Hope & a Canoe

by Michele M. Reynolds

  “Yeah well.” Tember looked out across the lake.

  Gracie whispered, “What happened today? Why were you locked in there?”

  “Well, short story, my grandfather came home drunk from gambling and either got the lucky streak or owed a lot of money. So he asked me for money, and I told him I didn’t have any. So he found money I hid and put me in there as punishment.”

  “When was he going to come back?” Gracie asked.

  “A day or two,” Tember answered.

  “A day or two!” Gracie said. “What if there was a fire? What if you got hurt or sick or something?” Gracie put her sandwich on the thwart and put her face in her hands. When she took her hands away, her eyes were full of tears, and they streamed down her cheeks.

  When Tember looked across the canoe at Gracie, she felt as if she’d forgotten how to breathe. She could not believe what she saw. Someone showing this level of feelings was foreign to her. It had been years since she had shared anything about her life with anyone, and nobody seemed as concerned as Gracie.

  “That’s horrible,” Gracie said as she cried harder. Tember looked at Gracie, looked at the sky, took another bite of her sandwich, and did the only thing she could do in a moment like that. When someone she had known for less than twenty-four hours saved her and then cried for her pain, there was only one option.

  11

  Gracie covered her eyes, the canoe shifted hard starboard, and then she heard a splash. She took her hand away from her face and looked toward the bow seat. Tember was gone, and her life jacket sat on the seat. She looked in the direction of the port side ripple and watched for Tember to resurface. There was no sign of her. Gracie started to count and reached thirty seconds. She took off her life jacket and looked frantically into the water.

  Gracie turned to see Tember treading water behind her on the starboard side.

  Gracie said, “You idiot. You scared me. What are you doing?”

  “I didn’t know what else to do. Your crying made me feel nervous,” Tember admitted. “Come in. The water’s great.”

  “I’m starving. I’m finishing my sandwich first,” Gracie said.

  Tember said, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be in here. Can you pass me my drink?”

  “No,” Gracie said. “You should’ve thought about that before you left your crying friend in the canoe. Dehydrate!”

  “Losing some points there.”

  “Yeah, well...now, I’m mad,” Gracie said.

  “I thought you said you were scared.”

  “I’m going to start giving and taking away points for you,” Gracie announced.

  “Go ahead. You do that,” Tember said. “I’ll have more points than you in an hour.”

  “Doubt it. Gracie finished her sandwich and took a few swigs of her water.

  Tember moved to the bow, reached across to the port gunnels, and pulled herself in the canoe.

  “Whatcha doing?” Gracie asked.

  “I’m eating the rest of lunch and getting a drink,” Tember said. “You snooze, you lose.”

  “How did you get in the canoe so easily?” Gracie asked.

  Tember took a few gulps of water and then answered, “It’s easier with someone is in the canoe. You got in and out probably fifty times yesterday. You must be sore.”

  “Yeah, look at the bruises on my stomach.” Gracie pulled up her shirt and revealed a two-piece bathing suit with bruises on her stomach.

  Tember’s breath hitched at the sight of the extra skin. “You know it would be easier doing the balancing thing with two people. We’d just have to coordinate where we lean and what not. Do you want to try?”

  “Not sure how much energy I have, but okay,” Gracie said.

  Gracie peeled out of her clothes and put them, her towel, and her phone into the waterproof bag. The two put on their life jackets at Tember’s request. They stood facing each other and stepped on opposite gunnels first. Energy surged through Gracie as she watched Tember’s feet and hips as they tried to balance. They fell in the water two times. By the third time, they were balancing steady on the gunnels.

  Gracie moved abruptly to one side, trying to knock Tember off the canoe.

  “Ooo…you’re begging for it. You’re in so much trouble,” Tember said.

  “Hey, how ’bout we try to knock each other off? The first one to hit the water loses,” Grace said.

  “What does the winner get, or we just keeping score?”

  “The winner gets to ask the loser something,” Gracie said.

  Tember hesitated. “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you anything sexual.”

