This post is written for Friday Fictioneers. My story follows the picture prompt. Enjoy!
We were just high school kids on summer vacation. Four boys on a weekend canoe trip on the Au Sable River in Michigan.
A race was declared. The first to make it over the rapids without tipping over would be declared the winner. No one thought about the submerged rocks.
The late spring rains had made the river swift and turbulent. We made it through three or four rapids when we realized we were at the mercy of the raging river.
John leaned forward and started his strong stoke but lost his balance and never saw the rock that killed him.
Oh Danny Boy! 
Good story, Danny. Young people seem to think their lives are charmed. Sadly, that’s not true. Well done. —— Suzanne
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Never underestimate the power of the river!
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Or the ocean. Speaking from experience with rip tides.
DJ
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Yup!
I live just under a mile from the river here so all the natives repeat that warning.
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PoorJohn. In our place they say one should never play with fire and water.
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Ouch. Sometimes I wonder how we make it through youth. I’ve always been ‘tame’, but there have been moments where only dumb luck helped. Great story.
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I lucked out a couple of times myself.
DJ
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How sad, but all too real. As mentioned above, at that age, there’s not always enough thought given before a grand adventure.
janet
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Sometimes no thought at all is involved.
DJ
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It’s all about the excitement with no thought to dangers or consequences at that age.
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I’m guilty as a youth!
DJ
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Danny, This story needs to come with a warning label for mother of teenage boys. How can I sleep now? On the other hand considering my reaction , your story is very successful in bringing out the horror that lies hidden in everyday events. Nicely crafted.
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Thanks for your comment. Have a good night sleep tonight.
DJ
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My stomach flipped thinking about these boys. My sons probably did equally stupid things and survived. I’m grateful for that. Well written.
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I also did some stupid things like that and survived including canoe races. Luckily none had the ending my story did.
DJ
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Good story told at a killer pace.
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Poor John!
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A summer day, that’s when disaster is most likely to hit,
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Used to live in Michigan and loved canoeing on the Rouge River and the Au Sable. Loved the beauty and serenity of gliding down the river, the fun of rushing over small rapids. The only disturbances were the canoes full of loud, drunken partiers, most quite young (we were young then also,) many of the people toppling dangerously out of the canoes all over the place. The canoes were often overturned, people struggling to right the canoes and get back in. We always wondered that there weren’t more serious accidents causing injury. Every once in while we’d hear about a death, usually a drowning, on the river. Sadly we were never surprised. A hidden rock? All the time, and passengers were unlikely to be attentive. Maybe your readers will be alert when they enter waters for a fun ride. I really hope your story is not based on a factual incident. Poor John. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
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I share many of the same experiences. No it was not a actual incident. Close…I lost my eye glasses in the descriptor event. I spend many a summer on the rivers in the upper lower peninsula. Grayling, Gaylord, Mackinaw City. Camping and canoeing. Lots of memories.
DJ
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There was no way this was going to end well, was there? Well done!
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Should have seen it coming.
DJ
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I sure did! 😉
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