1- A Walk in the Woods

The front door opened as Mommy returned from her morning walk with Butch and Luke. Matthew had still been asleep when she left so he was quick to greet her at the door with the request for breakfast.

Luke’s little face was barely showing through the mess of blankets wrapped around him. He opened his eyes and frowned at his brother for interrupting his sleep. Mommy shook her coat from her shoulders and freed Butch from his leash. Matthew started pulling the blankets away from Luke who then began to cry.

“Thank you, Matthew.” Mommy moved over to scoop Luke out of the stroller. Luke instantly settled down and even allowed Mommy to set him down.

“Can we have breakfast now?”

Mommy ignored his impatient tone and responded, “Yes, let me start making it now. Can you keep your brother entertained for a little while? That would be very helpful.”

“Okay.” Matthew looked down at Luke while Mommy went into the kitchen and started pulling a pan out of the cupboard. Luke looked back up at him and smiled. Matthew took his hand and led him to their shared room. He pulled out a basket labeled "Cars" and grabbed a handful. “Come on, Luke.”

Luke obediently followed his brother to the living room. They sat down next to Butch on the carpet. Butch raised his head in alarm and debated whether to move or risk staying in place. As the boys each took a car and began rolling them around on the carpet harmlessly, he slowly placed his head back down, keeping his eyes fixed on the miscreants.

“Vroom vroom!” said Luke, rolling his blue car back and forth. He then rolled it back and pushed it off, letting the car zoom on its own haphazardly across the carpet. It finally came to a stop under the coffee table. “Car?” He reached his hand out expectantly to his brother for another. Matthew pretended not to hear him. Luke looked down and picked up a yellow car that Matthew had set aside.

“No, that’s mine!” Matthew snatched the car out of Luke’s hands.

“Car?” Luke tried to reach for the black car in Matthew’s other hand.

“No, that’s mine, too!”

Luke puffed out his lower lip as his eyes began to fill with tears. “Car.”

“Matthew, you better be sharing!” Mommy had appeared to check on them. She looked at the two cars in Matthew’s hands. “Can I have one, please?” Matthew handed her the yellow car and she passed it to Luke.

“But that’s mine!”

“You have to share! Luke doesn’t have one.”

“He had the blue one!”

Mommy looked around. “I don’t see the blue one. Just let him play with this one for now. Okay?”

Matthew looked at the car as if it had never belonged to him. “Okay.”

“Okay, thank you. I appreciate your help. I’m almost done making breakfast.”

Luke giggled as he smacked the yellow car against the side of the couch repeatedly.

Mommy stopped his hand. “Don’t do that, okay?” She then stood up and went back to the kitchen.

Luke looked at the car again and then started banging it on the couch again.

“Luuuuuuuke, you can’t do that. Mommymy said no.” Matthew reached over to grab the car.

Luke’s grip was tight and his face scrunched up with determination to never let the car go at any cost. Sensing trouble, Butch got up and began to back away.

When Matthew had finally freed the car from Luke's grasp, it flew out of his grip and bounced off Butch’s nose. The dog yelped in surprise.

“Matthew!” Mommy’s stern voice sounded from the kitchen.

Luke began to cry. Matthew could hear Mommy coming toward them. Quickly he tossed the black car into Luke’s lap and sat back innocently while Butch disappeared from view. He reappeared from behind Mommy’s legs. Her arms were crossed and her face was disappointed. Matthew knew she wasn’t fooled at all. Pathetically he said in a small voice, “It was my car.”

“Well now it’s nobody’s car.” She scooped the black and yellow cars off the ground. Matthew didn’t point out where the blue one was but he felt too sad to play with it anyway. “Come on, it’s time to eat.”

Butch whined, distracting Mommy. She turned to let him outside. Luke scooted himself over to the coffee table. He picked up the blue car and sat there with it in his mouth. Matthew sighed. This was not the kind of day he had in mind. He looked at the door and the blue sky. It was so inviting. Standing up, he walked back to his room, picked up his coat and, for the first time in all his attempts, opened the front door and walked out of the house.

