It was early summer, already wet and hot. I was sitting in a little van with my cousin. The windows were all open, but the air was not moving. There was only silence taking over the place. We were on the way to the mountain.
Getting off the van, such a relief! It was cooler at the foot of the mountain. Wind touched me and took away my trip fatigue. From the station, we needed to climb to our destination—a village my cousin used to visit.
The road was newly paved, quite easy for walking. I was frightened by those fast motorcycles coming down. Such a good technique, I thought. On my right, I saw a river running at the bottom of the valley. It was not a good idea to imagine falling from where I stand. So, I hastened to catch my cousin.
After arrived at the village, we visited a few relatives and met other kids. Still noon, just the right time to go to their secret place, they told me. Walking down along an alley, not far, and I saw a little brook streaming and two small ponds up there. My heart started beating.
A little bit cold at first, but when I got used to it, I could not wait to take off my pants and sit in the water. Little fish were resting on the stones in the dark corners of the ponds. I tried to catch them, but their moves were so swift.
One girl came to me and showed me baby crabs she caught under stones. I asked her to teach me, and then I started to search for those crabs. But you should be careful that there were not always baby crabs hiding there but their parents with huge claws. I want you to know this because it was hurt, and they would not let you go easily!
We built a dam at the upper pond to store enough water to swim. I could not swim, so I was the dam constructor. It was good when everyone is having fun in your little reservoir. Imagine how you could make them shout for more water after you let the water go.
We did not go back to the village until the clouds became orange—a buffalo was waiting there to drink. I did not know when he came, but he was such a quiet animal. Villagers started preparing dinner, and I could see the smoke rising from their kitchens.
The next few days went by just like the first. Sunshine and water; poor crabs being captured and released constantly; building dam and swimming.
It was the first and last time I went there, I wished to go back, but things changed, the brook and pond disappeared, according to my cousin.
People always feel upset about things that disappeared. I was too.
But now, I realize that in some secret places of my heart, things are still there and will never change. It is a gift.
