And if you want to read through the entire story in one piece, here it is! Thanks
@cfile for suggesting this!
Welcome to our summer storytelling game!
Imagine we’re all sitting under the stars, a cozy campfire crackling, s’mores in hand… and someone says:
"Let’s each tell a story—but not just any story. Tell one that’s true... or at least
mostly true."
I looked into the fire, took a deep breath, and said:
“Alright, I’ll start…”
I’d never been to camp before, but I’d always imagined how peaceful it would be—cool mountain air, the scent of pine, and no city heat in sight. Turns out, the reality was
mostlylike that… except for the first night, when I woke up to the sound of something moving just outside the cabin. Not an animal—at least I don’t
thinkit was.......
I found my flashlight and ever so quietly I unzipped the tent to see if I could see anything. The fire was out, and no one seemed to be out walking, but there was the noise again. I heard the crack of a branch and wondered if a bear was approaching us.
I didn't dare go and look, so I carefully woke up my brother ... or at least, I tried to wake him up. It didn't work very well because we had had a party the night before and he was sleeping really deeply... and then I heard the noise again...
So I decided to be brave and see what it was but when I stepped outside the tent I heard the noise again so I got right back inside the tent as fast as I could
Now what?!? Where is that bear spray? Why can I never find anything when I need it?
Just as my fingers felt the metal can of bear spray, I felt something touch me.
I jumped a mile, and hit my head on the nearby tent pole and oops I let out a curse, waking up my brother (finally). "Shhh, something's out there..." I said nervously. "I'm sure it's nothing" he mumbles and then rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Typical.
I decided I better find something else to protect myself...just in case.
Then I heard the deep breaths of something getting louder.
I panicked. I groped around in the dark for that hammer we used to set up the tent. Dang. Where was it??? The presence was strong. I could smell its breath. Wait? Do I smell tacos?
I am kind of hungry?
Why am I smelling tacos?
My hands grasped the hammer and I ventured outside the tent.
There's no one there! But a white bag sits on the picnic table. The most delicious smell is emitting from it.
Is my nose playing tricks on me?
Why would it deceive me in such a way in the middle of nowhere.
I opened the bag to find...
... exactly what I smelled, a huge delicious bag of tacos! Who brought them here in the middle of the night? And where had they been bought in the middle of nowhere?
And then I heard that breathing noise again... right behind me! I screamed and turned around... who was it? Sure not a bear?
I cannot describe to you the fear that gripped me as I heard these murmurs getting louder and louder and closer to the tent, what to do if it's a bear ....
In the light of the moon, a metallic object glinted in the bushes....it was a bike from a food delivery company. But where was the rider?
Feeling only slightly less afraid, I clutched the hammer in my hand. I stood still and listened for another noise. That breathing had been so loud when I was inside the tent. I slowly pivoted from looking at the bike and....
saw a shadow dart between the trees.
My heart raced, too big for a squirrel, too fast for a person. I tightened my grip on the hammer and took one careful step forward…
I tripped on a tree branch, it made a loud cracking sound. I know better than that, but it was so dark out. I fumbled for my flashlight, I was sure it was in my side pocket. When I found it, I let loose a bright beam of light and..
I saw a dark shadow moving between the trees just outside of our campsite. I tried to reason with myself and judge just how big the shadow really was...
But I was too scared and screamed. Loudly - Which scared the bear. I ran and
And ran to the toilet hut. I slammed the door and huddled in the corner. What was I thinking now I’m trapped. Then I heard the thump thump of footsteps
Why oh why did I choose the toilet to hide in? What was I thinking?
I started going through all kinds of mental gymnastics to console myself. Bears can't open doors right? These walls are sturdier than the tent, so perhaps this is actually the safest place I could be...
Loud banging on the door! And then, "Hey lady...are you okay?!"
Phew! It was just the delivery driver! But then…
As I had my hand on the handle and unlocking the door, I heard a scream! In a split second I locked the door again thinking the bear got to the delivery driver... Sorry, I am no match for a bear... Maybe there is a window somewhere...
No window, darn it. I could curl up into a ball (fetal position), try to use hands and arms to protect my head. But I do have a hammer, noise, lots of noise maybe
I should just lay down and die? But then I heard a dark voice: "Don't be afraid, little girl! I won't harm you". I just couldn't believe my ears! Was the bear talking to me?!
So I opened the door just slightly, peered out, and couldn't believe my eyes...a talking Big Foot?
The door banged open and there stood the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. But wait, when he smiles are his canines rather long?
But just then I woke up. "What is it with dreams and toilets?" I laid in the dark tent pondering - but then I heard it again! That scream - only this time....
I reached over and shook my brother. Did you hear that? Something screamed out there . . .
My brother pulled the covers off his head, but it wasn't my brother.... It was the beautiful man from my dream staring up at me...
but come to think of it, weren't his feet really rather big? And that overwhelming smell of tacos... and where was my brother?
With all the excitement, I keep thinking of those delicious tacos... so I got up and start gathering supplies to fix myself something to eat.
Really? I thought to myself. You're facing danger from either a strange looking man or a bear or a bigfoot and yet all you can think about is food? Then again, the kitchen knife might be a good weapon, so I kept hold of it, just in case ...
