Hadia+Malik

“Will you hurry up?” “I’m trying to, as you can see.”  “Well make it quick, the others are already there!”  “Alright, you can help you know!”  “You’re making such a big deal out of nothi-…”  “OW!”  My cousin Guria sighed as she watched me prance around the public bathroom, unsuccessfully trying to pull up my leggings while trying to put on my flip-flops until finally I cracked my knee against the stall door. “Are you done now!” she cried, exasperated, as I rubbed my knee. Her usual tranquil, bottomless doe eyes were now perturbed and bursting of anticipation. Her hands were clenched on her hips and a fierce look replaced the usual composed appearance on her delicate features. Though four inches shorter than me, Guria had a notorious reputation since we were kids to be the most logical one and reasonable of her brothers: Shan and Jaan and me. Warning us when the three of us sledded down the roof in the snow and landed straight in the emergency room. Or always picking up her bike after we rode them, unlike her brother who always littered them across the lawn and as a result, one of their bikes got stolen. Even though all the kids would tower over her, you would be sure that the adults would have reliance in her when her brothers and I were under her attentive eye. With her around us they expected fewer bloody noses and bruises. Even though it was just her nature and could be infuriating at times, I couldn’t imagine a better cousin then her. “Ahem…”a sound submissively came from the entrance of the bathroom. We both whirled around to see a young woman with blonde hair, holding a swimsuit, tentatively standing at the door, Guria was blocking. We both blushed and my cousin hastily moved her minuscule frame to let the lady in. When she went into the stall, Guria gave her signature stern look she was known to be best at. I shrugged in return and pushed past her and out the door. Following me, we both stepped out of the cool, breezy restroom and into the sweltering heat of the blazing July Sun, instantaneously fanning ourselves in the humid, dry air. Drip, Drip, Drip. Droplets of water rained over us as I struggled to look at the direction of the sound only to see Guria’s younger brother Jaan smirking at us. His hair dripping wet, and he was already in his swim wear. “You said you would wait for us!” cried Guria, swatting him in the arm. Jaan beamed at us and replied, “The water is great, why not enjoy instead of hiding in the bathroom like girly girls.” I could feel Guria’s glare on me and I tried to change the subject. “Last one to the water gets a head dunk!” I cried, and bolted from them.  Jaan’s pounding footsteps out ran my strides to the edge of the pool as Guria desperately tried to keep up, he pumped his fist in the air and I rolled my eyes. In fifth grade, his height could deceive you in thinking he was in seventh grade. Already up to my shoulder and way past his sister, his lanky body and devilish grin always made you wary of what his next idea was. You always had to take precaution with him around you. I looked out to the vast swimming area, sensing the heat on the pores of my skin. The slope that was painted like the shore of a beach tempted me to come in the fresh, crystal waves that gleamed in the sun. The wall surrounding the water slanted steadily uphill as the labels on them showed the escalating height of the water. People bobbed up and down in the water, laughing in delight as they were swept along with the translucent currents. When the bells tolled, it meant the colossal waves would come out in every pool with water in the water park. I observed as the adults kept a vigilant eye on the younger ones in life jackets while the older kids splashed their friends and enjoyed the contrast of the cool water to their scalding skin. Some people were sitting under their beach umbrellas clearly relishing the summer day. I walked on top of the wall that surrounded the pool, surveying the whole scene that looked like it could go right on a post card. I sat down and soon Guria joined me in the grass with her legs out in front in her. Our hair was streaked red from the blistering Canadian sun as it blew back in a ruffled wind, the tall grass tickling our bare legs as they shimmied in the light like they were dancing to the rhythm of the wind. “Hey Hadia!” a voice broke my trance as it called out from the midst of the chatter in the water.  “Hadia! Guria! Over here!” someone called out again. We both sat up and looked in the direction of the voice, only to find Guria’s older brother Shan hovering in the water beneath us. We waved back and he beckoned us into the water, gesturing with his hands. Next to him Jaan was under water trying to sneak up on my sister, who was oblivious that he was right next to her.  “He wants us to come in the water.” I said, wiping the sweat off my forehead and pulling at my damp sticky T-shirt. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We both stood up as Guria said, “Alright, it’s too hot anyway, the water would feel great.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Below us Shan was waving urgently, I motioned him to wait. Guria turned to walk of the slope of the wall, balancing her petite body. