Sunday, July 10, 2005

After supper today, Connor and I decided to go into the woods and scout out the proper place for the fire pit. The night was nearly upon us, leaving about an hour and a half before twilight so it seemed a viable option at the time. We dressed in light colored clothes, donned hats and walking sticks, and made out way out to the peninsula.

I surveyed the area, and found what was seemingly the perfect venue for our campfire experience but under the surface laid a plot so nefarious… so innocuously evil it would rock the foundation of our very souls…

…OK so we hit a snag.

I was laying the groundwork perfectly. I was clearing the dead wood out from the area, breaking it into arm-length pieces and adding to the already tidy pile my father had started. Conversation was light, almost jovial. I was getting a sense of accomplishment that was rare for me these days. It was nice for about an hour there I really felt like a parent. Connor and I were laughing, having a grand time when all of a sudden, Connor begins to scream.

Immediately I snap to attention and ask him what’s going on. He manages to belt out that something is biting him. Dropping the sticks I run to his aid; Combat boots smash though half rotted logs and soft leaves like butter as I barely pause in mid torso grab. Connor is on my hip and we are running. The swarm is behind us… and then all of a sudden Connor screams again, this time a non-stop high pitched scream. One of the swarm is INSIDE his sleeve. I plant him on his feet, slap down his frame killing whatever it was and then scoop him up again as the swarm catches up and begin to bite at my back and arm. Connor loses a shoe during the second assault. But the race to the house doesn’t stop, as I run over the VERY unstable bridge, my boot punching sickeningly through one of the boards in mid-stride.

Casualty report:

Captain Draven was awarded a hug and a kiss as well as first aid treatment from Lt. Connor

Lt. Connor was promoted from the rank of Second Lieutenant to the rank of First Lieutenant, for his bravery on and off the field, and for his discovery of the hostile threat in our sanctioned campfire area.

Private loafer is still MIA.