> # The GreaT Whatever River Raft Race - A fictional story Part 2

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> Posted by Bashfulpie on October 26, 2014 at 08:06:26

> Rob started trying to scramble upright onto the rock, but it was too slick from the moss. He wasn’t worried about swimming, or getting more wet, but a bang against a hard place like that could end not only the race, but all of his fun for the next two months. Slowly, he edged his way up so that he could sit on the rock above the waterline and get his bearings. Then he heard a voice.

> “Hey Roo, you are never going to get to the finish line at that rate.”

> The patrol boat had arrived and was stationary – pointing up stream and throttling down to the speed of the current. It appeared to be overstaffed – four responders were definitely overkill in that small rescue boat. There also seemed to be some unconventional supplies. Leaning over the side with a Cheshire Cat type smile was none other than Thomas, his old friend from the Boy Scouts. It had been years and they had lost touch. But some of the adventures they had been on during campouts had been the highlights of Rob’s secondary school years. Rob caught his breath and responded.

> “Tigger – what the hell are you doing here? And when did you become official?”

> “Five years ago, and saving your ass, I believe. The judges got some good footage of you before you let that bronco throw you. Too bad you can’t finish the race, because you were in the running for a couple of theme prizes. You okay, by the way. That’s what I’m supposed to be asking you.”

> “Yeah, I’m fine. That just stinks. I managed to save the registration number.” Rob pulls the number 145 out from where he had tucked it inside shirt before the bronco had scuttled. “But I have to have at least part of the raft when I get to the finish to qualify for anything.”

> “You mean like this?” Thomas pulls out the bronco’s head, sopping wet and a little worse for wear, having been plucked from downstream.

> “Umm, yeah.” Rob looked shocked. Then disappointment set in again. “But I don’t think I can float on it.”

> “About that,” Thomas responded. “We can’t get close enough to your new ‘raft’ to rescue you. We’re going to go upstream a bit and let out an inner tube. You can climb on that and we’ll reel you in. Then these guys have to get back to patrolling for some real disasters.”

> As the boat motored upstream a little ways and put itself into position, Rob thought back to his Boy Scout days. He and Tigger always had to pack twice as many clothes as anyone else, as well as more plastic bags. They had always ended up in the water, in the mud, as opposite captains of food fights. He regretted losing touch after going off to college.

> Thomas had moved from the side of the rescue boat to the back while one of the other officials maneuvered the boat into place. He tossed an inner tube downstream but held onto a line tied around the tube so he could hold it steady until Rob could get his hands onto it. Inexplicably, Thomas was wearing the horse head on top of his official rescue cap. It was a stark contrast to his official blue police blouse, black shorts, black shoes and black socks. He had also removed the radio from his utility belt. He had accessorized with the obligatory inflatable life vest, flat but with an air canister attached. “You ready?” he called out over the noise of the motor.

> Rob gave a thumbs-up and reached for the un-tethered side of the tube. He was able to pull it all the way up onto the rock. It was a large one obviously from a semi tractor trailer. Having a little more confidence now that the cavalry was here, he wriggled his way onto the tube, with his butt inside the ring and the line between his legs. Thomas tied the other end of the line to a cleat on the back of the rescue boat as far away as possible from the motor, and the motor revved up. After just a little scraping, Rob was waterborne again. They pulled upstream a little ways and clear of the rock before idling the motor. Thomas untied the line from the cleat and started reeling Rob in.

> “Thanks for saving me, Tigger. I still wish I could complete the race, even if I was disqualified.”

> “You know, Roo, I wish I could join you. We have too many responders today and they don’t really need me.”

> Tigger had a familiar gleam in his eye. He turned to look at the man running the motor, who had captain bars on his shoulders. The Captain rolled his eyes, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “just give us the line back. We’ll need it.” Then, the Captain reached up and pushed Thomas into the water, clear of the motor.

> Rob was stunned. He could only watch while Thomas swam over to the tube, untied the line, and waved an All Clear back to his Captain. The rescue boat motored off to another part of the race, rolling the line in as it went. Thomas pulled himself up onto the tube – a very awkward maneuver, but one they had often done as teenagers – so they were able to accomplish it on the first try without flipping over. It had been good to see Thomas again, but feeling him again was great.

> So there was Thomas, laying face down across the tube and perpendicular to Rob’s body, horse head back on top of his head. He turned his head to the side and said, “So, Roo, you still have that number?”

> Rob patted his chest to make sure he could still feel it, and nodded in the affirmative.

> “Then what’s next?”

> “Umm, I think we have to look for Piglet and Eeyore. They helped build the raft and will be taking pictures.”

> It was Thomas’ turn to look stunned. “They’re here too?”

> “Yes,” Rob replied, “and Piglet is married. Her name is Mary. She’s here too, and I think we need to call her Kanga.”

> “Well I’ll be. It’s been too long, hasn’t it, Roo?”

> “Sure has Tigger.”

> Thomas rolled over so he was actually sitting sideways across Rob’s lap. It looked like the rest of this River Raft Race would be Great, Whatever happened. And they drifted off gently down the stream.

> Okay, LevilovR, we are relaxed and ready for a good time. Try not to screw it up again. :P

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> - Re: The GreaT Whatever River Raft Race - A fictional story Part 2 LevilovR 14:37:37 10/26/2014 (0)

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