The Harper Generations: Country Roads

Blackwater falls

Misty

While we waited for the paternity test results, my dad took everyone to Blackwater Falls since they had never seen it before. Well, no shit. How can you see a waterfall if you have never visited the state it's in? Sometimes, I wonder about my dad's logic.

We pulled into the parking lot and got out before my dad stopped us from heading to the falls. I knew what was coming.

"Before anyone gets any bright ideas, you can't climb down to the falls. The state has it blocked off. You can use the steps to travel further down but can't leave them. Got it?" My dad asked the guys and the girls.

"You make us sound like asinine boobs who can't follow directions or read," Preston remarked.

"Maybe because you tend to ignore the rules," Pat retorted.

"Rules don't apply when you have lived another life before."

"Hence why you need them now. I don't need a bear to eat you because you ignored the rules."

"No bear will eat me."

"No shit. Who wants someone as ugly as you?" Ryan asked, walking by.

"Everyone!" Preston yelled at his back.

"Keep telling yourself that. You might believe it one day," River said, following Ryan.

"At least I don't share a brain with a halfwit."

"Nope, that would mean you had a brain. Or do you sing if I only had a brain?" Michael asked.

"God has a special place in heaven. You're not one of them. Good luck with trying to convince the almighty to let you in." Preston patted Michael's shoulder before walking away.

The girls followed the cousins so they didn't toss each other over the railing.

"Can't your cousins behave for one second?" I asked Tino.

"You're asking for a lot from my cousins." Tino gave me a knowing look.

"It was a nice dream for a few seconds." I shrugged before walking toward the falls with Tino beside me.

We walked toward the steps that descended toward a lower platform closer to the falls. You could hear the water roaring as it cascaded over a ledge, pooling at the bottom.

Those fools ran down the steps to the bottom of the platform, thinking they were brilliant. Did they forget they needed to climb the steps to get back up? It's not like a few steps—it's over 200 steps to the observation deck.

Tino and I descended languidly as we needed to conserve energy to return to the top. We reached the observation deck, where the others stood around the railing.

"Why do they call it Blackwater Falls when the water isn't black?" Ryan asked.

"Because the rocks are black, the water seems to be, too," I said.

"Does anyone swim in there?" River asked.

"Not anymore. They used to before they constructed the observation deck and steps. They also have hiking trails."

"I would rather go hiking than stare at a waterfall. This shit is boring," Michael said.

"What's boring about nature?" River asked.

"Everything. Aside from a bear chasing Tino, nature isn't blowing up my skirt."

"When did you start wearing a skirt?"

"When he needed to air out the boys," Preston said, heading toward the steps.

Why do I see issues on the horizon?