The Hatch
As everyone watched him, the crowd murmured behind him. Putting one foot on the rusted hunk of metal, the boy claimed it for himself.
Haldo Kallas
Haldo Kallas, an Estonian high schooler, had a different ending in mind. A find like this is unheard of, especially where he comes from. Given that he found it, he had expected to take it home with him.
A Walk To Clear His Mind
The only reason Haldo went exploring that day was to clear his mind. Since his parents yelled at him for his bad grades at school and one of his friends moved away, his week hadn’t been good for him.
Buzzing Insects Through The Swamp
Haldo’s path was covered with lush green trees that protruded from swamp water. There was no grass here, only thick mud to wade through.
Deviate From His Usual Path
Haldo had visited this area several times before. Haldo always reached out to his dad on dark, cold days like today, when he would take him for a walk here every evening.
Detour
In response to the voice in his head, Haldo obeyed. What was the harm in detouring to the lake? His feet squelched against the mud as he wandered around the perimeter.
Piqued Interest
Haldo had been here countless times. Despite this, he had never seen anything like this before. Upon approaching, he noticed that whatever piqued his interest had been eaten by years of growth. Still, he stepped cautiously toward the object.
Where Would The Old Rope Lead Him?
Continuing to crouch down, Haldo whispered, “A rope.” Was there perhaps a hidden boat somewhere here? He needed a distraction from his problems, so he said, “Let’s see where it goes.” That was exactly what he needed today.
Could It Be A Boat?
For most people who live near large bodies of water, ropes aren’t a surprise. Boats are usually secured with ropes, ensuring they won’t drift off while their owners are away.
Uncovering This Mystery
Haldo was responsible for uncovering what was amiss here. After removing his jacket, he grabbed the rope tightly and pulled, but it wouldn’t budge. As he squared his shoulders and dug his feet into the ground, his brows furrowed. As before, nothing happened as he heaved.
Back With The Crew
Haldo returned with a few friends, and half an hour later, word had gotten around the village about his find. People flocked around him, eager to see what was happening.
To The Lake
It took another half hour for their search to land them at the lake’s shore. Haldo had realized that the rope, disappearing into the mud, seemed to lead toward the lake’s water.
Crowded
By now, the entire swamp was crowded with villagers. This was a good thing because more able-bodied people came to help Haldo and his friends with their quest.
Help Needed
“Maybe it’s time to call people who know these kinds of things,” Haldo suggested, seeing they’d need the right equipment for this job. For the first time that week, he felt he was doing something worthwhile. He didn’t feel suffocated in any way or like a failure.
Time To Get Dirty
Haldo and his friends, among the other villagers who’d decided to get dirty, held parts of the rope to help the bulldozer. There was no way they’d lose this fight.
