The River

It was only s small river, more than a stream but calling it a river seemed to over grandise it. Usually it meandered along like a lazy stroll in the park but today it bubbled and belched, swollen by the overnight rain, no longer a stroll now a frantic race, a race for the finish. Its banks struggling to contain the excited water that looked for any and every opportunity to escape and envelop the surrounding land. Clem splashed around, trying to control her movements, but that was easier said than done. The water buffeted her, throwing her hither and tither, she was losing the battle. The riverbed was strewn with discarded garbage creating additional hazards on top of the strong current. Why did people throw their rubbish into the stream? Clem was a strong swimmer but this was not the calm waters of the local pool and she was fully clothed not in her swimming costume.
She shut her eyes as she felt a wave of water splash over her and then took in a huge lungful of air as she resurfaced. Her eyes scanned the water looking for the boy.
Impulse had made her dive in, she'd seen the boy slip on the bank and get dragged in by the malevolent waters and she knew she had to do something. But she was regretting it now, she’d underestimated how tough it would be as the heavy clothes and freezing water were getting the better of her. She felt a searing pain in her leg, her skin ripped on something below the surface, it stung like hell as the wound opened up to the cold waters.
She felt faint, weak but she was close to the boy now and could, yes just one hand and ... she grabbed the boy. But then was faced with another problem, how to get out of the river. She held the limp figure above the waterline, she could hear him breathing but she doubted he was conscious.  Her arms were aching now and her leg stinging. She could reach the riverbed with her feet but her injured leg could not take her weight. As the water seemed to be getting stronger Clem seemed to be getting weaker. Another wave of water crashed over her, her arms holding the boy her legs kicking frantically. She done all she could, she needed help.

‘Pull yourself together girl.’ She said to herself. ‘You’ve got this far, five steps and you are at the bank.’

She moved her legs, they were going to be the hardest and most painful 5 steps of her life. The water pulled her in the opposite direction like a drunken friend who wants you to go to another party when all you want to do is get the night bus home.. But she resisted its pull, ignored the pain and set her mind on getting to the bank.

Just a step away two policemen raced to the bank. Finally – thought Clem, better late than never.

‘Sir, pass me the boy,’ the first copper yelled above the noise of the water.

Clem held the child out in front of her and the policeman took him off her.

‘Sir, grab my arm.’ The other officer said. Clem ignored him, why had he assumed she was a man, were only men heroes? She took one more step and fell out of the stream and on to the bank. She didn’t need any man to help her.