“Yeah, that sounds good. Besides, I'm starving,” Rae interjected.
“What about Pizza?” I asked. “We could put in an order at the Pizza Man in Lindstrom for pick up. By the time we get there, it'll be ready and we can grab it and go.”
“Yeah,” Chris said. “I could go for pizza.”
“Oh, yes,” Rae said. “Anything is good as long as it's fast.”
“Okay,” Georgia decided. “Dakota, can you call the order in.”
“Sure,” I agreed.
“Please get a veggie lover's pizza,” Carolina told me. “Just have them add lots of meat.”
I giggled. I loved vegetables so I was happy to get an extra-large veggie lover's with the addition of pepperoni and hamburger. I also got a jumbo buffalo chicken pizza, as that was Chris's favorite. We'd have more than enough to satisfy us all. Since we had drinks in the truck, I didn't bother ordering that, but I did get a side of boneless chicken wings.
The pizza was yummers! We munched on it during the remainder of our trip, unable to wait. We were all sufficiently full by the time we arrived at the land; maybe too full considering we practically inhaled our dinner. We made it in time to get unloaded and setup camp before the sun sunk below the horizon. I'd been happy to have a reason to move around and work off the fullness of my meal.
A dark night with brilliant stars followed our fun-filled day. As we sat around the campfire chatting amicably, we sipped on some tea I made from fresh sweet goldenrod leaves that I'd brought from home. My sisters and I liked to have a nice cup of tea before bed to help us relax. I picked this particular herb because I knew it was good as an anti-inflammatory, so it'd help ease our muscles after our strenuous day of paddling. The delightful anise flavoring made it a lovely treat to end the day with.
That night, Chris, Rae and I crashed inside the rustic A-frame cabin that was constructed from the leftover materials that had once been my grandparent's house. It was a small structure, but very cozy. It's simplicity was both irritating and refreshing, though always comforting.
The cabin had been added as an extension to the original outhouse my Grandpa Louis had built. The cabin base was sixteen feet long on the flat sides by fourteen feet wide along the slopes. There were doors located on the front and rear of the structure and small window dormers protruded on the sides that formed the A-frame structure.
One the side we considered the “rear” of the cabin, there were two doors; one door connected to the bathroom while the other led you outside. On the “front” end was a single door that opened towards the parking area and outdoor fire pit. This door was on the opposite corner from the back exit, directly across from the latrine door. In the space next to the front door, along the remaining portion of wall, there were large windows; these were the only windows on the ground floor.
All of the exit doors had exterior screen doors, as well as their heavier interior doors. This allowed us to prop open the security doors, allowing a breeze to flow through the cabin without inviting in the critters or bugs. The big windows beside the front door and the dormer windows above, two windows per side, had storm windows, enabling them to be opened for ventilation as well.
The interior of the cabin was an open, singular room with a loft. The loft was furnished with a queen-sized mattress and two decent-sized totes used to store extra blankets and linens. There wasn't a lot of room to move about, but it was enough to be comfortable and functional. A person accessed the loft using a ladder, so the remaining space created a small landing meant to allow one easier mobility to ascend or descend from the sleeping area.
The area under the loft was big enough for the simple table and its six plain chairs that furnished it. Across from the table was a full-sized futon, located beneath the dormer positioned opposite the loft, next to the front door. This couch was meant for additional seating, but also served as additional bed space. Chris and I crawled up into the loft while Rae opened the futon to crash.
Georgia and Carolina slept in the tent kit that Georgia purchased with her CRV. It attached to the rear of the vehicle and offered ample sleeping space for my sisters. My sisters often slept in the tent while I crashed in the cabin with my parents, so this was nothing new for us. It was a typical arrangement for our stays on the property.
“Do you think your parents will be upset that we slept together?” Chris smiled at me as he lay on his side, propped up on one elbow so he could peer down towards my face.
“No,” I replied. “They trust me.”
“Ah, but do they trust me?” Chris was in a contagiously playful mood. This wasn't the first time we had shared a bed, so he knew full well that no one would care about the current sleeping arrangements. Still, it was the first time we slept with one another since we'd become a couple. I briefly wondered if that ought to make any difference.
“Shouldn't they?” I asked, feigning concern.
Chris just smiled brightly and leaned over to kiss me. Before I could let the kiss progress, Rae popped her head up from where she stood partway up the ladder.
“Doesn't really matter because they trust me,” Rae mirthfully interrupted. Chris gasped in mock fear of the playful threat, making us all laugh.
“You two are stupid,” I informed them, shaking my head happily. I proceeded to crawl over Chris towards Rae, stopping on the landing long enough to put my shoes back on.
“Hey, now!” Rae teased in respond to my motion. “I was only kidding, so there's no need to attack.”
I growled and teasing lurched towards her, stopping short. Rae gave me an impish smile then backed down the ladder and plopped into bed.
“Where are you going?” Chris casually asked as he stretched out on the mattress.
“I have to pee,” I announced.
“You always have to pee,” Rae bellowed from below me.
“You have fun with that,” Chris encouraged.
“Yeah, thanks,” I replied back.
