Waterfall_(0)

I was a teenager when my family and I moved house, virtually to the other side of the country. I was not exactly happy with having no say in the matter, but the move came with a promotion for my Dad, so we upped sticks and left the old neighbourhood along with all my friends.

We moved to an area sandwiched between the sea and the mountains, and having moved from the city it was a really strange experience. The beaches were huge and the mountains vast. The valleys were covered in forests, and yet for the first couple of weeks I felt there was nothing for me to do.

I should mention that this all happened at the start of the summer holidays, so I had not even met any new friends. I had investigated the village and the local town, but quickly got bored and pretty much isolated myself in my bedroom playing computer games. Of course I was not the only person with the same problems; my sister pretty much felt the same way and we often griped to each other about our new home.

We were twins and therefore in the same year at school. We had always been good friends and got along well together. We were both slim, with brown hair; hers shoulder length and mine quite short. I think looking back you could say we were both good looking, sporty kids. She had started to ‘developed’ before me and back home had plenty of guys asking her out, although for some reason she always refused.



Anyway, after the initial moving, unpacking, settling in and inspecting our new area, we had both decided that we hated it, and so like I said we spent most of our time in the house. I couldn’t bear to think how I was going to deal with another month of boredom before school started. And so one sunny morning I was sitting on the couch, lazily watching TV with my Mom trying to do the housework. After moving several times so she could go about her work, she seemed to be getting a little irate.

‘Either help me or GO OUT’ she shouted, and given that I hated chores more than anything, I sighed ‘Fine!’, and slammed the door on the way out.

I walked for ages, through the woods, the humidity and heat making the exercise all the more difficult. I guess I had walked maybe three miles when I came across a stream running down a small valley. I splashed some water on my face and followed the stream upwards. Eventually I reached a spot that even I, being a city boy, can only think of as beautiful.

There was a waterfall above a large plunge pool, and a small clearing to the side, allowing the sunlight through to bathe the waterfall in warm light. A rainbow formed in the mist spreading from the falling water, and birds were happily singing. Now I know this sounds a bit hippie, but that really is how it was. I soaked up the scene for a while before sitting down on a large flat rock next to the pool.

Still feeling really hot from the walk, I slipped off my shoes and socks and dipped my feet into the cooling water. I stayed like that for a while, before slipping of my shirt and soaking up the sun for what seemed like an age. Eventually the sun dipped behind the hills and I started to get a bit cold so reluctantly headed home.

When I got back dinner was being cooked and we sat round as a family, and talked about this and that. The conversation soon turned to where I had been that afternoon. Now I don’t know why but I suddenly felt like I didn’t want anyone to know about the spot I had found, so I told them I went for a walk in the woods, without being too precise. After dinner it was back to telly watching and after a couple of hours, bed. That night I dreamed I was at the waterfall, sunbathing and swimming. And I awoke in the morning with a smile on my face.



After breakfast, much to the surprise of Mom, I made some sandwiches and filled a bottle of water.
“Going out somewhere?” she asked cautiously. “Yep, going for another walk” I replied. “Wow, that makes a change, have fun”. I headed for the door, hearing my Mom muttering about “now, if only I could get his sister outa the house too”.

Anyway, I headed back up to the waterfall and soon found myself stretched out on the rock listening to the tumbling water. I could feel the heat of the sun on my face, and getting a bit too warm, I stripped off my shirt. I remember how nice the sun and the slight breeze felt on my skin and without too much thinking I speedily stepped out of my jeans too. As soon as I did that I felt nervous, something in the back of my head made me look around to make sure no one was watching.