Just Her Type by Reon Laudat Page A

harnesses, each member of their group whooped and hollered while taking
off, one-by-one zipping across the first line. This “practice” line, as the
tour guides referred to it, stretched a hundred and twenty-five feet long and
hung thirty feet above ground. Then Kendra’s turn rolled around. She stalled,
taking her gloves off, putting them back on, and taking them off again to stuff
her sunglasses inside her waist pack. The guide hooked the line from her
harness to the cable overhead. Her smile and knees wobbled.
    Kendra put the safety gloves on again, tipped
forward on the platform, took a deep breath, and squeezed her eyes shut.
    “Don’t forget to enjoy the majestic view!” someone
called out to her.
    Next thing Kendra knew, there was nothing solid
beneath her feet. Airborne, she zoomed across with the wind rushing in her
face, roaring in her ears, and whipping through the hair streaming out of the
helmet.  
    She couldn’t see a thing because she refused to
open her eyes as she hurtled toward the next platform, knocking over the zip
operator stationed there. What a rush!   She’d done it! She’d actually done
it!   She leaped at the operator as
he came to his feet and gave him a big smooch on the cheeks. Mwah!
    Dominic, Brody, and Zoe showed off, curling their
bodies into cannonballs for the next two lines. This maneuver allowed for
maximum speed.   Meanwhile, Kendra
challenged herself to make it across the next line with her eyes open, but
couldn’t nail it as the zip lines got longer and higher. Kendra clutched the
rope railing and took baby steps across the swinging bridge with her head
tilted to the sky. As long as she didn’t look down she wouldn’t freeze.   
    The final line was called The Big Kahuna at seven
hundred and ten feet long and two hundred feet above ground.   Misting rain now falling between zips
did not deter their group.
    Kendra watched Zoe take off. Brody followed.
Because this last line was unique and specially designed so two people could
ride in tandem, an elderly husband and wife team zipped together, in a
newfangled contraption that positioned them side by side.
    Corinne clearly noticed the fresh splash of fear
on Kendra’s face. “I can go with you if you like.”
    Kendra managed to speak, or rather, squeak, “No,
er, you go on ahead. I can see how much fun you’re having performing your
little tricks and all. You can’t do that if you’re busy holding my hand. I’m
good.”
    Dominic moved behind Kendra. “You okay?”
    Kendra turned, tipping her head back to look up at
him. It was difficult maintaining a warrior woman stance with knees shaking
like maracas. “Of course! I’m fine!”
    Casually peering over the edge, Dominic whistled.
“Wow. That’s some drop there. The other lines were child’s play in comparison.”
    “Next!” one of the tour guides called out.
    “That’s me!” Corinne rushed ahead to the platform.
That left Dominic and Kendra. The guide signaled for them to approach.
    “You go next,” Kendra said to Dominic.
    “No, ladies first, always,” he replied.
    “No, I insist. Save the best for last.”
    “And you’re the best?” Dominic scoffed. “Have you
actually seen anything? Couldn’t have
pried your eyelids open with a crowbar during that last zip.”
    “Something flew in my eye,” Kendra replied
cheekily.
    “If you say so.” Dominic grinned, only temporarily
distracting her with that brilliant smile.
    “C’mon, you two,” the guide called out to them
again. “We’re running behind.   We
need to catch up with the group. Why don’t you do tandem to make up a little
time.”
    “I’m game if you are,” Dominic said to Kendra.
    Kendra considered declining, until she peeked over
the ledge again. Vertigo slammed her. Her heart went on a tear and her belly
yo-yoed as she surveyed the drop. More flop sweat. Gulp.
    “Or you can sit this one out,” the guide said.
“You all right? You don’t look so good.”
    “Isn’t she a