Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the story Bridge to Terabithia

I am just a fan of one of the most emotionally powerful books that I have ever read.

The Phone Call

Chapter 7

"Help!…Help!" Came the faint cries, Jesse was startled out of his reverie. "That sounds like May Belle," he screeched struggling to get up out of his chair. His eyes popped open wide and his heart was pounding hard practically leaping out of his chest. "May Belle's in trouble," he said, there was panic in his voice, it sounded like she was at some distance down stream and he had to get to her.

"No Jess," Leslie said, as she sprang to her feet.

"Don't try to get up. I'll go to May Belle."

Pointing in the direction of the creek and toward the south he said, "It sounds like she's down that way,"

he was frantic and fearful. He reluctantly had to resign himself to fact that he was unable to help. Feeling useless he slouched back down in his chair as Leslie took off running as fast as she could go, adrenaline surging through her body.

"Help!… Help!" May Belle cried out again, Jesse's mind was overflowing with scenarios of what might be happening to his little sister, he cursed himself for being unable to help her. If anything bad happens to May Belle he thought, he will never be able to forgive himself.

Leslie ran to the creek and followed along beside its flowing water as it cut a course through the forest. Running through the tangled gauntlet of undergrowth she was whipped and slapped by the vines and branches that hung from and grew out of the trees and shrubs she dodged. Prickly arms reached out and tore at her legs as she flew past. She pushed on leaping over the rocks and tree roots that cluttered the forest floor. As she hurtled over a fallen tree that blocked her path she slammed down hard, her right foot landing on a pile of loose stones causing her to slip and stumbled, she fell flat out spread eagle on the hard ground. Her breath having been knocked out of her left her dazed and gasping for air as she lay on the forest floor. She paused only a moment to collect herself and catch her breath, then disregarding any injury she might have sustained she hopped up and continued full speed on her way. There was nothing that would or could keep her from finding May Belle.

"Help!…" Leslie heard May Belle's panicked call as she drew near to her. She was just ahead of her now. Leslie flew to the top of the embankment overlooking the flowing waters of the creek, and saw May Belle there. She was clutching onto a large tree limb that had fallen into the swirling water of the creek. The butt end of the limb rested on the side of the embankment, and its crown end was hung up on some jagged rocks in the midst of the rushing stream. May Belle's legs and right arm was wrapped tightly around the life saving limb and in her left hand she held on to the frayed end of the rope. The rope that Jesse had been trying to tie up into the tree last week just before he had fallen into the creek.

May Belle, Leslie surmised, had climbed down the fallen limb to retrieve the rope from the rushing water and was now unable, or too scared, to climb back out; she was crying and Leslie could see the terror behind the glistening tears.

Leslie stood at the top of the embankment catching her breath, searching her mind for ideas, she needed to do something and there was no time to waste. Surveying the area she quickly devised a plan and went into action. Crawling out to the edge of the embankment she teetered on the brink holding on to a small sapling growing there. Reaching out her free hand to May Belle she shouted over the sound of the rushing water.

"Take my hand May Belle!" May Belle looked up to see Leslie, her hand reaching out to her.

"I can't," May Belle called up to her, her voice trembled with fear.

"Sure you can May Belle. Let go of the rope and take my hand."

"I can't, it's...it's Jesse's rope… I need to bring it to him."

"May Belle you have to let go of the rope. It's too heavy, let it go May Belle."

May Bell continued to clutch the rope, she was sobbing hysterically refusing to release her grip on it, it was as if her very life depended on holding on to that rope.

"You have to Let go of the rope and take my hand May Belle," Leslie said as firmly as she could. She was desperate now, why won't May Bell let go of that damn rope? That rope has been nothing but trouble she thought, first it hurt Jesse and now May Belle is in trouble because of it. Leslie feared that May Belle would be dashed against the craggy rocks below if she were to fall.

"I can't let go of the rope, " May Belle sobbed again, "Jesse hates me… it's all my fault. I made him fall." She sniffled, then continued, "Maybe if I bring him the rope he won't hate me anymore." May Belle was still sobbing uncontrollably, her face scrunched up as the tears squeezed out of her tightly closed eyes.

"May Belle!… Listen to me," Leslie shouted over the rushing water below, "Jesse doesn't hate you."

"No?…" May Belle sniffed opening her eyes and looking up at Leslie through her tears, "he doesn't?"

"No, of course not May Belle. You saved his life and he's very proud of you."

"He is?"

"Yes he is May Belle, he loves you… Now please, let go of the rope and take my hand." Leslie leaned out further toward May Belle extending her hand.

May Belle looked up into Leslie's pleading eyes and at her outstretched hand. Then looking down at the rope she watched it as it slipped through her fingers and slithered down into the swirling dark waters of the creek, then wrapping her left arm around the limb she reached up with her right and took hold of Leslie's outstretched hand. Leslie sighed deeply and held on tight to the little girl.

