The right way around (Part 4)

-Good job, kid!-I yelled as I gave her a thumbs up from my resting place.

The kid looked at her empty spear with disappointment, giving me a sad stare as if she was asking me to put a fish in it. I scratched my cheek once she looked at me, shouting at her and encouraging her afterwards.

-Just do it again! And do not close your eyes this time!

The kid held the spear tighter, wiping away the sweat that she had on her forehead. She waited for a bank of fish to come by again, and with a loud shout, she stabbed the water rapidly.

This time, as she quickly got the spear up, a fish got caught by its tail. But as soon as the kid moved her hand to take it, the fish used the remaining life energy it had and escaped the spear by flailing.

I laughed as the animal fell to the river, letting itself be dragged by the current. Even though the kid tried to stab it again, she failed and had to use plan B now: Chase the fish down the river.

However, as soon as I spotted her trying to make that move, I yelled at her, ordering to stand still. She listened to me and obeyed, but after listening to me telling her to try and catch another fish, she threw the spear at the shore and threw a tantrum.

-This is stupid!-she yelled as her cheeks turned pink because of her anger.

I stood up slowly, patting the two fishes by my side and calling both of them "handsome". "Be right back," I told them as I walked towards the kid.

Before I got back in the river, I leaned down and took the spear she threw, and with it in my hands I walked until I got close enough to the kid.

The kid turned around to see me, crying in frustration. At the sight of that, I put both of my hands together and picked up some water from the river, using it to clean her face.

-It's cold…-she complained as she produced more tears.

-I know, but we can't continue the lesson if you have tears in your eyes.

I put the spear back in her hand and crouched in front of her while pointing at my back, just like I did when I tried to climb the wall of her aunt's house.

The kid gave me a weird look, just like she did the day before, but after a few seconds she hopped on my back. As soon as I was sure that we were safe to keep going, I started to talk.

-So, do you remember the three parts of lesson 1?

-Yeah… The basics, the use of knives and…-the kid thought for a moment-Oh yeah! The importance of a calm mind!

I nodded with a smile on my face, patting her hand as I spoke to her again.

-We're gonna skip part 2 for now, ok?

-Why?

-Because knowing what each knife does won't help you catch a fish…-I said with a sarcastic tone-Ok, now, hold the spear firmly…

My head turned slightly around, watching the way she held the weapon. Just as she felt my eyes on her, she asked something that she forgot to ask before.

-Hey Jacob, why am I in your back?

-Oh, that's easy.-I patted her head with one hand and went back to explaining the lesson-Part 3 is the importance of a calm mind, isn't it?

-Right… So that means I'm on your back because…

-Because I want to of course!-I said as I flicked her forehead lightly-Oh, and because you do not have peace of mind.

The kid looked down when she heard my words. It was not something to be embarrassed of, but she felt bad about it for some reason. I reached one of my arms behind my back and touched hers, trying to make her feel better.

-Kid, I know why you're closing your eyes…-I said in a calm and low tone.

-No, you don't…

-Yes, I do.-I answered while patting her back-You think I don't know you're not watching because you don't want to see blood?

She clung on to me tighter when she heard my question, hiding her face behind my body. It was obvious that the blood would remind her of her aunt, so if she didn't see it, she could have it easier.

Still, whether she felt bad or not, she had to endure it if she wanted to survive, and as her "master" (Wow, that actually sounds pretty nice) my job was to teach her that.

-Kid, you did nothing wrong…-I said while making circles in the water with my foot-so you better forgive yourself soon or you will not get better anytime soon.

-But…

-No buts! You have the right to mourn however you want, but given the situation the world is in right now, we cannot afford to do that.

The kid hit my leg lightly with the heel of the spear, releasing a low "sorry" while clinging on to me tighter. I sighed as she did that, but to respond to her apology, I explained to her that she had nothing to be sorry for while patting her head.

Who would have thought I'd be doing this someday? I mean, me, Jacob Young Espinosa, the one who hates kids with all his might, taking care of a kid and soothing her? I guess The Fall did a number on me, right?

-Thanks…-the kid said after crying on my back for several minutes.

-No problem, kid.-I reached out for her head with my right hand and messed up her hair-Oh, and don't worry too much about the fish. It's ok to kill them… and to eat them…

-Why?

-'Cause they don't have any feelings!

I said with a goofy smile and an awkward tone. The kid wiped off her tears and gave me a mean look, slapping my face afterwards.

-Respect the little ones!-she yelled after hitting me.

-Chill! I was just quoting something that a famous singer said!

My hand reached out for her forehead and with my index finger I flicked her forehead. Perhaps my quote broke our wholesome moment…

The kid felt the knockback of my hit inside of her head, but instead of returning the violence, she just laughed. I turned around to see her, and as soon as I got a glimpse of her laugh, it got passed on to me.

We laughed for a bunch of minutes, not knowing the reason why we were laughing, but not stopping either.

-Jacob…-she stopped laughing and touched my head with her left hand-I think I'm ready…

-You sure?-I asked while wiping the tears that came out as I was laughing.

The kid nodded, putting all of her focus into recreating my hunting pose and into watching the water, waiting for her prey to come.

-Hey kid, this is a one time only thing, ok?-I said as I watched another bank of fish swimming in our direction-I'm carrying you right now because your lack of peace got projected in your legs, which scared off all of the fishes.

-But I caught one earlier…-she said while trying not to lose track of the approaching fish.

-No, you just stabbed it. If you had actually caught it, then we wouldn't be here now…

I patted her head after my words. My attention got completely taken by the water, which I hoped would show some signs of blood soon (because that would mean that the kid got her prey).

Just as she was about to move her spear, I gave her a final piece of advice, hoping that it could help her to avoid the prey escaping.

-Once you stab it, wait for a few seconds. Whether you see blood or not, wait a few seconds before you move the spear.

-Why?-she said while already putting the spear up, awaiting for her prey to come.

-Because it helps you make sure that you-

As I tried to finish talking, the kid stabbed the water in a swift movement. I saw some fish swim past us, meaning that they were just as nervous as the kid was.

"Do I lift it now?" the kid asked just before taking the spear with both hands. My right hand made a gesture in response, indicating her to stop.

We both looked at the water, waiting for a sign. But just as I was about to tell the kid to take her spear out, a trail of blood began to run in the water, causing the kid to abruptly lift up the spear.

The inertia of the kid's spear made us fall back, splashing water as we fell into the river floor.

-Get off!-she screamed hysterically while flailing her arms under me-You're too heavy!

I rolled to my side, letting her breath after taking my weight off of her. My face fell into the water, wetting my hair as I tried to regain my composure.

-The fish!-I yelled while getting back up, my hair an even worse mess than it was before.

-Chill, it's here…-the kid answered as she raised her spear, her body still on the river's floor.

I gasped as I saw it, getting amazed by how big it was. No wonder the kid caught it, given the big size this fucking animal had.

I let out a sigh as I smiled, relieved by the fact that the kid could catch a good fish. Then, my body let itself fall back in the water, splashing the kid as I came in contact with the river's floor.

The kid coughed as water traveled to her face, but instead of screaming, she stood still. She threw the spear to the shore and then looked at me with her eyes.

-Hey, Jacob, why aren't we moving?

-Why should we?

-I don't know…

-Relax, kid. Let's just rest here for a bit…-I let out a sigh as I splashed some water to her-we've earned it…