Beneath His Shades

Every summer a select group of students from Stanford University comes to Fallen Leaf Lake to camp out, row, and water ski the glassy lake of privilege. The lake is so glassy that Randy can see her reflection as she steps into his kayak. The glow of her blond hair reverberates off the water like a radiant beacon warning him of her rocky shores. The sequins on her black two-piece sparkle, emitting interstellar messages from her bikini onto the water surface-reflecting back through his polarized sunglasses. These signals indicate she is an important young woman with status. As Rhonda steps in, the kayak sinks slightly. The first thing Randy notices isn’t her eyes but her pink and black Prada sunglasses. Randy recalls purchasing his Prizm Oakley’s because they were polarized and able to see into the depths of the water. He must keep an eye out for large rocks, branches, and shallow dangers under the surface while steering the boat for his customers.

“Is this boat safe? She asks.

“One of the safest unless you rock it, of course. The Blue Dolphin 1000 is very stable and can float eight people. I know it’s named after a majestic ocean creature, but it’ll do fine here in a serene lake”

“I dig your pink sunglasses,” Randy jokes.

“Thank you. I bought them at Nieman Marcus while shopping in New York. I was visiting my cousin who just graduated from Cornell University this spring. She’s going to law school this fall. She got into Harvard Law.”

“Congratulations, she’ll be swimming in stacks of paper deeper than this lake. No, just kidding, that’s a huge accomplishment,” Randy slips sarcastically.

Rhonda sits on the wooden bench and clenches onto the side of the fiberglass rail. As she squeezes the side of the kayak she asks, “Can you paddle me over to the south side of the lake? I want to meet up with my girlfriends and bring them back to camp.”

Randy paddles several strokes. Rhonda gazes upon Randy’s triangular triceps as he proudly transports the goddess across the lake of privilege. There is virtually no wind and visibility are excellent on the horizon. The water is exceptionally clear today. Randy continues to paddle closer to the rugged shore where grey-green slabs of mountainous rock cascade into the crystal water. Rhonda keeps a tight hold of the boat rail. Randy tries to focus on the task at hand but his imagination drifts into the glam and glory of his prestigious customer.

“Hey, look over there on that rock,” he points.

Rhonda grabs the left corner of her sunglasses, lowering them onto her nose. Her green eyes escape the shade and seem to float on her tan skin. Their color matches one of the deeper shades of green in Emerald Bay.

“Oh my God, is that a bear?”

“Yep, a California Black Bear. What a beauty!”

Rhonda slides over to Randy and clenches his arm. She hangs on him tightly and demands, “No, please take me more to the middle. I don’t want to hit the shore and get anywhere near that bear!”

Randy chuckles and obliges. He paddles back out into the deeper blue depths toward the middle of the lake. He is amused at her nervous uncertainty and enjoys her need to cling to him for strength and security. “My father has a bear on the emblem above his desk office in Sacramento. It’s in the California State Assembly seal.”

“Ah, the California state animal, the Grizzly. Thankfully, these bears are smaller- California black bears.”

Rhonda searches to the south and asks Randy to row her past Emerald Bay near the dock so she can meet her friends. As they pass Emerald Island, he skirts the shallows and asks Rhonda, “You like to fish, want to throw a line out? There are usually rainbow trout circling the island.”

“Sure, I like the rainbow colors, I just don’t want scales sticking to my nail polish.”

Randy loads his hook with pink salmon eggs and lets a line out off the end of the boat.

Rhonda keeps her eyes focused on the southern shores past the island when suddenly, the boat tugs slightly. Randy shuffles to the back of the boat and pulls up something much heavier than a rainbow trout- it’s a dead human body with bluish-grey skin and a bloated face with no eyes. The fish must have eaten the eyes out of the sockets. Randy quickly cuts the line before Rhonda has a chance to see the body sink back down to the bottom. He leaves a line out while they paddle closer to shore.

“Okay, we’re just about there,” he transitions.

“Thank you, Randy. How do I get a hold of you if I need another ride?”

“Just dial 1-530-222-7777, and I’ll come and get you!”

“Thanks for adventure, I’ll be sure to give you a call when I return.”

On his way back, Randy curiously marveled at how deep his shades could penetrate and wondered what he would see next.