)
"Hey, Leo!"
It was Abel. Again. I mean, I couldn't quite bring myself to hate him. I didn't think anybody could hate Abel. He was so nice.
"Hey." I gave a little half smile in spite of myself. I couldn't help it.
"You wanna get a drink after work?" He asked with enthusiasm. It had caught my attention that Jonah had must of not mentioned my age to anyone, because this was about the third time in a week Abel had asked me to hang out at Larry's after work. And I wasn't about to leak the information if he hadn't.
"Uh, no thanks."
Abel cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "You know what, Leo? You work to much."
I just shrugged. He let out a good chuckle. "In a small town like this, I try to get in all the fun I can."
I just shrugged again and he shook his head at me, but went back to his saw with a whistle.
After a couple days of Hank's instruction, I had started my labor, cutting the log to specifications. I got paid by the cut, which was fine by me because I never stopped working.
Maybe Abel was right. Maybe I worked to much. But, what else was I supposed to do? Not only had this job served it's purpose by providing me with income, it also kept me busy. That had been an added bonus I hadn't asked for. Logging gave me something to do and I was grateful to it.
I just tried to keep my mind off the fact that I was working to live and living to work. Without doing much of the living. I kept telling myself that I just needed to get my feet underneath me and then I could work on sorting everything out.
Breathing first, then the living part.
But, if I stopped kidding myself for a couple seconds, I would realize that I was scared shitless of figuring anything out. I wasn't ready to face what my life would actually become once I stopped to look at it. A cruel, strange something had thrown me off my course and I had lost my direction. And I was terrified of finding a new one.
Showing posts with label logging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label logging. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Logging Photos
Forwarder
Bucker
Hey!
Sorry it took me so long to post. I totally Wikied all that logging crap so you better be thankful. ^_^
Here's some pics of the logging stuff that I found. Maybe it'll give you a better idea of what the heck they're talking about cause I had no freaking idea.
Ch. 3: Part 2
He kept his hands in his pockets and his arms close to his sides. His wings were tucked in tight, crushed against his back. He made sure to keep out of everybody’s way this time; he couldn’t afford to piss anyone off today.
He climbed the two steps and raised his fist to knock on the aluminum door. Leo stumbled back off the steps as the door swung open.
“Oop, sorry.” Jonah apologized as he closed the door behind him and hopped down the steps, clipboard in hand. “Uhh…” Jonah furrowed his brow and snapped his fingers twice. “Leo! Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. Hey, come with me. I was just about to check on a few things anyway.” Jonah started off in the direction of a couple of machine-truck looking things. Leo followed.
“These are called forwarders. They carry the logs to the landing.”
“Landing?”
Jonah threw his head in the direction of an area close to the road. “It’s where all the logs that are ready get loaded on trucks. The trucks take ‘em to the mill.” Leo nodded. Jonah spoke with one of the men in the forwarders, then scratched a few things on his clipboard.
Leo focused on everything Jonah told him and noted what the men were doing as they traveled around the site. Jonah would stop at a certain job, give a quick explanation of what was going on and talk to who ever he needed. Leo soaked everything up. He hadn’t been lying. He was a fast learner. Harvesters felled the tree, delimbed and bucked it. The logs got placed in bunks and then were brought to the landing.
Some of the loggers eyed him warily, but others were friendly or indifferent. He prayed for indifferent.
“Hey, Hank.” An old leathery face looked up from a saw and nodded at Jonah's greeting. Jonah turned to Leo “This is where you’ll be helping out.” He waved a hand over a couple saws slicing there way down a long thick trunk. Leo fished through his new information and identified it as “bucking”.
“Hank, this is Leo Kosky. He’ll be around here for a while.” Hank's head shot up, Jonah raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. Leo didn’t catch what it said. Hank looked over at Leo with narrowed eyes. Then dropped his head back to his work and bobbed it in what seemed like some form of consent. Jonah’s eyebrow settled and he dropped back into his usual bright self.
Another man came over then. He was much younger then Hank, probably around 23, and big. His sleeves were rolled up and strained around his large tan biceps. He had short dark brown hair and wore a huge grin on his face. Leo’s eyebrows went up and he stiffened as the grinning man approached him in long sure strides. He stopped just far enough away to stick out his long muscular arm to offer a handshake. Leo pulled his hand from his pocket and it was caught up in a big warm grasp. “Hi! I hear your gonna be joining the team.” He boomed. He released Leo and reached down to plant a pat on Hank’s shoulder. “He’s not as bad as he seems.” He confided load enough for Hank to hear. Hank just grunted and the grinning man gave a load chuckle at that. Jonah smiled.
