Sioux and Rick

Episode V; Freedom!

Finally! The last three days of school came and went. Sioux was usually sad at the end of school, but; this summer he was excited for the adventures he and his friends had planned.

Thursday dawned a perfect clear and warm summer's day. Sioux and Rick had agreed to meet up at the clubhouse early, and head out on their first adventure for the summer. Sioux made it to the clubhouse first. They had told Dale about meeting up, but were fairly sure he couldn't make it.

Sioux didn't have to wait long for Rick. The boys loaded their backpacks with cook-sets and food they had stashed in the cooler in the club house. They had figured out if they stashed some canned goods and noodle packs in the clubhouse, they wouldn't have to carry them form home all the time.

Backpacks loaded, and a warm day starting; the two headed south down the path towards the pond Sioux had discovered two weeks ago. They walked fast, filled with the excitement of summer. They were at the pond fairly quickly.

Rick let out a whistle, "woo-hew! This looks like the place to spend some hot summer days." he said looking around. "But, I think the dock might need some work." Sioux agreed.

Sioux showed Rick the spot he had made his fire two weeks ago, "I think this might be a good place for a camp." Rick agreed.

The boys scoped the area out, walking the whole circuit of the pond, stopping at the dock. Rick made the suggestion they bring the raft out, the same thought Sioux had. They hatched big plans about a swimming hole, fishing, and basically living off the land for a few days there; maybe.

Pushing the cattails and reeds aside, Rick gingerly tested the dock. He threw his backpack on the ground, screwing up the courage to venture out onto the rotting wood. They heard the first creak as Rick was about three feet out, he shrugged, and took another step. SNAP! The next board broke under Rick's weight, attacking his foot.

"Oh Boogers man!" Rick yelped. "A little help! It's attacking me" Sioux stood shocked for a split second. Sioux grabbed the top of a cattail, hoping it would help steady him. Sioux reached out to Rick grabbing his hand, and pulled. The whole dock was creaking and whined under both of their weights. Sioux heaved; both he and Rick tumbled back to the safety of the ground.

They both took a few deep breaths, "Yep! The dock needs a bit of work, and I don't think it much likes us!" Sioux said, as both boys giggled.

After recovering from the dock attack, the boys moved onto they now thought to be a canal, and the building Sioux had found. Rick was just as amazed as Sioux was when they got there. The whole building intact.

They walked around the building, ending up on the small front porch. Rick took off his pack a rummaged the camera out that he had finally gotten from saving Bazooka wrappers. Rick stepped back and took a couple of pictures. Then they tried the door, it wouldn't budge, solid as a rock.

They went back to the side with the garage doors on it. There was just enough gap between the doors to see a simple board on the inside kept the doors locked. It was Sioux's turn to rummage in his pack and find the scout knife he had gotten from Bazooka. He slid the wide blade through the crack, working at the board, finally freeing it. The doors swung open on squealing hinges, revealing a dusty room the full size of the building.

There wasn't much in there, but they did find an old tool box. The only things they found were a hammer / ax tool, that Sioux thought was an old roofing hammer that he had seen in a book. And a rusty old pair of pliers. Sioux took the hammer, while Rick wanted the old pliers.

The rest of the room was mostly just dusty with pieces of mysterious broken things laying around. At the back of the room was a set of stone stairs leading to the main part of the building, going up to a trapdoor. Sioux's curiosity drove him to try the little door. The handle would turn, but the door wouldn't budge. Sioux ran his knife blade in the crack where he thought the catch might be, but he couldn't get it to un-latch. Sitting on the second step Sioux thought for a minute. "We need to add flashlights to our packs, I think I could get it ifI could see better."

Rick was searching on a dark corner. "I think you're right!" He paused to think, "flashlights would be handy for our camp outs too. Sounds like a good reason to raid the flea-market to me!" Sioux agreed.

Due to the lack of light and not being able to explore any deeper into the building, the boys gave up for the day. They made sure and put everything back the way it was and headed back to the pond.

They went back to the spot Sioux had picked on his previous cook out. This time, because there was two of them, they went about the area collecting rocks and stones for a fire ring. They built a good fire, making lunch of noodles and beans.

 They made plans to go to the flea-market, and refined future camping plans. They were hoping to do the first camp out next Monday, if they were allowed, at the clubhouse.