The Mountain Climber

   
With a flick of her head her long hair flew back. Her jaw was set straight, the determination on her face was almost a defiance. He had told her she would never amount to anything but she was more sure of herself now than ever before, She had come a long way from then, but the echo of his voice still boomer in her head. She had learned to recognize his lies even when he was screaming at her. The louder he got the more determined she became.

     She knew that there was a mountain before her but she also knew it wasn't impassable. It would take a lot of hard work on her part but it could be done. She set out the task before her painstakingly making her plans. Step by step and inch by inch she moved ever so slowly over the rough terrain. She would drive her anchors in hard and deep so she could be sure they would hold fast. Many times she was tempted to hook on to an anchor left by someone before her but she knew this could be a very dangerous practice. The anchor could be weak and come loose over time and then give way causing her to become seriously hurt or even worse fatally wounded. No, she would resist this and make her own trail.

     The further she got the harder and more tiring the climb became. On more than one occasion she was tempted to retreat but each time she would recall that echoing voice and determination would wash over her again coaxing her on.

     Finally she reached the summit. There she would rest for a while and gain her strength then once again she would climb, higher and higher and further and further and soon she would be there. Many had been this way before but none had walked her trail, and she would have the satisfaction of knowing she had done it with only the help of some of her anchors and her safety line.

Julie Senechal

March 10, 1995