by Nikou

Created on: September 08, 2010

I stood still, gazing at the muddy waters running underneath the small footbridge. Who would have thought this humble little stream would be such an inspiration to my life? Maybe I should explain...

Growing up, my Dad used to tell us stories from his past to explain things to us. He inspired us, guided us, and reprimanded us with his stories. But the story that made the most impact on my life was his story about giving all you've got, even your life, for what's important. What follows is the story just as Dad wrote it out, after I begged him to for years.

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When I was just a boy, about 7 years old or so, there was a little stream that ran near our property. Now, to an adult, that stream wasn't much of anything, but to me and my  brother, it was a wonder world of adventure. In the spring we waded in and caught frogs, and played with the eggs they laid among the reeds on the shore. In the summer, we swam in the pool we'd dug out in the middle. In the fall we floated boats on the surface of the water, boats we made from twigs and leaves falling all around us. And in the winter we skated on the frozen waters.

One winter, a rather mild one, we were disappointed because the water didn't freeze over enough for us to skate on. We had to content ourselves with chucking rocks into the water, and playing along the edge. Then, around the middle of January, we got a big snow overnight, and the stream froze over. Excited, both of us raced to get our skates, but Mom made us wait until after breakfast.

As soon as breakfast was finished, we put on our winter coats, and raced outside, skates dangling around our necks. I got there first, and hurriedly put on my skates. Before my brother could say anything, I got out on the ice. Now, usually my brother was the first one on the ice, and he would test it out. I didn't understand this process, and didn't know that ice could be anything other than solid.

Suddenly, the ice gave way, and I tumbled into the water. It was cold, so cold I froze up. I couldn't breath, I couldn't move, I couldn't even call for help. Thankfully, my brother was right there, and he immediately jumped in to save me. I was over the deep part, where we usually swam, and had sunk all the way to the bottom. My brother grabbed me, and started trying to get me to the shore, but I started fighting. It was an instinctive action, and I didn't realize what I was doing. Despite my thrashing, somehow he managed to get me on the ice. But he couldn't get himself out,

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