Given that I received no emails or comments wondering about my being gone and stopping making entries here, I am putting this blog on hiatus. I'm sure I'll still have stuff to share from time to time, but it's obvious that what I'm interested in doesn't necessarily translate to stuff other folks are interested in. Given there are only so many hours in a day, there's no reason for me to spend time posting stuff that's just a waste of your time.
FWIW...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Chapter 17 - Waterfall Interlude
Scott and the rest of the group arrived at the waterfall, and with the sounds of the running water in the background, folks found seats on some benches near the pool of water at the bottom.
“So, I assume swimming here is out.” Scott looked at the water and thought about how cool it might feel after the hike up here.
“Put your foot in the water, and I think that will convince you that's not a good idea.” Becky shivered as she said this, and Scott realized she was probably speaking from experience.
“Besides, I don't think anyone brought a swimming suit.” Erica pointed out.
Donna then piped up, “Well, you don't really need a swimming suit...”
“Donna, you tease.” Jenny interrupted. “Did you forget that we have a guy here?”
Donna didn’t back down. “So what? He's got two sisters, it's not like he's never seen a girl before.”
Kim squirmed a bit. “Even if he has a couple sisters I'm not sure I want some guy leering at me.”
“So, I assume swimming here is out.” Scott looked at the water and thought about how cool it might feel after the hike up here.
“Put your foot in the water, and I think that will convince you that's not a good idea.” Becky shivered as she said this, and Scott realized she was probably speaking from experience.
“Besides, I don't think anyone brought a swimming suit.” Erica pointed out.
Donna then piped up, “Well, you don't really need a swimming suit...”
“Donna, you tease.” Jenny interrupted. “Did you forget that we have a guy here?”
Donna didn’t back down. “So what? He's got two sisters, it's not like he's never seen a girl before.”
Kim squirmed a bit. “Even if he has a couple sisters I'm not sure I want some guy leering at me.”
“Why do you think he'd be leering at you?” Erica teased.
Becky put on her “camp leader” face. “Ahem. Regardless, it's too cold to swim.” Considering the matter settled, she then added, “If you all want to plan a swimming outing for tomorrow, that's up to you.”
Switching the subject, Judy asked “Is this as far as we're hiking?”
Becky looked over at Judy, and noticed she looked a little flushed. “Feeling tired, honey?”
“A little. Even if I have a healthy body, I guess I'm not used to working out.” Judy smiled thinly at this.
“I didn't have a physical disability, and even so I'm a bit tired too.” Kim added.
“So why did you come to Camp Handiba, Kim?” Donna asked in a manner that implied she’d been curious about that for some time.
Kim got very quiet and almost whispered as she replied “I'd really rather not discuss it...”
It was Becky who interrupted. “Girls, Kim has a reason for being here, and if she wants to share it with you later, then she can. For now, just trust me that she's in the right place.”
“Kim, I'm not sure what you've been through, but I can tell you that a number of us here are hurting for reasons that aren't always because of our disabilities. So if you want to come by sometime and talk about it...” Jenny offered.
Kim managed to work up a smile. “Thanks Jenny.”
“Going to become a counselor next year Jenny?” Donna seemed a bit bothered by how things had turned out.
“No, I know I'll be too old to come back here as a camper.” Jenny stopped and seemed to get a bit nostalgic as she went on. “I don't think I'd want to be a counselor, though. I'm planning to go out of state to college, and I'll probably need the summer to get ready.” Then something occurred to her, and she got a bit of a tease in her voice. “Besides, I know you're thinking of applying next year Donna, and I wouldn't want to get in the way of your getting in.”
Donna wasn’t impressed. “Well, yes, I'm thinking about it. But how can you just walk away from this? Knowing that you'd never be able to be like this again?”
“We aren't going to be able to do this forever.” Jenny seemed a bit sad as she went on. “At some point we have to accept we had a nice time being the way we could have been, but then go on and concentrate on who we're going to be. For all we know, the spirits might not even come back next year.”
“So, I want to make the most of this year!” Saying that, Jenny got up quickly, grabbed Scott by the arm, and pulled him up.
“Ms. Turner, if it's ok, I'd like to take Scott up the path a little further to show him the overlook.” Jenny’s face showed her determination, and while Becky was skeptical, she also knew that Jenny could be trusted not to get into too much trouble.
