Episode 2: Secrets Afoot

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In Episode 1, Pen seemed to anger Bigfoot by taking the creature's picture. As she made her escape, Pen reflected on how she got into this predicament and decided to start the story over from the beginning.

Ten Days Ago...

Still with me? Okay, great, so here we are, back at Camp Creekrock, Day One, where the other campers and I are seated on logs arranged around a platform stage. It's blazing hot and there's no shade, but at least our water bottles are frigid. Our camp counselor, Anya, has just listed about a hundred camp rules.

"And now, campers, just one more thing before we start today's activities," she says. "I am excited to introduce one of Running River's foremost forest rangers, Ranger Knox, who'd like to share a message about safety and wildlife."

Anya flashes her cheery, we're-going-to-have-a-great-time smile before stepping aside to let an enormously tall man in a forest-green uniform, wide-brimmed hat, and dark reflective sunglasses take her place.

Unlike Anya, Ranger Knox doesn't smile—instead, he slips his sunglasses into his shirt pocket and at us like we're a of ants infesting his picnic.

He opens with, "The forest is not a playground." (Talk about snore.) "It's the home of many forms of wildlife, such as bears, boars, and bobcats," he continues. "There are creatures out there that are bigger than you, faster than you, and in some instances, more intelligent."

"Rude," Fin mutters under his breath next to me as he straightens his glasses.

I raise my hand.

"Pen, no." Fin pushes my hand down.

I raise the other hand.

"Pen," Fin hisses, "this isn't the time. That dude is drill-sergeant city. Please, can you not—"

"Ranger Knox!" I call out, ignoring Fin.

The ranger's gaze locks onto me like a heat-seeking missile launcher, and for one extra-thumpy heartbeat, a twinge of fear twists my stomach. But if the greatest scientists and researchers in the world let fear stop them, then we'd probably all still be living in caves and using tree bark for toilet paper.

"What can you tell us about the recent Bigfoot encounters in the area?" I ask. Everyone laughs. Fin pulls his Lakers cap down over his curly, cheddar-popcorn hair and slumps.

"Bigfoot?" Ranger Knox , like he's never heard the word before. "I think you're mistaken. There've been no sightings."

I stand, hands on my hips, because I don't care what he or anyone else thinks of me—the other campers can laugh all they want. I have Fin, after all, and even if he still doesn't believe in Bigfoot either, well, he still believes in me.

"Just last month," I say, "a local newspaper reported that a pair of teen Wilderness Scouts were frightened off a hiking trail by a Bigfoot, and five weeks before that, a bird-watcher filed a wildlife complaint after finding his cooler ."

The laughter dies down. My fellow campers turn their attention back to Ranger Knox and I lift my chin. (Because, at the very least, I've made everyone curious.)

"The newspaper you're referring to is the Weekly World Weird," Ranger Knox replies, "and the culprit behind the cooler incident turned out to be a bear."

"Except," I argue, "bears don't know how to pop the tabs on diet soda cans, and they don't leave behind giant footprints."

"Okay!" Anya hustles onstage again to stand next to Ranger Knox. "Thank you, Penelope, for your question about the fauna, but we want to be sure Ranger Knox gets to relay everything he needs to about forest safety. Also, I know I don't need to remind anyone we're on a tight schedule!"

She sings the last part, as if schedules are fun and tight ones have a place at summer camp.

I open my mouth to respond, but Fin tugs me back down, so I flump onto the log next to him.

"As I was saying," Ranger Knox grunts, "the forest is dangerous—especially at night. No one is to enter the woods alone, not even during the day. From this point forward, the buddy system is in effect, and no one is to go off the trails or enter the woods after nightfall ever—period, end of story. If I catch anyone in the woods after dark, your camper status will be , you will be sent home immediately, and you may also possibly be charged with trespassing in a restricted area. These rules are for your safety; therefore, you must abide by them or there will be consequences. Do you understand?"

All around me, kids—including Fin—murmur their yesses.

My voice isn't among them.

Do I understand the rules? Yessss.

Agree? Nope.

Plan to follow them? Hmmm...

"I know what you're thinking," Fin whispers.

I blink my innocence at him.

He scowls, his freckled face beaming a familiar warning.

"We're not going on a Bigfoot hunt in the dark," he says in a scolding tone. "Besides, tonight we're supposed to decorate flags for tomorrow's Capture the Flag game."

"I know," I say, and look away.

This answer seems to appease Fin. What he fails to realize, though, is that my statement isn't technically one of agreement.

Because I can't agree.

Not when Ranger Knox is so obviously hiding something. (Just like the woods he's so desperate to keep us from exploring.)

And just because Fin can't be to out the cryptid scene tonight, well, that doesn't mean I can't.


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