Chapter 25 - The Ocean Again
Cade returned to ocean at nine.
Two years after incident.
His choice.
Not a therapeutic graduation.
Family vacation to a lake was easier, then pool, then one day he said:
“Can we go beach?”
Pierce and I both froze.
He noticed.
“You guys weird.”
True.
We chose a calm beach.
Lifeguard.
Green flag.
Cade wore a bright life vest.
Same color as old one.
His choice.
He stood on dry sand first.
Then foam.
Pierce stayed five feet away.
I stayed five.
No hovering.
Cade walked until water reached ankles.
Wave came.
He stepped back.
No one spoke.
Another.
He went forward.
Then knees.
Stopped.
“Done.”
Pierce said:
“Okay.”
We walked out.
Cade stared.
“That’s it?”
“Yes,” I said.
“No try more?”
“No.”
He looked at Pierce.
Pierce smiled.
“You said done.”
Cade took off vest on dry sand.
Then:
“Maybe later.”
Later that afternoon:
He went back.
Knees.
One wave hit thighs.
He shouted.
Not terror.
Surprise.
Then laughed.
Pierce started crying.
Quietly.
Cade noticed.
“Dad?”
Pierce wiped face.
“Happy.”
“Why?”
“Because you chose.”
Cade shrugged.
“Okay.”
May you like
Children rarely respect our symbolic climaxes.
Good.
