Missed Connections

Chapter 55 - The Wild Life

Louis

I look up briefly from noshing my brekkie and see that Evynn is  staring at me with a strange look on her face.  Her hand is poised  halfway to her mouth, and her piece of toast is hanging from her  fingers.  Her big doe eyes are wide and she looks confused.  Or  startled.  Or embarrassed.  Fuck!  This girl is hard to keep up with  sometimes.  I swear she was fine two seconds ago. 

Maybe I have some brown sauce on my face. I hastily wipe my face with  my hand.  Nope.  But then again, I didn't give the scruff a good once  over.  Damn problem with facial hair!   You don't mean to, but  sometimes you end up saving a snack for later.  Nothing worse, really.    Makes me feel worse than a mangy cat who's been rolling in bins all day  long. 

"You ok, luv?" I ask, figuring it's better to do that then spend ages  trying to figure out what this bird is thinking.  Complicated business,  that.  I wave my hand in front her face when she doesn't respond right  away.  "Hello? Ev? Are you in there?"

"Uh, yep," Evynn responds finally coming back to life.

"You sure?  You looked quite barmy for minute there."

"Right," she responds, a distinct pink tinge colouring her cheek bones. "Thought I heard something."

"Yeah?  Anything to worry about?" I ask, looking out the window. "Some queer animal or something?"

"No, no..." Evynn stammers. "I think I was mistaken.  Probably nothing."

"Hope so.  I didn't plan on getting eaten by bears on this trip," I joke. 

"Don't worry, babe.  You're safe," Evynn responds absentmindedly.  "The bears in this area won't come by unless we leave food outside..."

"Wait, wot!?!" I exclaim.  "You mean there really are bears around here?  I was kidding!"

"Huh?" Evynn says, shaking her head as if to clear some cobwebs.  She  picks up a piece of bacon and munches on it slowly.  "Bears!  Right..."

"Yes, tell me more about the fucking bears, luv."  My eyes go wide  and I feel my heart beating in my chest a little more vigorously than I  would like.  No chill, Tommo.

"Worried, babe?"

"Yes. No. Maybe a little."

"You shouldn't be. I mean, Canada is mostly made up of rocks, and trees, more rocks, and of course, water!"

"So, you're saying plenty of space for bears?" My voice cracks peculiarly.

Evynn's eyes widen slightly, and a shit-eating grin spreads across her face. She is clearly enjoying my nervy state.

"Tons of space for them to roam" she says. I flinch involuntarily. Seeing my face, her expression softens. "Babe, seriously, don't worry. Yes, there are bears.  No, they won't come for you.  They prefer  sticking to their own turf.  Lakeside cottage areas tend to be a too loud for them.  You're more likely to get quacked at angrily by a  duck.  Or maybe get a tickle from a fish on your toes."

"Sounds revolting."

"Realistically, you probably wouldn't notice either of those while they were happening. And there are many charming aspects of Canadian wildlife in the Muskokas. Chipmunks are adorable. Loon calls are amazing, especially on the lake."

"But bears! Doncaster might have some sketchy chavs, but we definitely don't do bears."

"Ha! I can't see how you find bears scarier than some of the tracksuits you go on about."