‘The Jump’ by Ashley Meggitt

‘Maddy will do it, won’t you Maddy?’ Tom smiled at the young woman in her cream coloured bikini.

‘Do you think I can?’ said Maddy. ‘I’m not sure. It’s a long way down.’ She looked pleased at Tom's attention.

 ‘Of course you can. Just take a running jump so you miss the slab rock at the bottom.’ Tom strode over to the cliff edge. ‘There,’ he said pointing, ‘look.’

Maddy approached the edge carefully and peered down. Beneath them water swelled up momentarily covering the large flat rock. Tenacious fronds of seaweed, buoyed by the water, floated up like unkempt hair only to fall back as the sea retreated, plastered to the rocky forehead.

‘Maddy, it’s dangerous. You mustn’t do it.’ Alan had stepped forward. He felt the panic rising, swelling like the sea, and it made his voice slightly higher pitched than usual. She mustn’t do it. She mustn’t.

‘Don’t be so wet Alan,’ said Tom without turning. ‘You’ll be fine Maddy. Brave Maddy.’

Alan appealed to Tank.

‘Tank, it’s a stupid thing for Maddy to do isn’t it? Are you going to jump?’

Tank had stretched himself out on the sunny grass.

‘Not on your life. It scares the crap out of me.’ He scratched his bulky midriff. ‘Bloody stupid thing to do I reckon.’

‘I think I might,’ said Maddy still looking down at the slab. ‘It doesn’t poke out too much and I’ve always been good at jumping.’

Alan knew she wanted to impress Tom, wanted him to think her as brave and adventurous as he was, but...

‘Maddy, no, please.’ Alan felt desperate. She didn't see what she was doing. He was going to be humiliated by the very person he so wanted to impress. He could have no claim to her affections if she jumped and he didn’t. She’d think he was a coward. Oh God, he’d have to do it.

‘Just because you’re too scared to jump doesn’t mean that Maddy is. Isn’t that right Maddy?’ Tom smiled at her again.

Alan knew Tom wasn’t interested in Maddy - she was just the trophy. The pleasure for Tom was in the game. Beating him.

‘I’m not scared,’ said Alan, ‘it’s just that I think it’s dangerous, really dangerous. If Maddy gets hurt it’ll be your fault. You’re making her jump.’

‘No he’s not,’ said Maddy, rising in defence of Tom. ‘I was always going to jump. If you’re not scared then you jump. Go on, do it now.’

Tom grinned. Alan could see the triumph in his eyes, mocking him, knowing the game was almost over, knowing he wouldn't jump.

He stood, shamed, drenched in inevitable humiliation. He wanted to scream his terror, his frustration, his anger.

Anger.

He felt that now more than anything. Anger at Maddy for making him prove himself, anger at Tom for having no fear, but mostly anger at himself for being useless.

He ran.

He jumped.

But not far enough.