After we were done eating on that hot summer morning, we went to our camp cabins and changed into clothes that were able to get dirty. Then, we headed towards the center of the woods near the place that none of the campers were allowed to be in without the camp director and we were there alone. While we were walking we came to a hill that looked easy to climb we found that it was the only obstacle in the way of the course. We started to climb, but realized that it was not easy at all because of all the mud from the rain last night. So, we kept climbing and by the time we got to the top, we all looked like we had just had a mud bath and had not taken a shower yet.  Then once we got all of our safety gear on we were ready to get to the end of the course, little did we know what the course had in store for us…

“c’mon, Let’s go!!!! I can’t wait to get through this whole course!!!!” Mikayla said.
“Okay!!! Calm down a little…” I said.
“But I can’t stand to wait any longer!!!” She said.

My friends Mikayla, Alex and I  all went to this tall post that we had to climb to get to the first platform, that was as tall as a tower of the enormous rope course we were about to conquer. I could smell wet leaves and mud that lay on the camp’s property. I could feel the rough rope between my fingers and the mud that was leaking through my jeans because of how much it rained the night before. We could hear the morning birds chirping and the bugs in the trees were buzzing. As I was climbing the pole I could see the wire course and the huge platform above me.

After we got onto the first platform, we climbed across a wire that was as thin as a sliver of wood, to the next platform. I could still smell the mud and soggy leaves. I felt the thin, sharp wire beneath my feet and my friends warm hands holding mine. The birds were still chirping, but there were fewer of them and I could see the next tall, wooden platform.

“Wow!! This course is really high up! What happens if we fall?” Alex said.
“We won’t fall, but yes, it is high up.” Mikayla said.

Then we kept going across the thin wires from platform to platform until we got to the platform before the last and that is where Alex got stuck in between the wires. I could hear him struggling and calling for help. I could feel him tugging at my arm. I could see blood that was oozing out of his leg that was caught on the wires. He was still standing on the wires, but his leg was caught and he could not get it loose I started to shake and was scared that Mikayla and I would not be able to get him unstuck before he started to bleed profusely.

Immediately after we saw the blood, Mikayla and I had to pull open the wires and lift his leg out. The wires had cut off his circulation, so there was barely any movement in his leg. We had to carry Alex to the next platform. I could feel Alex’s blood running down my arm and giving me goose bumps. I tasted his sweat as it dripped from his head onto my face and fell onto my my lips.

“Oh my gosh!!! Look at the blood… I think I’m Going to puke!” Mikayla said.
“Mikayla, get you butt over here and help me!!! He obviously can’t get himself out!” I said.
“Fine but you have to lift that side of him!” She said.

Once we reached the last platform, the three of us ziplined down to the ground  to finish the course. Alex ziplined with mikayla. He was on Mikayla’s back. He was strapped there so that he would not have to stand without support. We all felt very accomplished and we walked Alex down to the nurses office. He had to get a bandage with some ointment on it. I could see it hurt or stung when the nurse put the bandage on the gash as he reached for my hand. HIs hand was warm and soft. I could feel his muscles tense every time he walked on his left leg as we exited the nurses office.

“Ouch… This hurts!” Alex said. “I’m sorry I ruined our fun…”
“You didn’t ruin our fun… it was an accident and this was really fun taking care of you…” I said.
“I agree!” Mikayla said. “Are you going to be okay?!?”
“Yeah… I’m pretty sure.” He said.

That evening I could feel the warm hands of my friends in my hands as we walked (and limped) into the cafeteria and smelled the delicious dinner of thick burgers and yellow, crispy fries. That day that Alex got his leg stuck on a high ropes wire course will always be running around in my head. The memories of that day when I walked with Alex into that dining room and sat him down will always be with me. I will always have those memories! :-)