The bright sun felt good on his skin but it was still icy cold. He put the jacket on and started walking down the walkway to the sidewalk. Butch started barking as Matthew passed by the fence to walk down the street. They were on a short road that ended at the edge of some woods. It didn’t take Matthew long to reach the first of the trees and follow the dirt path onward. As the house disappeared from view, Matthew felt a rush of excitement. He was alone and free to do whatever he wanted. The path twisted and the air was quiet except for the sound of the wind through the trees and the occasional bird that hadn’t left for winter yet. Matthew bent down to pick up a stick. When it snapped easily in half, he tossed it aside and looked for another one. He was pleased to see all the different choices before him. This one was too dirty. This one had ants all over it. This one was too small. Finally, here was the stick. It was thick enough not to snap so easily and long enough that he could jab the ground like a walking stick or swat at some branches that dared to be in his path.

Mommy had taken him with her on her walks through these woods many times so while the scenery wasn’t new to him, the experience was and he found that he enjoyed being alone like this. Luke wasn’t there to get him in trouble and he didn’t have to share this stick. Mommy wasn’t there to scold him and Daddy wasn’t there to carry him back to the house. So much excitement built in his chest that he finally let out a “WOO!” with a big smile, startling a few squirrels.

“According to my calculations, it appears to be high noon. Time to saddle over to the nearest tavern and request a hot meal and drink.” Matthew looked around him at the trees bordering the path. The floor beneath was littered with large vines and fallen branches. It would be impossible to walk anywhere in there. He paused. Just ahead it looked like a forgotten trail was split off the main path. “Onward, mighty steed!” He tossed a leg over his new stick and galloped forward, waving a hand in the air.

The path was indeed forgotten but not impossible to journey forward. The path dipped down causing Matthew to stumble. A log had fallen over the path so he crawled over without any hesitation. A surprisingly short distance later the path ended, as did the trees, and Matthew found himself in a large clearing of sand. Up ahead it looked like some kind of quarry. He turned right to follow the line of trees and sat himself down next to another fallen tree. “Barkeep!”

A squirrel off in the distance chattered. “Aye what brings ‘ee to town? Ye looks loike a foreigner.” The squirrel rubbed a small acorn cup with his apron.

“Just travelling through, good sir.”

“Oi, is that righ’? Where be your destination then, aye?”

“That is for me to find out, I’m afraid.”

“Well then what can I get ‘ee afore thee fearful journey?”

“I’ll take a glass of your best milk.”

The squirrel’s tail twitched. “Oi, I ain’t got no milk. Pr’aps the missus but alls I got are acorns. We be vury particular abou’ wha’ we keep ‘ere!”

Matthew felt his stomach grumble slightly. “Alright, I’ll have some of those then.”

“I ain’t given you any of my nuts! Are ‘ee crazy? We been collectin’ these beauts all year. We got babes to feed!”

“I can pay you for your trouble.”

The beady eyes lit up. “Oh yeah?” He rubbed his paws together. “Alrigh’, whatchu got then, eh?”

Matthew thrust his hands in his pockets. Empty. All of them. “I’m sorry. Looks like I don’t have any money after all.”

“Money? Wha’s money, eh?”

“Like a coin.”

“Can oi eats it?”

“No.”

“Well then wha’ would ‘ee do wit’ money?”

“Then what kind of payment were you looking for?”

“Nuts!”

“But if I had nuts then I wouldn’t be asking you for any to eat.”

The squirrel’s mouth opened in insult. “Yee can’ ‘ave me acorns! We been savin’ them all year! We gots babes to feed!”

Matthew sighed, “You said that. Well can’t you at least share?”

The squirrel stared at him. “Nope.” With that, he turned tail and bolted up a tree.

“Well I’m putting a bad review for this place on Trip Advisor.”

