The landing
was a flurry of activity as people juggled boat position, moving one at a time
to the dock and dropping of a person to retrieve boat trailers, before motoring
back out into the lake to wait for their trailer to be backed down the landing
in a choreographed dance of vehicles, people and boats. As each watercraft was
loaded and pulled from the water the next trailer was backed down the landing
ready to embrace its companion, cradling it securely on its steel frame.
Together, boat and trailer would emerge from the water dripping water and weeds
leaving a wet trail on the concrete roadway as the driver pulled away freeing the
landing for the next in line.
Tom joined
the fray and made his way to the dock where he and Matt grabbed the edge of the
dock, holding the boat in place while Lily and Loren gathered up everyone’s
belongings before stepping out onto the warm wooden slats.
“We’ll go
help everyone get packed up and meet you up at the parking lot.” Lily said.
“Okay.
Matt and I will get the boat loaded.” Tom said. “Here, Matt, you take the boat
back out while I go get the trailer.”
Matt
nodded and slid into the driver’s seat. Tom stepped out giving the boat small
nudge away from the dock as Matt shifted the boat into reverse, moving out into
the open water before shifting into forward motion, turning the craft into a
gradual curve and weaving in and out of the half dozen boats floating nearby
waiting to approach either the dock or a waiting trailer.
Lily
glanced up at the sky as she and Loren made their way down the beach. The wall
of dark thunderheads looming over the far side of the lake looked more
forbidding from shore than it had out in the middle of the lake. A gust of wind
whipped a stray strand of hair across her face at the same time as it whipped
up a handful of small leaves sending them tumbling across their path. She
brushed her hair back and picked up her pace.
“Hey Mike.
Some weather is moving in. Let’s get stuff packed up.” Lily said as she hurried
up to the picnic tables and her dozing brother.
Mike
didn’t respond. He lay limp, unmoving in the lawn chair, more like an abandoned
beach towel than a human being. Lily shook his shoulder.
“Hey. Wake
up.”
Mike murmured
a faint response.
“Come on
Mike. It’s going to be storming here in short order.” Lily shook his shoulder
more vigorously as a cold gust of wind blew through the area sending napkins
and paper plates tumbling off the table. Mike opened his eyes. Their normal
vibrant blue color was washed out, dull and uncomprehending. “Mike? Come on,
wake up.” His eyelids drifted shut again. Lily frowned at her unresponsive brother,
noticing the pallor beneath his tanned face and his slow, shallow breathing.
Lily
glanced around.
“Where’s
Lisa?” She wondered more to herself than to her comatose brother or her alert
daughter.
To Be
Continued…
