FLOWER MOON The air was crisp, but not cold, and the delicate scent of honeysuckle wafted on the breeze. I was holding the tiller lightly, ghosting along the lake on a light wind.
The full moon of May, that Native Americans called the Flower Moon, began to rise behind Rocky Point, an illusion, unnaturally huge, butter yellow and glimmering, a phenomenon I had heard of, but had never seen. My wife was in the cabin, I called her to see it.
“Gretchen, come up and see the moon.” She didn’t answer, but a child’s voice startled me.
“Help!”
A young girl was clearly visible in our wake. I yelled louder for my wife and she hurried up the companionway, “What, Alec?” “There’s a girl in the water.” Gretchen grabbed the spotlight, “How far away?” “Three …show more content…
The current floated me away, but luckily I found that slimy log.” In the moonlight, I could see tears in her eyes. “They must not have missed me.”
“Drink your soup; you’ll feel better.”
She finished her soup, snuggled up to Gretchen, and instantly dozed off. At Lake Patrol, her family met us. A Paramedic checked her as she told her story. Then she looked at me and almost whispered, “How did you know my name?” “Actually, I was calling my wife, Gretchen.”
The Sheriff explained the incident last year and the tragedy ten years ago. “Gretchen, be glad that this stubborn man had an urge to be there this year.” She smiled at me, “I am. Thank you.” The party broke up. It really had been a party, a celebration of life. The Ewalds thanked us for saving her, and my Gretchen arranged to keep in touch with them.
Young Gretchen gave us big hugs. She said, “Thank you,” again, but her smile was enough. We anchored in a quiet cove and drank a glass of wine in silence.
Finally, Gretchen explained that she had spilled the first bottle of wine, “If you hadn’t called so loudly, Gretchen might have drowned.” “I'm glad we happened upon her.” “Alec, we didn’t happen upon her. Something made you want to be there tonight.” I kept my vision to
The full moon of May, that Native Americans called the Flower Moon, began to rise behind Rocky Point, an illusion, unnaturally huge, butter yellow and glimmering, a phenomenon I had heard of, but had never seen. My wife was in the cabin, I called her to see it.
“Gretchen, come up and see the moon.” She didn’t answer, but a child’s voice startled me.
“Help!”
A young girl was clearly visible in our wake. I yelled louder for my wife and she hurried up the companionway, “What, Alec?” “There’s a girl in the water.” Gretchen grabbed the spotlight, “How far away?” “Three …show more content…
The current floated me away, but luckily I found that slimy log.” In the moonlight, I could see tears in her eyes. “They must not have missed me.”
“Drink your soup; you’ll feel better.”
She finished her soup, snuggled up to Gretchen, and instantly dozed off. At Lake Patrol, her family met us. A Paramedic checked her as she told her story. Then she looked at me and almost whispered, “How did you know my name?” “Actually, I was calling my wife, Gretchen.”
The Sheriff explained the incident last year and the tragedy ten years ago. “Gretchen, be glad that this stubborn man had an urge to be there this year.” She smiled at me, “I am. Thank you.” The party broke up. It really had been a party, a celebration of life. The Ewalds thanked us for saving her, and my Gretchen arranged to keep in touch with them.
Young Gretchen gave us big hugs. She said, “Thank you,” again, but her smile was enough. We anchored in a quiet cove and drank a glass of wine in silence.
Finally, Gretchen explained that she had spilled the first bottle of wine, “If you hadn’t called so loudly, Gretchen might have drowned.” “I'm glad we happened upon her.” “Alec, we didn’t happen upon her. Something made you want to be there tonight.” I kept my vision to