Maybe We Shouldn't...| SCK AU story

24 • Man (Woman) Versus the Wild

Eda

        I stare at the metallic blue truck pulling up to the curb. Serkan honks a couple of times—reaches across the passenger side window and bellows, "hey, good looking, what's cooking? Ready for our adventure?" Without further adieu, he puts the truck in park—hops out from the driver's side and trots towards me excitedly—beaming proudly from ear to ear. "Tadah—meet Blue Betty!"

        "Where did you find this beast?"

       "It belongs to Codi. Well, it used to belong to his dad, but he inherited it. You're looking at a 1970 Ford Bronco—perfect vehicle for our camping trip."

He loaded the last duffel bag into the back of the truck and opens the passenger door to help me up.

       "Your chariot awaits you, m'lady."

       "It's a piece of shit, Serkan—no offence."

      "It's a work in progress, my love. Not much to look at, but it's reliable. They don't build them like they did back then. This is a perfect off-road vehicle—it will get us to our destination safe and sound."

      "You're making me very nervous—are we going camping in the Australian Outback? This hunk of metal is built for the rough terrains. Are you trying to scare me on purpose?"

I'm more certain than ever that nobody goes camping on their own free will. Why would a sane person willingly choose to sleep like a burrito in a nylon teepee out in the jungle when he can sleep in a comfortable bed in a warm room?

     Serkan turns onto a dirt road that seems to continue for miles. What on God's earth would make him think of this cockamamie idea? I can feel my blood pressure climbing steadily by the second.

     "Are you sure we're on the right track? I didn't notice any signage, babe."

     "No need to worry your pretty little head, sweetheart—Google Map never lies. We should be there soon."

     "Umm—is this like a Bear Grylls or Man vs. Wild kind of adventure? Feels like we're out in the boonies and it's giving me the creeps."

     "I assure you the view by the camp site will be worth it. Aha—I spy with my little eye—Galiano Beach Campground."

I glance at the weathered wooden sign hiding behind overgrown foliage. I'm more of a Love Island kind of girl versus one who enjoys the popular tv show, Survivor. None of my friends have expressed an interest in camping. Glamping is a possibility but roughing it in the woods and eating camping food just doesn't strike a cord. On the other hand, relaxing around a pool or suntanning on a beach is definitely in our wheelhouse. I wish Serkan's enthusiasm for our weekend outdoors adventure is contagious but at the moment, I'm not doing cartwheels. He wanted to try something different—instead of vegging out in front of the tv or going to dinner then a movie-- he wanted to share this camping experience with me. I guess he has popped my camping cherry. I was somewhat a tomboy growing up, but creepy crawlies and creatures that lurk in the dark with big teeth and sharp claws do scare me.

Serkan

       You guess right. My unhappy kitten lost the bet--ergo we are in the great outdoors. Eda unfurrows her brows—tension easing from her face. I reach down to grab her hand and stroke her knuckles in a soothing pattern. "Baby—do you trust me?"

     "Yes, of course." She says resolutely.

     "Do you think that I would bring you to a place that isn't safe? I would never want anything bad to happen to you, my love—you know that."