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Topic: Mountains (09/20/04)
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TITLE: Mt. Life By Autumn Pryor 09/25/04 |
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It was on that fateful day, many a year ago, that I took my first unsure step up the steep ascent that lies before us all. I remember still the large wooden sign that hung above the pathway up that mountain, proclaiming its name in proud carved letters: Life.
In my naivety I journeyed forth, placing my trust completely in Life. As I hurried on this wide pathway up the mount, the way was smooth and pleasant and all a young heart could wish for. All was good and remarkably lovely on Life.
I soon came to a fork in the path. A new trail leading to the right was well beaten down and held a small sign of neon flashing: Adolescence, in bright colors. I, of course, choose this new trail with growing excitement.
It will always stand out in my memory, however, the day I came across a small encampment of hikers.
Now my innocence was shocked by these hikers, for they seemed to find amusement in many things I couldn’t understand at all.
There were a certain two girls who found great enjoyment out of walking past a group of young men while giggling idiotically and whispering behind their hands.
I was still trying to understand this mystery, when they befuddled me further by each in turn running forward and touching one of the young men. They would playfully swat one boy’s arm, while winking candidly at the boy next to him.
I dare say, the young men were just as confused as I. What fun the girls could get out of this mess, I was at a loss for understanding.
Walking around the camp, I came upon a small party of young people, completely involved in an argument. They all seemed to claim the party’s acceptance and, as I saw, they were all willing to prove to each other their worth. This was achieved in various ways.
Some gave proof of their worth my drowning themselves in a strange liquid that came out of an amber bottle, and which had an interesting affect on the drinkers. A few, in their fever to prove themselves, passed out after too much of the bottle’s contents.
Others were busy sticking a short white stick inside their mouth and breathing from it a toxic smoke that’s smell was poison to my lungs and reeked of death itself.
I left this party of young people, slumped in odd positions, with distorted faces and quiet now of their claims of worth in each other’s eyes.
Before too long, I noticed that the trail I followed was petering out. I had to climb steep and jagged boulders, and constantly keep a watch out for fellow travelers, who of late had taken to pushing each other off the side of the mountain in order to progress on Life.
I began to see the top of the mountain come into view. I felt a profound peace in this sight.
But as I climbed farther up, I realized the other travelers of Life were not so eager as I to reach the end of our journey, indeed they were half crazed with the fear of it. I saw some stop on the rocks and make an attempt to stay there and not move forward. Others even tried to go back down the mountain towards the little trail Adolescence.
But, these foolish travelers never could succeed, and in the end they put their journey to a more sudden conclusion than those that continued climbing to the top.
And now, as I stand on the very edge of the summit, I look back down the mountain at the journey I have traversed. I see again the places where I slipped and fell, where at moments I climbed victoriously over tough terrain, and the spots where I strolled tranquilly along the path in bliss.
Then I turn my weary eyes forward, to the summit I must soon reach. At the very peak of the mountain, rising through the clouds, a gleaming cross sits regally upon the summit. The cross, the very reason for Life itself. A single tear slides down my check and I take a last fateful step, knowing my journey on Life has come to an end.