Matthew stood up and grabbed his stick. The short rest had energized him again despite the small ache for food. At first he continued his walk on the edge of the trees. Then, after a second’s thought, started making his way over to the quarry. He carefully peered over the top to see if he could find a way down. It looked very steep. He looked around and spotted a long root that was poking out of the ground. Matthew set his stick at the edge and grabbed the root in both fists. “I’m a ninja,” he whispered, and started scaling the side as if he were using a rope. He felt like the drop was endless but as his feet hit the ground and he looked back up, he realized he could easily reach his stick.

Being in the sandy quarry, it felt dry and hot. Or maybe that’s just what he imagined since he could picture a desert scene before him. He even swore he saw a tumbleweed roll across the ground before him. Matthew hiked up his pants and kept one hand at his waistband and the other holding the stick as he moved forward. The sun was blazing. He threw his leg over the stick again and rode his horse forward. He kept a hand on the handle of his Colt Single Action Army Revolver attached to his belt at his right hip. You had to be a sharp shooter here in the west. He kept his eyes alert underneath his cowboy hat. A hissing noise made him stop. Just ahead he could make out what looked like a snake bathing in the sun. Sensing his presence, the snake drew itself in and kept his yellow eyes focused on the young cowboy before him. Slowly Matthew dismounted his horse and planted his boots firmly in the ground. He hand hovered just above his revolver. His other hand stroked his manly moustache as he tilted his head slightly. “Howdy there. I am just passing through. I mean you no harm.”

The snake hissed slightly, “You are trespassssssing.”

“I do apologize greatly. If you’ll let me, I’ll just be on my way. I haint been around these parts before.”

“Ssssssooo ssssssad for youuuu.”

“Well now, I’m sure we can hash this out. Hopefully quickly, at that. I am a bit hungry for a good meal. Perhaps you know of someplace I can refill my canteen?”

“I do not help tresspasssssserssssss.”

“Now just hold your horses there, good sir. I aint lookin’ to take your land and I ain’t tryin’ to swindle you either. All I ask is that me and my stead paddle on out of here.”

“I don’t sssseeee a ssssteeead. Allssssss I ssssseeee isss a peddlar’sssssssss pony.”

“Oh well now you’ve done it! You’re in trouble now! I’m sure my peacemaker can take a pot shot like you down easy. Such a pity for you to die over something so petty.”

“Come at meee sssssssssuckaaaa!”

The snake charged forward. Matthew felt the adrenaline surge in his body. Just as the snake got close enough, Matthew took his stick and smacked the snake hard across the face. The snake went down! He nodded in satisfaction. Thank goodness he didn't need to waste his bullets. Next time the snake shouldn't underestimate a mighty stead. Matthew moved back and around the snake’s body and bolted up and out of the quarry. He looked back over to see the snake’s body was just a large branch laying out, unmoving, in the sun.

“Well you’re an interesting fellow.”

Matthew jumped and spun around. Just in front of him, sitting on a low hanging branch of a nearby tree, was a black bear.

The bear was licking in between her long paw nails and she paused to stare back at the small human before her. “What? Do I have something on my face?” The bear rubbed at her furry face with her huge paws. The movement caused her to wobble precariously on the branch and she had to grab onto the trunk to get her balance back.

“I’ve never seen an actual bear before,” Matthew said.

The bear mistook his nervousness for amazement and she proudly stood up to her full height and shook out her fur. “Well, are you impressed?” He could have sworn she batted her bear eyelashes at him.

“Very,” replied Matthew. “You are so much larger than I expected a bear to be.”

“I hope you mean in both height and weight. I need the fat to get me through winter.”

“Is that why you’re still out and not hibernating?”

“Yes,” the bear sighed. “I’m a bit of a procrastinator.”

“Do you mind if I came with you? I’m pretty hungry myself.” As if to verify his claim, his stomach made a very audible rumble.

The bear’s ears perked up at the sound. “I suppose you better. How can you be so hungry with all that fat on you?”

Matthew looked down at his winter jacket. “These are my clothes! I’m not fat!”

“Well in that case, looks like you need more food than me!” She looked at him with a weird expression on her face. “In fact, I don’t think I would even eat you.”

