Freak Creek

Spring in Wisconsin is a difficult season to predict. One day, the sun will shine bright and the flowers will bloom, and the very next day a blizzard will tear through destroying any hope of summer. Thankfully, the sun quickly melts the snow and turns it to water. The water seeps into the grass or into a ditch where it flows aggressively to the nearest creek. Generally, the snow of Wisconsin is so heavy that it squeezes through the crevices of the land until it reaches a creek where it rages all the way to Lake Michigan. All the life that was hidden throughout winter returns in abundance. The birds start chirping again while the deer find new grass, bears emerge from hibernation and beavers begin their epic stand against raging water.

For people, it’s equally exciting because it’s a time where 40 degree weather means flip flops and t-shirts. Children run to creeks to watch the water flow violently towards the lake. Even though the water is near freezing, kids are tempted to take a dip and feel the bone-chilling sensation of spring water. It’s the first taste of summer that Wisconsin kids have been dying for all winter. The parents will tell the kids to be patient and wait for the water to warm up, but kids can’t help but imagine swimming in the creek and exploring and that was hidden beneath the snow and ice.

It was early April in a small town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin. The weather was favorable with the sun shining bright and few clouds in the sky. Neighborhood friends, Preston and Tyler were galavanting the woods in cutoff shirts and swimsuits. In the winter, they’d spend their time building snow forts beneath the twisted ash trees. The best were the fallen trees in the creek bed which provided a natural fort already. All they had to do was collect big tree limbs and arrange them to make the walls teepee style. But in the spring, the creek beds turned into water jets destroying their forts and paving a way to the creek. They ran around the woods looking at all the new growth below and the budding trees above. Preston ran towards the creek which was twice as high as it is in peak summer. It was a magical sight that wouldn’t last long as most of the snow had already melted.

Tyler followed behind, jumping over logs and weaving between the leafless bushes. They arrived at the river mesmerized by the current. Preston dipped his foot in only to have it pushed quickly downriver. He lost his balance and was pulled into the creek. Luckily, Tyler was right there to grab his arm. “It’s so cold, pull me out!” cried Preston. At first, Tyler just stood there watching but after a few seconds, he laughed and then pulled him from the ice cold water. Preston emerged fully from the creek shaking himself off. “For a second there, I thought you were going to let me drown!” he said. Tyler smirked and replied, “Would that be so terrible?” He laughed and pretended to push him back in the water. Preston flinched while Tyler scampered back into the trees. “I’m gonna get ya!” Preston yelled before pursuing him.

They were upset that their forts were destroyed by the creek so they devised a new plan of adventure. “Preston, what if we built rafts and sailed them down Freak Creek?” Preston looked at him and then back at the water, “You want to sail down that?” The water was raging so fast that it drowned out casual talk, so they had to yell at each other. “C’mon, we could sail all the way downtown.” Preston’s ears perked up and was now intrigued since he’d always wanted to know how far the creek takes them to downtown. “Ok you’re on, but we gotta ask our moms first.” Tyler scoffed but ultimately agreed.

For the next several hours, they scavenged for logs in the woods, roped them together using willow branches and vines and fashioned one highly advanced raft for a couple of twelve year old boys. Then they needed to test it. They placed the raft into the water and tied it to a tree along the bank. “Okay, hop in.” Tyler said. “I’m not getting in there.” Preston replied. “Don’t be such a girl, dude. You’ll be safe since we lasso’d it to this tree.” Preston shook his head again. “Fine, I’ll do it.” Tyler arrogantly stepped onto the raft and immediately, it sank to the bottom of the creek. Tyler was quickly submerging with it and screamed, “Preston, help!” Tyler reached out his hand and Preston grabbed it and yanked him back to shore. “Well that didn’t work.” Tyler said, wiping the water from his eyes.

They wondered why it didn’t float. Suddenly, they saw an entire maple tree floating down the river. It was perched just above the current high enough to keep their feet out of the water. “Preston, let’s go!” Without thinking, Tyler leapt into the water and swam towards the tree that was now escaping them. Preston panicked and ran down the side of the river hoping to outrun the tree. “Tyler!” he yelled, searching for his friend who was pursuing the tree. Tyler was a remarkably good swimmer, so he eventually caught up with the tree and grabbed onto a branch. Using all his strength, he pulled himself onto the tree and caught his breath. He could see on the banks, Preston was sprinting ahead trying to time out how he would get on. “Just jump in!” Tyler yelled.

