One More Step

2 Feb

“How do trackers become more successful at finding people than others?” Billy asked his Grandfather.

“Successful people take one more step” replied his Grandfather.

Billy was used to his Grandfather talking in riddles so he thanked him, for nothing he thought, and headed out with the trackers to look for his sister.

“It’s hopeless” said one of the trackers as he headed back toward the village.

This is how the day had gone. Wandering. Trying every trick they knew. Calling out. Looking for signs of birds flying up at the sound of something that startled them.
Checking for footprints in the mud and broken branches on the trees. A bit of cloth caught on something. Anything.

But they found nothing new. No secret to unlock the mystery of where the little girl had gone.

“Hopeless” said another as he to left the ever dwindling group and headed back.

A few pushed on. Aimlessly. Trying this or that without success.

And then, it started to rain.

“It’s over.” said the last of the trackers to Billy. “Come on. We need to go back to the village.”

Billy sat on a nearby stump. “I’ll be back there in a minute” he said as the last of the trackers left him and headed back towards home.

Billy thought about the day. How it had started when his sister wandered off.
How the trackers had come to search for her.
How they had showed him what to look for even though they somewhat mocked him for being just a boy.

After all, how do you teach someone what you know when they are just starting out.

Billy tried to take it all in. He tried to follow the lead of the trackers. Not become overwhelmed with what they were saying.

But, it was hard. There was so much he didn’t know. So many different ideas.

All he really knew in the end was that he wanted to find his sister.

So, instead of turning around and going back towards the village Billy pressed on.

And when he thought he couldn’t do any more he remembered what his Grandfather had said to him.