The Box

Chapter 1

Roger Wiggins places his briefcase on the rear seat and backs the car out of the garage so Leona can get in without squeezing sideways in the garage. She has to turn sideways anyway to get through the doorframes inside the house but he doesn't want her to complain on the drive. It's almost 8:30 am and they are late to depart for Rena's. The drive takes nearly three hours so Leona has packed some sandwiches and food in the cooler for the trip along with the box.

"Do you want a donut with your coffee?" Leona asks while stuffing her mouth.

He doesn't want a donut but if he doesn't take it she will go on about how great it is.

"Sure" He says. Just what I need. Another couple of pounds and I won't be about to fit through any of the doorframes either.

Leona pours out his coffee stirring in the powdered creamer and places it in his cup holder. They bought this car because of the cup holders. It was the first thing they checked at the dealership bringing both of their cups in her bag. She sets his donut on the dashboard atop a flowered napkin which annoys Roger. He will have to eat it first before they leave so he can focus. He polishes it off in two bites washing it down with the hot liquid. She looks at him wide eyed.

"Are you that hungry? You gobbled that down so fast. Do you even know what it tasted like? She asks

"God, no. I just want to get on the road. Get going."

Everywhere they go she has food ready. Drinks too. She is a moveable feast. Wipes, plastic spoons, even straws at the ready. She finishes her second donut then starts in on a banana. Her snack bag equipped at her feet.

Traffic is light in town but once out on the highway he feels better. The trees whiz by in a blur of green. The yellow grass is tall and dry. Parched. No rain for nearly two months now. He finds himself thinking about fishing.

Leona is asking him a question and from her tone he thinks it's a repeat.

"Hmm?"

"Did you see that perfectly camouflaged deer? Can you image the venison steaks we could get from that? She says licking her lips. That deer must have been over 200 pounds. It is one of the largest I have ever seen. Remember when we went hunting last year. Unfortunately, we didn't get anything but I had fun anyway."

Yeah, you had fun eating everything in the forest except for the rocks.

"No, I must have missed it," Roger says.

"Well of course you did. It was camouflaged. I just have better eyesight than you Roger. When are you going to go back to the eye doctor? I have been telling you over and over to get your eyes checked. You probably need glasses. I will make you an appointment as soon as we get home."

Rena lives out off highway 101. Nearly 12 years ago a huge mudslide erased a section of the Dosewallips River Road. Parts of it are usable and people still drive to the end and park. Some go hiking while others cycle around the washed out section. Rena's house is just a few hundred feet past the slide. She sent them a map in the email telling them to follow the bright pink markers on the trees. Roger hopes they are still visible.

Ahead on the road a man with a guitar is hitchhiking in the opposite direction. His long hair is pulled back in a tangled ponytail, backpack slung over one shoulder bulging to the side. He is carrying what looks like a bundle of kindling. A car passes him by but doesn't stop.

"Who would pick him up?" Leona asks finishing her cupcake.

"Someone like him I suppose. It's a different world out there Leona. Hard to tell who is going to be nice and who is going to slit your throat and pull your tongue out letting it hang like a necktie.

"Roger please don't talk like that. You know how that kind of talk scares and upsets me. It makes me want to eat more so I can take my mind off of it."

Roger says nothing. Trains his brain back to fishing.

They cross the last good bridge and from what he remembers from the email they are about a half an hour from Rena's place. Rogers asks Leona to get the map out to confirm this.

"Where is it? I have to use a wet wipe first, Roger. That chocolate cupcake was messy."

"I said, the map's in the top section of my briefcase."

"And where is your briefcase? Leona asks as a piece of fudge candy drops on the console between the seats. "In the back."

Leona groans turning just her head to look but she can't see the rear seat. She unfastens her seatbelt and turns sideways, knees apart. He tries not to watch as she heaves her heavy form up on the seat reaching back for his case. With a puff she slams back down refastening her belt.

"Ah..." She says unfolding and looking at the map with sticky fingers. "Yes it's past the bridge on the left."

"Turn it around."

"Oh. That would be the right then."

"Yes."

It's then he notices the smoke. At first he thinks it might be from a camper out for the weekend. Then as they get closer he realizes it's a smoldering grass fire on the left side of the road. He slows the car to a stop, opening the trunk for a jug of water he keeps for emergencies. He quickly douses the small fire dusting his hands off on his shorts and replacing the empty plastic bottle in the rear of the car.

Leona beams at him. "Roger you are so helpful to put out that fire before it really does some awful damage. Oh you did that so well. Have you put out many fires before?"

"Nah. Just this one."

"Good job, Roger." Leona says.

They continue up the valley. Rocky cliffs topped with pines tower over them. The river is pretty low exposing previous washouts.

Five minutes later there is another fire on the left. It's involved the bushes closest to the road. Although it's still small, orange flames are visible. The water is gone but Roger has some sand from last winter in the trunk. The sand is less effective but does slow it down. Then he remembers a piece of plywood protecting the bottom of the trunk. He pulls that out and throws it on the grass flattening it with his feet. The flames lick at his bare hairy legs. Singed hair smell permeates the car.

Leona cries out. "Roger, stop! You could catch yourself on fire! Let's just get out of here. We can call someone else for help."

He returns to the car grabbing the coffee thermos and lemonade jug from Leona's side. The fluid does the trick on the burning bushes. The fire is drowned. He abandons the plywood. Leona is upset about the drinks but he tells her Rena will give them some diet Coke.