The War in the Forest

Bullets flew and flares burst, we were in the middle of all-out battle.  I looked down at my legs and once again my wardrobe had changed, now I was wearing military green with shiny black boots.  I looked to my left to see Donnie wearing the same with a large spotlight mounted to his helmet.  “It’s right this way,” he said with a sort of confidence that inspired me to look forward.  I saw Scooter he was out on my right flank about twenty feet ahead.  I shined my flashlight at him, and he immediately darted left.  Obviously he was on the trail of something. 

            As I pieced the scene together, I knew where we were at, the highlands of Germany, in the middle of World War II.  The forest was infested with soldiers, and Donnie and I were leading a team of American rangers through the thick of the woods.  As I looked to my left again, my view widening, I saw the rest of our team, all outfitted in green military uniforms, all wearing shiny black boots.  Holy s**t, we really are at war!  S**t Scooter!  I looked around for him, but all I heard was the screaming and yelling of men getting spoiled upon the battlefield.  For a moment, I took cover behind a bush, the bullets; they would not stop flying around my head. 

            Donnie pulled me out of it, “Gabe, get your a*s up, call your dog man!”  The bullets faded, the lights in the sky darkened.  I stood up, rigid backed… “SCOOTER!” I called.  “SCOOTER! COME HERE!”  Nothing.  I couldn’t even hear movements in the distance.   The Germans must have got him! I called again, “SCOOTER!”  I was beginning to panic now.  My trusty partner, he had been with me the whole time, I couldn’t lose him like this.  I ran forward and gave one more final call… “SCOOTER!!”  Then I heard him, to my right, the brush shook, and up upon the ridge he came.  He flew over the last tree and caught sight of my flashlight.  He was in full sprint to me.  I took a knee and received him with open arms, his mouth licked my face.  “Oh my God, I thought I lost you,” I said, my eyes welling up with tears. As I rubbed his back, I could here Donnie “We are almost there man just a little further.” 

            As I diverted my gaze towards Donnie, I could see he was only about ten feet ahead.  Scooter and I followed closely after, “Where are we?” I asked Donnie.  “Dude, we are back.” he said.  And sure enough as I looked forward I could see the tender glow of the campsite, both tents in tack.  Scooter made laps around the campsite, still enraged from the romping though the forest he just went on.  I shook off my vision and began to cocoon once again.  Then I saw clearly, yes we were back at our campsite.  Damn I thought I could make it back without another wave, apparently I was wrong.  Donnie looked over and said,  “Look man, I’m hitting the sack,  I’ll be up early, just make sure to have breakfast ready for me!” His eyes twinkling in the moonlight. I said “Thanks, for getting me home OK brother, I owe you one!  Of coarse I’ll have breakfast ready, eggs, sausage, and bacon, the usual right?”  “Exactly,” Donnie responded, “Don’t wander off again!  I won’t be there to save your a*s this time.” 

            As I watched Donnie stumble into the tent to meet his wife, I thought I should probably do the same, just to make sure she was alright.  I knew I was still going to be tripping for a while, but I had to let her know I was home.  As Scooter and I stumbled to the tent, I could here Veronika purring “You home?” “Yes,” I replied, “I think Scooter and I are going to sit out a bit longer, I don’t want to disturb you, I’m still pretty messed up and don’t feel like going to sleep quite yet.”  “OK, just come give me a kiss first.”  I could feel the warmth of my wife’s lips upon mine as I bent over to kiss her on the air mattress.  Man this feels amazing. It was as human as I had felt for a long time.  I had gazed at Olympus, been shuttled into outer space, fought a world war, hell it had felt like years had gone by in the matter of a few hours, yes, finally this felt right.  This was my life.  My wife, my dog, my life!  For a second, I remembered what it was like to be Gabe. 

I wanted to stay in that moment forever, but I knew the tent was no place for me.  I would only aggravate Veronika trying to sleep with my trippy nature at this point.  I quarantined myself to around the fire, for now at least until the acid wore off enough so I could catch some sleep.  “Leave Scooter,” She said, as I walked out of the tent.  “OK,” I said, reluctantly.    We had been through so much; I really wanted him to be with for the rest of my trip.  And quite honestly, I didn’t want to be alone.

I shuffled on outside, but to my surprise I wasn’t alone.  A deep, measured voice greeted me “Come we have much to tell you!”