A Walk In The Woods

how the woods can be calming and dangerous~Monthly Calendar Contest~

I had planned an early morning to get out there pick those berries. It is late for the blue berries this year, but they are plentiful and up for grabs. With baskets in hand, bug spray, sun hat; I decided to go a different route than the usual. Nothing brings me to a better place than a walk with nature. Of course I have my I pod with me for the distraction of time.

There is something about walking in the woods isn't there. Birds chirping, distant sounds of rustling leaves. The sun plays tricks while the wind blows tree branches; revealing things you didn't notice in the shade. Which brings me to the surprise I found half way through picking a full basket of berries. At first it seemed like a shadow, until it moved that is. It was a deer! A baby deer at that. I cannot tell you how beautiful it was and that I was close enough to watch it nibble on grass perking up when sounds alerted him. Of course it wasn't long before he left.

A walk through the woods took me to another path that lead not too far from home, but while I am there it's so peaceful, so good for the mind. I had to take a break-finding a spot to sit I opened my water bottle and felt an odd feeling of peacefulness. Things were happening in the woods that I don't get to see everyday. A little squirrel chirping away as though it was in distress. I had to take a better look and amazed to see it had a baby. Do you know how small they are? Of course it grabbed my attention because the baby fell from the tree and little mommy was upset. I can't touch it, it's her job-so I watch.
It becomes apparent to me that mommy was teaching the little hamster sized squirrel to climb the tree himself. Yet mommy was on guard for prowlers of the deadly kind. Ravens being notorious for scooping up these little critters for lunch. I held my breath wanting to coax him back up the tree to safety. Anticipation takes over with feeling that he might not be able to do it. Ah yes there he goes! A quick shimmy up the tree and mommy sits on him to keep his safe.

Well didn't the little guy fall out of the tree again, but this time mommy had no patience left. She scurried down and rolled her baby in a ball, tucked him under chin and took him up the tree to safety.

Time goes on and a walk in the woods became just that. The berry picking comes to an end for me. There is too much happening out here that I can't resist watching. I realize then, that I spend too much time running around, shopping, appointments and such that this moment is so tranquil-why don't I do it more often. Nature is so entertaining and I am missing out. In the background I hear a water fall so of course I stroll a little further to see what else was in store for me. It was a little stream with trickles of water making its way above and around pebbles. Smooth pebbles with so many colors. Browns, blacks, white, pink and so on. Then I have a vision of a craft I wanted to do for the garden. I laugh at the hard work I put into picking berries as I toss them out to refill the basket with stones. A walk in the woods took me to treasures that I didn't have to buy. Delightful new life being born right before my eyes. New blooms of wild flox covered the field. Now I am excited to get back home and start my project, but I think about a barn that I spent time at when I was younger. I wonder if it's still there. One way to find out-without realizing the time I have to see that barn. Absorbed in the peacefulness I hear nothing but what mother nature wants me to hear.

That is not a bird or any animal I have ever heard. I stop in my tracks and sit low to the ground. Now I am on guard leaving the peacefulness behind me. Wanting to walk a little closer I don't want to startle anyone. The crying stopped. I have to walk closer and as I do I see nothing-nothing but the barn that was once bright red, lay fallen and now grey. Squinting my eyes I can now see a bike. It looks like a ten speed or trail bike, I'm not sure. Keeping my basket of stones handy I start getting closer and as I do I hear whimpering. It sounds like a young voice.

“Hello?” I quiver inside from the unknown, but I do believe someone is in trouble.

“I am over here. Please, get my mom!” The crying starts all over again.

“Okay, but let me get to you. Are you okay? I can't see you.” My voice trembles from my nerves.

“No, I think I broke my leg.” This boy lay on the ground under a pile of old boards which seems to have been apart of the structure of the barn. As I get near to his voice I can now see his injuries. Blood trickled down his leg, through the torn pants he was wearing.

“Okay, listen honey I don't want to touch anything. I need to get you some help.”

“No! Don't leave me here please. I have been here for hours. My mom is going to be so mad.”

I knelt beside him and took his hand, “Your mother will be happy that you are okay. Why would you come here alone?”

All the boy could do was cry so I stopped with the questions. It was time to get back to town and find help.

“Listen, I am going to leave you these stones I found. If anything comes near you, throw them at it. Don' t scream once I am gone. You don't want to draw attention to any animals. Here, look, see what I have. It's some cold water.” I tilted his head and noticed he has a goose egg on his forehead. This is a concern. “What is your name buddy?”

“I'm Michael, my mom is Cheryl and we live on Pine Street.”

“Okay, I am going to go back to town and get your mom okay. Do you mind if I steal your bike?”

“Sure, just hurry because it hurts and I can't move.”

I leave him my water bottle, stones and put my sweat shirt under his head. I race for the bike and turn on the trails. I didn't hear anything, only his voice in my head. His mother's name and where they live.

Within the day's end, Michael was brought to the hospital and I am exhausted. Walking in the woods turned into saving a young boy. I have to wonder if mother nature guided me on that path to the barn. I will never know why I went there, but it is funny how calming the walk started off, yet in the end became a dangerous trap for another.

1216 words