Mountain Climber (COMPLETED)

1

Segarra, a young girl of six, played cheerfully in a meadow. Her bare feet were light and gentle as she ran across the soft grass. Stopping abruptly, she stooped to observe a violet. A little black ant crawled on the petal heading toward the center. Curious as to what it may do, Segarra flopped down to watch it.

Presently a deep voice said from behind her, "You take interest in the ant?"

She plainly replied, "Yes."

The large man stooped beside the girl and smiled at her curiosity. "You will make a good climber one day."

Without looking up from the ant Segarra asked, "What's a climber, Daddy?"

"They are the people who climb the mountains."

"You mean those mountains soooo far away behind the trees?" said Segarra looking up for the first time since becoming engaged with the ant and pointing to high rises just visible above the tree line.

"Yes, those mountains soooo far away," said the man mimicking the girl's speech.

Upon hearing the playful jab, Segarra began to laugh uncontrollably. "You sound funny when you do that! Do it again, Daddy! Again!"

The man obliged and repeated himself for the girl's pleasure, with more animation this time than last. "Those mountainsssss soooooooooo far far far away!"

Segarra's face lit up, then again exploded in laughter. "You're funny, Daddy!"

"You are too. Come on we should keep walking."

Segarra jumped up, took hold of the man's hand, and began skipping across the large meadow and humming a song. The field seemed to go on forever to Segarra. She wanted to go to the woods. She could see them far ahead and she had heard of people in the woods. But for the moment, she was content in the meadow. It was a nice place strewn with flowers, birds, soft grass, and moss. A brook flowed beside her on the right. They had been traveling upstream in the same bright meadow as long as Segarra could remember.

Segarra stopped humming now and spoke. "When will I climb a mountain?"

"Soon enough," was the man's replay.

"Does everybody climb a mountain?"

"Yes, of one sort or another."

"Is it hard?"

"It can be."

"Will my mountain be hard?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you let me help you."

"Of course I'll let you help me! Who wouldn't let you help?"

"Various people who do not love me as much."

"Which mountain will I climb?"

"You can not know that yet."

"Why?"

"Because it is not the time for you to know. One day you will know."

"Does everybody go up the same mountain or do we all climb different mountains?"

"Some people go up one mountain and others go up different mountains. Some mountains have been climbed so many times that there is a worn path going up. Other mountains have no path, and still others haven't even been climbed at all."

"How may people have gone up the mountain I will go up?"

"The first mountain you will climb has not been climbed much. Very few have gone before you, and fewer still will come after. But Segarra, remember that you will go up many mountains. Most people do. Your set of mountains will be different from everybody's."

"Does everybody go up a different set?"

"For the most part, yes. Several people have traveled the same set in a different order, or on different paths up the mountains."

"Oh." Segarra seemed to have run out of questions for the moment. But after a pause, she asked one more. "How do people get chosen for their mountains?"

"That all depends on what qualities they have and how strong they are. Many people are picked for a specific mountain that will make them stronger. Others who are good comforters go just to help someone already on that mountain. But no matter who is sent, it is for a purpose. They may not know then, or ever, but there is always a reason. Always remember that, Segarra."

"I will. I'm thirsty, may we stop and drink?"

"Of course. This is a good place to stop today anyway."