  Tember said, “I wasn’t worried about that.”

  “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

  Tember said, “Starts now!”

  Tember moved her feet back and forth, but Gracie was ready for it. Gracie rocked her feet and threw Tember off the canoe. Gracie hit the water seconds after Tember. They swam to the side of the canoe.

  “What’s your question?” Tember asked.

  “Hey, I grew up with my dad doing those surprise starts. You’re not going to surprise me. Okay, so what’s your favorite music?”

  “Shamefully, 80s and country,” Tember answered.

  They pulled themselves back into the canoe and returned to the balance start positions.

  “1, 2, 3, go,” they counted.

  Tember bent her knees and rocked the boat back and forth. Gracie’s feet stayed on the gunnels, and again Tember fell into the water first. They swam to the side of the canoe again.

  “Damn,” Tember said as she reached Gracie.

  “A much harder question. Why are you living with your grandparents?” Gracie asked, and her face softened as she waited for the answer. Rain started to drizzle as the sky had become dark.

  Tember looked to the trees, to the shore, to the sky, and then finally to Gracie who already had tears in her eyes.

  Gracie said, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I want to. You asked, that’s the game, and I want to tell you. My parents died in a car crash when I was ten. My grandparents were the only people who could take me. My parents did not plan well. They were great in every other way, besides planning,” Tember said as she bit her lip and then laughed.

  “I’m sorry for your loss. That’s hard, but what are you laughing at?”

  Tember laughed and reached down in the water and pulled Gracie’s foot out of the water.

  “What the...” Gracie asked as her head went back in the water. “What are you doing?”

  “Checking for illegal suction cups. You’re stuck on those gunnels there like glue!”

  Gracie laughed and they pulled themselves into the canoe again.

  “Wow, I’m sore. I think this is the last time for ol’ suction cups,” Gracie said.

  “You know what that means?” Tember asked.

  “You have one more time to win,” Gracie said.

  The rain fell harder. They took their positions and then nodded when to start. They stared at each other, waiting for the other to start rocking the canoe. Gracie moved the canoe back and forth. Tember smiled and Gracie had a feeling she should worry. Tember jumped and put all her weight on the starboard gunnel with both feet and then jumped again. The canoe bucked starboard and then flipped.

  Gracie tipped toward port, hitting her hip on the underside of the canoe as she fell headfirst into the water. Tember landed, standing on top of the overturned canoe.

  “Gracie!” Tember called.

  Gracie bobbed to the surface. Tember jumped off the canoe into the water next to her.

  “You okay?”

  Gracie turned and smiled.

  “You’re laughing!”

  “That was hilarious. How did you end up standing on the underside of the canoe?” Gracie asked through her laughter.

  Tember chuckled and answered, “I’m that good, I guess. Sorry I get competitive. I didn’t even have a question i
n mind.”

  The rain pelted down harder, and Tember looked down, realizing that when she jumped in the water, she had instinctively pulled Gracie to be cradled into her arms. The rain fell in heavy, painful sheets.

  “Is it hailing?” Gracie asked.

  “Feels like it,” Tember said. “Oh, under here.”

  The two dipped underwater and then popped up beneath the canoe. The sound of the pelting rain on the canoe was amplified.

  “Cool, huh? It has a pocket of air. We’re safe under here. Well, safe from the rain.”

  “But not gators,” Gracie said.

  “Or piranhas,” Tember said.

  “Or black water moccasins,” Gracie said.

  “Or lesbians.”

  Gracie shook her head and smiled.

  “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you,” Tember said.

  Gracie laughed. “I’m fine. You and I are too competitive. We aren’t a good mix.”

  Tember looked around the canoe and noticed Gracie’s bag wasn’t there. “Hold on.” Tember came out from under the canoe and found the bag floating away. She brought it back and fastened it to a thwart.

  “Thanks,” Gracie said.

  “But...” Tember said.

  “What?” Gracie asked.

  “I did win and I think I do have my question,” Tember said.

  “Go ahead. I’m an open book. Well, according to you, there are some pages glued together.”

