Crossing York Pond

“Theo’s here Andrew,” my mom said.

My friend Theo’s parent’s car had just pulled into my driveway. I ran over and leaned on the large living room window, and waited for the car get to the top of our long curved driveway. It had been a couple weeks since I had last seen him. I ran down the stairs, threw my winter boots on, and went outside to greet him. It was a frigid December morning, despite the sun being out. Icicles hung like giant stalactites from the edge of the roof, waiting to be knocked off by my dad. Theo got out of the car, and ran over; scooping some snow up throwing it at me.

“Hey, no fair,” I said. “I wasn’t ready.”

“Too bad,” Theo replied, as he stuck out his tongue.

I scowled. We both ran inside, and took off our boots, placing them by the old iron wood stove. Both of us were eager to go out and play in the snow. So we went upstairs, and I asked my dad if we could go play in the neighborhood.

“That’s fine,” he said. “Just don’t go out on the pond.”

“Okay,” I replied excitedly. “Let’s go Theo!”

We both ran back downstairs, almost slipping on the polished wood in our socks. I put on my navy blue overall snow pants, my thick purple winter coat, and wool skullcap. I slipped my boots on, grabbed my gloves, and we were both out the door in seconds.

“To the cul-de-sac!” I shouted.

Theo and I took off, running down my driveway, heading onto the path that led into the neighborhood. After a couple of minutes we got to the cul-de-sac. Upon arriving we discovered that a few of my neighbors were already there playing.

In the winter the cul-de-sac has a large snow fort built there. This is because all of the parents who have plows, push all the snow to this one spot for the kids. The fort this year was up to about 15 feet tall. The fort was set up as a large mound with sloping sides, and was hollow on the inside with a few rooms dug into it. But today it was icy because of how cold it was, falling off of it was no fun. We joined in the games the other kids were playing, snowball fights, tag, and sledding off one side. After a few hours it got cloudy, and the wind picked up. This made it even more frigid out, and other kids decided to head home for dinner. Theo, and I were alone at the fort.

“Want to play king of the hill,” Theo asked.

“Yeah,” I replied eagerly.

We scrambled up to the top, knocking each other over on our way up. I arrived first.

“I am the king,” I shouted, as I was pelted in the face with an icy snow ball.

“No fair,” I yelled.

I shoved Theo away from me. He lost his footing and fell backwards, all the way to the bottom.

“Are you okay Theo?!”

“Jerk,” he sniffled.

“I’m sorry,” I exclaimed. “I didn’t mean—“

“You tried to push me off,” he yelled. “I’m not playing anymore!”

“I’m sorry, we can do something else,” I replied.

“I don’t care,” Theo responded. “I’m going back to your house!”

“C’mon lets stay out, I don’t want to go back yet,” I pleaded. “How about we go to the beaver dam around the pond?”

“Fine,” Theo grumbled.

The dirt road to the pond was right next to the cul-de-sac. So I led the way, as Theo trudged along behind me. After a few minutes of silence we got to the clearing at the edge of the pond. The beaver dam was at the other side of the pond. We slowly worked our way there, making sure not to step on the ice.

“We’re here,” I said.

I knew this because there were multiple stumps clearly cut down by the beavers, and there was a snow covered hill sticking out into the pond. We had gotten there just as it became dusk. As we looked around poking the dam with a few small sticks lying around, it began to slowly snow. I looked up at the darkening sky, and I knew we had to get back soon; I didn’t want to get grounded for staying out in the dark.

“It’s getting dark Theo, we should head back,” I said.

“Fine. Let’s cross the pond, it’s faster,” Theo replied grudgingly.

“My dad said we aren’t allowed to go on the pond,” I mumbled.

“I’m not getting grounded.” Theo yelled. “You can walk around if you want, but I’m going across.”

Theo stomped off toward the edge of the pond. He took a couple cautious steps onto the pond, and marched off toward the other side.

“Wait for me,” I said reluctantly.

