Downstream

‘No!’ we shout in unison.
Someone suggests I wear
flippers but I haven’t worn
flippers since I was a little kid
and I’m feeling hysterical as I
step backwards down a ladder
and put on the fins, which
takes me a long while. And
then surprise! I’m as speedy
as anything. I whip through
the water. For one glorious
moment I’m even leading the
pack, a family of pink-hatted
otters down the River