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Come one lets go.” She said tugging my hand. I shook my head grinning, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Guria immediately groaned as she cried out, “No not again!” I nodded beaming. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Yes again” I retorted as I looked down at Shan. Understanding, what was about to happen, he glided out of the way, smirking and giving me thumbs ups up while Guria muttered, “Remember the last time you did this…no don’t do it again!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I rolled my eyes and glanced around to see if any life guards were near or watching us. Satisfied, I moved back a few yards, looked at Guria’s grim face and then ran, closing my eyes, holding my breath, I jumped at the edge and tumbled down 20 ft in the air. The wind streaked through the waves of my hair sending it flying. The sound of it whooshed in my ears as I plummeted down the edge. I loved the feeling as the adrenaline pumped into my veins, and the pit in my stomach grew deeper and deeper and deeper until finally SPLASH! The chilling water rose and drizzled on everyone near the impact. It enveloped my body as I sank into it, tingles shot up my arms and legs and my hair splayed out from behind me, drifting in the water. I heard other people babble excitedly from above but under here it was like I was in my own world, a world full of silence and serene bubbles that popped here and there. There was a melancholy feeling under water that broadens around me and made me want to surface back. I started to feel faint and then realized I hadn’t breathed from my jump. My head bobbed up and surfaced and my lungs were released from the steel grip and gasped for air. I flipped my wet hair back and looked up to the smiling face of Shan and the frowning look from Guria. Jaan looked at his water proof watch and said, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“45 seconds! Not bad.” He slapped me a five. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You should have seen yourself, you could have got hurt!” Guria scolded. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“You’re lucky our moms weren’t there or a lifeguard!” she continued. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I sighed and swam around in strokes, loving the unbalanced feeling of my body in the jagged water. Following Shan with Guria timidly swimming at my feet, we ventured into the 25 ft line and practiced diving of the boards until the life guards caught us. The bells tolled on and off and the waves swept us up and down swirling us around in the iridescent currents. After a half hour of wafting indolently in the water and multiple rounds of Marco Polo, we waded out of the water and back into the blazing heat. Outside the pool the enticing aroma of the fries wafted to my nose making our mouths water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Look at those!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I pointed at one of those circular tubes twisting around each other. Jaan squinted in the sunlight to look up at the intertwined, twisting jumble of black tubes that were in the air and led out into a massive pool, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“That’s a water slide, one of the extreme ones, there only five of those,” he said acting like he went on it. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We all lumbered to the sign; scrutinizing it in the blinding heat. “Black Hole, that’s what’s it called, its four stories high and is a speed slide.” Shan read. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Let’s go on it!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Guria and I winced as we looked up at the immense ride that echoed the screams of the people inside them. Knowing I had a phobia for heights, Guria looked at me, she knew as well that I couldn’t swim in 30 ft and above. Shan seemed to understand the conflict, he said reassuringly, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">wear a lifejacket, WATER DEPTH: 40FT. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Shan!” I screamed, clutching him. He looked at me, bewildered. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“The water is 40ft deep!” I shrieked. His eyes widened. “I ca <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Its only 20 ft water, Hadia, and it will be dark inside; you won’t even feel the drops.” He said. When seeing that I wasn’t budging he added, “Unless, your too scared to go on a real ride, like a gir-…” “I’ll go!” I said mumbled and shoved him forward. As a 14 year old and the oldest of all Shan was the leader for all our activities. He was the one we would blame if we got in trouble and his mischievous smile would always make you speculate what he had in mind next. We followed his relaxed way of walking to the winding line, while I nervously eyed the ride, and wondering what I gotten myself into. The line slowly inched their way forward, up the stairs and toward the entrance of the pipes, from up here the view of the park was breathtaking. I began to feel dizzy, the ground was so far below, the sides of my vision were beginning to blur as I swayed from side to side. “She’s hyperventilating Shan!”Guria cried out loud, as Shan kept me steady. “I’m fine!” I mumbled, shrugging his hands off and trying to keep deep breaths. I kept gulping air, and it helped keep me on my feet, my eye sight cleared, and my stomach cleared. In fact I started to feel great and couldn’t wait to feel the thrill! Our turn was coming and I was jumping with eagerness. Next to me Guria muttered, “This sure doesn’t look 20ft of water” I ignored her as we grasped our tire and then I made a mistake of looking down. We were so far UP!