The Portage
Russell Chesham
Painting, The Portage, is by Winslow Homer and is in the public domain.
The Portage
Bill was in his driveway, trying to fasten a canoe to the roof of his car. The canoe
was old; the paint had faded, showing the wood underneath. I got off my bike, and went
over to give him the Sunday paper.
"Leave it on the porch," he said.
I jogged the paper to the house, and looked in the window. The sun cast a beam
through the window and I could see a chew-toy on the floor.
I meant to ask where Bailey was, but Bill had started cursing, so I went over to
help him. He threw the end of his rope to me, over the canoe, and I grabbed the rope
and fed it through the rear window, passing it back to Bill as I leaned my head in the car.
There was a cooler in the back, and a long, wooden oar. The seats were covered with
dog-hair. On the passenger seat, there sat what looked like a vase with a lid on it.
The car rocked as Bill cinched the rope tight. Then he limped around the car, and
got in the front seat. He tried the starter three times before it would turn. Then he sat
there a moment, gripping the wheel. I could smell the exhaust.
Then Bill thanked me, kindly.
I picked up my bike, and waved as he drove off, the canoe held fast to his car.