Writing for Fun
September 2017
No Barriers - Diane Silverston
‘It’s too risky and you’d be away for so long and it’s so far,’ was the reply.
‘I know it’s a long way and could be dangerous,’ went on Jonathan, ‘but that doesn’t seem a good enough reason for you to say no.’
After a pause Jonathan continued. ‘If it had been Philip asking?’ He looked across the room to where his brother was lounging on the settee, nose in a book, headphones on. ‘You’d say yes.’
‘Philip is much older and stronger,’ his mother said, ‘and when he was younger he was involved in cadet training.’
‘It’s just not fair!’ Jonathan yelled angrily, ‘It never occurred to me that you would say no. You’ve both always been so supportive of us achieving our ambitions.’
His parents glanced at each other, with a wry smile. Philip seemed oblivious of what was happening.
‘I never thought this would be a barrier to my dreams,’ Jonathan whispered. Then with an angry shrug of his shoulders, he pushed himself across the room, and carefully manipulated his chair through the doorway, out into the hall.
As Jonathan left, Peter and Margaret looked at each other, then across to their elder son Philip, who had sat up on the settee.
‘We’ve never seen Jonathan so angry, so het up before.’
‘Well you’ve never stopped him before,’ replied Philip, ‘he’s angry because you’ve shattered his dream. He’s been thinking about this for years.’ Philip gathered his things up and left the room. His parents were left looking at each other.
‘Were we too hard on him?’ asked Margaret, ‘He seemed so surprised when we said no.’
‘As Philip says, we’ve never done that before,’ Peter answered her. ‘We’ve always supported both the boys in their challenges. Perhaps we ought to find out more details about this trip, and what it actually entails.
Here was Jonathan, several months later, seated in his chair, looking around, taking everything in. His eyes almost blinded by the brightness and incredible colours, his ears adjusting to the noise and unusual sounds.
Their group had just landed at a small but busy airstrip, where people were milling around in a chaotic manner, doing little but shouting and gesticulating at each other.
Jonathan closed his eyes for a moment. What had made his parents change their minds? He couldn’t believe how supportive they had become. His father had contacted the organisation and sorted things out for him, his mother (tearfully) had helped him gather together what he needed, even Philip had helped him train and prepare. Perhaps that was it, had Philip helped his parents to change their minds?
Whatever had happened here he was, about to start the adventure of a lifetime, his dream for so long. He was determined to make the most of it, a chance to go into the rain forest, to see for himself the exotic wildlife there.
Suddenly there was a general movement, jeeps had arrived and people were beginning to pack the equipment in. Jonathan checked all his belongings were safely stored, pulled himself into the front seat of the jeep, folded up his special chair and saw it put in behind him. Jake, Paul and Martin climbed in.
‘Ready for the off?’ asked Jake, ‘Strap yourselves in and prepare for a bumpy ride.’
As the jeeps headed off, Jonathan took a last look at the aeroplane and crew. He had passed letter to them to be taken back and sent on to his parents.
The trees started to grow thicker, and the road rougher, the temperature rose and Jonathan knew the real adventure had begun. He could feel the lure of the wild embracing him. He became more aware of the new environment closing in around him. It would be some hours before they reached their base camp area. He sat back and took in the ever changing scene around him.
As the evening fell the jeeps came into a small clearing in the forest. Quickly everyone started to make their camp, each person having a specific task. Jonathan’s was to set the water tank in a safe, cool place and then fill the kettle for their last drink before bed. Everywhere strange noises could be heard echoing through the forest. Care had to be taken where things were stored, the fire had to be contained and tents set up within the protection of the jeeps.
‘My first night,’ thought Jonathan, ‘What will tomorrow bring?’
As dawn broke, the sounds and calls changed. Very little light was able to break through the forest canopy. Jonathan and the other members on the trip were soon up and ready. Jonathan strapped on his leg supports and found his special sturdy sticks. His chair would be useless here, but his legs were stronger now after all his training. He slung his back pack on, checked his camera and prepared to go.
Would his photographs prove to be as good as those from previous times? Would he succeed in winning the International Photography award again this year? That would be a real extra bonus but the reward for him was being here, fulfilling his dream.
