Aleu and A.J. pushed further into the forest, always following the river. It was quiet and peaceful. The Birds were singing and squirrels were running about. But then the peacefulness was starting to become drowned out but a loud rushing noise. Up ahead Aleu could see a clearing and at the far side a small cliff face. They entered the clearing to see a scene worthy of photography! A small picturesque pond with a water fall coming off of the top of the cliff and spilling into the pond. It was surrounded by trees, old logs, and a boulder here and there.

“Oh my God A.J.! This is beautiful!!!” Aleu exclaimed; nearly breathless! A.J. smiled.

“I’ve known about this place ever since I was a cub! Sometimes I would come here to gather my thoughts or needed some “alone time”. My uncle first took me her, only a few have actually been here to see it. If it weren’t for this river and its falls our town wouldn’t have its name sake!” said A.J.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous!” said Aleu. “Sakura and I pick nick here often. There’s a lot of talk about making this a tourist spot. I know it would bring a lot of business, but it would ruin the natural beauty of it. We’d have to build a siding or a branch from the main line to get here. That means the some of the trees would be cut down or cleared. And who knows what the tourists would do while there here! Trash would be all over the place!” exclaimed A.J.

“I can see why you’d feel that way. I hope they leave this place alone, there’s just something special about it.” Replied Aleu.

Then both Aleu’s and A.J.’s ears picked up.

“Did you hear that?” asked Aleu. “Yeah.” Said A.J.

They heard a sound rising above the sound of the water and it was coming closer. It sounded like men yelling.

“Wait, those voices sound familiar!” said A.J. And just as they looked up at the falls an old waterlogged piece of timber flew over! And short behind were Leach and Fiesta screaming their heads off! They both flew over the falls in a graceful arc before splashing into the pond below! A.J. and Aleu rushed to the pond’s shore. Leach and Fiesta emerged from the water, both completely soaked to the bone. Leach’s hat was floating on the pond’s surface. He still had the pole in his hands but the line had finally snapped. His bleach blond hair covered his eyes and water poured from his beard.

Fiesta wasn’t much better; his hat was drenched and drooped over the sides of his head with water spilling over the brim.

“Well, I recon it got away…” Leach said looking at the broken line. Fiesta began to growl and the look of frustration was apparent.

“Ooooh!!! Only You Would Catch a Log! I Tell You, You Let Go! But NooOOooo! You hang on till we nearly die! Choo’ ever listen to Fiesta? No, you old Forty-Niner Goat!!!” Shouted Fiesta in a tantrum! Leach just looked at his line and pole. A.J. and Aleu stood on the bank and just looked on silently. Then a slight smile grew on their faces and then a chuckle. It just kept escalating until they were both rolling in laughter! Leach and Fiesta looked to the shore to see their friend practically crying.

“Hey! What You Do Here!!?!” Shouted Fiesta! A.J. and Aleu were laughing too hard to talk!

“Eh’! You think it funny! I Nearly Die!!!” exclaimed Fiesta!

Aleu had fallen on her back and was literally rolling! Tears poured from her eyes and she was gasping for air between laughs!

“Oh quit yer’ belly ache’in! Ya’ ain’t dead so quit it!” Shouted Leach!

“Oh! I could have split open my Cabeza on a rock!”

“Well consider’in how hard yer’ head is you’d probably split the rock in two!” stated Leach as he wadded towards shore. Fiesta followed behind grumbling. Then Fiesta reached for his hat floating on the water surface. Leach stepped out of the pond sopping wet and dripping water every where. Fiesta took a few steps on solid ground before putting on his hat. When he did another rush of water fell on him, along with a fish.