NIGHT TIME story

Before you could say, “Peanut butter sandwich,” evening clouds changed into a stack of black and blue pillow-piles.

Colin shivered. Good thing he had on his Spider man T-shirt to protect him.

Shadows are everywhere.

“COLIN! WHERRE ARRE YOUU?" come like slivers through the trees.

Where is his campsite?

He is just a little shrimp beside the shortest tree. He can’t even see above the tall ferns and little bushes. And now the trail he began to follow came to a stop.

It is more like a period at the end of a sentence.

Not too far away his father’s flashlight pointed into the dark woods like a bony finger. But Colin was somewhere else in the nighttime woods. What a nuisance getting his feet stuck in a pile of fallen branches where only a rabbit should go.

His older brother Adam and sister Melanie must be searching for him too. Those calls. It must be. Yes, he could hear them. Colin rushed first in one direction, then another.

He tripped over uneven earth and stubborn stumps. Finally all voices simply faded away.

The sky was now a page without color. Darkness dropped its blanket over tall trees, short trees, then finally over Colin.

Colin sat on the ground, sad as a trembling leaf. Not long ago he was full of fun and laughter. And playing with toys at the campsite brought him joy.

The sun was bright as an egg yolk at breakfast. And the blue sky a good friend.

"Stay in the camp-site," he remembered his mother saying.

"Make sure you can see us all the time," said his father, not so long ago. But, Colin liked to explore.

Their trailer was like a flower in a garden. It was beside a gurgling stream surrounded by deep woods. But Colin didn't listen. He wandered away.

There were so many exciting things little trails to explore. Now he is alone.

"Mommy!" he keeps calling. “Daddy!" he cries.

His tired voice drifts through the air. But the forest is more like a fence between his parents and his words. Did his brother and sister miss him? He wondered.

Now Colin clambers on top of a ridge of rock. His arms wave helplessly. His feet can barely move, one step at a time. His white shirt is dirty, and his stomach on empty.

Colin is not happy. No not at all.

Branches on trees seem to whisper, "Little boy lost."

"Stop!" he is sure they want to say.

"Turn around!" a little mouse squeaked. But Colin did not hear. He is too full of fear.

Yes, Colin is definitely lost.

He traveled further into the woods. Behind him, quiet as a gnat, a deer followed. "How can we help him?" asked an owl.

A coyote barked nearby, "Little boy lost!" Voices from the pack yelped in the moonlight.

A squirrel sat on his haunches, listening.

Stars wrestled for a better view. They wished the little boy would find his way home in the dark. So they provided sparkling light for his path.

Finally, Colin stopped moving. He needed a rest after all this walking. Mosquitoes buzzed excitedly around his torn t-shirt. Colin was tired of slapping and scratching his arms and legs.

This time he knew the soft mossy spot whispered, “Rest here.” Colin lay down. After the sandman had a short visit, eyelids closed. Little boy lost curled up and fell asleep.

A log rolled closer and pressed against his side. Now he had protection from the wind.

A large fir tree spread its longest branches. This was to keep him dry from the dew that would fall before morning.

A fox came along and sniffed the boy. Raccoons chased the nosey animal away. They cuddled beside Colin, giving him extra warmth during the cool night.

A rabbit watched. His whiskers wiggled and waggled. “What to do? What to do?” he wondered, then hop-hopped away.

The wind blew warm puffs on the little lost boy. Sleep was soon filled with pleasant dreams. And Colin was cozy as a piece of buttered toast. Almost like being home in his bed.

He did not hear the thunder. Nor felt the falling rain. While he slept, the forest was able to quench its thirst. And receive protection from any forest fire.

Streams filled rapidly. Trout traveled more easily into deeper waters. And animals found extra places to drink. Yes, this was a pleasant place for peace and rest, for a sleeping little boy, who is no longer alone in the deep forest.

Thick branches continued to protected Colin from getting soaked. A Bear rumbled by. She didn’t mind if the snoozing boy trespassed on her territory.

A large moose came to see for himself, about this little boy lost. Should the huge animal give him a ride home on his back?

Dawn arrived as a smile from across the horizon. It was really the brilliant sun, looking like that large egg yolk on daddy’s plate each morning.

A shaft of sunlight warmed Colin's nose.

He thought someone was tickling him. The same as when mom woke him up each morning. Now he remembered his long walk, his tired feet and even being lost.

Stretching his arms, Colin yawned and sat up. Then his eyes almost popped out of his head.

“MOMMY! DADDDY!” he yelled.

Adam and Melanie were here too. They found him! And he was glad.

Morning breakfast was full of good things. Eggs had bright yolks, with bacon and home fries. And ketchup, even yucky hugs and kisses.

It was family time again.

Animals watched the campsite from their forest home. They were very pleased for Colin. Now they too would have pleasant dreams.

Of a little boy found!

* * *

(c) Richard & Esther Provencher 2008
All Rights Reserved

Co-authors Richard and Esther Provencher invite you to view the URL below, re their three novels written during Richard’s recovery from a stroke, which gob-smacked him in 1999. He continues to recover.

URL for Richard L. Provencher
http://writers.ns.ca/Writers/rprovencher.html