Camp Clearwater

  Chapter 9

  Fright Night

  The boys slept in a small tent and Cindi and the girls slept in a larger one. No one had fully gone to sleep when Luna announced she needed to pee. “Don’t go too far off,” warned Cindi who got up and threw an extra log on the campfire. Luna was modest and wandered off behind some trees which were several feet away from the tents. She didn’t want Cody to see her.

  As she was squatting down, she saw the red beady eyes of a very compact animal with a big head and short squatty legs. Luna froze at the sight of the evil looking eyes and started screaming when she heard snorting sounds. Startled, she started screaming even louder when the animal opened its mouth wide and started towards her.

  Everyone came out of their tents screaming. Jacob said, “That’s a boar. I’ve hunted them before. Just get quiet and go back in the tent, and it would be alright. Screaming and running is the worst thing you could do. I’ll go help Luna. Just stay quiet and still.”

  Cody did the complete opposite of what he was told and started running and crying like a baby. In his panic, he tripped and fell when he saw the boar and her three babies coming towards him. Cody had inadvertently gotten the boar’s attention off Luna and on to himself. Luna’s shaking legs made her stumble back towards the camp and collapsed inside the girls’ tent.

  Cindi looked for some weapon inside her backpack, but her reaction time was too slow. Jacob ran towards Cody as the boar came plowing just inches from him, and he pushed Cody out of the boar’s path. Cody yelled for him to get on his stomach and roll out of the way. Jacob grabbed a stick and dodged the boar, then quickly turned around and ran in the opposite direction because he knew wild boars can’t make sharp turns. The boar kept on running out into the darkness with her piglets scampering behind her.

  Not realizing the seriousness of the situation, C.J. grabbed her jacket and acted like she was a bull fighter and pretended to distract any more boars that might be hiding in the darkness.

  Eugene said, “Boars usually won’t attack unless they’re wounded or have babies.”

  “That boar did have babies, genius,” said Jacob. “That’s why she was acting so mean.”

  Without saying a word, Jorgina grabbed her heels and started climbing a nearby tree. She was shaking as she did. One of her heels fell off. “Do you think that thing will come back and attack us in the middle of the night?”

  “No, probably not,” said Jacob. “If she does, I’ll grab the tusks and try to pull them back and hope I can break its neck.”

  “Eww,” all the girls said at the same time.

  “I’ll have to do something to defend us if we get attacked,” said Jacob hoping the boar wouldn’t return.

  Charlie started crying again and asked Cindi if she could please find him a phone as soon as it got light and insisted for about the twelfth time that he go home. “I’d really like to go home, please.”

  “I wish I could help you, but like I’ve told you repeatedly, we don’t have phone service. We’re in the wilderness and we have no communication available. I think we need to make sure we have a fire going at all times. I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go out. We all need to get some sleep.” Cindi affirmed.

  “Are we going to die?” asked Maria.

  “No, it was just a little scare. We’re going to be okay, but we have to look out for one another. Thank you, Jacob for acting quickly and for saving Luna and Cody,” praised Cindi.

  “Yeah thanks,” said Luna.

  “Maybe tomorrow morning we can try to find the river and bathe and fish for our breakfast,” said Cindi.

  “I hate fish,” said Sarah Beth.

  “It’s time to try to get some sleep. I’m just glad no one got hurt,” said Cindi.

  “Thanks for asking if I’m okay,” said Cody sarcastically, feeling not cared for.

  “Sorry Cody. With all the drama, I guess I forgot to see how you are doing. Are you alright?” asked Cindi.

  “My legs and elbows are scraped pretty badly, and I would like to clean the blood off,” he replied.

  Both C.J. and Luna offered him some antiseptic spray and a bandage. C.J. walked over to him and began nursing his wounds like she had experience. It was evident she knew how to take care of herself.

  Sarah Beth asked Jorgina if she could see any more boars from her perch in the tree. Jorgina said no and then decided to come down. She scraped her legs and feet getting down. Charlie came to help her ,and C.J. went over and bandaged her also. No one slept well and they were happy to see dawn breaking.

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