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and another clue, enjoying several historical stops around town, a few places that triggered fond childhood memories for Nashoba, and even a pleasant picnic lunch beneath a beautiful old willow tree. It was in the hottest part of their day that they followed a clue that brought them to an old timey malt shoppe and another clue in the form of a small envelope containing a piece of paper with flowery handwriting that Akala had to assume belonged to Haley.
    “ Beside the bridge and big oak tree, a wild river flows fast and free. Seek the shelter of the quiet place, and take the plunge or be disgraced.”
    Nashoba began to laugh as soon as Akala finished reading it, and she knew instantly that this clue had brought up another strong memory for him.
    “You’re going to love this one,” he said, and he led her back out to the truck.
    They didn’t speak much on the drive this time, but it was the pleasant sort of quiet that often fell between two people who were comfortable around each other and felt little need to fill the silence with empty noise. Akala turned on the radio and hummed to a classic song that reminded her of her childhood, and Nashoba drove down back roads with his left arm out the window and a lazy smile on his face.
    “Here we are,” he said, pulling into a gravel pullout barely wide enough to fit the car. “First time I’ve ever driven up here though.”
    “ Where is here?” asked Akala, watching as Nashoba pushed his way through the leafy underbrush and into a trail that seemed nothing more than a deer track.
    “ You’ll see in a second.”
    The faint sound of rumbling water told Akala that they were near the river that was mentioned in the clue, but it sounded too far away still. There was something not right about the whole situation until they emerged onto a small clearing with a large oak tree standing next to a steep drop off. She walked to the edge and peered down at the water below. It fell down a short waterfall not far upstream, and then swirled around in a lazy eddy below them.
    “That must be fifty feet down,” said Akala, swallowing a lump in her throat.
    “ It’s only twenty five.” Nashoba grinned like an idiot and stared at Akala as she looked to the river bottom and back at him again.
    “ You’re not telling me we have to…?”
    He simply nodded.
    “I don’t have a swim suit,” Akala spluttered. Any excuse to not have to do this thing.
    Nashoba pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it beneath the oak tree. A ratty old piece of rope dangled from one of the strong branches overhanging the edge, a clear indication that this was a popular swimming hole.
    “You’re wearing underwear, aren’t you?” He kicked off his shoes and unbuckled his belt. Within seconds he was standing there in his boxers, his body even leaner and stronger than it had seemed from beneath his clothing. “We always used to bike up here on hot days and jump in with nothing but our skivvies on. It’s so hot you’ll dry off in a few minutes once we climb back up.”
    “ I don’t know about this,” said Akala. “I’m really scared.”
    “ It’s totally safe,” said Nashoba in a confident and reassuring voice. “Haley wouldn’t have sent you here otherwise, and I wouldn’t let you jump if I thought there was any chance you might get hurt. Still, you don’t have to jump if you don’t want to. I’ve already had a great time with you today, and it’s just a silly game that Haley made up.”
    “ No,” said Akala, taking a deep breath and pulling her shirt up over her head. “I can do this.”
    “ That’s the spirit.” Nashoba’s smile widened and he didn’t look away as Akala shimmed down out of her pants. She adjusted her underwear and stood at the edge, feeling self conscious and nervous, unsure of whether it was because of the jump or the fact that she was nearly naked with this particular man.
    “ Take my hand,” said Nashoba, reaching out towards her. “We jump on three,