“OK,” Becky agreed, “but don't be gone too long. We're probably going to start heading back in about half an hour.”
“Are you up to a little more hiking, Scott?” Jenny asked as she began to pull him down the trail.
“Umm... sure!” he replied.
Once they were gone, Donna turned to Becky. “Are you sure that's a good idea?”
“Letting them take a walk by themselves? I don't think I could stop Jenny if she has her mind set on it. Oh, I could keep her from going now, but she'd just pick another time.” Becky answered honestly.
“Lucky guy.” Erica said.
“More like, lucky girl.” Donna muttered.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Chapter 16 – At the Cave
On the beach at Shakota Island, Keith and Cindy were laying out blankets while Zoe, Becca, and Lynn were preparing to head toward the entrance of the cave.
“Be careful in there. If you're not back here in an hour, we're going to come find you.” Cindy warned.
“Just don't get into any trouble while we're gone so that you CAN come find us if we have a problem.” Lynn teased.
Cindy didn't take it seriously, “No worries there. That's why I'm the one staying out here.”
Lynn was surprised “Huh?”
“Ask Becca to explain it to you while you're exploring.” Cindy turned to sit down on one of the blankets.
Lynn noticed that Becca and Zoe had already started toward the cave, and so she hurried to catch up. “So Becca, anything you want to tell us about that?” Lynn asked when she caught up.
Becca waved her hand as if clearing some smoke. “I mentioned to Cindy one time that I kind of liked Keith, and she's never let me forget it since.”
“Maybe because she is trying to figure out if you said that because you like him, or because you were trying to keep her from finding out who you do like.” Zoe interjected.
“Zoe?” Becca was a bit embarrassed by Zoe's comment.
“Just because I normally can't talk doesn't mean I can't hear or see.” Zoe added.
“Sounds like the two of you have some catching up to do later. For now, lets see what we can find out about this cave.” Lynn led the way into the cave, turning on her flashlight. Becca and Zoe followed her in and did the same.
Becca walked over to one of the walls she had noticed before, and pointed it out to Zoe. “There are the same pictographs I saw the last time.”
“No new graffiti, though I'd be surprised if there was.” Lynn thought for a second, then asked, “Zoe, does Silver Wolf recognize any of this?”
Zoe took a second as if listening to a far away voice, then said “Well, she can't translate the pictographs if that's what you're asking. But she says this room 'scents' familiar. If I understand her, she suggests we go to the left.”
The three girls began walking again. As they did, something occurred to Zoe. “Lynn, why did you ask me? Doesn't your spirit recognize this cave?”
“That's one of the things I'd like to look into further some day.” Lynn explained. “I've never felt anything more than an occasional warm or frightened feeling from my spirit. Yet Silver Wolf seems to be able to talk to you.”
“I'm not sure that she talks, so much as that she thinks in strong pictures that I recognize, or with emotions I understand.” Zoe told her.
“Perhaps having to be able to translate using sign language has made you more sensitive?” Becca suggested.
“That's a possibility.” Zoe agreed. “Of course, that's the one thing that feels really odd when we're 'healed' like this. I'm used to thinking of what to say, and then moving my hands. So to think and use my voice...” Zoe's voice trailed off, and they continued to walk for a minute in silence.
Suddenly, Lynn's arm shot up and pointed a bit to the left of the trail they'd been following. “Hey! Look, there's a small tunnel that seems to lead further back.”
“Hmmm...” Becca considered this. “It also looks like it heads further down. How safe do we think this is?”
“Where's your spirit of adventure, Becca?” Lynn appeared ready to explore whether Becca was ready or not.
“Safely at home and locked in a drawer.” Becca put her hands on her hips. “I'm still responsible for you two even if you don't need me for much.”
Lynn seemed to realize she might have been pushing a bit. “Sheesh. Relax. If Silver Wolf is right, then we're hardly the first ones to ever go this way.”
Becca seemed to relax a bit. “Zoe, does Silver Wolf remember anything about this tunnel? Any chance it's booby trapped?”
“Someone has watched too much Scooby-Doo...” Lynn muttered.
