FREEFALLING

By...Trace


Well, as it did every year, Bridge Day was here, and Trace had been bound and determined to attend this time around. And, as usual, she coerced Aly and Shadoe into attending with her. They had NO idea what Bridge Day was, nor did they mind. They seemed to put up with Trace's silly notions all the time, and played along.

Now, as they made their way through the rather large crowd, Trace was beginning to think that maybe this wasn't the best idea after all. She was thinking maybe they should just pack it in, and head home. Then, thinking to herself *whats the big deal, we are here to watch, not participate*, she decided to press on.

As the crowd began to thin out, Trace turned and smiled at Aly and Shadoe.

'Well, here we are,' she said, as she moved her arm in the direction of the massive gorge, doing her best Vanna White imitation. 'Welcome to Gauley/New River Gorge, and the nations largest spanning bridge.'

Aly and Shadoe looked to Trace, then to the gorge, and both swallowed nervously.

'Uh, Trace, you didn't say it was gonna be so...well...high up,' Shadoe said, in a small and scared voice.

'Well, they do jump from it you know? I mean...that should have clued you in a little.' Trace replied jokingly.

'Hey, they jump? What in the love of nubbins would possess someone to jump from this thing?' Aly queried.

Trace smiled, and moving between her two best buds, placed her arms around their shoulders, and launched into her *lecture* mode.

'Years ago, before the first *official* launch of Bridge Day, people used to jump from the bridge, without permission or necessary precautions. With the bridge being so far up, and with the massive gorge that spans below, it is the perfect spot for *freefall parachuting*. After having so many people jumping, and just as many getting hurt, the authorities decided it best to organize an *official* yearly event. That event, which had only a few hundred people its first year, has grown into an annual tradition. A tradition that has, over the years, caused the crowds to grow in numbers in the hundreds of thousands. People come from all over the world to jump each year.'

When Trace finished, she looked to Shadoe and Aly, whose respective faces were ash white, and their eyes wide in terror.'What?' Trace asked, 'what did I say?'

Aly swallowed slowly, then spoke in a small voice. 'You said peeps came to *jump*. We aren't gonna...well....jump are we?'

Trace laughed, and looked to her buds. 'No, we are not. First off, I didn't think you all would want to. Second, I will not be, because it is best if you go the first time with a partner. And, seeing as how I have no partner, I will not be jumping either.'

As Trace said this, secure in the knowledge that she had wiggled her way out of jumping, she was blindsided by a voice behind her.

'I will be your partner,' the voice said.

As their attention turned to the person who had spoken, Trace, Aly, and Shadoes mouths dropped open. The three buds just looked to the stranger, their mouths wide open in shock and disbelief.

The stranger walked towards them, smiling, and held out his hand. As he did, Aly snapped out of her stunned state first, and shook his hand. 'Um, I know this is awfully cliche, but are you...' Aly's voice trailed off, as the stranger continued smiling, and shook his head in acknowledgment.

'No way!!' Shadoe shouted, as a smile brightened her face. 'You have got to be kidding me!'

The stranger only reached out and shook Shadoes hand, laughing easily. 'I can assure you...yes way!'

Aly and Shadoe laughed nervously, as the stranger turned and looked to Trace. 'Well, am I going to get the name of my *jumping* partner before we take the *plunge*?' the stranger asked.

For a moment, Trace stood rooted to the spot, unable to breathe, let alone answer. After a few moments, she got herself under control, and shook the strangers hand.

'Hi, um, my name is Trace. And I was only kidding about jumping. I was just joking around with my friends here.'

The stranger smiled, and wagging his finger back and forth, spoke. 'No, I need a partner, and you are it. It will be fun. I have friends who do this sort of thing all the time,' then the strange winked. 'Trust me.'

Trace, unable to fathom why, did indeed trust this person. She felt as if this day would be one that would stay with her the rest of her life.

'Now,' the stranger began, 'what say we get registered, and get our parachutes strapped on?'

Trace only nodded, as the stranger put his arm around her shoulders, and lead her away. Looking back over her shoulder to Aly and Shadoe, she saw them smile, and wave to her. She knew that they were loving this. Once again, her big mouth had gotten her into trouble. Only, this time, there would be no backing out....she was going to jump from a bridge...with a stranger...and most probably...kill herself!!

