A World Beyond the Waterfalls

Board Soaring

"Are we sure about this?" I ask, bouncing on my toes.

Liam looks unsure. Dylan looks scared out of his mind. Ryder looks indifferent.

"Hey, Ryder?" Dylan says, his voice quavering.

"Yea?"

"Have you ever done this before?

Ryder nods. "Oh yea. Tons of times. I've done this so many times, I can't even count."

Dylan still looks uncertain. "Are you sure it's safe?"

"Of course it's safe. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't safe, now would I?"

Dylan stops shaking long enough to shrug. "Guess not." But he still doesn't seem convinced.

The plane lands right outside the building we're in and Dylan shudders at the thought of what it brings.

We run outside and hop onto the jet, it's propellers still spinning furiously. My hair blows and the wins almost knocks me over, but Dylan keeps a firm hold on my hand.

We get on the jet and sit in seats in one section, squeezing into four spots.

"This is gonna be so cool!" I exclaim, my knees bouncing in anticipation.

Ryder laughs lightly. "You don't even know what Board Soaring is yet," he points out.

I raise my eyebrows at him. "Listen to the name. Wouldn't you assume it was gonna be 'so cool?'"

He nods in agreement. "To shè."

We sit in silence until we take off, the jet rising higher and higher into the air. I honestly can't believe what I'm about to do, though what that is, I'm not even sure. But I do know it's going to be the experience of a lifetime.

"Ready!" The pilot screams from the front, headphones covering his ears. He presses buttons furiously, his hands flying over the control panels.

Ryder winks at me. "Want to go first?"

I grin. "Absolutely."

He brings me to the closed door of the jet and hands me a backpack. "Put this on." He orders.

My heart pounds in my chest as I skip it on and tighten the straps. "Okay," Ryder says, "pull this strap when you're close to the ground. It'll slow down the fall and land you safely. I'll attach you to the board and you'll be ready to go."

I nod, trying to remember every little
thing that he says. "Got it."

"There's two to a board, so pick a partner."

"Dylan," I immediately answer.

Dylan's head pops up from the seat and he looks terrified. "Aw, you've got to be kidding me. I can't go first!"

"Well, that really sucks for you, doesn't it." Ryder answers, slipping a backpack over Dylan's shoulders. "Have fun!"

Ryder sits us on a long rectangular board that resembles an oversized snow sled, one of the ones the little kids use to sled down the hill. Except this one has make shift wings and what looks like wheels. He straps us in tightly, almost too tightly, and pats our backs. "Good luck!"

And as he pushes us out the door of the plane, I know that it's gonna be everything I anticipated it would be.

We shoot out of the jet and fly into the night air, soaring higher than the clouds. It's the most exhilarating feeling in the world, the rush of adrenaline sucking the breath out do you.

The view is breath-taking also, so beautiful I can't even describe it. The wind whips through my shirt and my hair, making me feel like I'm flying.

The board soars up and down, high and low, making my heart jumps with every bounce or turn. Dylan sits behind me, screaming his brains out, his arms wrapped extra tightly around my waist.

But I ignore him, enjoying this feeling way too much to be bothered by his blood-curdling screams of horror. And even though he's shrieking bloody-murder, I know somehow, deep down, he's enjoying this. Some day he'll look back and realize that this was the most fun he's had in years. And so will I.