The Crossroads

Zack stood barefoot on top of the rock jutting out over the swimming hole.

“Jump in, sport!” Davy floated in the water below. “There ain’t nothin’ to be scared of!”

“I didn’t see you jump in!” Zack shouted to Davy.

“Don’t worry. Water’s over ten feet deep. You won’t crack open your head bone!”

“But the water’s freezing!”

“Wait for the sun. Here it comes. Clouds are partin’! Jump, Zack! Jump!”

For the first time in his life, Zack did something he knew was extremely foolish. He went running across the slick stone and kept running after he reached its edge.

“Geronimo!” He plunged feetfirst into the frigid pool and sent up a foamy geyser.

It was dark and cold underwater. Zack should have been terrified, but instead he felt exhilarated. His toes touched the slimy creek bottom, so he pushed off and kicked his way back to the surface.

“Whoo-hoo!” he screamed through a rush of bubbles when he sprang up. “Whoo-hoo!”

“By jingo, you did it, Zack! You dove off Dead Man’s Bluff.”

“I want to do it again!”

“All rightie. Have at it!”

Zack swam to the shore and hauled himself out of the water. The pockets of his cargo shorts bloated out into water balloons.

“This time, I’m gonna do a cannonball!”

Zack clambered up the cliff and took off running. He leapt and kicked and climbed into the air. He tucked his knees up to his chest and screamed as he plummeted into the briny depths of the bounding main. He smacked the top of the water with a stinging, thumping whack.

“Whoo-hoo!”

When Zack bobbed back up to the surface, he saw Davy in the woods, pulling on his overalls.

“Hey, where you goin’?” In the distance, Zack could hear a bell softly chiming.

“Pops is ringing the bell. Must need me to do some chores.”

“What? It’s Saturday. Nobody works on Saturdays.”

“Farmers do.”

“Oh. But what about the big plan?”

“You know what we need next.”

“Sure, but…”

“You’ll find it just where I said.”

“But…”

“What’s wrong, Zack? Somethin’s troublin’ you, I can tell.”

“Promise you won’t laugh?” Zack climbed out of the pond and pulled his T-shirt off the branch where he had hung it.

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Well, what if…” Zack hesitated.

“What if what?”

“What if Kyle Snertz sees me?”

“That don’t make no nevermind.”

“It doesn’t, hunh?”

“That boy’s all wax and no wick. If he gives you any guff, just give it right back.”

“How?”

“I reckon you could always pants him.”

“Pants him?”

“Yes, sir. Just pull down his trousers and show everybody his underwear! That usually works.”

“Really?” Zack sounded doubtful.

“Or you could give him a wedgie. Tug real hard and pull his underpants up into his butt crack.”

“I see.”

Zack wished Davy had some better ideas on how to defend himself against Kyle Snertz. Ideas that didn’t involve underwear.

“Pants him or pull a wedgie, hunh?”

“Yes, sir. Either one will do the trick.”

The bell tolled louder in the distance.

“Jiminy Christmas, I best run. See you later, pardner!”

Davy scampered up the hillside and disappeared into the forest. That meant Zack would have to face his demons alone.

Especially the one named Kyle Snertz.