Hello everyone. Did you have a good Easter? Thinking about this week’s blog, I remembered another story Carter told me one night around the campfire as we traveled through Dearth. The story scared me so bad I couldn't sleep. This story didn't make it into the book about our adventures "Beyond the Dead Forest," but it needs to be told.
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Perry was fifteen. He and his dad enjoyed taking weekend camping trips together. They liked fishing, hiking, and especially exploring. Parry’s dad heard a fellow at work talking about an out-of-the-way campsite that was supposed to be haunted. He said that he would never take his family there because most people never returned.
Perry begged his dad to take him saying, “You always say there’s no such thing as ghosts. If you believe that then why won’t you take me there?”
“Son, of course I don’t believe in ghosts, but there must be something up there that people are mistaking as ghosts. Even though it isn’t haunted, it still might be dangerous.”
“Dad, why don’t you call the forest service and see what they say?”
“That’s a good idea.” After Perry’s dad got off the phone he said, “I guess it’ll be okay. The ranger I talked to said that it’s a very rough place. There are some bears and mountain lions in the area, but as long as we’re careful we should be okay.”
The first day of their trip, they arrived after dark and had to use their car headlights to put up the tent and start a fire. Once camp was setup the father and son roasted hotdogs on sticks and roasted marshmallows for desert. “You know, dad, it’s really quiet here. It doesn’t seem any different than the other places we have camped.”
“That’s true, son. And most of the places we’ve camped have had bears and mountain lions. I don’t think we need to worry; but just in case, when you get up to relieve yourself, stay close to the fire, and take a flashlight with you.”
“Sure dad, not a problem.”
Tired from their long drive and planning an early start to go fishing, they crawled into their sleeping bags as soon as they finished dinner. Perry woke up after a couple hours. His father was snoring, and Perry had to relieve himself. Since he was going to be behind a tree just a few feet from the fire, he decided that he did not need a light.
Once he got around the other side of the tree, it was darker than he expected; he couldn’t see a thing. He tried to walk back to the other side of the tree where he could see the fire, but he tripped on a rock and rolled down a long slanting cliff that he didn’t realize was on the dark side of the tree. He was badly banged up; his right arm was broken. He was in total darkness; he didn’t know where he was or what was around him. He yelled, “Dad! Dad! I fell and I can’t see. HELP!”
When he listened for an answer back from his father, he heard something. But what he heard was not from his dad. It was a low, long growl. Perry froze. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst. He didn’t know what to do. If he called out again, whatever was in the dark might attack him. If he ran, he would fall in the dark and be attacked. Then he heard large cracking sounds as something big moved toward him in the dark. Perry screamed, “DAD, PLEASE, DAD!”
Perry’s Dad opened his eyes. He thought he had heard something. He sat up and listened. Hearing nothing more, he turned over and went back to sleep. When he woke the next morning, he looked over at his son’s sleeping bag. It was empty. He called out, “Perry. Perry, where are you?” The father searched the area, but there was no sign of his son. He called in the forest rangers, and they searched for several days, but they never found any trace of the boy.
****
That story always gives me the shivers. To think, if Perry had just taken the light, he would have seen the danger he was in. But with no light to illuminate his path, he fell into a pit where death was waiting. I cannot help but think that there is a life lesson here.
****
Perry was fifteen. He and his dad enjoyed taking weekend camping trips together. They liked fishing, hiking, and especially exploring. Parry’s dad heard a fellow at work talking about an out-of-the-way campsite that was supposed to be haunted. He said that he would never take his family there because most people never returned.
Perry begged his dad to take him saying, “You always say there’s no such thing as ghosts. If you believe that then why won’t you take me there?”
“Son, of course I don’t believe in ghosts, but there must be something up there that people are mistaking as ghosts. Even though it isn’t haunted, it still might be dangerous.”
“Dad, why don’t you call the forest service and see what they say?”
“That’s a good idea.” After Perry’s dad got off the phone he said, “I guess it’ll be okay. The ranger I talked to said that it’s a very rough place. There are some bears and mountain lions in the area, but as long as we’re careful we should be okay.”
The first day of their trip, they arrived after dark and had to use their car headlights to put up the tent and start a fire. Once camp was setup the father and son roasted hotdogs on sticks and roasted marshmallows for desert. “You know, dad, it’s really quiet here. It doesn’t seem any different than the other places we have camped.”
“That’s true, son. And most of the places we’ve camped have had bears and mountain lions. I don’t think we need to worry; but just in case, when you get up to relieve yourself, stay close to the fire, and take a flashlight with you.”
“Sure dad, not a problem.”
Tired from their long drive and planning an early start to go fishing, they crawled into their sleeping bags as soon as they finished dinner. Perry woke up after a couple hours. His father was snoring, and Perry had to relieve himself. Since he was going to be behind a tree just a few feet from the fire, he decided that he did not need a light.
Once he got around the other side of the tree, it was darker than he expected; he couldn’t see a thing. He tried to walk back to the other side of the tree where he could see the fire, but he tripped on a rock and rolled down a long slanting cliff that he didn’t realize was on the dark side of the tree. He was badly banged up; his right arm was broken. He was in total darkness; he didn’t know where he was or what was around him. He yelled, “Dad! Dad! I fell and I can’t see. HELP!”
When he listened for an answer back from his father, he heard something. But what he heard was not from his dad. It was a low, long growl. Perry froze. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst. He didn’t know what to do. If he called out again, whatever was in the dark might attack him. If he ran, he would fall in the dark and be attacked. Then he heard large cracking sounds as something big moved toward him in the dark. Perry screamed, “DAD, PLEASE, DAD!”
Perry’s Dad opened his eyes. He thought he had heard something. He sat up and listened. Hearing nothing more, he turned over and went back to sleep. When he woke the next morning, he looked over at his son’s sleeping bag. It was empty. He called out, “Perry. Perry, where are you?” The father searched the area, but there was no sign of his son. He called in the forest rangers, and they searched for several days, but they never found any trace of the boy.
****
That story always gives me the shivers. To think, if Perry had just taken the light, he would have seen the danger he was in. But with no light to illuminate his path, he fell into a pit where death was waiting. I cannot help but think that there is a life lesson here.
Oh my, Kat! I know you said the story was scary, but I didn't expect the depth of scariness, so I was taken by complete surprise regarding the terrible danger awaiting Perry all because he didn't take the light with him! Kat, you've given me a lot to think about.
ReplyDeletePastor Steve likes me to say when it is me talking so people do not get confused. So it's me, Kat talking. I know, Ms. Goodhew, life is full of dangers. We need the light to guide us. That was sure true in Dearth, but it is just as true for here in this life. Thank you for commenting on my blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kat, for identifying yourself. Since this blog is in my name and I am letting you use it, it is just better if you let people know when it is you talking. Oh, and this is Pastor Steve Groll talking now. In regards to your post, I appreciate you sharing this story. I know Carter told it to you, but I guess you could say I told it to him. You are right about there being a life lesson in it. That is why I write stories. I want to communicate life lessons in a way that young people will want to listen and remember.
ReplyDeleteI still wonder what it is that was lurking in the dark. From some of the things I've wondered about I'll go with the answer of it's not important for us to know. What is important to know is that if we are not careful we will fall.
ReplyDelete