8

We were silent a long time just sitting there. The wind brushed up through the trees and couple of birds started to chirp before they settled down again. We were still cold and wet but both wouldn’t say anything. I didn’t know what time but the moon was still high in the sky, so it might have been about 3 in the morning. There were so many stars out, I tried finding the constellations trying to ignore the stinging in my leg (trying).

“We should get going.” Shawn said after a while.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good now.”

            He helped me up and I limped a couple of paces until it felt like a dog had chomped down on my leg and wouldn’t let go.

“How are we gonna get out of here?” I asked looking around, there was a slope on either side of us with tall trees blocking our view, but there seemed to be a path that led back the way we came.”

“Well let’s just keep walkin’ till we find someone.”

            And we did, I limped along slowly trying not to stumble and fall. Soon we came to a wide open grassy field, and at the very edge we saw a light.

“Look.” I pointed.

“Let’s go I’m freezing.”

            We walked along slowly the waist high grass seemed to swallow us whole. Coming closer we saw it was a house.

“And to think if you didn’t fall and cut your leg we’d have been here sooner.” Shawn said.

            I groaned and tried walking faster because I was dieing to get out of the grass, and because Shawn was annoying.

“Need a little help?” Shawn asked smugly.

“Nope.” I kept walking without his help, until he came behind me and started to half carry half drag me across the field.

“Hey let go!” I shouted.

“Okay.” And he dropped me in the dirt in front of the house.

            Actually it wasn’t a house, just a tiny log cabin and whoever was inside was awake, because the light was still on. I didn’t get up, I lay on the dirt like it was just another lazy day in summer. Shawn stepped up the stairs and knocked on the door.

“Hello?” he called.

            The door opened an old man and a little girl were inside.

“What in the-“

“Sir,” Shawn cut him off, “We hiking and got lost, my friend’s hurt, could we come in?”

“Look grandpa, the boy’s laying ion the ant hill.”

            In a second I was off the ground trying to swipe away the ants (This just was not my day).

“Yes, come in.” the old man said.

            Shawn helped me up the stairs and into the log cabin. It was warm and dry. There was a small kitchen in the front and two bedrooms in the back, and to the right was a bathroom, the left had a small table and a fire that was blazing.

“So what happened?” the man asked.

“We were hiking and fell into the river and got lost.” Shawn said, “My friend, he’s hurt.”

“What are your names?” he asked as he went to get something from the cabinet above the sink.

“I’m Shawn and he’s Rickey.” Up until now I thought he was going to keep up the scam.

“The little on is Mary, and you can call me Pap.” He brought a first aid kit to the table. Mary watched attentively as Pap slowly undid the makeshift bandage from my leg, slowly red blood dripped down my leg.

“Wow!” Mary exclaimed.

            Pap chuckled and quickly cleaned up my wound and wrapped it up with gauze in a few minutes.

“Where you a doctor?” I asked.

“Used to be, how can you tell?” he stood.

“My mom was one.”

“A doctor’s kid huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve seen worse wounds from others who’ve jumped off the train.”

“What?” Shawn asked suddenly alert

“Relax Shawn, any doctor in their right mind wouldn’t hurt their own kid as bad as Rickey has been, the burns and bruises make it above obvious.” Pap said, “I’ve helped lots of kids who do the same thing as you kids, it’s crazy but so are all of you, so I guess it all evens out and works in the long run. Where are you two headed?”

“Arizona.” Shawn said walking over to the fire.

“Arizona huh, it’s hot down there, what’re you two doing wandering all the way down there?”

            I looked at Shawn and he nodded, “My dad’s down there.”

“Well this is a story, why don’t you lay it all out for me.”

            So, I told him, I started with the call, Ron, everything from getting on the train that very first night to meeting Shawn. By the time I was done, Shawn and the little girl were both sound asleep and it surprised me that Pap had stayed awake this entire time. The sun was peeking out over the tall pine trees and filtering light into the cabin.

“I see, and you’re sure he’ll take you in?”

“Well, he’s got to… I’m his kid.” Even though I said it, there was still a shred of doubt, what if he didn’t want me? I quickly pushed the thought out of my head and refused to accept it.

           

Author's Note

this was long over due, please tell me what you think