Just Claire by Jean Ann Williams

tighter, while Liam crossed his arms and plopped his behind on the bed. Grabbing her coat, ClaireLee said, “Stay inside the cabin while I’m gone, and be quiet for Mama and the baby.”
    The two friends wandered down the pine-needled path. They hadn’t gotten far when a Steller’s jay scolded from a nearby tree. The jay flew down yards in front of them and limped and squawked in a sort of crazy dance.
    Stopping, ClaireLee said, “Poor bird can’t walk right.”
    Cupping a hand over her forehead as though blocking the sun, Belinda said, “He has a crippled foot.”
    Cocking her head to one side, ClaireLee said, “Oh, so sad.”
    A moment longer and the bird flew away, hollering his raspy call.
    Moving down the path, ClaireLee had to raise her voice when she spoke, for the Rushing River’s roar. “This is exciting, Belinda. I’ve never lived next to a river before. At home in Oregon, we have a shallow creek, which dries in the summer.”
    The trail ended at a clearing covered with dead pine needles. ClaireLee marveled at the width of the river’s banks. At a closer examination, the water was more of a vivid gray-green. Disappointed, she wanted to see more than the calm swirls. Where’s the place? Her ears followed the noise, while she placed their sack on a boulder and moved downstream, still ahead of Belinda. Milky foam collected along the steep embankment, and ClaireLee stopped and peered ahead unafraid. Where are the rapids?
    Grabbing ClaireLee’s arm, Belinda waved like she wanted them to keep going. Now, the water picked up speed and became solid white. As though it were a monstrous bubbling spring, it raced over rocks like a million birds taking flight.
    In a sudden movement, Belinda snatched ClaireLee’s hand. Racing along the shore, they kept a safe distance. They leaped over logs and switched back and forth around the maze of large rocks. Without notice, the river’s spray doused ClaireLee. Gasping for air, she stopped. She and Belinda moved backward, letting go of each other’s fingers.
    Laughter rose from ClaireLee’s throat, and she pointed.
    There were river boulders as big as ClaireLee’s cabin, and she became giddy at the sight. Water shot off the stones. It spread out at their peak and fell like a white fireworks display. Over and over—slap, splash, spray—the river put on a performance, and ClaireLee’s feet couldn’t help but dance.
    After getting drenched by the foam, the girls returned to the rock where they’d left their snack. As they munched on cookies, ClaireLee hollered above the noise, “Only God could make what we just saw.”
    â€œYep, sure,” Belinda said between bites of ginger-snaps.
    After they finished eating, ClaireLee motioned them toward the trail. Walking back to the cabin, ClaireLee filled her lungs with more fresh air. It feels good to explore like in Oregon, to be carefree once again.
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    I n the night , ClaireLee was jarred awake. Somebody whimpered and paced from the kitchen sink to the front door. In the glow of the porch light, Mama’s outstretched hands fluttered.
    Instinctively, ClaireLee bolted upright and crawled over Lolly and Belinda. She entered Mama’s bedroom and nudged a snoring Daddy. “Wake up, wake up.”
    He swung his feet and pulled on his pants over his long underwear. “I’m late?”
    â€œDon’t you hear her?” She shivered in a panic. “It’s Mama.”
    Pulling on his suspenders, Daddy gazed at Mama’s pillow. He flipped on the living room light, and Belinda covered her eyes. Fingers raking through his curls, he said, “Dotty, what are you doing?”
    Shaken by Mama’s stricken face, ClaireLee hid behind Daddy. Oh, dear God, please help us.
    Sobbing, Mama’s words made no sense. “Whhh, plll, I don’t—”
    ClaireLee squeezed her eyes shut. “What’s