How many people can say their brother saved their life? I can. It was a sunny morning in April, the snow was melting, and you could hear the constant drip drop of the water running off buildings on our homestead. I was seven that year. My brother, Keaton, woke up wanting to go fishing at the creek, though it had no fish in it. Fishing was always something we did together, so we asked Mom if we could walk out to the creek. After getting approval, we set out with our homemade poles, long sticks with fishing line tied around the end. When we got to the gravel pit where our caretaker, Cliff, was staying, we stopped in for a quick hello. I remember that Cliff always had New York mints, and had me and Keaton split one that morning. After saying good bye, we went through the woods, a shortcut, to the creek. It was thawing. The middle was completely uncovered and flowing fast, but the edges still had ice. Walking down the creek side, my brother called out, “Don't go to close to the edge of the ice. It's melting and you could fall in!”
I should have taken his advice into consideration because within the next few minutes I ventured out to the edge. “CRACK!” The ice broke, and I fell. Struggling to stay above, and fighting the current, I screamed out for Keaton. I remember going under, fearing that it was the end. I could only see water around me, and I felt so cold. I tried to take a breath, but only swallowed water instead. I was so scared. Then I saw a hand, my brother's hand. I grabbed onto it as hard as I could, but it just slipped through my fingers. The current was pulling me away! I fought to come above the water, and succeeded in getting a breath of air. Then I felt a tug on my jacket, and with all his might Keaton hefted me out of the water, pulling me onto the ice beside him. I was shivering, and I had lost a boot.
Knowing he had to get me home, Keaton made me stand, made me walk. I just wanted to sleep, I was so tired. I guess I must have blacked out because the next thing I can remember was being lifted onto Cliff's shoulders, and being carried back to the house. My brother walked beside us in hysteria. He was afraid I was going to die. By the time we got back to the house, I was numb and had little strength. Keaton ran ahead and yelled for my mom to come. Seeing that I was soaking wet, my mother raced out of the house and brought me inside, placing me by the fire to warm up. It took a while, and hurt like no other, but eventually I felt better.
If it weren’t for the love my brother has for me, I probably wouldn't have ever made it out of the creek that day. I owe it to him forever, and I am very thankful to have him.
I should have taken his advice into consideration because within the next few minutes I ventured out to the edge. “CRACK!” The ice broke, and I fell. Struggling to stay above, and fighting the current, I screamed out for Keaton. I remember going under, fearing that it was the end. I could only see water around me, and I felt so cold. I tried to take a breath, but only swallowed water instead. I was so scared. Then I saw a hand, my brother's hand. I grabbed onto it as hard as I could, but it just slipped through my fingers. The current was pulling me away! I fought to come above the water, and succeeded in getting a breath of air. Then I felt a tug on my jacket, and with all his might Keaton hefted me out of the water, pulling me onto the ice beside him. I was shivering, and I had lost a boot.
Knowing he had to get me home, Keaton made me stand, made me walk. I just wanted to sleep, I was so tired. I guess I must have blacked out because the next thing I can remember was being lifted onto Cliff's shoulders, and being carried back to the house. My brother walked beside us in hysteria. He was afraid I was going to die. By the time we got back to the house, I was numb and had little strength. Keaton ran ahead and yelled for my mom to come. Seeing that I was soaking wet, my mother raced out of the house and brought me inside, placing me by the fire to warm up. It took a while, and hurt like no other, but eventually I felt better.
If it weren’t for the love my brother has for me, I probably wouldn't have ever made it out of the creek that day. I owe it to him forever, and I am very thankful to have him.