campcampedâ:
[@counselorbirch]
The city was definitely Laysâ least favorite place to be. Noisy, polluted, confusing, and most terrifyingly, crowded. For once, she was sticking close to David out of nerves rather than a general desire to be near him- not that that was something she did, of course. No way.
It seemed like Davidâs sentiments toward the city were similar. Both forest-loving counselors were eager to have their business over and done with and get back to the comfort of the trees and tents they loved. Maybe that was why David was walking more quickly than usual- and maybe that was why he bumped into the strange old man as they turned a corner.
Lays had been trotting to keep up, her much-shorter legs making it hard to match Davidâs strides. She was caught off-guard by the thump, the shattering of glass, and the gravelly voice that overshadowed Davidâs exclamation of dismay.
âDamn fool! Look what youâve done! Itâs on you now, stupid boy; itâs all on you.â
Lays, having had to stop short to avoid colliding with Davidâs back, peered around him nervously. A grim-faced old man, looking as weathered as a cliffside pine and twice as craggy, was gesturing angrily at David. On the ground at their feet lay the remains of a brown glass bottle and the spilled remnants of whatever black liquid had been inside. She stared at it. The whatever-it-was smelled rotten, and it was viscous and sticky. Some had splashed onto Davidâs legs and boots, and it was this the old man seemed to be talking about.
âAll on you,â the stranger growled, a strange light in his sunken eyes. âAnd youâll be sorry soon enough.â
David hated the city. He had grown up in one sure but that was Canada and he never went too far from home or the large forested park near it as a kid. He had grown to be less comfortable in places like this over the years and even more so after coming to America. Citys always had a way of making him nervous. This one had high crime rate and way too many people.Â
He was jittery, eager to leave and get back to mother nature and his beloved camp. It really had been an accident, David had been looking everywhere but in front of him too anxious and restless to notice the old man until it was too late. The shatter of glass had t he Gingerâs stomach twist, his eyes wide and full of guilt.Â
âI am so sorry!â He was quick to apologize and hastily moved to pick up the glass that had fallen. However his hand stopped short when he saw what its contents had been. It took every ounce of self control he had not to gag at the stench and realization that this gunk had gotten on him.Â
âI-I can-â He had to pause as he stood fighting back disgust as his hand started moving for his wallet. âI can replace that bottle?â he had no idea what it had been and really didnât think he wanted to know. Still heâd happily hand over what little cash he had to replace it and get out of this city. Back to camp.... and a shower.
