The Tributary

9

offed s

day of Summer break. She rolled her eyes upon realizing that she wasn't going to enjoy the day readin

ve a picnic?" Ben murmured, leaning into her bedr

reat at swimming. I'm not sure Uncle Jim and Aunt

hat doesn't say much about your

u were their babysitter, they'd be p

I'm capable of mu

why they chose me to be the main babysitter when you're old en

p dealing with them for the enti

responsible. Something that you've got

ds to describe me? I feel like you

. That's why she's a grade ahead

e of the oldest you are

oeing but first some ground rule

't see why we don't use the new boat launch.

ngs and Livi and I will work on something for

y house and Tara gritted her teeth in annoyance. She slipped from her be

ers with a book held firmly between her hands, "C

you're tagging along with us. I'm not dealing with the trio of doom

you're not a natural thespian?" Olivia asked,

c. We're going on a rowing adventure in the can

g to be okay with that? The twins

go pack some PB and J and get down the creek so we can get back after

*

em were loading up the canoes, and Tara was wond

ivia murmured, as Tara pulled the

the twins. You think it's the best idea for

ther end. I think that's a lot safer because it's safer and we can lead out. We do have more experience navigating

rd Ben and the twins, "Ben, sit Lydia in the middle and let Luc

The water was murky and brown – and she felt a sense of disgust wash over her upon looking

hea," Lucas remarked – his v

e." Lydia murmured, "At leas

so squeamish." Ben muttered, "This run-off comes from

ong Tom River, doof

's called, pipsq

e. If y'all are quiet, we might see

ke stated, "Maybe we can catch a duck and

supplies, and that's not the adve

came around a bend in the tributary and a large weeping willow emerged – draping

ooking," Luke muttered, his mouth falling agape as he w

tree – there's noth

n green meadow spread out before them. The embankment jutted out a bit and as they came around the curve

's go take the picnic break there." she poin

dded, "I'm starving alr

ng around the water and noticing the large

Luke mumbled - in awe of the large and expan

*

the open meadow and noticing a strange light tan structure - appearing somewhat new and out of place, standing in the middle of the field. There were a few large

vertook her. When finally Tara stepped out onto the pathway she leaned her head slightly peering into an oddly shaped building with double doors - locked, with metal meshed windows of large portions. The same types of large window panes made up the front of the building but it was dark inside and nothing could be made out beyond a few chairs due to the tinting of the window panes. Odd as it was, Tara strode around the backside of the building and gasped with astonishment at what appeared before her eyes. Several large headstones with various symbolic and ornamental value

o be." she urged, glancing upward as the sky began to dark and

a blurted - terrified, she ran toward the fi

er. The visibility instantly diminished and Olivia screeched in horror as white-knuckled fingers grasped the edge of her boat. Gasping for air, Ben's head popped up and Livi reached to pull him over the canoe blinking in shocking as the two of the looked back at the capsized canoe vanishing beneath the turbulent waters. Tara began to row quicker on noting the obscure water racing in each toward the canoe but strangel

ughing back his own tears, his throat seeming to c

ed her head then, lifting her gaze to the trees above her and noticing no wildlife ahead she crinkled her forehead in confusion. The hairs at the back of her

ll yourself together and paddl

er kids knew, whatever I had undertaken the twins would've taken them too, but som