“This is Abel.” Abel’s grin widened and he nodded. Leo gave a half smirk.
“Hey.” Leo said as he slipped his hand back into his pocket. A voice called Abel to the end of the log.
“Guess I better get back to work.” Jonah smiled at Leo reassuringly.
“Abel will make you feel right at home.” He said. Leo had no doubt he wouldn’t.
“Hank here has been in the logging industry for years. If you got any questions, he’ll be able to answer them.” Jonah leaned down to Hank. “Hank, you don’t mind taking your break and showing Leo here how to get started.” Hank bobbed his head. Jonah straightened back up and nodded once at Leo, then turned on his heel and left with a wave over his head. Hank cut his saw and stood up. His unfriendly face eyed Leo with suspicion and disgust.
“You better come with me then.” He finally grumbled and stalked off. Leo stumbled to follow him.
He climbed the two steps and raised his fist to knock on the aluminum door. Leo stumbled back off the steps as the door swung open.
“Oop, sorry.” Jonah apologized as he closed the door behind him and hopped down the steps, clipboard in hand. “Uhh…” Jonah furrowed his brow and snapped his fingers twice. “Leo! Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. Hey, come with me. I was just about to check on a few things anyway.” Jonah started off in the direction of a couple of machine-truck looking things. Leo followed.
“These are called forwarders. They carry the logs to the landing.”
“Landing?”
Jonah threw his head in the direction of an area close to the road. “It’s where all the logs that are ready get loaded on trucks. The trucks take ‘em to the mill.” Leo nodded. Jonah spoke with one of the men in the forwarders, then scratched a few things on his clipboard.
Leo focused on everything Jonah told him and noted what the men were doing as they traveled around the site. Jonah would stop at a certain job, give a quick explanation of what was going on and talk to who ever he needed. Leo soaked everything up. He hadn’t been lying. He was a fast learner. Harvesters felled the tree, delimbed and bucked it. The logs got placed in bunks and then were brought to the landing.
Some of the loggers eyed him warily, but others were friendly or indifferent. He prayed for indifferent.
“Hey, Hank.” An old leathery face looked up from a saw and nodded at Jonah's greeting. Jonah turned to Leo “This is where you’ll be helping out.” He waved a hand over a couple saws slicing there way down a long thick trunk. Leo fished through his new information and identified it as “bucking”.
“Hank, this is Leo Kosky. He’ll be around here for a while.” Hank's head shot up, Jonah raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. Leo didn’t catch what it said. Hank looked over at Leo with narrowed eyes. Then dropped his head back to his work and bobbed it in what seemed like some form of consent. Jonah’s eyebrow settled and he dropped back into his usual bright self.
Another man came over then. He was much younger then Hank, probably around 23, and big. His sleeves were rolled up and strained around his large tan biceps. He had short dark brown hair and wore a huge grin on his face. Leo’s eyebrows went up and he stiffened as the grinning man approached him in long sure strides. He stopped just far enough away to stick out his long muscular arm to offer a handshake. Leo pulled his hand from his pocket and it was caught up in a big warm grasp. “Hi! I hear your gonna be joining the team.” He boomed. He released Leo and reached down to plant a pat on Hank’s shoulder. “He’s not as bad as he seems.” He confided load enough for Hank to hear. Hank just grunted and the grinning man gave a load chuckle at that. Jonah smiled.
“This is Abel.” Abel’s grin widened and he nodded. Leo gave a half smirk.
“Hey.” Leo said as he slipped his hand back into his pocket. A voice called Abel to the end of the log.
“Guess I better get back to work.” Jonah smiled at Leo reassuringly.
“Abel will make you feel right at home.” He said. Leo had no doubt he wouldn’t.
“Hank here has been in the logging industry for years. If you got any questions, he’ll be able to answer them.” Jonah leaned down to Hank. “Hank, you don’t mind taking your break and showing Leo here how to get started.” Hank bobbed his head. Jonah straightened back up and nodded once at Leo, then turned on his heel and left with a wave over his head. Hank cut his saw and stood up. His unfriendly face eyed Leo with suspicion and disgust.
“You better come with me then.” He finally grumbled and stalked off. Leo stumbled to follow him.