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My stomach clenched as I looked horrified at the height of where we were. I look behind me to see my cousins already loaded into the tire, sitting on the edge of the plastic. They looked at me expectedly and I shuddered and contemplated whether to leave but then glanced at the people waiting and sighed. I got into the tire next to Shan and thought to myself confidently well its only 20 ft water ill make it. As the belt the tire was sitting on moved forward to the sloping downhill entrance of the slide, my hands felt clammy. I could feel the musky air in the pipes swallowing me, and the jitterbugs in my stomach exploded. If I something happens I’m so going to hurt Shan I promised myself silently. A red number caught my eye on the side of the tube. I strained to see what it said and struggled for an intake of breath when I did. It read CUATION: All people fewer than 5 ft must n’t swim in it! I don’t have a life jacket!” I screeched.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My scream echoed in the dripping tunnel as we slowly entered it. It was enough to make me claustrophobic. Then all of a sudden the tire went down, sliding on water, straight drop that caught us off guard. We banged around the black tube, everything was pitch-dark, we all seized on to each other. The water was freezing as we turned around the slushy bends, or tire flipping over and veering from left to right. I move next to Guria and held her hand as he screamed. More drops came as my stomachs threaten to over flow. Only my screams could be heard along with my cousin as we went down the 50 ft pin straight drop with nothing to hold and everything was black. More sickening drops came and then a bright light shone through the end of a tube. My scream was petrified in my throat. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Hadia hold on to me, when we go out in the water!” shouted Shan over the thundering of the water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I looked at him from across the tire fear written on my face. My back was to the entrance, I could feel the warmth of the sun as we splashed out of it, cameras blinding me as they took the picture. The tire flew in the air, as me and Guria fell off mid-air. The sky rotated as I somersaulted, my head spun as my body hit the water jarring me with its cold. I sunk like a rock, trying to move my arms and trying to breathe air. The pool seemed bottomless, as I thrash about to keep my head aloft. Plunging my head out of the water, I gasped for breath, but then was swept below again. My arms were numb as I struggled to move them, only finding the water a burden on them to stroke in. The water kept cutting my breath off, and just when I was about to lose hope, I heard my name being called over the thrashing of the currents. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Hadia!” it cried. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> My eyes hurt from the water but I could see Shan and Guria streaking toward me. Just as they came near, a familiar sound rang through the park. The bells! I managed to make a strangled, before the gigantic waves were let loose. My head was again dunked as all the sound got cut off. The waves hunted me down, before sweeping me upward and letting me flop back into the water. “Hadia!” I recognized Guria’s voice. She was stroking fast with a determined look in her face. Her behavior made me want to win the fight against the oversize waves that were determined to swallow me. I pushed my head just in time to see a huge monster of water lumbering at me. I turned at stroked hard to the shore. Guria plunged next to me and helped me. I lay crumbled on the cement, gagging and gasping for air. Hearing Shan and Jaan footstep thundering to me made me groan even more, since I had proved I couldn’t 40ft of water. I looked up to see Shan’s face peering at mine. Anger coursed through me, as I remembered my vow. I drew my fist back, and with all the energy I had left, I punched my cousin square in the torso. His Oof satisfied me as I pulled myself up, my arms were battered and my body hurt to the bone. I looked down at the sweet innocent face of Guria, who was shorter but managed to save me from drowning. Even Jaan looked worried, his grin replaced by a worried frown. I sighed, and we all burst out laughing. Giggling even though it hurt and we just survived a near death experience, we collapsed and laughed and I gratefully thought, watching my cousins, It’s nice to have good friends that have your back in every situation whether it’s on land or water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nice ending and lots of sophisticated vocab