DOWNSTREAM

Casey crashes through the underbrush, soaked in sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The river flows gently in front him, a different beast than the one he saw in early spring when the snow was melting up in the mountains.
    

He looks quickly upstream and downstream trying to figure out exactly where he is.

When the Moore brothers first caught him on Oak Street he thought he was dead. But somehow he managed to get away and has been on the run ever since.

After ditching his bike about an hour ago at the edge of Lewis Field he has been on foot. His bike was too old and no match for Mike and Marty and their new bikes.

Somewhat confident that he had eluded his enemies he removes his backpack and places it gently on the ground. He opens the top, reaches in and takes out a wet towel. The towel moves in his hand as he slowly opens it.

He stares at the small turtle that he has raised all summer.

A loud snap draws Casey's attention away from his turtle. Upstream about one-hundred yards away the Moore brothers break through the scrub. They spot him quickly and start running.

Casey hurriedly wraps his turtle in the towel and runs to his backpack, he puts Flash back in and runs downstream towards the old bridge.

The river slowly falls away from him as the ground rises up. About fifty feet away from the bridge he can here the pounding feet of his pursuers.

He takes a chance and looks back. Casey's eyes widen in fright as the Moore brothers bear down on him.

With a steadfast determination born of fear and safety for his turtle Casey puts on a last burst of speed and starts to distance himself from the Moore brothers.

With a quick right turn and jump he lands on the old bridge. The aged structure shakes and groans. He smiles. He's crossed this bridge every summer hundreds of times and knows it like the back of his hand.

He backs up to about mid-span and waits for the Moore brothers. He looks down at the brown flowing water and back up at Mike and Marty as they approach the bridge.

Casey doesn't say a word as they near the bridge, their breathing and taunting coming in unsteady huffs.

Mike eggs his younger brother Marty on and then they both step onto the bridge.

Casey turns quickly and runs to the other side, carefully placing his feet so he doesn't fall through. 

The Moore brothers throw caution to the wind and give chase. They both fall through the rotting bridge and into the river ten feet below them.

Casey looks down at his vanquished foes, splashing and cursing at him. He grins widely, a slight reprieve today. Casey turns and runs towards the lake to return his turtle back from where it came.

THE END