Eventually, Preston reached the Freak Creek Bridge where he climbed up and waited for the tree to go under. “Are you crazy?!” Tyler yelled. Preston intended on jumping off the bridge and onto the tree. Time was moving too quickly for him to calculate his decision. He counted in his head, “5,4,” the tree was nearing and Tyler looked on wondering how he was going to make it, “3,2,” Preston got onto the ledge ready to jump, “1!” He leapt down onto the tree missing the limb he intended to land on. He fell directly into the river smacking his forearm on a branch. “Preston!” Tyler looked around for his friend who had fully submerged in the raging river.

Seconds later, Preston emerged from the water gasping for air. He came up right next to Tyler who grabbed his arm and tugged him back onto the tree. “You idiot!” Tyler yelled while Preston let his lungs catch up. “Guess we forgot to tell our moms…” Preston muttered.

They had made the decision so quickly that once they found themselves on the tree, they could finally understand what had just happened. They were sitting on top of a tree raging down freak creek. They had no plan other than to arrive downtown, then use a phone to call home for a ride. “Why didn’t you just jump from the bank instead of off a bridge?” Tyler asked. “Honestly, I am afraid of water.” Preston replied. They both laughed and turned their gaze downriver.

The river snaked its way beyond the subdivisions and into the countryside where no one ventured. It was far from any trail or road and either side was filled with dark forest. The water in the other seasons is a beautiful greenish blue color because of the natural algae, but in the spring it turns black from debris. All around them was this dark water whose color concealed all that was beneath it. The boys looked at each other differently than they had back on the river bank. Instead of a steadfast desire for adventure, they were becoming fearful of the unknown.

“So we just wait?” Preston asked. Tyler looked around seeing nothing but forest on either side. It would be a long, boring ride of the same views, so he suggested a game, “Why don’t we play, ‘Never have I ever?’”

“Ok, never have I jumped off a bridge onto a moving tree.” They both belly laughed, then held up five fingers each.

“Ok let’s see,” Preston paused, “Never have I ever eaten white chocolate.” Tyler squinted his eyes at Preston, “You’ve never had white chocolate? You’re a freak.” He put a finger down, “Never have I ever wet my pants at the dance.”

Tyler started giggling while Preston was clearly upset by the question. He reluctantly put a finger down. “Never have I ever kissed Ruth Brandanowitz.” Preston fired back at Tyler who was clearly embarrassed. “Ok smart ass, never have I ever drowned.” He smirked creepily at Preston who was confused by the question. “No duh, you’d be dead. Who’s the smart ass now?” Preston replied.

“You know, Preston. I could kill you right now and no one would ever find your body.” Preston didn’t know what to say. “Um…what are you talking about?” he glared at Tyler who was behaving much differently than he did on shore. “You could kill me? Bro, I win every arm wrestling match we ever do.” Preston replied, trying to diffuse the tension. Tyler looked at him and then back at the water, “Oh whatever, whose turn is it?”

“Never have I ever smoked a cigarette.” Preston said while Tyler proudly put down one finger.

“Never have I ever not hit puberty.” Tyler teased Preston who was growing impatient, “Alright we’re done with this stupid game, just watch the water for all I give a shit.” Preston whined. They looked away from each other clearly bothered by the game.

Preston began admiring the scenery that surrounded them. They passed through the thickness of trees and entered the Old Schultz Farm near Highway 60. There were dozens of cows that lined the banks of the river satiating their thirst. Preston made ‘mooing’ sounds to get them to respond. They did much to his amusement. The sun that was shining bright earlier in the day was now beginning to get covered by afternoon clouds. “I hope it doesn’t rain,” Tyler said, showing more fear than content.

Another stretch of thick woods was approaching, prompting the boys to prepare themselves. Preston wasn’t much of a swimmer but he was an exceptional climber. Since they were on a tree, he proceeded to climb to the top. “Wow, you can see more of the woods up here!” He exclaimed. “Shocking, more woods.” Tyler griped sarcastically. Preston perched himself on top admiring the bright green that was overwhelming the trees. New life was taking over and it provided the most exciting sensation of summer and the warm months that were to come. However, it wasn’t summer quite yet. The air was still cold and their wet shirts and swimsuits were beginning to make them terribly uncomfortable. Nevertheless, they were on an adventure.

