Joel, the hiking instructor, finished giving instructions to the group of 15 by saying, “My assistant Luise will stay in the back of the group to help any stragglers. It’s her first day, too, so you can all learn together. Let’s go!”
Joel turned and started up the mountain. He led confidently across the rock bridge. He scaled a wall with tricky footholds. He placed a rope on a stretch of icy hill so others could follow.
Joel never once looked back until he reached the top.
Joel was shocked to see no one from the hiking class behind him. He did not see them on the icy hill or at the rocky cliff where you needed the foot holes.
Joel was confused, but maybe they were just struggling. He waited for an hour.
At some point, it dawned on Joel that the class was not coming, so he made his way back down to look for them. Hiking down the mountain, while more dangerous, was easier than going up, and Joel made the journey back with relative ease.
He saw no one until he reached the parking lot. Luise sat in the car they had driven to the meeting spot for the hike.
“What happened?” Joel asked. “Where were you?”
“No. Where were you?” Luise said. “I knew how to do nothing. One of the hikers slipped on the rocky bridge and broke her ankle. We yelled for you, but you were so far ahead you didn’t hear us.”
“I was the leader,” Joel said.
“No. You were the guy in front,” Luise said. “If no one follows you, you’re just a guy.”
“Well, someone could have come to get me.”
“Someone tried to follow you, but he fell off a rock wall and broke his arm. Luckily, the ambulance I had to call had room for both of them. Then everyone else decided to go home.”
“It’s not an easy hike,” Joel admitted.
Luise added, “Especially without a leader.”