By: Kathy Wu

I was pretty confident when I heard we were going to go rafting at Whitewater Rafting Adventures. Having been there a few years back, I simply remembered two things: Paddling to one side of the lake and paddling back. That was until our instructor told us about a “yellow bucket” that we could use to fight against the other rowers. Ohhh… I thought while the other passengers chuckled at the comment and began choosing rivalries. We’re doing a rowing contest! After the trip, I never understood why I left out the “yellow bucket” during my memories.

The beginning of the rowing was just as expected. All of my crew paddled in sync, chanting the order 1,2,3… However, I couldn’t help but stare at the yellow bucket hidden at the corner of our boat. I always felt the sudden urge to launch it off.

Just as I was about to stand up and take a step forward, my friends shouted, “KATHY!!” I looked back to see that they had stopped chanting a long time ago, with their eyes glued onto me and my raised foot. After what seemed like a decade, one of my friends finally said, “Just pay attention.” I sighed as we continued to row, my arms getting more tired by the minute. Oh well, the voice in my head said dejectedly. At least there isn’t any extra drama.

“SPLAASSHHHSH!” Freezing icy cold water rushed down the top of my head, drenching me like a humongous tsunami. It felt like someone had dumped the whole Antartica into the lake! (Never mind! The voice said.) I had just recovered from the attack, lifting my head to get a sense of my surroundings when “SPLLLLAASHHSHSHSHSHSH!!” I immediately flashed open my eyes to see someone from a nearby crew flinging a yellow bucket of water at us.

So that was what the yellow bucket was for! “Argggee…” I said, marching my way down the raft. As soon as my hands grasped the edge of the bucket, I scooped it full of water and aggressively flung it at the other crew. I suddenly felt a dreamy sensation as all the heavy weight of the bucket slowly disappeared from my hands. That’s when I saw that I had flung the bucket into the water, where it was floating hopelessly in the middle of the lake!

I didn’t even have time to put my hand to my forehead when “SPLLLLAAASHHHSHHHHH!” came the third bucket of water. I took a deep breath, and with much determination, ordered my crew to steer to the bucket. “Row…row…row…” Finally, we used the end of a paddle and picked up the bucket!

I rushed over to fill it with water, getting ready to throw it at the other crew. I carefully held the edges, and as the crew was coming near, I hurled the bucket and… “SPPLLLLASSSSHHHHH! Yes! That was the biggest splash ever! I thought, striking up my fist in victory. “Ummmm… Kathy…” I looked back at my friends, surprised at why they weren’t cheering. I was just about to ask when they reluctantly said, “Your hand…the bucket….” And there the bucket was. Sunbathing on the surface of the lake once again.

After we retrieved the bucket for the second time, my friends decided I wouldn’t be trusted with the bucket. “But! But…” I pleaded, thinking of a way to convince them to let me try again. “…Third time’s the charm!” There was a pause of silence. “True…” Said one of my friends, scratching her chin thoughtfully.

It’s obvious what happened next. Quite the charm, huh? Nevertheless, it was a fun day, full of interesting events. Who won this year’s rafting adventure? Of course, none other than the yellow bucket.