Her Indigenous Surrender

CHAPTER 5 THE (DATE) OUTING ◇ 2

The hiking party meanders through the thick rainforest while Mr. Mondesir continues pointing out interesting plants and animals. Amaziah takes out pictures, while Ashhur asks pertinent questions about every discovery he makes. They cross the small river from the waterfall several times.

Finally, they arrive at the falls. The main falls are approximately 26 feet, while the upper falls stand at 9 feet 10 inches. Their hiking party is the only one there. The rush of the falls, the chirping of the birds, and the symphony of the insects create an interesting natural orchestra that only nature lovers will deeply appreciate.

"It is times like these," Mr. Mondesir breaks the verbal silence bestowed upon his hiking group, "I genuinely appreciate nature. Listen. Do you know what you do not hear? The hustle-and-bustle of the big towns, angry tourists, and loud locals. You get to enjoy the peace of the forest."

"Definitely a plus in my books," Kitchi said, turning to look at Charlene, who was quietly playing referee between Amaziah and Ariel. Ashhur nodded in agreement with Mr. Mondesir's words.

"This place is truly beautiful, Mr. Mondesir," Charlene said, walking back to the rest of the group after scolding her elder children. "I want to thank you for taking us here on such short notice with a club sandwich and a bottle of water. That okay with ya?"

Mr. Mondesir accepted the delicious gift with a large smile. After snacking and cleaning up, he led them to a few more lookout locations, offering different perspectives of the falls. Later, they all had a blast in the cool lagoon, and Mr. Mondesir took requested pictures of the group. Finally, he guided them above the falls, revealing a few more of En Bas Saut's hidden tiers.

Then, they continued along the alternate trail, winding through the local farm. The ascent was strenuous and lengthy, but the promise of new vistas kept them going. Their legs burned from the arduous climb. When they finally reached the road, grateful for the flatter surface, Amaziah and Ashhur took the opportunity to check out the surrounding mountains. They marvelled at the panoramic sight and peppered Mr. Mondesir with questions about the majestic peaks and luscious valleys.

During that time, Kitchi, ever curious and cunning, turned his attention to Charlene. He quizzed her about her life and kids, starting with cautious questions that gradually coaxed more open responses. Charlene's guarded responses softened as Kitchi probed deeper. Meanwhile, the boys—energetic as ever—used the wildlife around them to chase and tease their sister. Mr. Mondesir, amused, shared parables in Creole, drawing parallels between the animals' behaviour and human interactions.

Eventually, they all returned to the trailhead, laughter echoing through the forest. The parked vehicles awaited them, completing their rewarding hiking circuit.

After paying and thanking Mr. Mondesir for an excellent tour, Charlene and Kitchi joins the teens in the vehicle. As Charlene starts the engine, she follows the tour guide down the road, tuning in to the conversation between the others.

"So, on a scale of one to twenty," Amaziah begins, "how would you rate this hike, Kitchi? Twenty being unbeatable."

"That's Mr. Adams to you, Amaziah," Charlene scolds.

"It's okay. I asked your children to call me by my first name, and you can do so as well if you like," Kitchi responds. Charlene reluctantly agrees on the matter.

He answers Amaziah, "I would rate it a seventeen. Journeying through the African savannah and exploring the Amazon Jungle have to be my two top-twenty experiences."

"Cool," says Ashhur, "I always wanted to visit these places. They're on my bucket list of destinations to explore."

"Which countries, in particular, did you visit to experience these habitats?" Ariel inquires, "Did you get up close to any of the native animals?"