Imagine, for a moment, a young boy named Brian. At thirteen years old he’s wondering about some really big life questions flying for the first time; flying in a small plane; flying away from his home; away from all he’s ever known.

Why did my parents get divorced? Was it me? Why does Dad live in northern Canada and Mom in New York City? How can I bear to keep the secret when it hurts so badly? What will I do all summer without my friends? Why is the plane descending so quickly?

Brian comes back to the present reality to see the pilot slumped over the controls of the bush plane. The sun is red on the horizon, soon to be setting, darkness covering the landscape in the distance and creeping closer. He shoves his way between the dead man and the controls, turns off the autopilot, and barely manages to crash-land in a small pond.

Blackness. Shock. Confusion. Water.

As the plane sinks and water begins pouring into the cockpit he tries to force his way out, but the pressure from the water keeps the door closed until the plane is submerged and water fills the cabin over several long minutes; up to his waist; up to his chest; up to his neck; up to the top of his head.

With his face pressed against the ceiling of the cockpit he gasps a last breath of air and pushes himself down toward the door. It opens; but which way is up? Completely disoriented; his lungs searing; he begins swimming wildly hoping he is headed toward the surface. His air runs out and his body instinctively inhales – water! As he bursts through the surface of the pond he coughs and sputters and vomits water.

The air hits his face and he instinctively begins swimming – hoping he’s headed toward the closest shore. It seems like forever. A voice starts in the

back of Brian’s consciousness: you’re not going to make it; just give up; it’s too hard; you can’t do it; and then his foot hits bottom, plants brush against his face, and he claws his way up onto the beach…and collapses.

Slowly Brian opens his eyes. The world is bright – sunshine warming his face; the rest of him is cold; achy; stiff; numb. His head is throbbing. He pushes himself upright and from where he sits on the little beach he takes stock of his surroundings. Where am I? What happened? What am I going to do? There isn’t a sound, except for a light breeze through the trees. And then the awful truth grips him – I’m all alone in the woods. Nobody knows I’m here. I’m all alone.

Brian has to figure out how to manage – how to survive – in this new, foreign environment…like where you might be at right now: confused, upset, angry, scared, lonely, worried, distraught, panicked, helpless, hopeless.

Why did you come here? Why do you stay? What’s important to you right now? What are you afraid of right now? What resources are within reach? Who did you leave behind? How does it feel to be in this place? How have you survived for this long? Who do you wish was here with you? When did you realize you had come to the end of your rope? What is your center? Your peace? Your hope?

Based on “Hatchet,”Gary Paulson, Bradbury Press, 1987. Revised 26.May 2015