Rae yawned as she grabbed her blanket, covering herself up with it. As she closed her eyes and turned away from me, she asked, “Do you need any help?”
“That's what I was wondering, too,” Chris added. “Don't you ladies always go to the bathroom in packs?”
“No; no,” I smiled. “I got this.”
Rae mumbled something incoherent and chuckled softly. I knew it wouldn't be long before she was sound asleep. That girl could sleep anywhere and it never took her long to doze off. Her ability to let things go and continue untroubled was amazing. I wish I could be as resilient as she always was.
Opening the door to the small bathroom, I smiled. I knew how odd it would sound if I told someone that my grandpa built my grandma an outhouse as a token of their love, but it was true. That was sort of funny, but I couldn't laugh. Knowing my grandparents the way I had and experiencing their life together, it just seemed perfect. They were very practical people and didn't care about fashion, only function.
The outhouse portion of the structure measured ten feet long by six feet wide and it was actually sectioned into two separate areas. When you first walked in the door, you were located on far end of one side. This section measured four feet long by six feet wide. It was covered in shelving the entire six foot length and was intended to serve as a storage area. This was like our pantry. The other section was behind a curtain and it measured six feet long and was six feet deep.
In the pantry, there was a small window on the wall opposite the entry door. Different tools and implements were hanging in an organized manner from hooks on the wall that was shared with the tiny latrine. You had to pull a chain that hung down from the ceiling to turn the single light, installed overhead, on and off. There was an identical light fixture to illuminate the water closet as well.
Pushing the heavy red curtain divider aside, I walked into the dark little room. When I found the metal chain and pulled it to turn the light on, a flowery room was exposed. When my mother had redecorated, she tried to find a pattern that resembled the one my Grandma Ana had
used. Though the motif was as close as she could find, it wasn't identical, but it still filled the space with my grandmother's personality.
A small, angular standup shower was installed in the corner. It was located where the two stand-alone walls met on the back side of the building. There was a small window on both sides of the shower stall; one faced the back of the structure and the other faced the side where the back door of the cabin opened.
In the corner that was created by the side wall and the wall that was shared with the cabin, was the commode. It was also sitting at an angle, with a plunger to one side and a toilet paper holder to the other. The sink was next to the toilet, attached to the wall shared by the cabin. A mirrored medicine cabinet was bolted to the wall above the sink.
The wall that sectioned off the outhouse was lined with shallow shelves on the sink side of the curtained doorway and cabinets on the other side. This was where we stored towels, extra clothes, and the various hygiene products our family used.
I was very grateful for the indoor plumbing. I didn't mind that we had limited comforts as long as we had a proper latrine. When dad would make us practice full survival skills, the cabin was off limits. We would be expected to bath in the river and shit in the woods. I always resented that order, especially when I encountered the occasional snake!
I thought I was a fairly open-minded and strong individual, despite my debilitating fear of serpents. I felt like my parents adequately prepared me for success in the world around me. It was just unfortunate that I lost all sensibility in the presence of a snake. I mean, I would freak! There was nothing in the world so terrifying, unless it was being in open water surrounded by poisonous sea snakes. Just the thought made me cringe!
When I returned to the bed, Chris flipped the covers open to welcome me. I readily crawled in and cuddled close to him. When he wrapped his arm around me, spooning me affectionately, I felt completely secure. It was like nothing was more natural than being together.
“Everything come out okay?” Chris teased.
“You're so gross,” I said, though I couldn't help smiling.
Chris laughed quietly, “That's why you like me so much.” I laughed in response. I couldn't help it; Chris just always made me feel gleeful.
“I sort of worried you might have heard me,” I finally admitted.
Chris pulled me closer and kissed the side of my face. “I did. You shook the whole cabin. It was so scary!”
“Stop!” I scolded him and gave his a light smack on the arm, giggling Then I yawned deeply. “Oh, my. I'm sorry.”
My yawn provoked a yawn out of Chris. “Hey, now. You keep those to yourself,” he teased.
“Ugh, I'm tired,” I told him. “I knew I would be, but I think the sun took more out of me than I expected.”
“Well, let's get some sleep then,” he replied. “Not that you need any more beauty sleep, but you never know what your dad will want to do tomorrow.”
I smiled and sort of moaned in agreement. My eyes felt very heavy and I was ready to give into the urge to close them. The warmth emanating from Chris's bare chest and the comforting rhythm of his steady breathing lulled me to sleep easily.
The next morning, I woke feeling refreshed. I was surprised at how well I slept with Chris next to me. I wondered if I ought to have been more self-conscious, but it just felt so right. Besides, there wasn't much Chris didn't know about me anyway; if I farted in my sleep, it wouldn't have been the first time he witnessed it.
“I'm sorry,” Chris had been trying to crawl out of the bed and looked spooked when I opened my eyes. “I didn't mean to wake you.”
“You didn't. I just can't sleep any longer.”
Chris smiled as he pulled his shoes on and started down the ladder. “Yeah, you were sleeping really hard.”
I agreed. “I think that was one of the best night's sleep I ever had.”