Zoe again got that far away look on her face. “I don't get the impression Silver Wolf understands what a booby trap is, but she never got trapped here before. She thinks we're on the right path to a place she used to go fairly often, though.”
Becca was a little unsure about trusting the spirit of a wolf that had possessed her sister’s body, but realized that she was out of her league to begin arguing about it now. “OK, let me lead off. That way I can at least feel like I'm doing my job.”
“No problem here.” Lynn agreed.
With that, they resumed exploring the cave.
Chapter 15 <--- ---> Chapter 17
“Be careful in there. If you're not back here in an hour, we're going to come find you.” Cindy warned.
“Just don't get into any trouble while we're gone so that you CAN come find us if we have a problem.” Lynn teased.
Cindy didn't take it seriously, “No worries there. That's why I'm the one staying out here.”
Lynn was surprised “Huh?”
“Ask Becca to explain it to you while you're exploring.” Cindy turned to sit down on one of the blankets.
Lynn noticed that Becca and Zoe had already started toward the cave, and so she hurried to catch up. “So Becca, anything you want to tell us about that?” Lynn asked when she caught up.
Becca waved her hand as if clearing some smoke. “I mentioned to Cindy one time that I kind of liked Keith, and she's never let me forget it since.”
“Maybe because she is trying to figure out if you said that because you like him, or because you were trying to keep her from finding out who you do like.” Zoe interjected.
“Zoe?” Becca was a bit embarrassed by Zoe's comment.
“Just because I normally can't talk doesn't mean I can't hear or see.” Zoe added.
“Sounds like the two of you have some catching up to do later. For now, lets see what we can find out about this cave.” Lynn led the way into the cave, turning on her flashlight. Becca and Zoe followed her in and did the same.
Becca walked over to one of the walls she had noticed before, and pointed it out to Zoe. “There are the same pictographs I saw the last time.”
“No new graffiti, though I'd be surprised if there was.” Lynn thought for a second, then asked, “Zoe, does Silver Wolf recognize any of this?”
Zoe took a second as if listening to a far away voice, then said “Well, she can't translate the pictographs if that's what you're asking. But she says this room 'scents' familiar. If I understand her, she suggests we go to the left.”
The three girls began walking again. As they did, something occurred to Zoe. “Lynn, why did you ask me? Doesn't your spirit recognize this cave?”
“That's one of the things I'd like to look into further some day.” Lynn explained. “I've never felt anything more than an occasional warm or frightened feeling from my spirit. Yet Silver Wolf seems to be able to talk to you.”
“I'm not sure that she talks, so much as that she thinks in strong pictures that I recognize, or with emotions I understand.” Zoe told her.
“Perhaps having to be able to translate using sign language has made you more sensitive?” Becca suggested.
“That's a possibility.” Zoe agreed. “Of course, that's the one thing that feels really odd when we're 'healed' like this. I'm used to thinking of what to say, and then moving my hands. So to think and use my voice...” Zoe's voice trailed off, and they continued to walk for a minute in silence.
Suddenly, Lynn's arm shot up and pointed a bit to the left of the trail they'd been following. “Hey! Look, there's a small tunnel that seems to lead further back.”
“Hmmm...” Becca considered this. “It also looks like it heads further down. How safe do we think this is?”
“Where's your spirit of adventure, Becca?” Lynn appeared ready to explore whether Becca was ready or not.
“Safely at home and locked in a drawer.” Becca put her hands on her hips. “I'm still responsible for you two even if you don't need me for much.”
Lynn seemed to realize she might have been pushing a bit. “Sheesh. Relax. If Silver Wolf is right, then we're hardly the first ones to ever go this way.”
Becca seemed to relax a bit. “Zoe, does Silver Wolf remember anything about this tunnel? Any chance it's booby trapped?”
“Someone has watched too much Scooby-Doo...” Lynn muttered.
Zoe again got that far away look on her face. “I don't get the impression Silver Wolf understands what a booby trap is, but she never got trapped here before. She thinks we're on the right path to a place she used to go fairly often, though.”
Becca was a little unsure about trusting the spirit of a wolf that had possessed her sister’s body, but realized that she was out of her league to begin arguing about it now. “OK, let me lead off. That way I can at least feel like I'm doing my job.”
“No problem here.” Lynn agreed.
With that, they resumed exploring the cave.
