Part 1 – One Last Run…

Everyone who was with us that day had taken their turn at water skiing, including me. It was nearing the end of the day and the weather had turned, creating choppy white water conditions on the usually calm lake. We were on an island with only a few other people who weren’t part of our crew. A couple of guys playing frisbee, and maybe another couple but not many more.
I was tired and content having had a good run on the skis earlier and was ready to call it a day and go home. My dad called out to see if anyone wanted to go for one last run and eventually looked to me. I looked around and said “no. I’m good” after seeing how choppy the lake had become and how dark the skies were. My dad kept insisting and I remember looking at my mom for help in intervening with my dad’s insistence, but she was of no help, distracted by a conversation with her friend. I finally gave in and when I was in the water, picking up the tow rope, I noticed a loop with a knot near the handles. I waved and shouted to my dad that there was a knot and to wait until I could unknot the mess but he said they would straighten out and untie as I used them and again insisted I do it his way. Being between 12-14 and his daughter, I relinquished my will to his, obeyed and got up on the first attempt. Right away, as I was being towed, the extra loop did not unravel, but instead became a long lasso with a knot that guaranteed it had now become a life threatening weapon.