Part 3:
I kept thrashing in the vat of rising chocolate and swirling caramel.
The creams advancing on my ears!
Tickling and buzzing like wet mosquitoes.
Death was coming for me.
Coming closer with every fresh gurgle of syrup.
I imagined the grim reaper nearby, standing at attention until the final moment.
A boat slinking forward to ferry me to the underworld.
The river Styx now a brown, creamy tributary of pain.
I didn't want to go on that trip.
I didn't want to be dead.
The creams advancing on my ears!
Tickling and buzzing like wet mosquitoes.
Death was coming for me.
Coming closer with every fresh gurgle of syrup.
I imagined the grim reaper nearby, standing at attention until the final moment.
A boat slinking forward to ferry me to the underworld.
The river Styx now a brown, creamy tributary of pain.
I didn't want to go on that trip.
I didn't want to be dead.
Dale stared down at me, helpless and searching.
The distance between us remained painfully short yet excruciatingly far.
“We just need a little extra reach. Some way to pull you up.”
“I know! We need rope.”
“Uh, well … your belt! What about your belt? Josephine, toss it to me. Toss it!"
I unbuckled and threw it as fast as I could.
Dale took the belt in his mouth and lowered it down to me.
Stretching his whole head over the side to make it reach.
The distance between us remained painfully short yet excruciatingly far.
“We just need a little extra reach. Some way to pull you up.”
“I know! We need rope.”
“Uh, well … your belt! What about your belt? Josephine, toss it to me. Toss it!"
I unbuckled and threw it as fast as I could.
Dale took the belt in his mouth and lowered it down to me.
Stretching his whole head over the side to make it reach.
“You’ll never hold my weight.”
“GRRRRR!” came a response through clenched teeth.
I bent my knees and jumped like my life depended on it. Sticky fingers scrambled for grip.
The line went taut and I hung, dangling, still partially in syrup.
My future now rested on a fake leather strap with a busted buckle.
One hand over another I strained upward, my knees tip-toeing the side for balance.
“EEE-AAH!” I heard from above. “NNNMM!”
I stole a look up and saw fierce scowls of determination, a battle playing out all over his face.
“GRRRRR!” came a response through clenched teeth.
I bent my knees and jumped like my life depended on it. Sticky fingers scrambled for grip.
The line went taut and I hung, dangling, still partially in syrup.
My future now rested on a fake leather strap with a busted buckle.
One hand over another I strained upward, my knees tip-toeing the side for balance.
“EEE-AAH!” I heard from above. “NNNMM!”
I stole a look up and saw fierce scowls of determination, a battle playing out all over his face.
My own face? Much less confident. Progress came in small amounts.
I went up with the speed of a puzzled elevator. Odds seemed slim I’d make it to the top.
The line shuddered and I bounced awkwardly into the wall.
Dale’s growls became desperate.
“One more second!” I called. “Just hold on!”
I kicked hard, pushed off the side and flung myself to the right.
A swashbuckling lunge put me on a do-or-die course toward the rim.
GRUNT!
I hung there, shocked and splattered, thankful that (at least for once) my reach had not exceeded my grasp.
I went up with the speed of a puzzled elevator. Odds seemed slim I’d make it to the top.
The line shuddered and I bounced awkwardly into the wall.
Dale’s growls became desperate.
“One more second!” I called. “Just hold on!”
I kicked hard, pushed off the side and flung myself to the right.
A swashbuckling lunge put me on a do-or-die course toward the rim.
GRUNT!
I hung there, shocked and splattered, thankful that (at least for once) my reach had not exceeded my grasp.
Hoisting myself higher, a delicate wind soon kissed my face.
I threw my weight onto my palms, propelled over the rim, and flopped out of the candy chasm.
A giant exhale billowed from Dale as he spit out the belt.
“You good?” I asked.
“Oll ee allight,” drooled the words, his breathing hard. “Ut ivv nee a necond.”
It was not lost on me that a mouthful of healthy teeth had just saved me from certain candy death.
Almost poetic, really.
I silently promised to forever take flossing much more seriously.
I threw my weight onto my palms, propelled over the rim, and flopped out of the candy chasm.
A giant exhale billowed from Dale as he spit out the belt.
“You good?” I asked.
“Oll ee allight,” drooled the words, his breathing hard. “Ut ivv nee a necond.”
It was not lost on me that a mouthful of healthy teeth had just saved me from certain candy death.
Almost poetic, really.
I silently promised to forever take flossing much more seriously.