Thread:SirGawain8/@comment-36472862-20181119001001/@comment-36472862-20181120020003

Another one...

Hog Trails 

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." sang my sister Zita.

I smiled. Today was December 23, only a couple days before Christmas. Like every other year, we were going on a hike in Baguio. But for the first time, we were allowed to hike by ourselves, as Daddy and Mom decided that we were old enough to go alone, as long as we stuck together like cat and fish.

"Zita," I said, before reciting a poem (Smart) by my favorite poet, Shel Silverstein.



We both collapsed in a fit of giggles. Of course, a dollar bill is worth more than five pennies, but the boy was going for number rather than amount.

After several more fruitful hours, Zita and I had arrived at the Eastberry Inn, said to be facing in the East.

<span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">We had dinner at the Straweast Resto, including buttered potatoes, lettuce kinilaw wraps, and strawberry pie with cream cheese.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">The hotel guide brought us to our room, number 838. The elevator was broken down, so we had to walk up the stairs. I didn't care, though, as I felt like falling asleep at any moment. At the room, Zita walked up to the bed and snuggled into it, and I collapsed onto the fluffy carpet the moment we arrived at Room 838.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">The following morning, I woke up to find myself alone in our room. Zita must have had already gone down to the Straweast Resto for breakfast. Dressing up quickly, I pranced down the staircase to the second floor, where all of the restaurants were located. When I entered, I briefly stole a glance at the balcony mountain view seats to look for two empty seats for my sister and I, and I saw Zita, reading the morning newspaper, beside a vacant chair.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">After eating breakfast (banana bread, strawberry toffee, whipped cream orange chocolate chip granola, and scrambled eggs with a side of bacon), we planned out our hike.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"So, should we take a supervised hike together with other tourist, complete with a tour guide, and   camping for two nights, all for five thousand five hundred fifty nine pesos, or should we just free hike, choosing a random trail, camping for as long as we like, and completely free?" Zita asked me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"You know what?" I replied, grinning absurdly. "Let's take the second option.   We'll go on a casual trail, tape our eyes closed, push each other around, fall onto a rock, and break a few bones."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Keena!" Zita hissed at me, hoping that none of the other diners had heard our conversation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Still grinning, I reassured her that I was only joking, but we should still hike by ourselves. She agreed with me, but I think it was so that I would stop saying crazy things out in public.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">After eating, we bought some 'basic' supplies: twenty-four chocolate chip cookies, ten deluxe giant gingerbreads, twenty glazed donuts, a loaf of bread, a watermelon, two gallons of strawberry mango milkshakes, a ball of lettuce, twelve oranges, two orange sleeping bags, an orange tent, an S.O.S. device, and a flashlight.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Keena, I wish that you would stop drooling over the treats," Zita mumbled at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">We set out for our hike later in the afternoon.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Okay, Keena, which trail will it be?" Zita asked me at the trail entry, where at least twelve different trails started.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">My eyes rode over all of the different options, all of the different hikes, adventures, and tourist attractions. Finally, I spotted a small, slightly overgrown trail that somehow seemed to be different from the other trails.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Let's take that one," I said, pointing to my selection.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">When dusk started to fall, I started to regret my decision. The entire trail was slightly covered with dense bushes, and it took Zita and me about five minutes to cover about twenty meters. When we arrived at the first clearing, we sat down on a grass bank, and decided to sample a donut each. As soon as we had taken the goodies out of my bag, a rustling sound was heard, and I saw a large hog bounding toward us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Who..." and I jumped out of the way, flinging the donuts aside as the giant pig charged toward us. Zita and I ran without stopping toward the trees. Fortunately, the hog was too busy munching on the donuts to notice us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Zita," I said, with a small surprised smile, "I think we followed a hog trail."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">My sister and I spent the next half hour setting up our tent between three trees. While Zita assembled our temporary room, I gathered all of our hiking rope and managed to construct a crude, but sturdy triangular fence around us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Crawling into the tent to join Zita, I took our sleeping bags and we snuggled in.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Zita, who was quiet for a while, suddenly said, "Keena, where is the Eastberry Inn?"

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Surprised, I made a small smile and said, "Sorry, Zita, but I actually don't know the way back to the inn.   We are lost." Pulling out the S.O.S. device, I pressed the ON button.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">For one tense moment we waited. I pressed the button again. And again. Zita took the device from me and tried it. When nothing happened, she looked at me, narrowed, her eyes, and opened the battery slot.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Where are the batteries?" she asked me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Staring at my feet, I replied, "Uh, I believe that I forgot to buy some."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"I'm disappointed."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">With that, we both rolled over to try to catch some sleep.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">In the morning, I woke up early. After eating some bread, I had read many books, and I had learnt that you can make a signal fire by placing fresh, green leaves above a warm fire. The smoke produced might be seen, increasing the chances of being rescued.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">After building a fire with some newspaper, timber wood, and matches, I gathered some papaya leaves fresh off the tree. Placing them above the fire, a steady stream of smoke began to form.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Suddenly, wind started to blow. I was scared that it might extinguish the fire, but instead, the papaya leaves were blown away, right onto our loaf of bread. It was soon enveloped in a bouquet of blue flames.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">The smoke must have woken Zita up, who stumbled out of the tent a moment later. Seeing the surviving fire and the charred bread loaf, she stared at me before deciding to avoid conversation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Upset at my failure, I stared at the steady rising sun. "It rises in the east and sets in the west," I mumbled. East. Suddenly, and idea formed in my head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Back inside the tent, Zita had somehow managed to bury herself inside of both her and my sleeping bags. Pulling mine gently off her, I said in a singsong way, "Did you know that the sun rises in the eeeeaaaastttttttttt and sets in the west.   And do you have any idea how we are going to get back to Eeeeeeaaaaasssstttttberry Inn?" I made sure to emphasize each 'east'.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"What do you mean?" was Zita's muffled reply from the inside of her sleeping bag. "Why di.... Oooh!   You want us to pack up and hike toward the direction of the rising sun, because of the direction it is said to be facing?"

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"It's worth a try," I said, grinning.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Two hours later, we were lying on the bed of Room 838. We quickly found a tourist trail back to the hotel once Zita had found an empty chip bag on the ground. I have to say, I had never been so happy to see that some litter bug had been here. We took a jeepney back to the inn, and after lazily taking the repaired elevator to the eighth floor, we located our room, entered it, ate the leftover food (except the watermelon, which we put on the bed with our bags), and jumped onto the bed for a refreshing nap.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">Just as I was about to fall asleep, my ankle made contact with a round object, and something landed on the floor, followed by a large <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif";color:#7030A0">SPLAT <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Bahnschrift","sans-serif";color:#7030A0">.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">"Don't tell me that was the watermelon," muttered Zita. <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Bahnschrift","sans-serif"; color:#7030A0">