It was a crisp autumn afternoon, and Theo and I had been playing tag in his yard.

“I’m bored,” said Theo. “Let’s play something else.”

“What do you want to do?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Theo replied.

“We could climb the pine tree,” I suggested.

“Last one up is a rotten egg!” Theo yelled, as he took off towards the tree.

“No fair!” I replied.

Theo’s house had a large lawn on all sides, with woods surrounding it. However there was one lone pine tree at the edge of his driveway. This tree stood at good 50 feet tall, and had a broken swing hanging from a large branch that extended away from the house. We had broken the swing a few weeks previous trying to both swing on it.

When we got to the tree we both scrambled up the branches as quick as we could. Both of us trying to find the fastest route to the top. Theo ended up as close to the top as we could get first.

“I won!” Theo boasted.

“You had a head start.” I replied.

From the top of the tree we could see all of the nearby houses and roads.

“What’s that?” Theo asked.

“Where?” I asked.

Theo pointed to an odd round white structure a ways off in the woods.

“Let’s check it out!” Theo said.

“Sounds like fun.” I replied.

We both climbed down from the tree, each taking our time as to not slip and fall. Both of us had fallen out of this tree before, and neither wanted to again. When we arrived at the bottom, we took off towards the woods. Slowly we worked our way through the woods, climbing over damp moss covered logs, weaving through branches. After about 20 minutes we arrived at the clearing. On the opposite side was a dirt road leading towards the town. At the center was a water tower looming over us. The water tower had a few staircases around it leading to a ladder that went up to the top. This however was surrounded by a chain-link fence topped with barbed-wire, and on each side of the fence there was a sign that said “DO NOT ENTER”.

“Let’s climb to the top,” Theo said. “It’ll be fun!”

“I don’t know Theo,” I replied. “There’s a “DO NOT ENTER” sign.”

“C’mon Andrew,” Theo exclaimed. “There’s no one here!”

“I think we should go back Theo.”

“I’m going to the top, with or without you.” Theo said.

“Fine.” I said reluctantly.

Theo ran up to the fence, climbed up to the top, and delicately slipped between the barbed wire. I followed suit, landing safely on the other side. Theo walked to the staircases, as I slowly trudged behind him. We ascended the stairs arriving at the ladder to the top.

“Up we go!” Theo shouted happily.

“Okay.” I replied unenthusiastically.

He stepped onto the first rung and began to climb. I grabbed a rung at head level, paint chips lazily drifting down from Theo above. The cheaply painted metal was rough to the touch. It looked like it hadn’t been painted in years, with rust spots that had bled onto the paint. I took a breath and began to climb up, and after about 30 seconds I heard the whir of a car engine.

“Theo,” I yelled. “Do you hear that?”

“We need to leave Andrew,” Theo replied frantically. “I can see a car!”

“I told you this was a bad idea!” I shouted.

“Just hurry up!”

We both scurried down the ladder, and jumped off the platform. Landing mostly unharmed we sprinted to the fence. We both grabbed onto the fence and scaled it like our lives depended on it. Theo got over first tearing his black sweatshirt on the barbed-wire. As I got to the top my foot slipped. I tumbled forward, the barbed-wire snagging my pant leg. I hit the ground, landing on my back, knocking the wind out of me. I gasped, and groaned as I struggled to breathe. I propped myself up, and looked down at my leg. The pant was torn, and a crimson red stain bloomed slowly outward. Behind me the car had pulled up to the gate on other side of the clearing. A man got out of the car and started yelling something. I knew he was mad, and I wanted to get away as quick as I could. I steadied myself and took off in an adrenaline fueled sprint towards Theo’s house.

Theo had not stopped, and I had lost sight of him. After I was about halfway to his house I slowed down, needing to catch my breath. Looking down at my leg I realized how bad it was. My leg had three gashes from the bottom of my thigh across my knee. It was bleeding pretty badly, and I still had a ways to go. I decided it would be best to get back as soon as I could, and I took off in an awkward jog, limping slightly. After about 15 minutes I made it back to his yard, where Theo was waiting for me.

