- May 18, 2001
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Summer was slowly burning itself out on its relentless march towards autumn. Grasshoppers and an occasional cicada could be heard sawing out their monotonous tunes. Off in the distance a mockingbird insanely chattered a new song every few seconds, but little if any wildlife could be found otherwise. Everything was wrapped in the muggy embrace of sticky hot humidity, and nothing stirred if it wasn?t forced. The early afternoon sun scorched the yellowing trees on the slopes of the low rolling mountains. The lower vegetation had already given up its annual struggle to conquer the heat, and the forest floor was brown and crunchy with brown plants and a few leaves that had already fallen from the trees. A small number of high wispy clouds graced the sky, offering no moisture and little relief.
The older man gave his teenaged granddaughter a gentle jab in the ribs accompanied by a hushed grunt to encourage her to walk a little faster, but she steadfastly refused to laugh or even crack a smile. In spite of that, her pace increased ever so slightly, and without a single word spoken in return.
She didn?t want to be here, and took advantage of every opportunity to express her displeasure. The granddaughter was just past the age where many young girls blossom into sweet, lovely women, or become self-obsessed with their own beauty, desires, and lusts. Through all the decisions leading from birth up to this day, she had made her choice; she was trendy, shallow, and physically beautiful, paired with large portions of vindictiveness and cruelty. She wasn?t necessarily a bad person; instead it would be more accurate to say that she was a product of all the fears that she had never confronted or conquered in her life. She was completely defined by events and anxieties seemingly outside of her control, feeling safe only when she was among her tiny circle of pseudo-friends. They all despised her, as she despised them and they each other.
They were making good time, and the worn path through the woods was in fairly good repair. The girl mostly looked at the ground, hardly ever lifting her head to notice the natural grandeur about her. She was terrified. She had never spent any time outside her comfortable suburban life. The woods concealed an unknown number of unseen terrors for her. A solitary tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly brushed away before the old man could notice. Many more would follow, if she weren?t very careful in keeping them in check. It would be a serious wound to her pride if the grandfather knew how miserable she was, barely coping with this little hike. She hoped beyond all hope that they would reach their destination safely and soon.
The older man gave his teenaged granddaughter a gentle jab in the ribs accompanied by a hushed grunt to encourage her to walk a little faster, but she steadfastly refused to laugh or even crack a smile. In spite of that, her pace increased ever so slightly, and without a single word spoken in return.
She didn?t want to be here, and took advantage of every opportunity to express her displeasure. The granddaughter was just past the age where many young girls blossom into sweet, lovely women, or become self-obsessed with their own beauty, desires, and lusts. Through all the decisions leading from birth up to this day, she had made her choice; she was trendy, shallow, and physically beautiful, paired with large portions of vindictiveness and cruelty. She wasn?t necessarily a bad person; instead it would be more accurate to say that she was a product of all the fears that she had never confronted or conquered in her life. She was completely defined by events and anxieties seemingly outside of her control, feeling safe only when she was among her tiny circle of pseudo-friends. They all despised her, as she despised them and they each other.
They were making good time, and the worn path through the woods was in fairly good repair. The girl mostly looked at the ground, hardly ever lifting her head to notice the natural grandeur about her. She was terrified. She had never spent any time outside her comfortable suburban life. The woods concealed an unknown number of unseen terrors for her. A solitary tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly brushed away before the old man could notice. Many more would follow, if she weren?t very careful in keeping them in check. It would be a serious wound to her pride if the grandfather knew how miserable she was, barely coping with this little hike. She hoped beyond all hope that they would reach their destination safely and soon.
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