“We should sleep together more often,” Chris recommended. Chris winked at me and I felt the familiar heat rise to my cheeks. As I crawled towards Chris, he stopped moving down the ladder. He looked at me with a sincere and tender expression.
“What?” I wondered.
“Nothing.”
“Something,” I accused and demanded an answer again. “What?”
Chris reached over to touch the side of my face with his hand. “You're just so beautiful.”
“Ohh,” I cooed breathlessly.
Chris pulled me forward and kissed me sweetly on the lips. Then he kissed me again, deeper and with more passion. We were both breathing a little harder when we finally separated from one another.
“Wow,” I whispered.
“Wow, what?” My sister's voice sounded from below.
Georgia came bounding into the cabin, shattering our magical moment. She stopped at the base of the ladder, holding her hands out in a questioning gesture, looking completely oblivious. When the only answer she received was me shaking my head at her in disapproval, she threw her hands up in the air.
“Fine,” She said. “Don't tell me.”
Georgia didn't wait for any further interactions. She just disappeared into the pantry and started making a bunch of clunking noises. I was on the main level, standing next to Chris, when she reappeared. She was carrying some fishing tackle.
“Hurry up you two,” she told us briskly. “Mom and dad are already here and we're getting ready for fishing.”
When the door opened wide enough, I could see everyone outside. They were perched on or around the wooden picnic table that sat in front of the cabin, to the left-side of the fire pit. My parents had brought some food with them so we'd be able to expedite our morning activities. I guessed dad was really anticipating today's family event.
“Did you watch the news this morning, dad?”
I wasn't sure why Georgia was asking this when she knew full well he didn't. Dad preferred to read the paper or listen to his news radio. Georgia was the one who liked to watch the news.
Dad casted his fishing line then replied, “No, why? Did you see something of interest?”
“Well, I wondered if you saw the clip about that shooting yesterday; the one at the daycare in north Minneapolis,” Georgia explained.
“Georgia and I watched it on her cell phone this morning,” Carolina added to the conversation. “Horrific!”
“Oh, yeah,” my dad was obviously in the “know” about this story. “Your mother and I saw a bit on the news last night and then we were listening to a radio broadcast about it on our drive up this morning.”
My parents liked to have the news on when they went to bed. It was the only time my dad would watch televised news broadcast without being prompted by Georgia. Dad also loved his stupid talk radio stations though I couldn't understand why. They bored the hell out of me.
“Wait, what happened?” Rae looked confused.
“There was another shooting. This time it was at a daycare center,” Carolina filled Rae in with more details. “One of the mothers was upset so she went on a shooting spree.”
“Oh, my god!” Rae gasped. “What the fuck?”
My mother shook her head sadly, “I just don't understand the anger these people have. What could make you so angry that you'd start killing people, especially children? Makes me sick!”
“Was everyone okay?” I asked. “Wait! Did you just say 'killing children?' ”
“She did,” my sister, Carolina responded. “Five people were killed, including three children. One of them was an infant!”
“They said they think the shooter was trying to kill the childcare provider, but hit the baby instead,” Georgia contributed with disgust.
Chris looked like he tasted something bitter. “Damn.”
This was exactly why I hated the news. I felt so frustrated because I had no idea what I could do to help and I felt angry with the direction humanity seemed to be taking. Why were people so emotionally charged that they'd act so irrationally? Did they suffer from some mental disorder that prevented them from
controlling their impulses or from exhibiting sound judgment? I just couldn't fathom what or how a person could be motivated to do such terrible things.
“Why do they think this happened?” Rae inquired tightly. I could tell she was just as angry and frustrated as I was.
Georgia shrugged, “Crazy, I guess.”
“They said the mother had some personal vendetta against the owner,” my mom explained. “Something about an unpaid bill.”
My dad elaborated for us, “The shooter was several months behind on paying for the care of her two children. The owner was a personal friend so she tried to work with the lady, but the girl hadn't followed through on her end of the agreement. Finally, the owner told her she couldn't bring the kids until the bill was settled. I guess that's what finally did it.”
“So the chick freaked and killed people?” Chris asked with obvious disapproval.
“Yeah,” Georgia replied. “Like I said, crazy.”
“Why do people act this way? Why are they so angry and hateful?” my stomach hurt from the anxiety which wracked my body. “Are things really so bad?”
My mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders in a comforting gesture while my dad said, “Some people just get into desperate situations. They can't see a way to overcome their circumstances, so they lose hope.”
“That doesn't justify anything,” I countered. “We all experience difficulties, but we don't go around killing people.”
My mom kissed the side of my head then smoothed my hair down. “Sometimes people lose sight of reality.”
“See, crazy,” Georgia chimed then re-casted her line into the river.
Though my sister knew what my parents were trying to explain to me, she wanted to try to lighten the tension. I appreciated that, though I realized the tension was only high because of her. Couldn't we have just one day that we didn't talk about the end of the world? Did we always have to turn everything into a lesson of some kind?
“People are just afraid. So many people have lost their jobs and homes that they just feel desperate,” my father stated.
A Ripple of Fear (Fear of Dakota #1) Page 12
