WHAT Were the Odds? By Annabelle

I hope I make it to the top this time . . . Well, if I want to make it to the top, I have to clip in.

I tied a figure eight follow through. So many times I had to tie a figure eight follow through. Not like I’m complaining, I like figure eight follow throughs.

HUH! Oh. I can climb now.

My arms and legs were noodles when I grabbed the hold. They weren’t listening to me. I looked back. It wasn’t the most inspiring sight. A few people watching me. A lady on her phone. Over on the bouldering wall some people were bouldering. Of course people are bouldering. It’s a bouldering wall. I turned back to the wall.

The smell of chalk that commonly wafts around climbing walls was strongest on the wall.

Honestly, for me, the smell can be a bit of a headache. But that’s not the point of the story. I can only imagine a title for that story.

At this point, I had reached the overhang. I paused. The holds were still easy. I could make it. Hopefully. I reached. I couldn’t reach it. I looked back, ready to hop off. I was too low. I would kill someone if I jumped off here.

I only had one direction to go and I knew it. That direction was up. I swung, this time I reached the hold. Then the next hold.

I felt a sense of pride . . . Then the moment came to an abrupt stop. So did I. The next hold was out of arm’s reach. I was ready to jump off, but something stopped me. If I give up so easily, I’ll never accomplish anything. This time, with determination powering me, I reached it. Two more holds of that and that moment ended too. There was another one of those holds.

I know what I said earlier, but do I HAVE to. No, no I do not. I looked back one last time. The lady was still there. Still the people watching me. Still some people bouldering. The lady was just the right height that I would run into, but she was too far away. Even if she was close enough when I jumped off, what were the odds of me running into her?

I jumped off. I swung farther and farther I didn’t know the rope was long enough. I was heading right towards the lady. She didn’t look at me. I flew right over her head. I don’t think she noticed. I flew back over her head. She didn’t look up.

I was in air. Nothing could stop me . . . Except the WALL. Oh. Nevermind. I always do that.

Once I landed on the ground again, I knew I’d think twice before trying that again.