FirstLineFiction beta

from Contest #5

A boy with a parrot on his shoulder was walking along the railway tracks. i saw him as I drifted into darkness. As I came around I found myself not in the hospital, where I expected to be, but in all together different place. A quaint aroma of pure harmony and happiness filled the marvelous place in which I found myself at as I kicked open the bent door of my car and stepped out into the open. It appeared to be a therapeutic retreat hidden from the mundane world we live in, perfect for an escape. The soft winds that blew brushed against my cheek and neck sending a tingle of excitement down my back as I neared the out-lying woods that seemed to surround something mysterious and out-of-sight. Leaving my troubles and worries behind as I stepped into the shelter of the wilds, I noticed that the beautiful trees laden with fall leaves had already began to discard their painted leaves; it was as if a patch-worked blanket covered the forest, preparing it for its long awaited sleep.

There was a path with winding turns, telescopic mountain passageways, and marvelous tunnels in the woods all leading to the entrance of the lake. As I emerged from the path and caught my first glimpse of the entire lake, it felt as if I was at the very gates of heaven. The passageway of parade-inspiring colors that led to the entrance of the ‘lake haven’ prepared me for that one awe inspiring moment of joy and breathlessness that everyone needs to experience at least once in their life for it to be complete. I looked out across the beautiful landscape and was instantly rewarded by what I saw: The slow sloping depressions covered by the clearest water I’ve ever seen, neighboring a cunning mountainside that shielded the lake from any harmful advances made by Mother Nature or civilization.

The air was rich with the sweet scent of honeysuckles, the peppermint smell from the pine tree, and the fragrance of newly grown grass. For some reason that I couldn’t explain I felt that if I had to speak, I should do so in a hushed and whispered tone if only to preserve the perfect balance of sound in that outdoor temple.

The vegetation was all along the bank with fruit producing vines in astonishing numbers clinging to the trees. Birds were flying around the lake, making their presence known by their beautiful songs. Squirrels were running about looking for acorns that the trees felt generous enough to drop. Hummingbirds were hovering directly above the honeysuckle flower bushes, sucking the nectar out of each before moving on. The Woodpeckers were knocking out a tune, perfectly coordinated and harmonized like a symphony orchestra playing at a concert. A simple toss of some crumbs from my pocket into the lake brought forth a multitude of fish, giving their greetings as they fed and left. I walked toward a wooden structure I had noticed on the left bank of the lake as I was coming down the path and as I drew closer to it, I noticed it was a boat tied to a tree. Now, this didn’t look like any everyday boat you would expect, but a silent gondola-shaped boat, controlled and powered by man. It was the most beautiful shade of light blue that proposed endless hours of seeking life’s most treasured views upon the lake. As I trod atop the surface of the boat, I heard the ripples made from the lake amplify, and a smile, impossible to resist, came unbidden to my lips. The baitfish swam in schools of hundreds passing and surrounding the boat, wondering what this strange creature was that was among them, as I set forth onto the lake. In the background, calls of the wild come from animals of all sorts, wishing me a pleasant journey. Toward the shore, on some lily pads, bullfrogs croaked in harmony, adding to the sound of nature. I rowed the boat along the stream taking in all that I saw.

I stumbled upon an inlet that seemed to originate from the rock-insulated mountains. As I looked down the inlet, I saw a clear mountain spring flowing from the rocks sending a soft harmonious tone that reverberated around the entire lake, intertwining with the calls of the wild.

As I drifted around the lake on the quiet boat gazing at the mountaintop, snow was visible and cascading down in the distance. Trees that towered from the ground reached out to meet the snow in an age old embrace. The clouds seemed to split and pass around the lake-side retreat, like a thick fog moving around a vehicle. As the day got warmer, I could see a rainbow stretching across the sky as the snow melted and turned to vapor, adding a new beauty to the already beautiful lake.

I drifted aimlessly, not caring where I went, just enjoying the peace around me until I spotted the perfect camping ground that lay about 50 feet from shore. It was in the midst of a groove of trees, the leaves creating the perfect shade from the noon-day sun. I paddled toward it, tied up the boat, and began to set up camp. I pitched my tent, made a small pit for my campfire, collected firewood, and stowed my gear in the tent. When I was done, I pulled up a chair I had brought along and looked out across the landscape that most people only dream about, and I began to forget all about my worries, troubles, and fears. I believed that this oasis was truly heaven sent. As I sat there enjoying everything around me, I discovered the lake haven did pose a catch that I should have foreseen: the return to life will always be waiting for you just beyond the horizon. As if waiting for this thought, a beautiful bright parrot flew off a nearby branch and took off into the horizon instantly capturing my attention and as I watched that bird fly, my eyes slowly began to shut and I saw no more.

 

 

 

back to Contest #5