“Why did you leave me behind?!” I yelled.

“I didn’t want to get in trouble.” Theo replied.

I pulled my scarf over my wind-burned nose, and stumbled my way over to the edge of the pond. I delicately put my left foot onto the edge of the ice, and listened. The wind howled, and hissed, but the ice remained silent. Cautiously I shuffled my way onto the pond. I looked up from my feet and noticed Theo was almost at the other side of the ice.

“Theo,” I yelled. “Wait up!”

He didn’t turn around, I could barely hear myself over the wind. I took my time walking, and prayed I didn’t slip. I didn’t want to break my nose a second time this winter. As I started to get close to the other side, I noticed Theo standing on the shore arms crossed watching me. I decided to pick up the pace to a quick jog; I didn’t want to keep him waiting too long, and we did need to get back home. Suddenly I heard Theo yell something. The wind stealing his words from me, I figured he wanted me to hurry up.

“Give me a sec,” I yelled back.

About 15 feet from the shore, the wind stopped, and Theo’s words reached me.

“Andrew, the ice—“

I looked down, and heard it.

“—is cracking!”

I tried to slow down, but it was too late. The ice cracked, and creaked; echoing across the pond. The sound an ice cube makes between your teeth the moment before it shatters. I stumbled forward as I lost my footing, and smashed my heel down like a bullet into a sheet of glass. I looked at the ice, petrified. The water beneath my foot looked like a spider in the center of its web, waiting for its prey. For a second the web stretched across the ice. Then it was gone, and I was plunged into the freezing abyss beneath me.

Those first few seconds felt like an eternity; I was completely submerged looking up at the dull rays of light piercing the icy depths. I was paralyzed, focusing on the eerie silence that surrounded me in this peculiar world. My clothes darkened as they slowly absorbed the water that blanketed me, and I began to sink. It was then, that I understand the situation I was in. I thrashed about in the water trying to claw my way back up to the surface. With each movement my winter clothes got heavier and heavier as they soaked up the surrounding water. I managed to get my head above the water and my arms onto the ice. However I couldn’t pull myself out, all my splashing had gotten the ice around me wet, and slick, making it impossible to get myself out

“Theo help me,” I yelled.

He stood there motionless.

“Theo please,” I cried. “I’m sorry for pushing you! Please help me!”

He turned away from me, and ran into the woods.

“Don’t leave me,” I screamed. “Come back!”

I thrashed my legs in a desperate attempt to get out of the water, but it was no use. My legs had started to go numb from the cold.

“Please, come back,” I whimpered.

I listened for a reply. The wind picked back up, pelting my face with icy snow. My cheeks burned. I was alone. The frigid numbness slowly creeped up into my torso. My arms growing more, and more exhausted with every passing second. My hat had fallen off and wafted gently in the water nearby. I was going to die. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want Theo to hate me. I wanted to be at home curled up on the old grey couch next to the dark iron woodstove, watching Christmas movies with my parents. The ice around me had begun to refreeze. The only thing delaying my descent back into the numbing abyss was my coat; sticking on the refreezing ice. I looked up at the overcast sky.

“Andrew,” Theo yelled. “Hold on!”

I looked towards the woods, and saw Theo lumbering towards me dragging a large branch through the snow. He extended the branch out onto the ice, but it wasn’t long enough. So he stepped out onto the edge of the ice, and began to stomp on it. He broke the ice till he was up to his waist and reached the branch out to me. I grabbed on and held with all my might. Theo pulled, and pulled. My coat unstuck and my waist was out of the water. Theo kept pulling me until he could reach me and then he grabbed my coat and dragged me out onto the shore.

“You came back,” I stammered.

He smirked. “I don’t want to be the only one grounded for being out after dark.”

He reached down, and pulled me up to my feet. He helped hold me steady while the feeling started to return to my legs, and we stumbled our way back towards my house.

“My parents are going to be so mad.”

“Mine too.”

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