For Elise.

Chapter 6

As we walked down the boardwalk looking at the city skyline, Elise pointed out at the water.
"Look! Over there." She said running over to the fence blocking us from the ocean. She leaned over it and put her hand out. "It's a duck, and it's little ducklings!" I walked over to see, there was indeed a mother duck with 4 tiny little ducklings paddling behind the mother.
"Why are you so interested by the ducks?" I asked, raising one eyebrow.
She was silent for a moment, thinking of a response. Then she asks
me a question.
"What do you think it's like to be a duck?" She says pulling her hand back to her side. "So carefree, you don't have to worry about how you look, or your grades, or what people think of you. You just have to keep swimming, keep paddling along like any duck. I think that's how I would like to live. Away from everyone's judging glares."
I thought about that for a moment. Looking out into the water, one of the ducklings were trailing behind.
"I don't know about that." I responded. She looked at me. "I don't think being a duck would be much easier than being a person. It may eliminate some issues humans face, but being a duck has its own set of problems." I say looking back at her.
"I guess you're right." She says. "I didn't think of it that way before."

As we looked back out into the water, a strong gust of wind hit us like a sack of bricks. I almost fell over it was so strong. When I regained my balance, I looked back into the water to see all the baby ducklings. Spread out from its mother. Drifting farther and farther away by the current of the water. The waves were so high some of the ducklings were forced underwater.
"Oh no, August look!" She said pointing out at them. Next thing I knew she tossed her bag at me and jumped over the fence.
"What are you doing!?" I yelled, trying to get her back. She didn't listen to me, she took off her shoes, then her socks and practically threw them at me. She dove into the water and swam towards the ducks.

The wind was still blowing hard. I was in shock. I could just stand there and watch.
"Oh my God, it's so cold!" She yelled as she swam towards the mother duck."
"Elise, get out of there!" I yell. "It's too cold!"
"No! I have to get them first!" She yells back. She turns her head to look at me. "Come on August, help me out."
"Fine!" I yell back at her. I took off my shoes and roll up my pants to my knees. And jumped in the water up to my calves. It was freezing. Elise smiled and me and grabbed the first duck.
She took it in her arms, then swam back to me and put it in my hands.
I placed the duckling inside one of my shoes. When I turned back around Elise was already back, handing me a second duckling. I placed it in my other shoe. I turned back around to see Elise had already taken another one. She was fast!
By now my feet and legs have already gotten used to the cold. I hoped Elise was doing alright in there. Considering her health issues, she was doing pretty good! She gave me the third duckling. Who I put on the rocks. She got out of the water and took a deep breath. She then jumped back in and swam to the mother duck and the last duckling. Grabbing them Both in her arms. When she gave them to me, she crawled out of the water and collapsed on the rocks.
"We did it!" She said putting her hands up. By now people were staring at us. I gave her my jacket so she would warm up a little. Then we put our shoes back on and placed the ducks under a tree. They sat together in a huddle.
"Goodbye little ducks!" Elise said cheerfully. Her hair still wet and dripping. She elbowed me in the side. "Come on August, say bye."
I put my hand on the back of my neck and looked away.
"See ya." I said.
Elise waved, almost expecting the ducks to wave back. They obviously didn't. They were just ducks. We then turned around and walked away.

"What were you thinking!?" I asked her. "You could have been hurt, you could have drowned, so many things could have happened and you didn't even think of the consequences!"
"But nothing happened!" She responded. "I'm fine!"
Elise stomped in front of me and held her hand out signaling me to stop.
She furrowed her eyebrows and curled up her lips. She looked angry.
I stepped backwards, I've ever seen Elise angry before. She looked like a Pomeranian puppy. Scary, yet cute at the same time.
After scrunching up her face for around 10 seconds. She bursts out in laughter. Which made me feel very confused.
"Are you worried about me?" She asked in a mocking tone.
"Of course not! I just don't want you dying while I'm here!" I say starting to giggle. "Seriously though, we should find you some dry clothes."
She sighed. "Okay. I think I saw a tourist shop about five minutes away from here." She says turning around. "Okay." I respond following her.