But then I realized if I wanted to make something to eat, I'd have to put it down so I could light my propane camp stove.
So I did what any self-respecting woman would do in this situation - lit the propane camp stove and made myself a delicious taco - complete with all the trimmings. The smell of food wafted towards the tent and woke up the handsome stranger, who came stumbling out sleepily.
“Who are you,” he said, “And what are you doing in my campsite?” I stared at him dumbfounded.
Wait, what? I was in HIS campsite? I looked around a little bit better this time and saw....
that the sun was starting to rise, and I was indeed in the wrong camp site, but I said, "Hey, would you like a taco?" And he was like, "Sure...but did you hear all those strange noises last night? I thought for sure Big Foot was visiting. Did you see anything?"
"Nope, not a thing," I said quickly as I held out a plate. "Need hot sauce?"
As he ate, I noticed that he had paint smudges on his shirt and a few ink marks on his strong hands.
I wondered if he was an artist, and what he was doing here.
Then his taco started to drip, it was the color of blood. I ran and ran and ran as far as I could go away from that campsite.
I was out of breath when I reached a small lake.
What is that? Is that blood spattered everywhere?
I was terrified beyond reason seeing what looked like blood splattered everywhere. I had to take a few deep breaths and get a hold of myself. There must be a logical reason for all of this. A woman approached me with a giant basket of tomatoes; she told me that they're just exploding and making the biggest mess ever. She was never going to make any sauce at this rate.
She held one out on her palm to show me. It exploded! The juice ran down my cheek and I got a seed stuck in my eye. Tears welled as I tried to wipe it away, but then I heard her exclaim...
Salsa!! That's what we will make with the exploding remains of all these tomatoes. It'll be perfect for tacos! Then she asked...
"You don't happen to have exploding avocadoes, do you? We could make some guac, too!"
No, sorry, dear. I do have corn on the cob, though. They are quite delicious if I say so myself. Would you like some of that??
Yes, I'd like some corn. I'm going to make myself an explosive salad and some popcorn. Do you have anything else for my salad?
"Yes, I think I will find something in my..." but I stopped, because I had no idea where I was, where my camp disappeared, and the only camp close to us was the handsome weird stranger. Should I go back there, or just run away from all that?
I finally came to my senses and realized that the best thing was trying to find my own camp. I needed to get away from this craziness! It feels like I am trapped in some kind of "Alice in Wonderland" scenario but in the woods.
I thanked the woman and walked away slowly. I tried to remember the direction I had taken to get here. How to get back to where I was before? Suddenly, something hits my back, it's a tomato! The woman is throwing tomatoes at me. I run. I run faster than I have ever run before.
When I stopped and looked around, I finally knew where I was and returned to my own campsite. Breathless after the morning run, I walked towards our tent and began to open the zipper.
And who was sitting on the edge of my cot? Sasquatch himself asking if I wanted a taco!
No More Taco's! I must still be dreaming. I got under the covers and tried to go back to sleep. Hoping that when I wake up that all will be back to normal.
But now I question... What is normal after all this madness? I just hope that if this is going to continue that maybe there will be some yummy desserts? After all desserts is just stressed spelled backwards as everyone knows. After all these crazy events I am certainly stressed!
If this has been a dream, it sure has had a lot of food in it. Maybe I need to hit the road and find a fast food place.
How can I get away from this campground? If I really found the correct site, where is my brother, he had the keys to our car. Should I try to leave on foot?
I paced back in forth in front of my tent contemplating it this was really the correct site. For 10 mins I was stuck in this loop. All of the sudden I thought I heard my brother's voice in the distance, breaking my trance!
I wanted to run towards the voice, but I remembered the spooky stories my grandma told me. I decided I needed to find a place to hide, but where?
I saw a group of rocks off to the side of the campground and ran to hide behind them, but then there came a rustling from the tree above. What could it be?
Tentatively, I peered at the branches above me. There was a strangely large black shadow resting on the branches above. Was it some kind of nest?
It didn’t move, but it felt like it was watching me. I thought about tossing a stick at it, then thought better of it. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to make it mad.
I stared up at that strange, shadowy lump in the tree, my breath shallow, my heart pounding. I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I didn’t even blink. And just when I thought I might finally pass out from sheer panic…
…it let out a snore. A loud, unmistakable snore.
A squirrel—an absolutely
massive squirrel—rolled over in its nest, completely uninterested in me. I sank to the ground, half-laughing, half-crying, and let the tension drain from my limbs.
Somehow,
somehow, I made it back to my tent. My brother was there, snoring too—alive, well, and blissfully unaware of my entire night. No Bigfoot. No artist. No vampire. No tomato-wielding woman. Just me, a few corn kernels in my pocket, and the faint smell of taco sauce still hanging in the air.
As the sun rose over the mountain ridge, I sat on a log, sipping water and wondering whether I’d actually dreamed the whole thing. Then I noticed something beside the firepit.
A note. Written in loopy, red-ink script:
“Thanks for the tacos. Next time, bring dessert.
— S”
And that’s when I knew: some stories really are
mostly true.
Even the ones you tell around a never-ending campfire.
