Okefenokee

“How about when this is over you and I commandeer that scooter and go to Jacksonville and see what that broader population looks like?” said Beach fantasizing.

Surfer, “Count me in. Are we actually planning on going with Bart on this trip?”

“I honestly don’t know. If we are a gang, we should stick together or dissolve the relationship.”

Surfer, “I can’t see Bart allowing that if he has anything to say about it.” They sat at a table in the diner looking out on the partially cloudy view of the street.

Junior woke and checked on his Dad who was sleeping quietly. He went out and beefed up the fire with large pieces of fire wood being careful to use hardwood to reduce smoke from the fire. He strapped on the holster with the revolver. Since the bear attack the chances might be higher that another will take place. He grabbed a handful of his birdseed and filled his pockets. A bunch of the excited birds starting chirping away knowing they would be getting some of their favorite treats. He walked along the trail in his new sneakers throwing seed this way and that. The birds were fluttering about chirping with joy. He loved the way the shoes felt. He could step on sharp rocks and feel no discomfort and they fit around his feet so well giving more protection then he was used to. He took off running. It made him so happy that he could run fast without pain.

He hiked to the ground based fish traps on the back side of the island. When he reached the end of the trail he turned south along the marsh divide. The others required a trip in the boat which he didn’t want to get back in yet. He kept his senses on high alert for the bear.

Cyndi got up feeling refreshed and got out some smoked meat they had stored. She took some to Rob and woke him. “Can you eat something, you need to.”

Groggy Rob responded, “I’ll try.” He bit into the meat and chewed. She handed him a cup of water. “Um, that’s good.”

She said, “How are you feeling?”

“I think I have a ways to go yet,” he looked in her eyes. “I’m glad your back.”

“Me to,” smiling at him.

Bart and Yancy pulled into town slowly with the canoes bouncing around when the skinny tires of the trailer ran over debris in the road. They parked and Bart plugged the charging cable into the scooter, “Come on let’s find the others and show them what we found.”

They ventured into the diner and found Surfer girl looking in a mirror and applying makeup while Beach was at the counter with his arms folded and head down on the counter top sleeping. Bart slammed the door causing Beach to almost fall off his stool while Surfer continued looking in her mirror disregarding Bart’s thundering entrance. Yancy giggled standing behind Bart but he hated when it was done to him.

“Darn you Bart.” Beach complained. "One of these days."

“Yeah, what are you gonna do" He strutted around the room waiting for an answer. Beach wasn't interested in a fight. Look we found two canoes and brought them along. We can be out to the launch area and ready in less than an hour tomorrow morning.”

Surfer turned in her seat, “Canoes?”

“Yeah, two beautiful canoes with paddles.” Bart looked to Yancy as backup.

“Don’t you have to be experienced to get anywhere in one of them,” said annoyed Beach.

Bart assures them, “Our training starts tomorrow at 9:00 AM.”

“What about the signs we saw there Bart? You know about watching out for the alligators,” said Yancy wondering what he was getting into.

Surfer gin turned towards the boys, “Alligators? What?”

“Sure there out there,” Beach added.

Bart, “Our canoes are much bigger then they are so they will leave us alone. I wouldn’t go swimming or anything though.”

Yancy, “How do you know the alligators aren’t bigger then the canoes?”

“I went to the school library and did some research this morning. I’m not stupid you know. If it was dangerous to go out there I would want to know.”

Yancy, “OK, so let’s say we go on this crazy escapade. What happens if and when we find them?”

“We bring them back. They broke our law and shot me in the foot. They resisted arrest several times. We will try them here and decide what is to come of them. If anyone of us wants to speak on their behalf for leniency we can do so at that time.”

Surfer, “I don’t know. I think we should let it go.”

Yancy, “I’m not sure either.”

Beach, “I looked on a map. Do you know how big that swamp is?”

Bart, “You have a good map of it?”

“I don’t know how good it is,” he went behind the counter and came out with it. He laid it out on one of the tables. They all gathered around. He pointed, “This is where that road we were on is.”

“It shows that all as wetlands not open water. We could get stuck or lost out there,” Yancy started his narative on why not to go.

Surfer inquired of Bart, “How is your foot coming?”

“It hurts. Being in a canoe will be OK, I’ll be sitting.”

Beach went back to plopping his head on the counter, “I don’t know about the rest but I will give you my word in the morning. Right now it doesn’t sound so good.”

Bart looked at Surfer, “What about you?”

Surfer, “I’m with him,” looking toward Beach.

Then Bart looked at Yancy who said, “I’m with you but it will depend on how my leg feels tomorrow. Maybe the day after.”

Bart left the diner in a huff wondering what had gotten into his gang behaving like a bunch of babies. He spoke to himself standing in the middle of the street, “I will do this by myself if I have to.”

