Camping Trip

We each grabbed a side of the canoe and dragged it from the cold water onto the beach leaving a trail. Eventually we stopped.

Derek glanced around us at the pine trees towering high. It was the height of summer and the leaves provided a dense foliage above us, shielding our pale flesh from the late afternoon sun.

“How about here?” He asked.

“Sure.” I told him. We began to pitch our tent. I didn’t think this camping trip would ever go ahead, we’d kept putting it off, but eventually he’d convinced his girlfriend and there we were.

Soon the tent was up and we took a seat outside enjoying the last of the day with a couple of beers. We would be there for a few nights, just two guys getting away from it all.

“Wanna go fishing tomorrow?” Derek asked me.

“Sounds good,” I wondered if it would work, catching fish to eat. I was suddenly glad of the snacks I’d packed. “I’m going to turn in.” I told him, draining the last of my can. He followed me into the tent and before long we were both snoring.

I awoke suddenly as something screeched outside. I sat up and glanced at Derek, still asleep. It sounded again. I jumped. Sounded like a banshee.

“Derek.” I whispered, gently shaking him. Slowly he came around.

He looked at me with dark, tired eyes, “What?”

“I heard something.” I whispered.

“Go to sleep.” He was angry.

I shook him again. He stood up and stomped from the tent. The sound came again, long and shrill. I froze. With a snort Derek beckoned me outside. As I gazed to where he pointed I laughed at myself.

An owl sat on the tree branch above us, yellow eyes bright in the moonlight.



Word count: 300