After having registered, and strapping on their parachutes, Trace and her partner waited in line for their turn to take the *plunge*. Shadoe and Aly joined them, keeping them company until their turn came up. The foursome talked casually, exchanging funny stories, and jokes. In no time at all, Trace and her partner were the next ones in line. The couple ahead of them, who appeared to be newlyweds, moved up and into position on the side rails of the bridge.

Trace watched, as the coupled kissed affectionately, and holding hands, yelled out gleefully as they leap from the structure. Watching them disappear over the edge, Trace felt like the bottom of her stomach had dropped out, and that she was going to pass out then and there.

Her partner, seeing Trace's reaction, placed his arm around her shoulders, to comfort and reassure her.'Don't worry, this is gonna be a breeze,' he said.

Then, the official overseeing the jumps, motioned to them that they were next, and Trace and her partner moved slowly forward. As they neared the edge of the bridge, Trace looked over the side. Trying to think only good thoughts, she mused *wonder how long it would take for a spit ball to reach the bottom of this puppy?*. With this thought, a smile formed on Traces face.

Aly and Shadoe, having hung back, and watching, saw the smile spread across Trace's face, and turned to each other.

'Well,' Shadoe said, 'its finally happened.'

Aly only shook her head in agreement. 'Yeppers, it sure has. Trace has finally gone looney.'

As Aly said this, she and Shadoe looked to each other, and laughed. Hearing her friends laugh, Trace turned. She looked to them, and smiled, assuring them that she was going to do fine. Then, as her partners' hand touched her on the arm, Trace moved forward, placing one leg than the other over the edge of the bridge railing.

'Okay,' her partner said, taking hold of Trace's hand, 'on the count of three.' Trace only closed her eyes, and tried to steady her breathing. Thinking to herself *what am I doing? If god had intended CATs to fly, he would have given them wings*, she opened her eyes, and turned to her partner.

'Just one question before we plunge to our death,' Trace said.

Her partner turned to her, and smiled. 'Okay, fair enough, shoot.'

'In all honesty, Gene, is this really how you got that white hair?'

Gene only laughed, and gripped Trace's hand more firmly. 'You have to meet me at the bottom for that answer.' Then, he began counting down.'One...two...' Trace closed her eyes, inhaled, and steadied herself.'Three!!!' Gene yelled. Trace took a deep breath, and yelling 'Geronimo!!!!' jumped.

Aly and Shadoe watched Trace and Gene disappear over the edge, and turned to each other.

'There is no way...for love nor nubbins...I would do what she just did,' Shadoe said firmly.

'I am with ya there Shad...not for nothing,' Aly agreed.

As they continued looking towards the spot where Trace had just been, they didn't notice the stranger walk up behind them.

'Excuse me,' he said, his voice heavy with a French accent, 'but I was supposed to meet my jumping partner here, and it seems that he just jumped without me. Do either of you know where I can check into getting another partner?'

Aly and Shadoe looked from the stranger, to each other, then smiled.

'Okay, where do I get me a parachute,' Aly said, heading in the direction of the registration table, with Shadoe following closely behind.

THE END


~~<>~~<>~~<>~~<>~~<>~~

After reading the last line, of the last *testimonial*, she slowly folded the newspaper, and laid it down on the bench.

Leaning back, and stretching, she looked up at the sky. Each of the *testimonials* that she had just read had sounded fun and exciting. She wished that she could get away as those individuals had. A week away from the everyday *grind* would suit her just fine.

At that moment, her bus turned the corner on the next block, and came roaring down the street. As it moved over to the curb, and came to a stop, the door opened.

As she stood up, and moved towards the steps, a hand gently touched her shoulder from behind. Turning, she found the smiling face of an elderly gentlemen.

'Excuse me miss, but you left your newspaper on the bench,' he said.

She only shook her head and smiled. 'Thats okay, I have no need for it. You can have it if you want.' With that, she turned, and ascended the steps and boarded the bus.

The doors of the bus *swooshed* closed behind her, and moved slowly away from the curb. The elderly gentlemen turned, and walked back over to the bench. Sitting down, he opened the newspaper, and peered at the back page.

There, in red letters, was an ad, for a new service available in the area. A service named FLIGHTS OF FANTASY..........


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Fanfic copyright 1999 by Trace