  “My question is...will you please…” Tember started and then hesitated.

  “What? Spit it out there, birthday girl,” Gracie said.

  Tember swam closer to Gracie so they both were under the thwarts in the middle of the canoe.

  “Will you please kiss me?” Tember asked, her stomach tightening as she asked the question.

  Gracie’s mouth dropped open slightly and her eyes widened. She said, “I thought we said no sexual questions.”

  Tember said, “You said you wouldn’t ask them. Well?”

  Gracie looked past Tember and then picked at something on the thwart. “You’re crazy. The rain has died down. Let’s go.” Gracie swam under the canoe and into a light rain. She looked behind her, waiting for Tember to follow. After a few seconds, she went back under the canoe. Tember was holding onto one of the thwarts with both her hands, just staring at them. She looked at Gracie and then let go of the gunnels.

  “Wow, now that I’m the aggressor, you’re all of the sudden shy. Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll change my question,” Tember said.

  “Good.”

  Tember asked, “Will you forgive me for kissing you?”

  Tember moved swiftly toward her and held Gracie’s face in her hands. Gracie’s face was covered in cold droplets. Tember moved her mouth toward Gracie’s lips, and then she pulled away slightly to look into Gracie’s eyes. Gracie’s eyes revealed her yearning for Tember, accompanied by a loneliness that Tember recognized and understood.

  Tember and Gracie took each other’s lips softly against the other’s. Their lips were warm like sunshine. Gracie grabbed the thwarts above Tember’s head and used her legs to pull Tember closer. Tember placed both her hands on Gracie’s face as their kiss deepened. Gracie’s tongue lightly touched Tember’s lips, and Tember’s tongue followed. Tember slightly opened her mouth, and Gracie’s tongue entered.

  “Oh my, oh my, Tember,” Gracie moaned.

  Tember had never heard her name whispered so sweetly. She wanted to feel the pure love and sweetness forever. She pulled Gracie tighter and deepened the kiss. Gracie ran her hand down Tember’s back and lifted her shirt. Tember froze and stopped kissing.

  “Relax,” Gracie said. “I just want to feel the skin on your back. Is that okay?”

  Tember nodded.

  “I won’t make any move without asking you,” Gracie said.

  Tember smiled. “Thanks. More kissing.”

  Tember moved her lips toward Gracie. Gracie turned her head and started to nibble on Tember’s neck. Tember let out a long, loud moan.

  “Shh,” Gracie said as she covered Tember’s mouth. “Someone’s going to think the Loch Ness monster is here or something.” They both laughed.

  Tember said, “Sorry. If you don’t want me to moan like that, then don’t drive me crazy.”

  “Really? You don’t want me to drive you crazy?” Gracie teased.

  “Well, yes, but take it easy. I’m new to all this,” Tember said.

  “Take it easy? Are you kidding me? You want me to restrain myself around such a hottie? You’re crazy.”

  “You think I’m a...” Tember started as Gracie took her lips in her own.

  “Uh huh,” Gracie mumbled between kisses.

  Tember pulled away from the kiss to nibble on Gracie’s ear and neck. Gracie moaned. “Shh,” Tember teased.

  12

  With considerable effort, the two flipped the canoe upright, climbed back into it, and paddled to shore. There was only the sound of their paddles hitting the water. Gracie sat at the stern, and her eyes did not leave Tember. She watched Tember’s biceps and forearms flex as the paddle entered the water, pulled through, and recovered back to stroke position.

  Gracie’s eyes lingered on Tember’s neck, remembering how her lips felt against her. She closed her eyes.

  “Tree!” Tember yelled.

  Gracie looked up to see that they were floating close to shore. A branch hung low over the shore. Tember fell back into the canoe to avoid the branch. Gracie turned the canoe starboard.

  “Sorry,” Gracie nervously laughed.

  Tember asked, “What were you looking at?” She turned to look back at Gracie. All Gracie could do was blush and shrug her shoulders. “Geez, kiss you once and you lose your ability to navigate a canoe.”