Chapter 15 <--- ---> Chapter 17
Friday, October 16, 2009
Chapter 15 - A Walk in the Woods
An hour later, Scott found himself walking with Erica, Jenny, Judy, Donna, Kim, and Becky Turner. Scott was in the middle of the group and talking with Judy.
“Judy, you seem to have really... umm... gotten healthy.” Scott wasn't sure quite how to put it. She'd been pudgy and a bit plain yesterday. While today... she could have passed for a teenage model.
“It's OK, you can say it. I've gotten thinner. Evidently when the spirit healed my body it decided to heal everything.” Judy was beaming, and even made a quick twirl as they walked along.
Donna sighed. “I wish it worked that way for me. I think I've still got a few extra pounds around my midriff.”
“Same here.” Jenny agreed. “I think it's more that you get restored to being the you that you should be. So those of us who put on weight fair and square have to lose it fair and square.”
Scott saw Becky turn then, to talk to the group. “Donna, rather than worrying about a couple extra pounds, why don't you pull out your harmonica and play us a hiking tune?”
“Maybe next time Ms. Turner.” Donna smiled weakly. “It's been a while since I've been on a hike like this, and I'm not sure I could breathe and play at the same time.”
Erica immediately piped up. “You just didn't want to put a harmonica in your pocket when you heard one of the guys was coming along...”
Scott noticed that Donna was blushing at this, and everyone just kept hiking quietly for a moment.
“OK, OK. That was a bit tacky.” Erica apologized. “It's hard to get used to being able to think of things like that, so I got carried away. To be honest, I kind of was thinking it was nice to be with a guy who wasn't looking at me with pity rather than interest for a change.”
While Scott knew she was trying to make up with Donna, he found himself blushing at this.
“Any more confessions we need to make?” Becky asked. “Or should we talk about where we're going instead?”
“I thought the plan was that we would hike into the highlands.” Scott replied.
“Well, yes.” Becky waved her hand in front of her. “But that covers a lot of area around here. I was wondering if anyone had a particular destination in mind.”
“Is that waterfall near where we're going?” Erica asked.
“It's about another mile from here. Does that sound good to everyone else?” Becky picked up the pace at this, and everyone answered “Yes!”
Chapter 14 <--- ---> Chapter 16
“Judy, you seem to have really... umm... gotten healthy.” Scott wasn't sure quite how to put it. She'd been pudgy and a bit plain yesterday. While today... she could have passed for a teenage model.
“It's OK, you can say it. I've gotten thinner. Evidently when the spirit healed my body it decided to heal everything.” Judy was beaming, and even made a quick twirl as they walked along.
Donna sighed. “I wish it worked that way for me. I think I've still got a few extra pounds around my midriff.”
“Same here.” Jenny agreed. “I think it's more that you get restored to being the you that you should be. So those of us who put on weight fair and square have to lose it fair and square.”
Scott saw Becky turn then, to talk to the group. “Donna, rather than worrying about a couple extra pounds, why don't you pull out your harmonica and play us a hiking tune?”
“Maybe next time Ms. Turner.” Donna smiled weakly. “It's been a while since I've been on a hike like this, and I'm not sure I could breathe and play at the same time.”
Erica immediately piped up. “You just didn't want to put a harmonica in your pocket when you heard one of the guys was coming along...”
Scott noticed that Donna was blushing at this, and everyone just kept hiking quietly for a moment.
“OK, OK. That was a bit tacky.” Erica apologized. “It's hard to get used to being able to think of things like that, so I got carried away. To be honest, I kind of was thinking it was nice to be with a guy who wasn't looking at me with pity rather than interest for a change.”
While Scott knew she was trying to make up with Donna, he found himself blushing at this.
“Any more confessions we need to make?” Becky asked. “Or should we talk about where we're going instead?”
“I thought the plan was that we would hike into the highlands.” Scott replied.
“Well, yes.” Becky waved her hand in front of her. “But that covers a lot of area around here. I was wondering if anyone had a particular destination in mind.”
“Is that waterfall near where we're going?” Erica asked.
“It's about another mile from here. Does that sound good to everyone else?” Becky picked up the pace at this, and everyone answered “Yes!”
Chapter 14 <--- ---> Chapter 16
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