Camping

I volunteered to drive my grandfather's Winnabago so that he could ride with my parents and get some rest. After they packed up their car, they went on ahead of us to the camp site's rental office to return some borrowed gear and settle up on our debt. All strapped in, except for Seth, who sat between me and my grandmother, leaned forward; elbows propped up on the head rests, I turned to back out of our camping spot. My two little girls, Jocelyn, age 5, and Lila, age 2, were passed out asleep before we could even get their seat belts buckled. It had been a busy weekend of white water rafting, tubing and camping on the Oconee River with my parents and grand parents but it had come to an end and time to head home.

Within moments of being in reverse, I realized the massive vehicle did not have enough room to get turned around before it would head into a guard rail. I checked out my options. I could pull forward and vere to the right and head into a round about and it seemed like the best and only option but there was down side. A sign nearby read, "Cars and small trucks only". Apparently, there was a steep down grade of the road at the bottom of the round about and unsafe for large, heavy vehicles. Throwing caution to the wind, trusting my driving abilities, and feeling like I had no other choice, I headed down into the turn around. How bad could it be?

"SETH!!!! WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO?" I was screaming at the top of my lungs in sheer panic. My hands tightly gripped the stiring wheel turning my knuckles white. My foot pumped the brakes so hard my calf was cramping, but the winnabago only picked up speed regardless of my efforts to stop it. The sign of warning had proven itself right and I was in deep regret for testing it. "SEEEEEEEETH!" I continued, but my husband sat in silence, not moving, not even a worried look on his face; in fact, all my passangers seemed to be completely unscathed by what was going on and I grew angry and confused. We were heading straight into the raging waters of the river and no one seemed to be bothered in the least bit. Our fate was the river, there was no way around it, all I could do was brace myself and pray.

Within moments of being in the river, water poured it's way in through every crack it could find. We were quickly becoming a sinking ship. Franticly, I searched for my seat belt latch (suddenly forgetting where it was). When I finally found it and freed myself from the chair and sprang into action. My grandmother, in shock I suppose, sat lifeless, looking straight ahead, not moving a muscle. I unbuckled her, pushed open her door with super human strength and lead her through the opening. She woke from her haze and began to swim. However the open door only made the water pour in faster and I had to get my girls. The river was cold and threatening. It, too, searched for a way to my children but I was determined to find them first. Oddly, when I did, they still remained in their deep sleep. My hands shook with fear, adrinaline and chill as I grabbed them up and found my way to the side door. Seth was gone, obviously escaping a long while ago. I spotted him as I looked through the windshield of the sinking vehicle right before freeing my grandmother. He was swimming down river, never even looking back. He left me...alone... to do this all by myself. Why? None of that mattered right now. I had to swim to safety for me and the girls.

I reached the shore just in time to see the Winabago go end over head as it crashed into some jutting rocks. Shaken up pretty badly, I proceeded to walk down stream along the smooth river bank toward the camp site's reservations office in hopes that my parents and grandfather would still be there. "My grandfather..." my thoughts trailed, "oh, what am I going to tell my grandfather?" My stupid mistake almost got us all killed and on top of that destroyed his Winnabago. "He will be so upset." and with that thought and all of the other thoughts of the very recent events, my emotions finally took over and I began to weep. I put down my girls and crumpled onto the ground in a big heeving mess.

After some time, I was able to grab up some composure, I finally found my destination and spotted the faces of my loving family, Seth included. Thank goodness they had not left yet. My grandfather sat in a lawn chair enjoying the shade while my parents busily checked us out of the camp site. He spotted me walking towards him and said, "Well hey Joy! Come on and join me" patting the chair beside him. I sat, head down, knot in throat and opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by, "Why girl, you are soaking wet! What on earth?" "Paw-Paw..." I stammered and got through my story very slowly, stopping every now and then to wipe my face and blow my nose. When my story came to a close, a warm hand stroked my back and the soothing voice of my grandfather spoke, "Well Joy, these things happen sometimes. I didn't like that old Winnabago anyway."

.................

My eyes flug open, trying to adjust to the darkness. My grandfather's words still ringing in my ears, and a smile forming on my lips. It was all a dream! A dream...thank the good Lord, it was only a dream. It was kind of bittersweet to wake up though. I got to see my Paw-Paw and it made the horrible nightmare turn into a sweet dream and all worth while.