The Straw That Wasn't

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The kitchen felt very small and suffocating to Mara. Five individuals were gathered closely beside each other at her little oak table, and none of them were looking at each other. On top of that the rain was pounding on the windows creating a depressing atmosphere that was now even more suffocating.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Dale broke the silence since they had made up their minds.
These five friends or rather ex-friends had met up for their usual annual camping trip. They had been doing this for ten years since they left college but it did not feel the same way on this occasion - so heavy!. The load of unexpressed words seemed unbearable after all this time.
“I’ve got some straws in the drawer,” added Mara as she left for the kitchen counter. She went through the junk drawer passing by takeout menus and rubber bands then finally found a pack of plain white plastic straws!
Evan spoke up “Must one of us do it? Why don’t we call for help?”
“We damn well know we can’t do that,” Lena interjected quickly while drumming her fingers restlessly on her thigh “not after what happened”.
What happened. Two words that signified the end of everything just a short while ago.
She removed five straws from the pack, turned her back on them and picked a pair of scissors from the drawer. The rain had picked up outside, striking the roof like an admonition.
“Somebody’s going to get the short one,” she added even though it was unnecessary. “That person will take all our things back to the bungalow. And he must also put everything in order so that it seems as though we have left nothing behind!”

Like James had never been there.

When Mara got back to the table holding the straws hidden in her closed hand, there was absolute silence. A few times she could see her fingers shaking.
“Let the youngest one start,” Dale said with no emotion in his voice.
This meant that Evan was supposed to go first!. After some hesitation he pulled out a straw from Mara’s clenched fist. It was of normal length. He sighed with relief.
Lena followed picking her own straw with the tip of her slender fingers. Hers was also of the average width like any other ones.
It was Dale’s turn then. He drew it fast like one would remove a bandage. Just another normal straw again!.
Mara and Chris looked at each other. Ten years of trust and friendship depended on who got what in this game of straws.
“Why don’t we start with the ladies,” Chris managed to say with an attempted smile that did not reach his eyes.
Mara drew hers first, and it was the same as always - a plain, normal piece.
Chris took the remaining one with no second thought; his expression had turned into resignation even before he could lift it up from the table.
The shortest one.
“I guess I have to leave now,” he murmured placing it on the table. It had been poorly done – there were uneven edges where Mara’s scissors had wrestled with the plastic.
There followed a long moment of silence with nobody speaking while the rain played on outside, drumming like nature’s funeral march .
“I’ll take you,” Dale said after some time finally breaking the silence. “At least up to where we found that guy.”
Chris refused, “No, I think it’s better if I go alone. There will be less loose ends.”
They all understood him well - there would be fewer witnesses around him during a possible failure of plans of someone who might ask about James’ fate!.
“It should be me,” Lena said suddenly. “I made him.”
“No, it was,” Evan contradicted weakly, but there was no conviction in his words. “We all know that he slipped because it was raining and there are wet rocks.”
“Had to give him a little shove,” Lena spoke in a low voice. “So I did, and he fell. He’s dead now, but don’t worry we’re deciding on the best way to use the jokers!.”
Mara patted Lena on the back in an attempt to reassure her; then she said, “It was unanimous; we must stay united because it concerns every one of us.”

Chris got up with the straw still between his fingers. “I’ll go pack my things.”
He went towards the guest room; Mara followed him and then closed the door after entering inside with him. She now seemed completely bloodless.
“There is something that I must share with you,” she barely made a sound as she spoke and kept looking back at the door to be sure no one could hear them outside.
“What is it?” Chris asked raising an eyebrow.
“I cut them all equal,” said Mara so quietly that her voice was nearly drowned by the rain. “But I just couldn’t... I couldn’t figure whose neck to put the rope on!”
Looking from the straw in his hand to Mara, Chris said nothing before uttering finally: “When I pulled mine, they all appeared different lengths.”
“I did notice,” she replied crestfallenly, wiping away tears that were forming in her eyes. “But in fact they were not! I measured each of them equally.”
Realization crossed Chris’ face slowly. “So it was never left to chance. It was a matter of…”
“The person who would confess first.” Mara completed his sentence for him. “The one willing to take full responsibility without any arguments. The person offering themselves up for slaughter.”
Chris then sat down on the bed’s edge and muttered, “And I didn’t inspect or compare like everyone else.”
With tears flowing down her cheeks, Mara agreed and said, “I’m sorry Chris; I had no other choice. It was important for us to establish the reliable people.” “Now you see,” he remarked bitterly.
“I will confess everything,” offered Mara, “And we’ll find another solution.”
Nevertheless Chris was already declining this proposal. “No, I will return to the cottage!”
“Why? Now that you know—”
“Because someone needs to,” he cut her off. “And I understand your reasons for doing it too.” He stopped and looked down at the straw in his hand before adding, “We’ve been through this for too long friends! Not even when what happened between us and James?”

“It’s not right.” Mara did not agree to this.
Chris chuckled dryly. “No justice here, even more so for James.” He stood up and kept the straw in his pocket. “Don’t say anything. Let them think that they were able to escape from bad luck. It will help!”

“I’m in,” declared Mara suddenly, “let’s do it together.”
But Chris once again shook his head. “No way! When one person goes back it’s already suspicious, and two would be a sure sign of guilt.”
In the kitchen, the others waited in tense silence. Evan was crying softly, Lena just staring into space as Dale absentmindedly tore a paper napkin into tiny pieces.
At last the rain had abated for a while before the next deluge.
He came out with his backpack on one side and she followed with a calm face.
"There is a good chance that I will return early in the morning," he informed them. “In case I don’t…”
It was clear to everyone what his failure to return meant.
Chris began towards the door but was stopped by Dale who asked, “The straws were all equal in length, right?”
Four pairs of eyes turned to Mara.
For a moment there was complete silence and then she said, “Yes they were.”
“I thought so!”. Dale’s revelation was barely audible. “I compared mine with Lena’s behind her back - they were exactly the same!”
Evan appeared confused as he asked, “Then why did you let Chris?”
“He was the only one who didn’t check,” Lena cut in before anyone else could speak, her tone becoming more confident as she finally understood what had happened.
Dale said that Chris was the only one they could still trust.
Chris was at the doorway zipping up his rain coat when he made his statement. “You all knew?”
“I suspected,” replied Dale. “I couldn’t determines whether or not they were trustworthy.”
Again they were quiet and it was as if the truth had descended upon them like the evening darkness outside.
“So what now?” Evan asked at last.
Chris closed his jacket completely and said, “This is the time to discover our true selves - as a team.”
He left the door open while rain hit the welcome mat.
One by one, they picked up their stuff and braved the bad weather following him outside.
The forgotten items lay on the table beside them including some straws.

Months later, both of them were present during their judgment in court. Having confessed on their own the charges were reduced from involuntary manslaughter to criminal negligence; hence they were sentenced to community service and probation rather than imprisonment. Even James’s family had forgiven them when they knew everything. On leaving for the last time, Chris signaled Mara with a nod. The events of that day and how each was able to act based on their character and not what the society say about them will be seen through this experience for years to come with this case!. Eventually, it was only because they all had been so brave as to stand up together and speak out for what was right that they managed to escape imprisonment, but more importantly perhaps still have a chance one day at being able fully content themselves again after everything that happened.