I could see Riley, and then I couldn’t. Mom screamed. Natalie started balling. Greg and Nick just stared in disbelief. Dad rushed toward the sudden chaos with me in his arms. Our dog had fallen off a cliff.  

***

We pulled into an empty parking lot which was unsurprising considering the 3 mile dirt road it took us to get here. My siblings and I peered out from the back of the minivan taking in the beautiful national park. Browns, oranges, and reds covered the peaked rock structures. The air felt dry on my skin as I stepped out of the car. 

“Riley come,” my mom called as our small black and brown Yorki jumped out of the packed car. My mom attached an old dark purple leash to Riley’s collar and pulled him along as we began our walk through the park.

“I’m glad we made this stop,” my dad commented. We were at the conclusion of a week-long road trip through North Dakota, and Dad decided we should make one final stop at the Badlands before heading home to the Twin Cities. 

“Me too! Good idea Dad,” My older sister responded to my dad’s delight. I rolled my eyes. She’s been kissing up to adults since 2000. Even as a six year old, I couldn’t stand it. 

We continued along our way, exploring only a small portion of the park around the car. The six of us walked around the unique landscape and made our way down the path. 

“Ok kids, it’s time to get a picture!” my dad yells, herding us all together like sheep. The six of us and Riley huddle up together on a rock while a nice couple takes our picture. Nick refuses

to smile despite Mom’s comments. She stands between her two sons holding the purple leash that she had removed from Riley’s neck. On Mom’s right, Greg stands almost taller than her, holding Riley in his arms. Dad stands with his hands on Natalie’s shoulders who is standing directly in front of him. I stand front and center with my hand on my hip like I owned the world. Finally, after a ridiculous amount of bickering and nagging we snap the perfect shot and make our way down from the rock.

My dad climbs down first, helping mom and Natalie with him. Greg puts down Riley, still free from his leash, and climbs down himself. Nick follows Greg, refusing Dad’s help. The four of them began to make their way back to the car. It was getting dark and we still needed to make our way back to Minnesota. I started to notice Riley wandering but didn’t think much of it. He’s a good dog. He will stay close. Finally, my father lifts me down from the boulder. Before my father could set me down I heard my mom scream. 

Natalie started balling. Greg and Nick just stared in disbelief. Dad rushed toward the sudden chaos with me in his arms. Our dog had fallen off a cliff.  I began to tremble in fear as I peered down to see my dog on a small ledge about 20 feet below us. Who knows how much bigger the drop is after that ledge. I didn’t know what to do, what to think. Was this it? Was my dog gone forever? Riley was as old as I was. He had been in this world with me since I was alive. I didn’t know what I would do without him. 

“Greg, call 911,” my dad directed. “Natalie, bring Nick and Gina to the car.” Natalie grabbed my hand and Nick’s wrist and we reluctantly went to go wait in the minivan. 

We waited and waited and waited. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed but the sun had gone down. Mom came to update us every once and a while. Telling us that we were waiting

for the park rangers to come help Riley. Natalie sat behind me and cried. I was quite annoyed about that because she was ruining Over The Hedge, the movie we were watching on the small minivan screen. Mom tried to comfort her saying that Riley was going to be alright and help was coming. Did she really know that though? Was she just flooding us with false confidence? Or was she saying that to comfort herself as well? Eventually I drifted off to sleep terrified of the uncertainty ahead. 

About an hour later I awoke to commotion from my siblings behind me. I heard the rolling of tires on gravel and opened my eyes to see the lights from a truck pulling into the empty parking lot. Looking out the minivan window I watched my dad greet the three people that exited the dirt covered truck. One was a tall thin man that looked like he hadn't shaved or showered in about a month, one was an older blond lady with a kind face, and one was a shorter brunette woman who couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. They walked off with my dad and my mom told us to wait in the car. 

“I wanna go see Riley,” I perked up once Nick, Natalie, and I were left alone. 

“We need to stay here,” Natalie replied, following the rules as usual. 

“I’ll come with you,” Nick said, completely ignoring Natalie’s comment. 

Nick and I jumped out of the car ignoring the protests of Natalie behind us. We were sick of being shielded from things. We were big kids. We could handle it. 

The two of us rushed along the path that our parents, oldest brother, and the park rangers left behind. When we made it to the cliff edge we stayed back to avoid scolding from our mother. In the distance I could see the brunette park ranger being hooked up to a harness, the older woman was talking to my parents calmly, and the thin man was securing the rope that was attached to the

brunette rangers’ harness. The older woman stepped away from my parents to help the other two park rangers with whatever they were doing. Suddenly the young brunette park ranger walked straight off the edge of the cliff. My heart dropped. What was she doing? Why was nobody else worried like I was? Were my parents really just going to stand and watch this like nothing was happening?

Nick and I stood there in silence for what felt like forever, but in reality wasn’t any longer than a couple of minutes. Finally the woman was back and she had Riley! The thin man pulled the brunette women and Riley up with the rope attached to the harness. I gasped, letting go of a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I couldn't control myself and sprinted over to my dog, revealing Nick and I to the rest of the group. Nick followed, Mom and Dad too. I don’t know how Natalie got there, but the next thing I knew is that the six of us were all huddled together on the dirt surrounding our shaking dog. Cries of relief and smiles of joy spread across our faces and the three park rangers took in our happiness. 

Overcome with emotions we eventually made our way back to the car with Riley in our arms. We thanked the park rangers and piled back into the minivan. 

“Well I don’t know about you guys but I’m absolutely starving,” my dad remarked from the driver's seat. We all piped up immediately.

“I want pizza,” Nick requested.

“No, we always have pizza,” Natalie disagreed.

“Burgers?” Greg suggested.

“Oooo burgers sound good,” I agreed.

“Pancakes,” my mom said simply, wrapping her arm around my dads. We ended up driving until we found an IHOP and the six of us ate pancakes joyously until the night turned into morning. 

I spent the rest of the trip back to Minnesota cuddling with my sleeping dog. I will never take another moment with you for granted, I thought as I pet Riley. Being so close to losing Riley made me feel as if I was given a second chance. It made me truly appreciate the times I have with those I love. I rested my head on the window and enjoyed some much needed sleep.