It wasn’t something Vernon was that keen on. His mother had said “Make sure you and your friend, Bertie, don’t go anywhere near that waterfall.” Vernon was only too pleased not to go near the waterfall because he was a bit scared of it, and had been so all his life. In his short twelve years there had been at least one report of someone drowning at the waterfall. Bertie, however, was another thing altogether. To rock climb to underneath the waterfall was a daring thing to do. It’s what every second adventuresome boy had done in the good old days.
Today there was a fence that prevented people from getting too near the waterfall. There was also a big sign warning of the danger. Neither the fence nor the sign stopped Bertie, and poor Vernon tagged along. You can’t say to a friend in such circumstances, “You go on ahead and I’ll wait here.” The waiting is possibly worse than the going. And besides, if he gets into trouble he’ll need help.
So over the fence and off they went. Many a twelve year old has been as audacious and daring!
It was the best fun they’d had in ages.
Weave a Web 
Don’t coddle
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Agreed!
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I’m sure they were wearing their KN95 masks though for their adventure 🙂
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That was partly the trouble – when one fell into the water and was drowning the rescuer had to maintain a distance.
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and the rescuer probably had to go wash his hands first…
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Climbing under waterfalls is fun!
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I went under Niagara but I didn’t have to climb!
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I was Vernon but I was always tagged with Bertie so it sounds like something we would have done.
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I think I was also Vernon. It was my cousin (whose real name in fact was Bertrand) who was the adventurous one.
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Thank you for ending the story before you killed them off, Bruce.
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It was a pleasure saving it for another time.
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I’ve known a parent not to let their kid climb a tree or do anything dangerous…that kid ended up socially awkward and always afraid to take a chance…to his detriment.
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Mollycoddling seems to be the in thing.
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Yea…that leads to no good
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Indeed, the ghosts of the drowned lot had the best fun in ages welcoming two new joiners.
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It’s called “testing the water”!
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I’ve always assumed that my children listen to me when I warn them away from danger, while knowing full well that I was the kid who never listened and always did the dangerous thing. Good thing they’re nothing like me or their dad, who I’m fairly certain was also one of those kids. Actually, this story makes me a little anxious. But that waterfall sure does look like a lot of fun.
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The “just enough rope” saying is a constant conundrum when bringing up kids!
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For sure. We often find ourselves asking, “Will this do them permanent harm?”
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Typical twelve-year-olds, and you didn’t kill them off! I did the same that their age!
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Perhaps they are fodder for a later saga!
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Too many restrictions these days, let them run free…
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The single one-use paper mask I have possessed for 6 months is getting old. The mask rule needs to go!
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It’s gone here now, although some places still encourage it. Your mask probably now has a fine collection of germs!
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