“Thanks?” said Matthew, now feeling a tad uncertain about his predator company.

“Alright then.” The bear climbed down from the tree and beckoned him with a paw. “Come on little cub.” She dropped down onto all fours and pushed her way through the underbrush. Matthew hesitantly followed.

Matthew was grateful for the wide and heavy girth of the bear as he was able to walk easily across trampled sticks and plants. He felt uncertain of his new travel partner and he considered parting ways multiple times but then he’d think about the food he was heading toward and change his mind. Just when he wondered if the great lumbering mass in front of him would ever reach her destination, she stopped. He froze when she became very still. He started to speak but she shushed him. Then suddenly her head whipped around, ears perked up to a sound that Matthew couldn’t hear. Before he could react, she took off. For her size, she was much faster than Matthew had anticipated and before he could blink, she disappeared, leaving him alone and completely lost. He had no clue where to go. Even if he tried to follow her, he wasn’t sure he would ever find her again. He turned back to return to the quarry and found that despite being crushed on the initial arrival, the undergrowth they had just walked through had sprung back up and made it difficult to find the path back. Matthew felt panicked. How was he going to get home now?

“Are you lost, stranger?”

Matthew looked around to find the speaker of the voice. A fox was leaning lazily against a nearby tree. “Um, it seems so. Do you know how to get out of here?”

The fox gave him a side look down his pointed nose. “What if I do? What will I get in return?”

“I’m not quite sure what you want.” He thought about some of the stories he could think of with a fox. He recalled one story in particular where the fox would steal eggs. “I can get you a few eggs from chicken.”

He wasn’t sure if it was what the fox was expecting but the fox dropped down to all fours in surprise and smiled. “Now we’re talking! Where am I leading you to then?”

Matthew felt his legs getting tired and his tummy rumbled more angrily than before. He thought about the warmth in the house and the comfort of being with his family. Being out here alone suddenly felt lonely. “I think I’m ready to go back home.”

Again the fox smiled. Without a word, he turned and began to trot through the trees. Matthew hurried to keep up. Branches pulled at his clothes and scratched his face and hands but he was determined not to lose the fox’s orange body in the colorful leaves. He started to get agitated at the multiple obstacles baring his path and as he tried to get over a log, he stumbled and fell. The fox had disappeared. Matthew felt so defeated that he almost considered just lying there, but he sat himself up and looked around. The fox couldn’t be found. He wanted to cry. That was when he heard it. The call was soft and distant but Matthew followed the voice. As he got closer the voice became louder. “Matthew!” His heart leapt. He began to run full speed. Somehow the way out became easier and then he was out. Matthew had emerged from the trees back into the open air and sighed a breath of relief to see his house just up a ways. Calling out for him was Daddy. “Matthew!”

“Daddy!” Matthew used the last of his energy to run as fast as his legs could go.

“Matthew!” Daddy scooped him up in his arms as Matthew hugged him around the neck. All the way home he was scolded as Daddy held him tight back into the house. When he looked back at the trees, Matthew saw the face of the fox looking out at him. The fox waved goodbye, but Matthew beckoned. Once he got back into the house, Matthew went straight over to the fridge and pulled four eggs out.

“What are you doing, Matthew?”

Matthew looked up at Daddy, “Sharing.” Then he went and set the eggs outside the door for the fox to collect.

Mommy grabbed hold of him in her bear hug and scolded him herself for worrying her by leaving. Then she pulled his jacket off and motioned for him to the table. She had prepared a delicious breakfast that he was eager to eat. He was sure glad to be home. Once again he was in the warm safety of the house. Mommy made a comment about him needing a bath as she pulled a twig from his hair, but smiled and kissed his cheek as he gulped down the food.

After breakfast he started to follow Mommy back to the room to prepare for a bath but then ran to the front door and pulled it open. Mommy ran after him. “Matthew, don’t you dare go back out there alone again!”

“I just wanted to check something.” Sure enough, the eggs were gone. He smiled as he shut the door and went back to his room.