Jikiko's Mask

nonfiction - Stationhill.com

Cold Water

Descriptive Essay by Kim Becker

The lake sits calmly in winter air, waiting for the summer to return. Lake Bradley keeps its place in Bandon, Oregon. It is only a few hours away on a bumpy, windy bus ride. Bradley has always been a place for peace and time to think. It’s a place for people to turn to during the summer to learn about the Lord and change their lives.

I walk down the wooden boardwalk to the clear, blue lake. I take careful steps, making sure I don’t slip on hidden patches of ice. Standing on the edge of the worn dock, I look down into the icy water. Looking back at me, I see my reflection, only changed by the slight ripples. If you listen quietly, you can hear the thoughts and laughter of children from previous summers.

As I stroll back up the hillside, I feel the brisk coastal wind tug at my jacket. The air has a smell to it that can’t be described; only experienced. The closest I can describe it is its fresh and pure. It’s always there and never falters. The landscape cowers under a blanket of snow. The shrubbery and flowers sleep, waiting to blossom in the sun once again. The chapel stands tall, not shaken by cold winter threats. The glass door creaks as it opens to songs of worship and praise. The pillars wait in silence for new crowds of campers to file in.

Grains of sand creep into my worn tennis shoes as I trudge over the sandy dunes. Standing on top of the dunes I can look down upon the glorious lake. I see the unsymmetrical lake surrounded by towering green trees. Making my way to the ocean, I hike up the narrow path. Consuming me on both sides are poky gourd bushes. They may seem inviting with the bright yellow flowers, but right beneath the surface hide blood drawing thorns.

The ocean has a tranquil feeling to it. The air tastes of salt that lingers on the tip of your tongue. I flip my sandy tennis shoes off and toss my socks to the side. I take my first step and the sand breaks beneath my foot leaving a perfect footstep. As the waves break against the shoreline and the sun starts to drop behind the ocean, I know there isn’t a more peaceful and beautiful place than Lake Bradley.

Kimberly Becker, age 17, contact: kimberly_becker_5@hotmail.com

Posted 05/21/2008