Lost and found

How important are your lost childhood relics?

Lost and found

Years ago, I’d lost my favourite watch somewhere in this river. We were rafting down it, just a small group of us, when I lost control of my boat in the rushing roar of the river, capsizing my boat and almost losing control of myself too. It was a birthday present from my father, so I remembered him being pissed for who knows how long...but there was no chance I could’ve gotten it back that day.

Now, my brother and I had taken to the rafts again. It was a gorgeous day, the grasses of the riverbanks and pure clarity of the water sparkling with perfect sunshine. I knew I’d never find it, but a bit of idle curiosity had me staring into the waters the whole time. I’d imagine every glint in the water was the watch buckle shining at me. I tried to remember exactly where I’d been back when the boat tipped over. I sat remembering my fathers face, red with anger then white with disappointment, and that nothing could replace sentimental tokens, or their significance.

I must have been daydreaming slightly too long, my boat suddenly rushed along that much faster. I heard a roaring hiss, the spraying sound of rushing white foam ahead of me. I turned, could see my brother screaming and waving his arms, when it hit me.

S**t. Missed the stopping point before the waterfall. I tried to turn myself around, splashing an oar desperately to reach one bank, to no avail. The roar of the waterfall overcame me with the deep dread of death, as I was sucked along helplessly. Just as I neared the edge...

Darkness..

I felt...fine? Scared a little, but fine. For too long, silence. Cold, clammy darkness. I reached out to my side, the walls of a cave?

I jumped, startled, as a campfire burst to life in the centre. Around me was an array of items, some ordinary things like bottles, necklaces, sets of keys..others like fine gemstones or lumps of gold. I could also see...my old watch leaning against that shopping trolley?

I kept looking out of curiosity, and found a brass plaque. It read:

LOST AND FOUND. IF YOU HAVE LOST SOMETHING, PLEASE FIND IT HERE. IF YOU HAVE LOST ONE, THEN TAKE ONE AND NO MORE.

 

What? Hmm. I picked up my watch, it looked just like I remembered it as a kid. A tacky little fake silver piece, but I thought that dad would be dying to know where I’d found it. That he’d be happy.

Once I picked it up, I heard the grinding of stone, and daylight. Ah. Hmm...I also saw what looked like a small cut diamond! It was a few inches from my watch. Was it real? No way was I leaving that.

I snatched it up greedily, only to hear the rolling of stone, and light taking its leave, only the wan glow of the fire left. 

What did it say again? Take one and no more...I wonder...

As a test, I replaced the diamond. The door rolled open. Took it, it closed. I felt somewhat tempted and cheated, perhaps unjustly so, to be shown such great things and be left with just my old watch. Maybe...

I placed the watch back where I’d found it. I felt at once excited and apprehensive when the door rolled open again. I looked at my hands...it was a brilliant diamond, gleaming flawlessly in the light..but whose was it? Would anyone else ever come here?

Wouldn’t dad be happy to see the watch instead?

Nope, I decided. Grinning to myself, I pocketed ‘my’ diamond and crawled out into the light.

I emerged by a cave at the bottom of the waterfall, as the door rolled shut and sealed behind me. I was still stood admiring ‘my’ new gem when my brother ran breathlessly up to me.

He was shouting, what the hell had happened? As he shook me, I dropped the diamond on a nearby rock. Yelling back at him to be careful with my new treasure, I scrambled in the dirt and reclaimed it. It was a little cracked, but fine.

Wait...cracked on a rock??

Does that mean...s**t. It’s just a hunk of glass after all. I sighed at the cave door, remembering my father, before we calmed down and began the hike back uphill.