Ch. 3: Part 1
Ouch. That last slap stung. Good. Leo delivered smack after smack to his warm cheeks. “Wake up, Leo. C’mon.”
6 AM was early. Leo pulled on the red hoodie over his worn T-shirt as pink crept up over the edge of horizon. Leo’s yawn was muffled by the bright red fabric as it went down over his face.
He hoped the manager’s attitude toward him hadn’t taken a turn for the worst. He was afraid he might change his mind. Leo slid his arms into his coat. He squeezed his eyes and silently prayed that no one would notice his wings.
He mentally prepared himself as he made his way down the side of the highway toward the site. He could hear the loggers shouting over the trucks and machines and going about their work. “Guess it’s not early for them.” Leo muttered.
He winced remembering what happened on this same highway last night. He shook his head to clear it. He couldn’t stay focused on stuff like that. This was how his life was going to be and he just needed to accept that. He let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. His palm came up and smacked him hard in the forehead. “Accept it, damn it!” He furrowed his eyebrows and huffed at himself. He shoved his fists into his pockets and stalked the rest of the way to the site.
6 AM was early. Leo pulled on the red hoodie over his worn T-shirt as pink crept up over the edge of horizon. Leo’s yawn was muffled by the bright red fabric as it went down over his face.
He hoped the manager’s attitude toward him hadn’t taken a turn for the worst. He was afraid he might change his mind. Leo slid his arms into his coat. He squeezed his eyes and silently prayed that no one would notice his wings.
He mentally prepared himself as he made his way down the side of the highway toward the site. He could hear the loggers shouting over the trucks and machines and going about their work. “Guess it’s not early for them.” Leo muttered.
He winced remembering what happened on this same highway last night. He shook his head to clear it. He couldn’t stay focused on stuff like that. This was how his life was going to be and he just needed to accept that. He let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. His palm came up and smacked him hard in the forehead. “Accept it, damn it!” He furrowed his eyebrows and huffed at himself. He shoved his fists into his pockets and stalked the rest of the way to the site.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ch. 2: Part 1
“You lookin for someone?” came a gruff voice from behind him. Leo spun.
“Um, yes. Who’s in charge? I mean, like, who’s your boss?” He was so out of his element.
“What do you want, kid?”
“I’m looking for work. You guys need any help around here?”
“Get lost, kid.” He obviously wasn’t getting anywhere.
It was an unusually bright sunny day. Leo had walked on the site of the nearest logging project, wandering like an idiot, having really no idea who to talk to. He stumbled out of the way of a truck hauling away a pile of timber from being loaded and into the path of a rather large man bent over a clipboard. He accidentally knocked the clipboard from the man’s hands.
“Watch it!” the man spat. Leo stepped back as the worker crouched to pick it up. When he straitened, the man’s eyes found the face of his disturbance.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” It seemed their little scuff hadn’t put Mr. Clipboard in a great mood.
Ok, it was time to buck up. He wasn’t going to get anywhere if he didn’t make himself known. He would act professional. Like he knew what he was talking about.
“Hello, sir. I was thinking that I might be able to find some work with you. I work hard and I don’t need much. This seems like a good working experience.” Like he knew what he was talking about; not like he was a pushover.
“I don’t think we need anyone right now.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks.” What was he doing? He was getting frustrated. He couldn’t even take himself seriously.
His brow pulled down over his eyes and he let out an exasperated sigh. This was stupid. He took his hands out of his pockets and left them tensed at his sides. He walked directly up to a logger discussing something with a co-worker.
“Who’s in charge?” it came out harsher than he meant it.
“The site manager’s in there.” But it did the trick. The worker pointed to a white trailer. Leo nodded once and headed in the direction of the trailer. He gave two sharp raps on the aluminum door.
“Come in.” came a call from inside. The manager looked up and raised an eyebrow as Leo opened the door. Leo nodded a greeting.
“I’m looking for work and I’d like a job.” His eyebrow hitched further.
“Do you have any experience with logging?”
“No. but I learn fast.”
“What hours would you be able to work?”
“Any time you want me.”
“It’s hard labor.”
“I’m a hard worker.” The manager let go of the papers he’d been fingering when Leo walked in and turned his body to face him.
“How old are you?” He asked as he crossed his arms. Leo hesitated.
“Seventeen.”
“You’re not from around here.” He hadn’t said it like a question.
