Slug Life

A Walk in the Forest

(No slug in this part... I wanted to set the stage lol)

A warm breeze echoes through the trees as birds sing high amidst the trees. Each step yields a satisfying crunch as his feet meet the foliage of the forest floor. He takes a deep breath in, the scent of the pine trees envelops him. The --"Arnold!"

Called a sharp voice. It was hard to hear over the hustle and bustle of the office that day, but the tone of disgust and anger was unmistakable.

Arnold hesitantly peered over the divider of his cubicle, awoken from his daydreams by this sudden outburst.

"In my office, NOW!" Screamed the voice.

Arnold was a small man, with light brown hair, blue eyes and glasses. Despite being only 33 he carried himself with the hunched posture of a much older man. He had once speculated that the reason was probably the "soul crushing" nature of his job.

He slowly shuffled towards the office, dreading every minute of what was to come. His boss, Mr. Frost, wasn't known for his kindness or flexibility. He was your typical middle aged man; overweight, balding, and grouchy. What separated him from the other crotchety old men was a fancy suit and power.

"Those reports were supposed to be finished by eight o'clock. It's eight ten!!!" He spat.

"I'm sorry Mr. Frost, I'll get them done right away." whispered Arnold, staring at his brown leather loafers.

Today was going to be a long day.

-----

Exhausted and weary, Arnold undid his tie and slid out of his car. The ride home had not be an improvement on his day. Despite leaving early, traffic had been awful. Miles and miles of angry people honking and screaming at eachother was all Arnold could think about.

"Hey asshole, move it!" one particularly angry cabbie had shouted.

"Get your piece of shit car off the road!"

Arnold hated confrontation. He needed a break - he needed a walk in the forest.

-----

The relaxation began the moment he stepped off his back porch. His home, though small and delapitated, was perfection. He couldn't have cared less about the leaky roof, broken and faded shutters or lack of furnace. He cared only for the backyard. An immense green forest stretched as far as the eye could see in all directions. Nothing gave him such a feeling of freedom as the view from his porch, knowing that just beyond his fingertips and past the treeline lay an entirely different world. The fresh air gently caressed his cheeks and he felt the pressure of the day evaporate. Just the thought of being out there in the serenity of nature with nothing but his thoughts was enough to perk him up. He set off at a brisk walk. Content and calm, Arnold truly felt at home here, it was the only place he could truly relax and be himself it was the only time allowed himself to just be. As he walked through his lush green paradise full of the scents and sounds he adored, a small crunch beneath his foot caught his attention, but only briefly. And with that tiny, almost insignificant crunch a little life was changed forever.