A River Runs Through it and Other Stories

As the heat mirages in the river in front of me danced with and through each other, I could feel patterns from my own life joining with them. It was here, while waiting for my brother, that I started this story, although, of course, at the time I did not know that stores of life are often more liker rivers than books. But I knew a story had begun, perhaps long ago near the sound of water. And I sensed that ahead I would meet something that would never erode so there would be a sharp turn, deep circles, a deposit, and quietness.
The fishermen even has a phrase to describe what he does when he studies the patterns of a river. He says he is “reading the water”, and perhaps to tell his stories he has to do much the same thing. Then one of his biggest problems is to guess where and and at what time of day life lies ready to be taken as a joke. And to guess whether it is going to be a little or a big joke.
For all of us, though, it is much easier to read the waters of tragedy.