  “It was more than once,” Gracie reminded her.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just keep your eyes on where we are going.”

  The two returned the canoe to the rental cabin. At this time of day, there were dozens of families on the beach. As Gracie walked passed them, water and guilt dripped off her. She wondered if they could tell that she just spent the last half hour making out with a straight girl.

  They reached the rental cabin, and the staff had changed since their morning rental. The boy behind the counter was tall and had bleached blonde hair.

  “Y’all get pelted by that rain?” he asked as he looked passed Gracie toward Tember.

  Tember answered, “Yeah, it was crazy. Was that hail?”

  “No, but geez what did you guys do to keep safe?” The boy moved closer to Tember as he watched her with his bright blue eyes. Tember seemed oblivious that the boy was flirting with her.

  “Can we get our deposit back?” Gracie asked as she took off her lifejacket and handed it and her paddle to the boy.

  “Hold on,” the boy snapped at Gracie and turned back to Tember. “You going to the dance tonight?”

  Gracie felt something snap in her. She kept her eyes on Tember, wondering what her answer would be. Tember’s eyes met Gracie’s, and Tember’s expression turned from blank to acknowledgement. Gracie smiled at Tember.

  “I’m not sure. Am I, Gracie?” Tember asked.

  Gracie took Tember’s paddle from her and shoved it toward the boy, and then she quickly unsnapped Tember’s life vest before she could get to it and tossed it to the boy.

  “She has a date already,” Grace said as she turned toe-to-toe and looked into his blue eyes.

  The boy protested, “Come on. How do you know that she has or doesn’t have a date? I’m Aiden, by the way.”

  Aiden tried to reach around Gracie to shake Tember’s hand, and Gracie sidestepped to block his reach. “What’s your problem?” Aiden asked.

  “Umm,” Tember said as she stepped forward and wove her arm through Gracie’s. “She’s my date. She’s my girlfriend.”

  Gracie’s head whipped toward Tember, whose eyes stayed steady and unwavering on Aiden.

  “You dykes?” Aiden asked.

  “Les
bians,” Gracie corrected.

  “Okay, that’s the hottest thing I’ve heard, ever,” Aiden said. “You two want to–”

  “No!” Gracie and Tember said in unison before Aiden could finish his indecent proposal.

  Gracie followed Aiden back to the rental cabin and grabbed her gear deposit. Tember walked slowly past the cabin. When Gracie caught up to her, she shoved Tember in the shoulder.

  “What?” Tember asked.

  Gracie shook her head. “Give me some warning before you come out to people, will ya?”

  Tember asked, “What do you care what he thinks?”

  “I don’t. I just want to be prepared, and you have to be careful who you come out to. Some backwoods people are not cool with it,” Gracie said.

  “Hmm, I didn’t think of that. Well, either way. News of our gayness will spread like wildfire across the teenage world at this campground.” Tember laughed.

  “Why’s that funny?” Gracie asked.

  Tember answered, “Because now I won’t have to have to put up with boys hitting on you.”

  “Oh, it won’t stop them. It will peak their interest. You saw how Aiden went right to an idea about a threesome,” Gracie said. “Anyway, back to important things. I’m your girlfriend huh?”

  Tember stopped and her eyes met Gracie’s. “What else do you call someone you spend the afternoon kissing?”

  “A really good friend,” Gracie said.

  “Really?” Tember asked. “I guess that I jumped to conclusions about that–”

  “Tember, relax. I would love to be called your girlfriend,” Gracie said as she slid her hand into Tember’s.

  They walked across the road toward Gracie’s campsite. Gracie felt safe with her hand in Tember’s. She thought of holding her in the water and wondered when she could hold her again. As the two reached the campground, Tember wondered about Jeremy’s reaction to this new relationship. As if reading her mind, Gracie kissed the back of Tember’s hand and then let go of it.

  Gracie said, “Can we not tell my dad about us?”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Can we just not?” Gracie asked.

  “Ok, sure,” Tember answered.

  The two entered the RV and found Jeremy watching a Yankees game.