“No.” The manager dropped his arms.
“Fair enough.” He finally let his eyebrow down. “Show up here tomorrow morning at 6:30. I might have something for you.” He reached out his hand. “Jonah Gooding.”
“Leo Kosky.” Leo took it and gave it a firm shake. Jonah smiled. Leo nodded once more on his way out.
As he left the site a small smile of accomplishment turned up the corners of his mouth. He put his hands back in his pockets. Clouds started to block out the sun.
He couldn’t afford to be discovered. He’d seen some workers wearing coats, though not all of them. He could get by. He’d work on keeping his wings in tight and hoped no one noticed two feathery appendages coming out of his back.
He followed the dirt road back to the blacktop. He didn’t mind walking. He had so much more energy since he’d received his sick joke from Mother Nature. This made him wonder. A lot of things made him wonder. His reflexes were sharper, his hearing more sensitive. His body was all together more resilient. His stomach rumbled. That was another thing. Why was he always starving? He had gotten used to his complaining stomach. It wasn’t that hard to ignore anymore. He couldn’t exactly splurge on a couple pounds of beef whenever cravings kicked in.
The wind gently ruffled the trees on either side of the road. It was very quiet here. Even on the highway there was hardly ever so much as a lone semi. He felt very alone here. But it was welcomed. He didn’t really feel like sharing his thoughts right now. At least his expenses were taken care of for the moment. It seemed such an insignificant area to have covered. He had so many things to nail down. But that’s how he had to do this. Just think about one thing at a time.
He heard the car coming up behind long before it reached him. At least he had felt alone.
“Hey, there.” A shabby, muted red two-door coasted slowly beside him. The girl from the pawn shop was leaning across the passenger side looking up at him, glancing out at the road in front of her periodically. As if there was ever any kind of traffic she needed to worry about. He gave her a quick glance as he kept walking.
“Hi.”
“Whatcha doin’ out here?” She asked and then without waiting for an answer “You want a ride?”
“I like walking.”
“Ya sure?” He looked down at her again and saw her squinting up at him through the light of the setting sun. She gave a friendly half-smile. He returned his eyes to the road. Maybe he was being rude.
“Uh, sure.” He stopped his stroll. She straightened back up to make way for him. He hesitated. Would she be able to see anything? Were they, his wings, very noticeable? He suddenly felt uncomfortable about being in such a tight space with someone else. The car idled beside him. She leaned over again.
“Are you coming?”
“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” He said as he shook his head to clear it. He opened the door and ducked his head as he lowered himself in. She raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. He gave a weak smile. He stared at the floor board and tightened his wings against him, crushing them into the back of the seat.
The car lurched forward as she pressed the pedal down then screeched to a stop. She sighed. She pumped the acceleration and they jerked forward a couple times, the engine revving loudly in protest.
“Damn this car.” She cursed under her breath. Leo’s awkwardness intensified. His hands clenched in his coat pockets. She gave the pedal a few more pumps and they finally started consistently down the highway. Her face was hard and she was hunched a bit over the steering wheel in irritation. He shifted in his seat. She turned her head to see his uncomfortable expression and gave a loud laugh.
“Sorry.” Her shoulders relaxed and she slammed back into her seat, chuckling, her arms out straight in front of her grasping the steering wheel. “I guess I need a new car. Huh?” Leo’s mouth turned into a shy grin. Her eyes smiled at him. He was caught off guard. He’d never noticed how pretty her eyes were before. They were a greenish-tan around the center that faded into a light blue toward the edge. His smile widened into a more earnest one. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
“Um, yes. Who’s in charge? I mean, like, who’s your boss?” He was so out of his element.
“What do you want, kid?”
“I’m looking for work. You guys need any help around here?”
“Get lost, kid.” He obviously wasn’t getting anywhere.
It was an unusually bright sunny day. Leo had walked on the site of the nearest logging project, wandering like an idiot, having really no idea who to talk to. He stumbled out of the way of a truck hauling away a pile of timber from being loaded and into the path of a rather large man bent over a clipboard. He accidentally knocked the clipboard from the man’s hands.
“Watch it!” the man spat. Leo stepped back as the worker crouched to pick it up. When he straitened, the man’s eyes found the face of his disturbance.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” It seemed their little scuff hadn’t put Mr. Clipboard in a great mood.
Ok, it was time to buck up. He wasn’t going to get anywhere if he didn’t make himself known. He would act professional. Like he knew what he was talking about.
