Blue Lake

Monday, February 6th:

News update: Local man, Greg Jones was reported missing late yesterday afternoon. He was last seen swimming across Blue Lake. Contact Police with any information regarding his whereabouts…

Amy cut the car ignition, silencing its radio. Pool noodle in hand, she headed for the water. Setting sun shimmered on the lake like golden satin. Perfect! Adeptly attaching the bungy cord to the noodle and her ankle, she gingerly waded in. Amy quietly smiled,

The lengths I go to! Anything for Mum’s peace of mind, to keep her from reporting me as Missing! Drowned!

Goggles on, she set off, swimming languidly towards the opposite shore. Shackles of stress and worry loosened, trailed ever further behind her until they snapped, sank down into the frigid dark depths of the crater lake. A wave of tranquillity washed over her. Her mind mercifully blank.

Later, she squeezed the water from her ponytail, towelled herself off and returned to her lone vehicle — hunched — waiting in the gloomy car park. Luscious rainforest crowded her, masquerading as a gang of ghouls, intent on her demise. Shivering — despite the balmy evening — Amy turned for home. The “Six O’clock News” again droned on about the missing man as her car headlights sliced through the twilight. Shaking her head, she mused,

Typical Greg! He always was a bit of a 'Tosser', even when I knew him back in school… forever skipping class, hanging out with his ‘druggy’ mates. He’ll turn up… he always does!

Thursday, February 9th:

Concerns mount as local man; Greg Jones remains missing. His vehicle was located, abandoned at the lake, where he was last sighted. Police urge missing man Greg Jones, or anyone knowing his whereabouts, to contact them…

Simultaneously, Amy’s car and radio fell silent. Stepping out, she paused, drinking in the masterpiece displayed before her. Streaks of scarlet painted the skyline as the forest kept watch over the lake. Amy tied the shoelaces on her well-worn running shoes.

Plenty of time today, for a brisk jog round the lake and a refreshing dip in the placid water.

Her feet quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm, lightly rising and falling above the familiar, undulating trail. Liquid gold ripples peeped through a curtain of branches, leaves and vines. The rainforest was a green moat encircling the azure lake. Amy’s mind stole back to the Newsflash…

Where was Greg? Unlike the general public, she seriously doubted Greg had joined the ranks of the select few bodies claimed by the lake. Far more likely to skip town, pursued by an angry horde of debtors. He never did repay me for that second-hand textbook I sold him for a few paltry dollars. Cheap skate!

The sun’s coppery face played ‘Peek-a-boo’ through the western slopes of rainforest. She noticed how closely the lake bordered the farmland here. Images of Greg loping lazily over the finish line of Inter-school Cross Country comps flitted through her mind.

Was he foolish enough, crazy enough or even desperate enough to stage his own disappearance? Just how difficult would it be for him to reach the nearby road? Greg would be just the one to do it… self-centred twit! He wouldn’t spare a moment’s thought for the trouble and worry he’d cause.

Monday, February 13th:

“Where are you going?”

Amy shot her mother a surprised glance…

“For a swim across the lake, just like every Monday after work.”

“Haven’t you heard? Public access to Blue Lake’s been closed. Greg still hasn’t been found. The lake and surrounds are being searched by divers, Police and ‘Search and Rescue Dogs’. It’s not looking good! I don’t envy them… and this drizzle doesn’t help.”

Annoyance pricked Amy. The Greg she’d known, had effortlessly won “Age Champion” at annual School Swimming Carnivals. No way he’d drown! She wondered just what game he was playing. She missed her relaxing trips to the lake, running and swimming. And for what? He was long gone! He’s probably across the country, lying low at Broome, surfing waves… living the good life!

Tuesday, February 28th:

Eagerly donning her goggles, Amy energetically set off for the opposite shore. After an expensively, protracted but fruitless search of Blue Lake, the search team had finally departed. It was considered unlikely the missing man had drowned… his body should have surfaced by now. What a waste of Taxpayers' dollars!

Locals and visitors swarmed like ants on a cream bun, back to reclaim their lake. For many — like Amy — the lake was an integral part of their lives. Greg’s whereabouts remained an unsolved mystery. Unconfirmed tales were rampant. Everyone had a pet theory. The resident crocodile made a meal of him (unlikely, given it’s a shy Freshwater croc with far too delicate a diet) or, since Greg had several aliases, he’d illegally grown and harvested marijuana in Blue Lake’s National Park. Better yet, he’d scarpered to avoid paying drug debts. By now, his continued disappearance deemed each and any rumour plausible.

Late December:

Christmas was wrapped up for another year. Summer ruled with a heavy hand. This time of year, holiday crowds and travellers were ample company for Amy as she loped around her favourite lake. Swimmers, canoeists and paddle boarders colourfully dotted the lake. At one point, she heard excited cries drifting across the water. Amy spared it no further thought as she steadily approached the swimming area. Christmas holidays sent 'peace and quiet' fleeing far from the lake.

One day later:

News update: A body has been found nine months after local man; Greg Jones went missing. Authorities report, a tourist canoeing across Blue Lake yesterday, noticed something floating on the lake’s surface. Officials suspect this to be the body of Greg Jones…

Amy, waded into the waiting lake. Weird to think Greg had been here all the time. Experts believed frigid water temps in the centre of the lake’s depths prevented the body from surfacing. Now, warmer weather and water temperatures had resulted in the lake finally releasing the body from its long embrace.

Two weeks later:

Tranquil, Blue Lake greeted Amy.

News update: Dental records confirm, the body recently found at Blue Lake was local man, Greg Jones. There is no evidence of foul play.

Car and radio joined together in silent vigil. Unreal! I still can’t believe Greg’s truly gone! Pity he didn’t have a paranoid mother like mine, worried he might drown. Just think, if he had, he might be alive today! A twinge of regret stabbed her. A rogue memory of a grinning Greg collapsing her tent at school camp warmed her.

He always was one for a joke... he'd be tickled to think his last prank had been so spectacular!

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Written for the ‘You Were Never Really Here’ challenge.