Charlie threw another log on the fire. The cracks and pops made Megan jump. Her gaze darted around the circle. Wide-eyed enthusiasm sparked like the orange flames. The kids sat on the edge of their logs, awaiting Charlie's decision as to who would continue the story. Megan contemplated her choice. "Seeing different worlds is amazing, but I would miss this one. To not ride horses, hear owls hooting at night, and see the mountains or a lone eagle soaring high in the sky would be unfathomable. I'll stick with places I can visit but still come home."
Charlie looked at Danny who played oblivious to the man's looks. When the group stared at Danny he said, "I don't care what they did. Pick someone else." Mike took over with no hesitation.
"Ivy wanted to stay but Jack wanted to go home. Away from the water spirit Jack said, 'Why do you want to stay? You can't talk to friends, your family, or me anymore. What will you find there that you can't get at home?"
"Ivy said, 'Peace. No pollution. No noise.'"
'Won't you be lonely? Won't you miss the blue sky, the sun, the changing seasons?'
'I spent twenty years seeing that. Now I want something different.
'You can't come back or move on in another twenty years. The water spirit said you have one choice. Can you give up what you know for something different without knowing the outcome?'"
Mike looked to Brett who laughed. "Okay." Brett cleared his throat and pushed his Stetson off his forehead. "She touched his face and said, 'My heart tells me this is my choice. I love you enough to not ask you to stay. If you leave, I will miss you, but I have to do this.' She kissed his cheek and followed the trail to the water spirit. Jack knew he could not stay so he swam towards the surface looking back once. Who did he see smiling at him and waving? His girlfriend had turned into a mermaid. The end."
"No way," Mike said.
"My ending was better," Christa added.
"Cool," the other kids shouted.
Ideas and opinions were tossed around the campfire. "We have to do this again," was said by many and then yawns passed from one to another.
"Time to hit the hay," Megan said. Despite the protests, the group dispersed to the cabins. When Megan stood and stretched, Faith touched her arm. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said with a scrunched-up brow. "What did I do?"