Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Teacher (10/26/06)
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TITLE: Life Saving Grade | Previous Challenge Entry
By Valora Otis
11/01/06 -
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“Janet, did you see that?”
“Yah, paddle faster, Kara!” The water swirled around the bow of the canoe. Paddles sliced through the boulder-churning water in rhythm with each other. The girls had mastered the technique in their White Water Aquatics class. At the moment Kara was wishing she didn’t remember what their teacher, Mr. Givens had told them the first day of class. It seemed kind of funny back then…
“Class, by the time I’m done with you, you’ll all be experts running the river, both with kayak and canoe.” Givens paused. A hush fell over his class. He seemed to measure each student for something unseen. “Grades are important in this class; if for any reason you have to save my life, you’ll get an automatic A.”
Kara would give her “A” away right then if she could see his bushy hair pop up from underneath that log. They were making good time, catching a cooperative current. She couldn’t hear the white water of the rapids roaring for the blood pounding in her head. Sweat poured down her back, tickling her skin as she began to pray. ”Father, please don’t let him drown!”
Janet, her best friend, said, “AMEN. Kara, we can do this. Remember what he taught us, you hold out your oar and let him grab on. I’ll paddle, and we’ll haul him to safety. Don’t stand up no matter what.”
Kara nodded. Just then that bushy wet head popped up and a hand grabbed at the air, going down again. He was caught in the current, making Kara’s heart leap for a split second. Janet back-paddled just in time to swing the back of the canoe around towards where they saw Givens. Kara held out her paddle just below the water line, praying all the while. Then suddenly it was like she’d caught the big one. She felt a huge tug and nearly fell into the water, but braced herself as Janet continued to paddle for her life.
“I think...I have…him. Go! Paddle harder, Janet.” Mr. Given’s head came up again with a hand gripping the paddle, Kara pulled him in and he grabbed the side of the canoe. Kara was free to use the paddle to get them to safety.
“Thank you God,” she heard him splutter beside her as they eased the canoe safely to shore. Helping Givens onto dry land, they were relieved to find that he only had a few scratches and a nasty bump on his head.
“Are you alright?” Kara sat next to him.
His brown eyes spoke volumes as he tried to find his voice. “I thought I was a dead man; that no one had seen me go under. A voice told me to “be still.” So I did and then I popped out the other side with the current. When I went under I hit my head, I think." He touched his head, "I’m so glad you girls saw me. Thanks.” He patted Kara’s hand.
Janet plopped in the mud beside the two, “Well, you know, I haven’t been doing so hot in your class lately, Mr. Givens. I saw you and thought, ‘gee, maybe today’s the day to get that ‘A’,” Janet smirked as she grinned at the big man. “It’s not every day that you can save your teacher.”
They all laughed out loud lying back on the muddy bank of that Idaho River. Relief and shock oozed from them into the mud.
“What a day.” Kara sighed. “I never want to do that again.”
“Ditto,” Janet and Mr. Givens said in unison.
“One thing,” Givens wheezed. “Part of the grade is making sure that the university’s canoe is in one piece.”
Kara moaned, “You never said anything about that. Come on, Janet, I guess we have a canoe to save. The job of “super coed” is never done.”
Givens gave them a weak salute. The girls had their canoe back in the water in no time.
“Janet?”
“What?” Janet said flicking mud at Kara.
“Enough with the mud, girlfriend. After this, I’m sticking to lakes and swimming pools. No more white water for me. I guess having our prayers heard was pretty awesome though. Hey, there’s the canoe!”
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I was on the bank of the Idaho, watching the whole thing.
Thanks.
Excellent job here. I liked a different take on TEACHER. Thanks for the fresh writing. God bless.
Loved your power punch verbs and descriptions. You have an easy-to-read writing style.
I could picture the action as I read.
The Lord bless your pen and your mind as you write for Him.