Recluse Island

Chapter 42

February 2014

"You're going to get hurt."

"I'll be fine."

"Until you break your neck."

"It's not that far."

"You do realize I can't carry you."

"You're not going to have to carry me."

Etta glared up at Benedict from where he stood atop the waterfall. Benedict had soccer practice three days a week. While the matches were held on Saturday mornings at Fillmore Park. On the days he didn't have practice Benedict and Etta went to Sydney Falls.

Usually, Etta sketched while Benedict took a nap or tried to find a Ro-Casini (he was never successful, not that Etta was surprised. She still wasn't entirely convinced they existed) or told her about his father's plans to start having him help at the clinic, even though Benedict was still vehemently against becoming a doctor. As for their English assignment they had both gotten A's, Miss Wolburg had been impressed with how they related the parable to what was happening on Pigscula Keys.

Today however, since the next deportation ceremony was that evening at sunset, he decided to liven things up a bit by climbing to the top of the waterfall and preparing to jump off.

"What am I supposed to tell your mother?" Etta called up, crossing her arms over her chest.

Benedict shook his head, "You could do it too you know?"

Benedict saw Etta view the twenty-foot drop carefully bringing her eyes up to where he stood.

"I'd rather watch."

"Come on, munchkin live a little!" Benedict shouted down.

"You're not supposed to call me that." Etta pointed out a slightly annoyed edge to her voice.

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?"

"That's not going to work on me," she informed him.

"All right, fine. Have regrets if you want."

"I'm certainly not going to regret NOT jumping off this waterfall." Etta blatantly informed him.

"You might if your family gets selected for deportation later and you realize now you'll never get the chance."

Etta seemed to be carefully thinking this over.

"But I'm sure you're not going to get deported." Benedict interjected when he realized Etta seemed to think this was a very real possibility.

"All right!" she suddenly cried running over to the hill that led to the top. "But if I die it's on you."

"You're not gonna die," said Benedict drily when she had reached him.

"We'll see," Etta said, kicking off her sandals.

Benedict had already removed his sandals and T-shirt leaving him in his shorts.

Etta nervously peered over the edge and down to where the falls crashed into the pool below.

Benedict took Etta's hand, surprising her.

"Just close your eyes and before you know it, it will be over."

Etta nodded, "Okay, let's do this already."