“Hello, sir. I was thinking that I might be able to find some work with you. I work hard and I don’t need much. This seems like a good working experience.” Like he knew what he was talking about; not like he was a pushover.
“I don’t think we need anyone right now.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks.” What was he doing? He was getting frustrated. He couldn’t even take himself seriously.
His brow pulled down over his eyes and he let out an exasperated sigh. This was stupid. He took his hands out of his pockets and left them tensed at his sides. He walked directly up to a logger discussing something with a co-worker.
“Who’s in charge?” it came out harsher than he meant it.
“The site manager’s in there.” But it did the trick. The worker pointed to a white trailer. Leo nodded once and headed in the direction of the trailer. He gave two sharp raps on the aluminum door.
“Come in.” came a call from inside. The manager looked up and raised an eyebrow as Leo opened the door. Leo nodded a greeting.
“I’m looking for work and I’d like a job.” His eyebrow hitched further.
“Do you have any experience with logging?”
“No. but I learn fast.”
“What hours would you be able to work?”
“Any time you want me.”
“It’s hard labor.”
“I’m a hard worker.” The manager let go of the papers he’d been fingering when Leo walked in and turned his body to face him.
“How old are you?” He asked as he crossed his arms. Leo hesitated.
“Seventeen.”
“You’re not from around here.” He hadn’t said it like a question.
“No.” The manager dropped his arms.
“Fair enough.” He finally let his eyebrow down. “Show up here tomorrow morning at 6:30. I might have something for you.” He reached out his hand. “Jonah Gooding.”
“Leo Kosky.” Leo took it and gave it a firm shake. Jonah smiled. Leo nodded once more on his way out.
As he left the site a small smile of accomplishment turned up the corners of his mouth. He put his hands back in his pockets. Clouds started to block out the sun.
He couldn’t afford to be discovered. He’d seen some workers wearing coats, though not all of them. He could get by. He’d work on keeping his wings in tight and hoped no one noticed two feathery appendages coming out of his back.
He followed the dirt road back to the blacktop. He didn’t mind walking. He had so much more energy since he’d received his sick joke from Mother Nature. This made him wonder. A lot of things made him wonder. His reflexes were sharper, his hearing more sensitive. His body was all together more resilient. His stomach rumbled. That was another thing. Why was he always starving? He had gotten used to his complaining stomach. It wasn’t that hard to ignore anymore. He couldn’t exactly splurge on a couple pounds of beef whenever cravings kicked in.
The wind gently ruffled the trees on either side of the road. It was very quiet here. Even on the highway there was hardly ever so much as a lone semi. He felt very alone here. But it was welcomed. He didn’t really feel like sharing his thoughts right now. At least his expenses were taken care of for the moment. It seemed such an insignificant area to have covered. He had so many things to nail down. But that’s how he had to do this. Just think about one thing at a time.
He heard the car coming up behind long before it reached him. At least he had felt alone.
“Hey, there.” A shabby, muted red two-door coasted slowly beside him. The girl from the pawn shop was leaning across the passenger side looking up at him, glancing out at the road in front of her periodically. As if there was ever any kind of traffic she needed to worry about. He gave her a quick glance as he kept walking.
“Hi.”
“Whatcha doin’ out here?” She asked and then without waiting for an answer “You want a ride?”
“I like walking.”
“Ya sure?” He looked down at her again and saw her squinting up at him through the light of the setting sun. She gave a friendly half-smile. He returned his eyes to the road. Maybe he was being rude.
“Uh, sure.” He stopped his stroll. She straightened back up to make way for him. He hesitated. Would she be able to see anything? Were they, his wings, very noticeable? He suddenly felt uncomfortable about being in such a tight space with someone else. The car idled beside him. She leaned over again.
“Are you coming?”
“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” He said as he shook his head to clear it. He opened the door and ducked his head as he lowered himself in. She raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. He gave a weak smile. He stared at the floor board and tightened his wings against him, crushing them into the back of the seat.
The car lurched forward as she pressed the pedal down then screeched to a stop. She sighed. She pumped the acceleration and they jerked forward a couple times, the engine revving loudly in protest.
“Damn this car.” She cursed under her breath. Leo’s awkwardness intensified. His hands clenched in his coat pockets. She gave the pedal a few more pumps and they finally started consistently down the highway. Her face was hard and she was hunched a bit over the steering wheel in irritation. He shifted in his seat. She turned her head to see his uncomfortable expression and gave a loud laugh.
