A short story from my high school creative writing class.
“Come on, Jerry. There are people waiting.” Sarah said from behind him.
Jerry looked at the bridge in front of him, it towered over and between the trees, like a lengthened tree house.
“Okay.” He whispered. “I can do this.”
“You can do this,” Sarah repeated, offering her hand to him as she stepped in front of him. “Now, come on before the next group decides to push you off the bridge.”
Jerry gave her a shaky nod and followed her onto the walkway that stretched into the tree-filled chasm.
“You okay?” Sarah asked as Jerry’s grip on her hand stopped any blood from reaching her fingertips.
“yep,” Jerry said in a small voice. He felt as though his legs were maracas being shaken by a two-year-old with ADHD.
“You’re doing great,” Sarah said, giving his hand a squeeze.
“Why did I agree to do this?” Jerry whispered as she continued to pull him towards the next stable point.
“Because you wanted to stretch yourself.” Sarah reminded him. “And besides, your best friend, the amazing me, is an expert at getting over her fears. Remember the seventh-grade spider incident?”
“Yeah.” Jerry gave a half-hearted laugh. “I remember.”
“I was the only one brave enough to hold that hairy little beast.” She gloated.
“And all the boys were scared of you for a year.” Jerry smiled, laughing genuinely this time.
“I loved that.” Sarah sighed, stopping as they reached the next tower. “Do you want to keep climbing?”
Jerry glanced down at the next bridge in front of them. It stretched forward a couple of yards before disappearing into the next clump of trees.
“We can keep going if you keep me distracted.” He said.
“Can do.” Sarah smiled, grabbing hold of his hand again as they stepped towards the next unknown. “Remember in eighth grade when I won the science fair by exploding someone else's volcano?”