Once they had left the clearing the terrain changed, it became more uneven and stony, deep ruts ran across the areas where cut down trees had been pulled along by massive tractors. Jonathan knew this would be difficult for him to manage, even with his sticks but he was determined not to let it show. He had to keep up, not slow the others down, they had a lot to achieve today.
Jake, who had been here before led the way, pushing sawn off branches out of the way. Paul, the fittest of the 4 brought up the rear. He was carrying the extra heavy back pack, with the emergency kit.
Soon they were moving further and deeper into the forest, tree roots sticking out everywhere, moss and mud underfoot, undergrowth hiding the pitfalls. Everywhere was getting darker and danker. An eerie feeling came over Jonathan, it was getting harder to see in front of them. Where did the path lead?
Sounds were changing, nothing specific, rather muffled and mysterious. Jonathan had a feeling of being watched by silent shadows nearby.
Down and down, further into the darkening gloom, more dense and intense, where barely a glimmer of light managed to pierce its way through. The sounds were becoming more vocal, more sinister. Jonathan could barely see his companions, certainly couldn’t see the way ahead. How much further had they to go? Surely not much. How long had they been trekking? After all they had got to do the return walk before it got too dark, if they were to be able to find their base camp again.
Just then Jake’s voice broke into Jonathan’s thoughts. ‘Look, there just ahead and a little to the right.’
Jonathan strained his eyes. Was that a light? Had they reached their goal? All four of them felt a new spurt of energy and forged ahead. The light became more prominent, more obvious, and the sound became clearer, it was rushing water.
Soon they were stood in front of a waterfall, foaming water pouring over the rocks into a large lake below. Jonathan was transfixed, the beauty and magnificence of it.
He threw down his sticks, slung his back pack off, grabbed his camera, leant against a tree and started clicking. He had no idea what his friends were doing but he was in his element. This was his life, his skill.
Suddenly he realised that they were quiet, why? He turned and saw what they were looking at. Unbelievable! There in front of him was a vividness, a burst of every colour you could imagine, exotic plants and flowers, just growing in banks all around the lake, and above the brilliance of a perfectly blue sky, not a speck of cloud anywhere.
Sounds of birds, insects and animals were all around them. The four of them just stood there, mesmerized, speechless. So different from anything they had seen before, just like being in another world.
Jonathan lifted his camera once again and started recording this little piece of paradise. He knew his photographs would be unique, winners, they couldn’t fail to impress.
The gallery’s garden was full of people, some sitting at tables, some standing, all eating and drinking, and talking, mostly about the marvellous photographic exhibition they had just viewed. Sepia, black and white and coloured photographs of people and places all around the World.
Jonathan had once again won the Photographer of the Year Award and was now having his own exhibition at a renowned London gallery. He was sitting in his wheelchair, surrounded by family and friends, all congratulating him on his success. His parents, Peter and Margaret, who had supported him all his life, his brother and best friend Phillip with his wife and new baby son and best of all, Angelica, the girl he had met last year, who was to become his bride in a couple of months. All of them were smiling and obviously proud of him. Jonathan knew the exhibition was going well and he had managed to sell several photographs. He knew he was lucky to be able to follow his dreams. Nothing would stop him now. Yes he did still need to use his wheelchair, he knew he never would be able to stand without his leg supports for any length of time but that was ok, he could manage very well, and that didn’t make any difference to his work. Most people he met were surprised when they realised he was disabled.
Jonathan always remembered his parents telling him to try everything, not to be deterred, to persevere and always to do the best he could at anything he attempted. He looked across at Peter and Margaret and smiled.
‘It’s time you two thought about yourselves and what you want.’ he said. ‘Phillip and I are settled, we’re doing well, and we’ll always help each other.’
‘Are there any dreams you need to fulfil?’asked Phillip.
‘We’ve always wanted to travel more and your photos have inspired us Jonathan.’
‘Well there we are. It’s time for letting go,’ Jonathan continued. ‘There are no barriers, nothing stopping you. Just remember to send us postcards and updates. But remember I’m the family photographer.’
His parents looked at each other and then at their boys and laughed.
‘Why not?’ asked Margaret.
‘Yes let’s.’ replied Peter.
Jonathan and Phillip looked at each other.
‘High 5 brother.’