“Tyler, you should come up here!” he yelled down below. Gazing into the boundless beauty of the woods, he wanted to enjoy it with his friend, but there was no response. “Can you hear me?” he repeated, “Tyler, get your ass up here.” Still no response. He looked down and Tyler was nowhere to be seen. “Tyler?” he said more softly.

He started descending hoping that Tyler was just playing a trick on him. “I don’t know where you could hide but if you are, it’s a good spot because I don’t see you!” Preston yelled, now totally frightened. He walked up and down the trunk of the tree peering into the black water in the hopes that Tyler would emerge. He vanished which made Preston think he got caught in the brush underneath the water. He started panicking yelling at the top of his lungs, “TYLER! TYLER! WHERE ARE YOU!?” He had disappeared in a place where the only hiding spot was underwater.

Preston was alone on the water and his friend had possibly drowned. He thought maybe he should swim to shore, run home and tell his mom so the cops could take care of it. But then he might be questioned as having murdered him. His other thought was that Tyler already swam to shore and hid in the woods leaving Preston alone as a cruel joke. The latter, he thought, was the most probable so he remained on the tree hoping that Tyler would emerge from the woods downriver laughing his butt off. Tyler was, in fact, a good swimmer so drowning was unlikely; however, every possible scenario was running through his head.

He decided to stay on the tree and wait it out. But every second was an eternity not knowing where Tyler was. Several minutes went by and his anxiety was starting to play tricks on him. He would see faces in the trees, then a hand at the surface of the water. He saw Tyler everywhere, but couldn’t discern if it were reality or his mind. “Tyler? Is that you?” He’d walk to one side of the trunk scanning the view and then the other. Tyler’s face would emerge from the water and then between trees in the woods. Preston could feel his grip on his ankle as if he was grabbing him from below water. It was unbearable and he felt like he was having a panic attack, “PRESTON!” he yelled, then said to himself, “Wait no, I’m Preston, I’m looking for Tyler. Keep it together dude.” His mind was failing him.

The river almost looked like it would end, but then took a sharp turn to the south towards downtown. It was the final stretch of woods and Tyler had been missing for what felt like hours. Preston had enough of this nightmare, so he waited for a good spot to get off the tree and swim to shore. The problem was he was truly afraid of this water. Not all water scared him but raging black water always got under his skin. There was a tree that was half on land, and half submerged in the water up ahead. He figured it was a good spot to end this voyage.

He timed it out to leap into the water and swim like crazy. “5,4,3..” time seemed to slow as the fallen tree neared, “..2...1…” right when he was about to leap, Tyler emerged from the water, skin frozen blue and eyes black as the water. He grabbed Preston’s neck from below the water, and on the other hand grasped the bottom of the trunk. Tyler was underwater the entire time evading Preston’s eyes by shifting from one side to the other. Preston thrashed backwards avoiding Tyler’s attempt to pull him into the water. “NO!” he squealed trying to get away. With one forceful thrash backwards, Tyler’s grip released and Preston’s momentum launched him backwards into the water.

Preston emerged from the water just in time to grab a branch of the tree. He saw Tyler’s blue skin submerge under the tree and then re-emerge on his side. Preston began to swim aggressively towards the opposite shore, but Tyler was in cold pursuit. His black eyes chased him down like a shark on its prey.

Preston dive bombed the water with each arm stroke until he reached the shore. Right when he grabbed the mucky bank, he felt Tyler’s slimy hand grip his ankle and pull him back into the water. Tyler now put both his hands on Prestons neck and dragged him back into the water. He tried violently to break his grasp but couldn’t get enough air into his lungs. The sight of darkness mixed with Tyler’s blue skin and black eyes churned in and out of focus. His life was slipping and he was sensing his final breath.

“You know, Preston. I could kill you right now and no one would ever find your body.” Tyler said. Suddenly, he was seated on the tree with Tyler right next to him. In an instant, everything changed and perplexed Preston couldn’t figure out what terrifying vision he just had. Was it real? Why did his friend just try to kill him? These black waters were playing tricks on his mind. Nothing made sense all of a sudden.

He couldn’t look at his friend the same again, and when Tyler asked, “It’s your turn...”

Preston replied, “Never have I ever drowned.”