“Sorry.” Her shoulders relaxed and she slammed back into her seat, chuckling, her arms out straight in front of her grasping the steering wheel. “I guess I need a new car. Huh?” Leo’s mouth turned into a shy grin. Her eyes smiled at him. He was caught off guard. He’d never noticed how pretty her eyes were before. They were a greenish-tan around the center that faded into a light blue toward the edge. His smile widened into a more earnest one. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ch. 1: Part 4
His lack of camping experience showed through as he fumbled with the tent. The convenience store had supplied him with meals for the next day or two.
He’d have to do something about his dwindling budget. Could he find some work? He wanted to mix with others as little as possible, but he didn’t really have a choice. He didn’t want to steal from these people. Besides the fact that theft in the small town would lay suspicion on any strangers, it just seemed wrong to hinder anyone else’s life for his own sake. Even to eat. Who was he? He was a freak. No, he wouldn’t do that to this town. They didn’t deserve it. He’d have to get work. But he didn’t want to add unwanted attention – which was any – to himself. The pawn shop knew about the camping gear and if he went around looking for a job in town, they would know about it. He doubted they would react positively to a stranger living in the woods somewhere. It had to be someone’s land. Probably logging property. Maybe that was an option. He didn’t exactly know the qualifications for lumberjacks or whatever they were called, but maybe he could do something.
He’d made a fire rather easily. He and his friends back home used to set fire to stuff all the time. He shook his head. Maybe home wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now. It wasn’t home anymore.
He made himself comfortable on the ground beside the fire. Night had crept in slowly, dimming the sky til only the moon and the light of the fire told him his way around camp. He leaned back to look at the stars.
He hadn’t been flying since that first time. That had been stupid. Anyone could have seen him. He was a bit bigger than a bird. His wings ached to take flight. He left his shirt off while around camp and his wings were splayed over the ground on either side of him. But they yearned to be in motion. He brought them up and flapped once. The fire flickered spastically as the air blew across it. He sighed as he rotated his hotdog in the fire. Maybe if he went out far enough or went high enough, no one would spot him. He’d try another trip later.
After he’d shoved down six hotdogs, he put out the fire and crawled into his tent. He laid out on his stomach and snuggled into the sleeping bag. The one person tent was a little too small for his wings, so he couldn’t stretch them the way he wanted. They sloped lazily down his sides. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustle through the trees. He pulled in a deep breath and was asleep before his body let it out.
He’d have to do something about his dwindling budget. Could he find some work? He wanted to mix with others as little as possible, but he didn’t really have a choice. He didn’t want to steal from these people. Besides the fact that theft in the small town would lay suspicion on any strangers, it just seemed wrong to hinder anyone else’s life for his own sake. Even to eat. Who was he? He was a freak. No, he wouldn’t do that to this town. They didn’t deserve it. He’d have to get work. But he didn’t want to add unwanted attention – which was any – to himself. The pawn shop knew about the camping gear and if he went around looking for a job in town, they would know about it. He doubted they would react positively to a stranger living in the woods somewhere. It had to be someone’s land. Probably logging property. Maybe that was an option. He didn’t exactly know the qualifications for lumberjacks or whatever they were called, but maybe he could do something.
He’d made a fire rather easily. He and his friends back home used to set fire to stuff all the time. He shook his head. Maybe home wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now. It wasn’t home anymore.
He made himself comfortable on the ground beside the fire. Night had crept in slowly, dimming the sky til only the moon and the light of the fire told him his way around camp. He leaned back to look at the stars.
He hadn’t been flying since that first time. That had been stupid. Anyone could have seen him. He was a bit bigger than a bird. His wings ached to take flight. He left his shirt off while around camp and his wings were splayed over the ground on either side of him. But they yearned to be in motion. He brought them up and flapped once. The fire flickered spastically as the air blew across it. He sighed as he rotated his hotdog in the fire. Maybe if he went out far enough or went high enough, no one would spot him. He’d try another trip later.
After he’d shoved down six hotdogs, he put out the fire and crawled into his tent. He laid out on his stomach and snuggled into the sleeping bag. The one person tent was a little too small for his wings, so he couldn’t stretch them the way he wanted. They sloped lazily down his sides. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustle through the trees. He pulled in a deep breath and was asleep before his body let it out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
