Chapter 3 "The Rock"

The Father blessed the sisters with the sweet fellowship of Jane, another sister who would travel to Peru and spend her time dodging tree branches and wading through rivers in the Amazon. An elastic always secured her straight dark brown hair in a firm pony tail that swayed right to left when she walked. Jane had the best perspective on each of the sister’s stories. She was close with each one individually and was the finishing piece of their puzzle when gathered in a group. The sisters missed her before they even went their separate ways.

Jane accompanied McCaine and May on their picture taking trip to the river. The three walked over the rock filled path and came to the opening. May saw the perfect place for the individual picture she wanted to give her family and friends and instructed McCaine and Jane to stay where they were and to let her cross the river to sit on a dry rock near the surface on the other side. Little did May know, her new shoes were not up for the task of crossing over the wet, slimy rocks. No sooner then when she stepped on the first slimy rock and placed her weight forward on it, did the rest of her body fly in the opposite direction. Her foot came out from beneath her and her body flew backwards into the air. She landed partially on her back and arm and her head whipped backwards and smashed into the rock.

Once she awoke from a slight two second blackout she looked to McCaine and Jane, slightly confused, not quite understanding why she was laying in the middle of the river on her back with cool water and mud running over her body. She was fearful when she noticed their expressions. They were staring at her horrified. After the initial shock of what happened lapsed, McCaine and Jane risked the waters themselves to pull May out. They helped May sit up, the water still running over her, and insisted she sit still for a moment. May was between laughter and tears and chose laughter because she knew the tears would not stop running down her checks once they began. McCaine and Jane helped May up, each holding an elbow, and pleaded with her to let them take her to the hospital. May’s pride came to the forefront and she refused. They demanded she at least go to The Centre’s nurse’s office to be looked over if she would not let them accompany her to the hospital. May’s headache prevented her from arguing long and the sisters marched her back through the path.

May was horrified when she saw a group of six other travelers approaching them, including one attractive brother who she had been noticing from afar, long ago. She knew there was no way to hide her drenched, mud covered body. McCaine and Jane saw the humor in the situation and tried their best to help May not feel so humiliated. They did most of the talking and described the river encounter to the six in a way that made the river sound like it came alive to eat May. She was appreciative of their effort to make her not feel so embarrassed. The sister cordially wished the others well for their journey over the river and cautioned them about the slippery rocks.

McCaine and Jane escorted May to the nurse’s office where she was told she may have a slight concussion but she did not have to visit the hospital unless she began vomiting or wanting to sleep, or felt she should go. McCaine was determined to get May to the hospital and went to the cafeteria to retrieve directions from the information wall. May, quickly began walking in the opposite direction, a little fearful she was going to be tackled into a car and brought to the dreaded hospital. McCaine noticed Jane and May well on their way back to their quad, a little confused to why they were talking the wrong route back. May requested the sisters take the long route back to their quad in order to avoid other people at all costs. May was thankful for such sweet sisters who watched over her through the night…and for the shower that rinsed the mud away.