Okay, here is the last part of the story. A friend read it and asked if I would consider sending it to a magazine. I said I would if I knew of any magazine. But I'm rambling.
The Emancipation of Chester Reginald Donavan, Esquire
The following day found Chester Reginald Donavan, Esq., restless and completely out of sorts. He had never had to rely on his own creativity when he was bored, and he found it too much work to try now. Finally when the afternoon had come the little E-bay man suggested they try to figure out just where they were using their compasses and maps. Chester agreed reluctantly.
When evening came, the little E-bay man began to point out the constellations to his companion, and Chester, much to his own astonishment, found this to be very fascinating, and it was quite late before they turned in.
For three more days the two companions busied themselves with learning all they could about living out in the wild. It was really the little E-bay man who started it, and he was the teacher, for he had grown up loving things of this sort. Chester, having never thought about them before, found them to hold an almost irresistible fascination for his quick brain. Before long he had forgotten his missing i-phone and even the fact that the day for his great test as a lawyer was fast approaching while he remained stuck in the mountain wilderness. He grew eager to test and try the things his companion told him about and didn’t even notice that the days were growing colder and shorter.
It was the fifth night after that memorable one of his tent collapsing that Chester and the little E-bay man were sitting beside their camp fire gazing into the flames.
“You know,” Chester remarked, “I’ll be sad when this trip is over. I never knew that the real world was so interesting. I’ve always lived in the world of computer games, fast food, TV, internet, fancy cars and i-phones.” He added the last with a laugh. “I always thought everything else was dull and worthless. I’m beginning to see things from a new perspective.”
“Good. Do you think you’ll want to go on another camping trip?”
“Absolutely!” Chester was enthusiastic and for several minutes talked about what he had learned. “But you know,” he added quietly after a little while of silence, “I think the thing that has made the biggest impression on me is what you said that first day about a designer making everything. I’m not sure I buy into the creation account yet, but I’m going to do some serious studying.”
The little E-bay man was silent, and for several more minutes they sat thus, each busy with his own thoughts.
At last Chester spoke again. “Hey, E-bay, look at those clouds over in the north west. Think they mean anything?”
Turning around, the little E-bay man studied the bank of clouds for a minute before saying, “It looks like snow.”
“Really! That ought to make things interesting. Do you think it will be a lot or just a dusting like the peaks over there got this morning?”
His companion shrugged. “That’s one thing I can’t say for sure. Hopefully it will just be a dusting. But what say we turn in?”
When Chester crawled out of his tent the next morning, he discovered a dusting of snow had fallen during the night and the sky was overcast. The distant peaks were nearly white though the valley below them was still golden brown. Chester got the fire going and was fixing breakfast when the little E-bay man emerged from his tent.
“See, I’m getting the hang of this camping out stuff,” Chester laughed. “Another few days and I’ll be an expert. Well,” he admitted as the little E-bay man gave a snort. “Okay, not quite, but it’s an improvement.”
To this his companion agreed, and they began to partake of the hot food. Suddenly the little E-bay man paused and cocked his head as though listening. Chester listened too and thought he could hear voices. Was it his imagination or was a rescue party really coming? The two men were on their feet, eyes searching for signs of other humans. At last with a shout, Chester pointed to the valley in the distance. There indeed was a group heading their way!
“Come on,” the little E-bay man ordered. “Let’s get this camp packed up so we can leave. I think a storm might be on its way.”
With no more words, the two men began a rapid packing up of their gear. But when Chester came to take down his tent,
“E-bay!” he hollered, “How in the world do you get these stake things out of the ground? What did you do, cement them in?”
Both men chuckled as E-bay showed Chester the easiest way to pull out a stake, and then helped him fold and pack his tent.
“I hope I can set it up without the instructions next time. If I can’t, I’ll be calling you up, E-bay.”
“On that i-phone of yours no doubt.”
“Why of course. And I was thinking of checking on E-bay for a warm jacket.”
By the time the rescue party reached the two lost campers, they were packed and ready to go. The Park rangers were greatly relieved to find neither one injured and set off at once, for a snow storm was blowing in.
The End
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P.S. Hey I didn't know this but I can make this get published tomorrow at the usual time! So when you read it, this will be old news. Come back next Friday and I'll tell you when we actually left.:)
1 comment:
I enjoyed this story, Bekah!! :)
Can't wait to see what you post next!
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