"Now easy May Belle," Leslie instructed, "crawl up to me." May Belle inched up the tree limb toward Leslie.

"Good May Belle good, now put your right foot on that branch sticking out there."

"Which is my right?" May Belle cried, the panic was rising in her voice again.

"The same side as this hand," Leslie said indicating the hand she was holding.

"Ok," May Belle squeaked, as she calmed down and took a deep breath. She slowly moved her foot to the branch and pushed up. Leslie pulled her up at the same time and they fell back on to the bank. May Belle's legs dangling over the edge. The limb that she had just been clinging to crashed down into the rushing waters of the creek. It washed down stream a few yards and caught up on the rocks in middle of the stream. Leslie slid up the bank a little further and taking both of May belle's hands pulled her up the rest of the way to the top of the embankment. They lay there panting catching their breath, fear ebbing from them both.

"Are you ok May Belle?" Leslie asked, breathing heavily.

"Yeah I think so," May Belle said, examining herself.

"Yeah I'm ok," she said finally.

Leslie checked herself over, her right ankle she had feared was sprained from her fall, but when she wiggled her foot it felt ok. Other then that she had some scrapes and scratches, and a skinned elbow, nothing serious she thought to herself and sighed with relief that she wasn't hurt more severely.

"Leslie!...May Belle!"

"It's Jesse, he must be worried out of his mind," Leslie said getting up. She put out her hand and helped May Belle to her feet. May Belle flashed Leslie a sheepish little grin then wiped her tear covered face with the sleeve of her jacket.

"Come on," Leslie said leading May Belle by the hand. They hurried back up stream to the tree house and to Jesse.

Jesse struggled in his chair; it was no use he couldn't get up. Wincing in pain he twisted and turned, fumbling in an attempt to get on his feet. What would he do if he could get out of his chair he thought to himself, he'd just wind up falling on the ground. He couldn't stand, and he definitely couldn't walk, he would be just as helpless as he is now: even more so. His fear and anxieties overwhelmed him, he had to calm himself down or he would go crazy. "May Bell will be ok," he told himself. Leslie will save her from whatever has happened. All he could do now was sit there and think, but thinking was making him insane with worry. He tried in vain to clear his mind, but he couldn't keep himself from thinking about everything that had happened recently. Then he thought about what Leslie had said. She was right he scolded himself, I'm being stupid, I'm going to heal, and my life isn't so bad. Leslie has taught me so much, and she's done so much for me.

I just hope that May Belle will be ok. "She'll be ok," he said out loud to himself; "she has to be, Leslie will see to that." He called out to Leslie and May Belle hoping and praying that they would answer him. I'll show her the real Terabithia, he told himself, the one Leslie was trying to show me. I think I know what she was trying to tell me now. He closed his eyes and tried again to calm himself down and relax his tense body. There was nothing he could do but wait and continued to hope and pray that May Belle was safe.

Leslie and May Belle emerged from the forest coming into the clearing at the tree house. Jesse was where Leslie had left him; he was pale all color had drained from his face.

"May Belle are you ok," Jesse shrieked, beside himself with the fear he had been feeling; he was still trembling.

"Yeah, I'm ok thanks to Leslie," May Belle said meekly, hanging her head down.

"What were you doing out there girl?" Jesse scolded her, " you could have been hurt or worse, you could have drown or something. Don't you ever do anything like that again May Belle, you hear me?…May Belle?" Jesse's face was red and his nostrils flared, he looked really angry and it frightened May Belle.

"I…I was trying to get the rope back for you," May Belle said, fear in her voice and tears returning to her eyes, "I didn't want you to hate me."

"Hate you?" he cried, dismayed that May Belle would think such a thing, then sighing deeply and softening toward her, he said, "I don't hate you May Belle. Why would you think that?"

"Because it's all my fault that you fell," her feelings of guilt causing her voice to tremble and shake.

"It's not your fault May Belle," he cooed, " you saved my life… If it wasn't for you I would have drown in the creek."

May Belle was still sobbing.

"Don't cry May Belle, come over here." Jesse said, reaching out his hand to her, May Belle hesitantly went up to Jesse. He tried to hug her the best he could with his one good arm, wrapping it around May Belle and pulling her in close to him. Then in a gentle, caring voice he said,

"You know what May Belle?"

"What?" She asked, sniffling on his shoulder, her brother's warm caress calming her down.

"I've just discovered something very important."

"What's that?" May Belle asked, as she pulled back away from him a bit and smiled now at her brother, relieved that he didn't hate her.

"I've discovered that you don't need a rope or a bridge to enter Terabithia..."

"You don't?" May Belle asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"No you don't," he said, " all you need to do is close your eyes and keep your mind wide open."

Leslie looked on and smiled. Jesse looked up at her and suddenly he didn't hurt any more, he didn't hate his circumstances anymore. As long as Leslie was there beside him he knew he would always be able to find Terabithia.