The River

James sat in the bank of the river, under the shade of a low pine tree. He sipped on his coffee before checking his line and put fresh bait on the hook. It is still early in the day about 7:30. This river is his escape, since leaving the Marines; and all that happened while in Afghanistan, James feels safe here, it's quite, and he is lost in his mind. The river washes away his stress, and he feels clear minded out here.

James cast the line back out, let it set in. "Let's go!" he speaks to the river, "come alive." He sips his coffee again and then sits back under the tree. The thermos is black with a red Marine Corps logo on its center, the mug us silver. James has all of the names of the Maines that were lost in the long war.

He stares across the river to the hills, and his mind wonders for a more peaceful time in his life. A time in his life when things were normal, now the only this normal is this river. James had a wife, Christine; they met in High School 15 years ago. He joined the Marines, and then they got married in 2004. He deployed to Iraq and came home different. They tried Marriage counseling, but Christine said he changed and couldn't handle the stress. James deployed again to Iraq in 2006 and she divorced him. He thought of her now and wondering why he changed. He wondered where she was now.

James went to Afghanistan in 2009 and was wounded. His house is now empty except for his Old English Bulldog, Gunny, a few fishing rods, and a hunting rifle. James became an outdoorsman since is injury, spending his time with Gunny camping, hunting, and fishing. He has all the time in the world now, he is collecting disability. James spends his nights at the local American Legions bar, making small talk with fellow veterans.

"Mommy look." A child yells out breaking James' thoughts. A young boy is running up and down the bank throwing pebbles into the river. A woman is running after the wild child trying to catch him. Once she reaches him, he takes off again heading closer to James, stopping to pick up every pebble and throw it into the water. Gunny noticed the child running his way and started to run towards the boy. "Gunny," James yells, "Damn, that dog!" James puts in coffee down and chases after Gunny.

Gunny was in a playful stance, letting the child play with him. Gunny rolled onto his back and the little boy started to scratch his belly. Gunny loved this attention. "I am so sorry ma'am," James said out of breath as arrived at the woman, the child, and his dog.

"I'm sorry for disturbing your fishing," the woman replied, "I am Natalie, and this is Jack."

"I'm James and this is Gunny."

Natalie was attractive, athletic young mother. Her eyes were a light brown that matched her hair hanging to her shoulders. She had thin lips, and a fresh young face, that had a glow like sunshine. Natalie wore a skirt that hung beautifully off her, revealing her curves.

"What are you fishing for?" Natalie asked.

"Trout"

"Looks like you have a bite," Natalie shows her smile to James.

James looks over to his fishing spot and sees the rod going crazy. "Thank you, come boy" Gunny runs with James to the rod.

"Want to see a fish?" Natalie has her little boy, he shakes his head yes.

James fights with the trout for a few moments, before reeling in the prize. Natalie and Jack arrive at the trout come out of the water.

"Wow!" Jack screams with excitement and touched the fish. He is excited, which again made Gunny excited.

"I see you here often," Natalie inquired, "always alone."

"Yea," James explained, "This is my spot, Gunny and I get out here 6:00 every morning."

James uses the pliers to pull the hook out of the trout. "Doesn't that hurt the fish?" Natalie asks.

"I am sure it does that why I am doing this as quickly as possible, not to hurt this guy anymore." James pulls the hook out. The releases the trout back into the river.

"You don't keep'em?" Natalie asked surprised

"Not really," James sips his coffee that gets more bait ready, "wanna try?" James asks Jack.

Jack shakes his head no as he plays with Gunny. Natalie gives James a smile to approve for asking her son.

"So you are here every day?" Natalie asks, "You don't work?"

"I am retired." James smiles back at Natalie, "Fishing and I go way back."

"Tell me." Natalie inquired.

"I love the peacefulness of a trout stream, as you watch that trout rise to your bait.....My dad passed away March 27th, 2000, just 2 weeks after my 18th birthday, I buried him 2 days later, and the very next day I started a month-long vacation doing nothing but trout fishing in Montana...Everyday hearing the river greet you with the same voice, it was like hearing my dad's voice every morning." James explained, "The river and fishing wash away all the negativity in my life."

Natalie smiles, "We live on the same street."

"We do" James agreed.

"I have to go, but it is just Jack and me alone. His father left us last year." Natalie explained, "Why don't you come over tonight, I'm cooking."

James was silent for a moment, and then answered, "Is six okay?"

"That's great," Natalie smiles at James, "see you then bring Gunny along." Natalie holds out her hand and collects her son.

James stands there is disbelief watching Natalie walk away, up the road around the bend and out of sight. James pulls the suicide note out of his pocket, reads it one last time then lights it with his cigar lighter. James watched the letter burn on the moist bank of the river. James cast the line back into the river, sits under the tree, with Gunny by his side. James stares across the river to the hills, silently thanking the river for saving his life.