The hike to Winchester got started by Drew Turnbull after three guys beat up his little brother, which happened after school near the smoking rock, in plain sight of several dozen students. The boys, all in grade eleven, got expelled. One was my twin brother, Alan. If I had been there, I cant say Id have stopped him.
Nobody wanted to talk about why it happened. Everybody knew. Waterby was not prepared for Eden Turnbull. I used to have a certain way of describing kids like him.
Nobody talked except Ms. Polensky. She called an assembly the day Alan got expelled. Gave a lecture about accepting kids who are different. Eden was different all rightshe didnt talk about that. Went on to announce zero-tolerance toward bullying. Fine. I never knew why Alan liked fighting anyway.
Drew talked, too. Hes okay, but it made me nervous the way he came up to me in the hall. I thought he wanted to get me back for what Alan did.
Im planning a hike to Winchester, he said, I want you to come.
Stupid idea, I said. Thats 17 k. Waste of a Saturday. Why dont you get your Mommy to drive you?
No, were doing it on a school day. Polensky already approved it. Its to raise awareness.
You dont need to raise awareness that your brother is a freak.
Come on, Tom. Youre not that dense. Ive already got 12 people signed up.
Probably all girls.
Yeah, well most of them, he admitted, but you being there would make a difference. You wont believe the scenery along that trail. Ive gone with my brother a couple times. Hes not afraid of a challenge. Behind the surface stuff hes tough, not afraid to stand out. More mature than these adolescent half men, who beat up a smaller kid like its some rite of passage. Whats it prove, except theyre losers? If 40 people walk 17 k in Edens footsteps, that will prove something.
Youre calling my brother a loser? I demanded.
Yeah, but I dont think you are. Thats why Im asking.
We set off the following Friday. Youd think more kids would hike to get out of classes. Robin Morris said she wanted to, but her Mom wouldnt let her because Ms. Polensky has no business imposing European values on us Waterby folks. I happen to know Polensky was a farm girl from Owen Sound. But maybe lots of parents think like Mrs. Morris.
Not my Mom. Already furious with Alan, she told me I should go.
Thirty-nine students and three teachers went: Polensky, Mr. Mulgrew the gym teacher, and Ms. Cutler who persuaded her whole drama class. It was a terrific day, as if October had borrowed from August.
The Silurian Trail follows the escarpment 800 kilometres across the province. It skirts the north east corner of town where a ridge overlooks rolling farmland. My aunt runs a B&B that caters to hikers. Ive walked maybe an hour out, but never even a quarter the way to Winchester.
The land is rugged: high cliffs with swamps above and below. No roads cut down that way, so the trail offers the only access. We couldnt appreciate the views until we went a good distance from Waterby. It was getting hot at noon when we reached the outlook known as Eugenes Mountain, visible from town. Hardly anyone had visited before. We could see clear to Georgian Bay, blue on the horizon. Polensky called a rest. We sat on lichenous rocks, swigging water bottles, pop or Gatorade.
A grade nine girl, Tracy Durr, stood up, beside a jagged rock like an altar on the precipice.
Eden is back to school, and were relieved he wasnt hurt more seriously, but he sprained his ankle trying to run away, so couldnt come today. This hike made him uncomfortable; he couldnt believe we wanted to do it for him. I think its sad anybody as nice as Eden could grow up believing he doesnt deserve support from friends and family.
Eden does agree, and so does Ms. Polensky, our school would be better if it had a gay-straight alliance. Me and Drew are going to help start one. Odds are, 30 or 40 more kids deal with similar problems. They might not all be so obvious as Eden! Some arent willing to risk their safety, and no one should have to, so we want to create a safe meeting place.
This is Edens favourite place. Once he planned to jump off here, but brought me along to keep him company instead. Im glad he made that choice. And I want to take this opportunity to launch the Waterby Gay-Straight Alliance on his behalf.
Everyone clapped. I wont join, but its a good idea.
My feet got sore after lunch. The path was mostly narrow, so we walked single file. At times we fell silent, concentrating on the uneven ground between us and the hills ahead. I looked forward to the bus waiting in Winchester.
We reached a shady place where a cascade drained a small lake behind. It had eroded the cliff, so we sat around the edge. Lowering sun glowed like fire in some trees behind the falls. Drew sat beside me and started talking loudly enough for everyone to hear.
This is my favourite resting place. I want to bring everyone here, not just Waterby, but the whole world, one by one. If they could sit a few minutes
His pause filled with susurration of water over the brink.
Its a nice idea, I said, but it wouldnt affect everyone that way. Some would just see this place as barren and worthless, except for the gravel beds below.
But you, Tom, Drew said. What about you?
My thoughts ran with water down the cliff face, out of my head.
It works for me, I said.