his towel.” Alex stood in the driveway straddling his bike. This is gonna be awesome!
“Yea. Wait for me. I’ll be right back.” Jeff called over his shoulder, quickly pulling into his driveway to toss his bike down onto the ground. Jeff sprinted into his house.
“Where’d Jeff go?” Markus asked, picking up his bike with a towel slung over his shoulder. He stuffed a soda bottle into the bottle holder on his bike.
“Said he’d be right back.” Alex let his eye follow the walkers by the house. I hope he hurries, I’m hot!
“All right. Got one too.” Jeff stated with his towel tied around his waist. His bike still plastered with mud from the fun they had yesterday.
“Alex, have you ever gone swimming here?” Markus called over to him as they neared their destination. Their bikes bounced over the rough trail.
“Na… but it’s hot out and I really need to cool off.”
Jeff flashed past Alex as they neared the pond. They rushed down a steep embankment to stop on a small beach. Alex raced to keep up with Jeff.
“Last one in is a rotten egg.” Alex yelled dropping his bike and kicking off his shoes. He raced across the beach into the water.
“Alex, you not gonna take off your clothes?” Markus looked surprised to see Alex already in the water.
“Na…this is good enough.” Alex splashed the water all around him. He dove underwater and resurfacing quickly. The water felt good, but the muddy bottom did not. Yuck!
“Is the water cold?” Jeff asked, unsure whether to jump right into the water like Alex did.
“Na… it’s great. Come on guys!” Alex called to them. He flipped this way and that way in the water.
Alex saw Markus dive into the water with a splash. Then he saw the movement from the corner of his eye.
“Woo ho!” Alex pointed to a log floating near by where they swam.
“Aw Man, look at that turtle!” Jeff shouted spotting the turtle sitting on the log.
“Its huge!” Markus carefully moved away from the log.
“Isn’t that a snapper?” Jeff asked moving behind Alex.
“Get that stick for me!” Alex called to Markus.
“What are ya gonna do man?” Jeff sounded fearful of the turtle’s sharp beak.
Markus made his way closer to the shore. He picked up the thick stick and swam back to Alex. Handing it to him, he moved out of the way.
“Check this out!” Alex shoved the stick toward the turtle’s mouth. The sharp jaws latched onto the stick. The stick snapped in half.
“Oh wow, did you see that?” Markus shouted excitedly. He had moved closer to the shore.
“Yea! It snapped that stick right in half!” Alex smiled. Look at those puppies run from a little old turtle! Alex found his friends amusing.
“I don’t think I wanna swim in here with that thing! I’m getting out.” Markus stated as he made his way onto the shore.
“Yea! Me too!” Jeff agreed, quickly following Markus.
“Aw come on guys, don’t let that turtle scare you!” Alex wined. They are such sissies!
“E uw …what’s that all over you?” Jeff pointed to Markus’s back.
“Leaches!” Markus screamed looking over his shoulder. “Ah! Get ‘em off me!”
“Arg! Their on me too!” Jeff panicked. His legs covered with the squirmy black things.
“Alex, get out of the water. It’s loaded with bloodsuckers!” Markus yelled as he plucked the squiggles off him.
“Bloodsuckers! Ahh! Their all inside my clothes” Alex screamed, quickly running out of the water while yanking off his clothes.
Copyright © November 2009 by Linda Nelson
Linda Nelson 