Every summer, I go to my friend's lake. We have the best time. She has a huge party, and she invites all of her friends. This year was a bit different. Her party was bigger and better. I was concerned, I was worried about my future, and one small mistake could ruin it. We were all in high school, top-of-the-line athletes with very promising futures. If one hint about this party got out, I was done for, and my scholarship would be gone. If we got a little too wasted and someone took a picture-- done for. Suppose someone told my parents-- done for. If someone was too loud and the neighbors heard-- done for. 

We had music blaring and danced obnoxiously, hands flying, feeling on top of the world. But to us, this party was a chance to escape all the pressure that held us down. We could spend a couple of hours on the water without a care. On this particular night, it became too rowdy and too late. The water patrol boat approached our boat after a neighbor called us in. You could see the flashing blue and red lights flicker over the glassy water. When the patrol came up, he knew who we were and what we were doing. The water crashing intensified the mood. We were between a rock and a hard place, unsure of what to do next. The slow buzz of the motor sent chills down our back. As the young dumb teenagers we were, we jumped right into the lake. All of us. The icy sting of the water pierced through our bodies in early May. We were swimming to shore with no plan in sight.

We all knew this would end badly, but we did it for the thrill. Waves were blasting against us and crashing into our boat 50 feet back. The cop's sirens were blaring, and a man shouted at us to swim to his boat. We continued swimming as fast as possible, trying to make it to shore. Making a break for the small beach where are cars were pilled up along the side of the road near the landing. The sun was setting, the orange blaze was casting over the deep blue water, and we kept swimming, the harsh splash of each hand crashing into the water with fear and desperation. When we made it to the beach, hopeful on our way out, we realized we didn't have any car keys; they got left in the boat as we panicked. We can not drive away from these cops. They were going to catch us. So what do we do in our dripping wet clothes, RUN? Run like the wind. It felt like a moment of life or death, future or no future. We darted into the deep forest of rural Minnesota, hoping to get away from the cops but, most importantly, trying to get away from my dad, Steve. The deep green oak trees dripped with water as if it had rained last night. The fallen logs blocked our escape route. The rich mud splattering over our whole bodies. 

We look back and see nothing but forest. 

At this moment, my fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. I was panicked and unsure. While my friends wanted to stay, all I could think about was going home. So what do I do? I let out the most profound roar, "HELP ME."

 I turn around and start sprinting back in the direction I came from. As I start going, I see more and more sunlight peeking through the tall oaks. The sun beats down on my skin as I stumble over a large branch. Back up on my feet, I kept going knowing this was what I should’ve done from the start. My friends are in my dust now; they don't want to return.

 I  see the beach, and I look to my left and see my dad; my heart is pounding; I hug him. He returns the hug "Sadie, thank goodness you're okay; please come home." Sadie says in a quiet hum, "Yes, I am." I hear the faint click of Officer Kevin's handcuffs, and I know what is coming for me. I hear my Dad shout, "I swear to god, Kevin and I don't do that very often; if you take my girl anywhere, you will never see another day of sun, you son of a b*tch," That's when I knew everything was going to be okay. 

The police officers' perspective.

What is this? I get a call about a f*cking boat, and this is the sh*t I deal with. I picked up this shift for extra money, no way in hell it would be like this. Never am I ever going to do this again. I am going to stroll on over and tell them to turn the music down, and all will be okay so that I can get the f*ck out of here. 

No, sh*t! Is that Sadie Harding? Never in a million years, about as rare as a raindrop in the desert, Steve will have his hands full with this one. I cut the engine to drift into their boat as the motor spins with a gentle buzz. I shine my flashlight just over the boat to see the others. Nothing. But just over the top rim of the boat, I see five teenagers knee-deep in the thick mud. The globbing mush was being plunged through quietly as they made a break for the beach. Knowing I was going to have to jump in next. I swiftly called for backup, and Steve, Sadie's dad, but the five-track stars had everything on me. Almost at the beach, they were moving quicker, and I was moving slower. I knew when they got to the beach. I had no chance. My stomach was round like a doughnut, and my short legs could never reach them.

  Just as I almost reached the beach, they darted into the forest with no chance of coming in my direction. The wet sand was splashing over the deep black uniform. Steve was on the phone with me at this point, bolting to the beach in his brand-new Ford 150. I knew once he came, Sadie was in for a treat. I started to scream, "Come on, guys, please come back." In my heart, though, I knew they would never leave the house again. At this point, I was probably a half mile in the woods, stepping through the trees and wet moss. I still had yet to find out where these kids were. They were deep in the woods, running through the night. Steve was pulling into the beach parking lot, and I could see him dash to me out of the corner of my eye. His classic black suit and blue undershirt could be spotted from anywhere, the traditional businessman apparel, sprinting across the sandy gravel.

  "Kevin, where in the hell are they? I need to find Sadie. She’s probably scared to death. I told her never to hang out with those stupid kids; they made her do this. Where are they? I thought you caught them?" "No," Kevin said with a disappoint looked on his face. "I will sue the crap out of you and your department; call your friends and FIND MY LITTLE GIRL." In the distance, I could hear a soft plea…

"HELP ME"

"HELP ME"

"You heard her, help her," Steve said in his usual nasty tone, but it felt more urgent this time. Within a second, Steve sees Sadie sprinting out of the forest. Their deep embrace is genuine. As I walk over, you can hear a shake of the handcuffs, and the clank makes it clear Sadie is under arrest. Just as Steve lets Sadie go, he looks with a glare at Kevin, "I swear to god, Kevin and I don't do that very often; if you take my girl anywhere, you will never see another day of sun, you son of a b*tch."