Junior pulled in the first trap and it was empty but was still baited so he returned it to the water. On the second trap, he pulled and found it heavy. Once out of the water he found an eel inside all tangled up on itself. He grabbed it by the neck and took his knife and ended its struggle. He found two perch and a catfish in the remaining traps. After baiting them he returned them into the water. He went to the cleaning area and cut up the fish preparing them for a meal. He looked around and all was calm. Just lots of the flying, biting bugs which he was used to and could bare for a while. No bears anywhere. Maybe Dad hit the killer with his only shot and it died. He felt like he was walking on air in his sneakers along the trail home.

Cyndi watched as he returned with a stringer of cleaned fish and a big smile, walking into camp. He laid them near the fire and Cyndi started cooking them over the open fire. “Good work son. I will get these ready,” placing the meat on skewers.

Rob got up for the first time in days and came out to the fire stretching his arms out in a horizontal plane while yawning with his mouth so wide he thought his jaw might go into spasm. Cyndi hand fed him fresh delicious fish by hand after he sat next to her. She looked at him with worry.

Rob, “I have a long way to go but I do feel better. The food seems to be helping.”

Cyndi uncovered his bite wound and cleaned it with fresh water, then dressed it with a clean cloth. The family hung around the campsite resting and Junior told his dad about the adventure they had with the kids from town and how they managed to get away.

Rob was amazed, “Honey, you shot the bully in the foot. You are my hero. You probably saved all of us with that move. Do you think they will try to find us out here?” He looked at the fire and noticed only a small amount of smoke escaping and felt eased by that. It would be a sure give away to any hostels looking for them. He was comforted Junior knew well what to do.

“Don’t know, I hope not.”

Junior, “They better not, we have you now Dad.”

“I’m not sure you need me anymore after what you were able to do. I’m gonna go sleep for a while and let this food nourish me,” he got up and limped into the tent. He felt pain from the wound but it seemed mechanically sound as far as moving it.

Standing next to his cot he noticed the shotgun and rifle lying next to the bed. He thought about the story he just heard and decided to hide the weapons behind the cot out of site. He moved the ammo to. Then his head started pounding. He slowly rolled onto the surface and pulled the cover over him. His eyes were heavy and they closed instantly when his head touched the pillow.

Junior said, “When Dad can climb the bluff to our swimming hole we will know he is going to make it.” Cyndi nodded to him. “I am going to check on the boat before it gets dark and make sure it’s completely out of the water.” He was so exhausted he couldn’t remember doing it. Down the frontal path to the makeshift wooden dock and he found the boat tied but still in the water. The boat meant food, safety and life to them so they never left it a float where it might come loose and drift away. He pulled hard to get it out but the weight grew enormously as soon as it left the water surface. He and his Dad always did this together as a team. He was regaining his strength from the trip so he was able to accomplish it alone with a struggle. The sun was setting and the sound of bugs everywhere filled the air. He hurried back to the fire at camp and the tent as refuge. It was dark and they went to bed in the tent. The only clock they adhered to was darkness to go to bed and dawn to get up.

The next morning in town Bart was up bright and early. He went out to check on his prize trailer with the canoes. Everything was good and the scooter was fully charged. He went to rustle up his companions for the trip. They typically sleep at a hotel next to the diner. He pounded on Beach’s door, “It’s time to get up.”

Beach responded, “Go away.”

He went to Surfer’s door and pounded, “Time to get up.” There was no response.

She already heard the commotion at Beach’s door so she crawled out of bed to see what would come of the day ahead. She opened the door just as Bart pounded on Yancy’s room and looked at Bart. Then she went back inside and cleaned up before facing the boy’s in the diner.

Bang, bang, bang, “Get up lazy boy.” He went to the diner and made coffee. He thought to himself, I wonder what we will do when the town doesn’t have anymore as he emptied the current can.

He was enjoying a cup when Beach slipped in quietly and sat down at the counter. A cup was placed in front of him and Bart filled it. “You ready? I need you today. I don’t expect to get much help out of the others.”

“Yeah, I guess,” hr replied with low enthusiasm.

Yancy entered and sat at the counter. “Have you thought about supplies we should bring with us?”

“I have a box of those small tuna cans with the flip tab so we won’t starve and bottled water already stowed in the canoes.” Bart seemed to be on top of every detail as he poured Yancy a cup.

Bart said, “I can only take Yancy on the scooter so you and Surfer girl are gonna have to ride bicycles there,” to Beach.

Yancy complained, “Yeah my leg still hurts.”

Surfer entered and caught the tail end of the conversation, “What’s this?”

Bart, “Yancy and I will go on the scooter, so you and Beach will have to bike it there. You probably should get started.” He poured a cup for her.

They soon took off together. The scooter left them in the dust on the road. When Bart and Yancy arrived they unloaded both boats and positioned one in the shallow water. Bart got in and said, “Launch me and get in.”