The Brady Archive

Exploring the Upper Reaches of Shit Creek
By Robert Brady, (KJ 23)

Here I am, up Shit Creek just like they told me I'd be. And without a paddle, just like they said. I'd expected that though, since I'd heard it so many times,so I brought an extra paddle, but I lost it at Shit Falls.What's worse, I lost the canoe there too. Never thought Shit Creek'd be this deep. Hell, I'd be happy with a snorkel. All I can do is wade upstream, up to my neck all the way. Stumbled a few times, went in over my head. Now I'm here, though, I figure I might as well discover the source to Shit Creek, maybe make something out of this. Get famous, like that guy who found the source of the Nile. Only this'd be a lot more important, seein' as how it affects a helluva lot more people; 'cause the further up Shit Creek I go, the higher the population. I'm sure all the people downstream'd give a lot to have some kind of map of the course of Shit Creek before they wind up here without a paddle, like I did. Lotta folks up here in a permanent way, some tryin' to build rafts, maybe ride on outta here. But folks back home can always tell when someone's fresh back from Shit Creek. Others given up and buildin' little huts here outta the only stuff there's plenty of in these parts, tryin' to make some kind of livin' up here, don't know how, I ain't all that anxious t' go ashore and find out, the banks look worse than the creek if you can imagine that; all sorta slippery an slidey. Shoulda worn some special boots, but shit, all I thought I'd really need was a paddle.

 

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