Killdeer Dance

by Ronn Fryer

  Luckily, the last two girls’ tent reflected the size of their limited budget, so it easily fit into the remaining half of site thirteen. Keisha, an avid reader, quickly agreed to camp with the little French exchange student. Ramona may have been a little too introspective at times, but it was far preferable to Courtney’s insufferable self-absorption. Sister Golden Hair seemed oblivious to the notion that the beholder’s eye might actually have a say in the determination of beauty. Anyone, however, who didn’t acknowledge that the shapely blonde was God’s gift was evidently jealous, blind, or a pathetic liar. It wasn’t her fault. She just happened to be blessed with flawless features. She didn’t even flaunt it, at least not excessively.

  Still, whatever envy that may have secretly plagued Keisha would be taken to the grave. She certainly didn’t have any reason to be jealous, her boyfriend was every bit as good-looking as any boy Courtney had ever dated. Not that she had to announce it. She didn’t need Courtney’s approval and she sure as hell didn’t need her arrogance. They’d never had words, but as yet they hadn’t spent much time together.

  Keisha and Ramona, however, got along just fine. They actually related in a number of ways. Neither Kiki, nor the little raven-haired girl, would ever be inner circle. Venial sins like skin color or sexual orientation may appear to be overlooked, but they were still enough to keep you from the royal court. No one, of course, came right out and questioned Ramona’s inclinations, they didn’t have to. The bobbed hair, rainbow bracelets, and affinity for Ani DiFranco and Brandi Carlile songs was obvious enough – every bit as much as Keisha’s skin tone. Naturally, that was never mentioned either.

  Quite honestly, none of the girls were truly racist or judgmental, relationships simply evolved as they did; although Courtney felt she obviously deserved to be a tad selective. The rain, however, was not. It continued to douse all the tents, and the entire campground, with complete, unbiased equality.

  Chapter 3 – Rock-a-Bye Baby

  Olivia endured the downpour high up in the tower, alone. Normally, she would have started down when the first few raindrops hit the window, but she was preoccupied. So much had transpired in the past months, it was almost impossible to process.

  It just seemed like yesterday she was taking her last exam, wondering if she’d get any job whatsoever; then, finding the position online, and searching for Oscoda on a map. She could never have imagined everything that would lead up to her scanning the horizon on such a day. Despite her apprehension, it’d been her only job offer. The interview seemed easy enough, almost too easy. Then again, there was hardly a line of recent grads eager to reduce their existence to babysitting trees. Still, she had to admit, it certainly was the ideal place to discover yourself – or, escape.

  Although a solitary existence a hundred feet off the ground may be great for reflection, it’s never wise to completely escape the present. By the time she realized that the sky was offering more than a light summer shower, it was too late. There was no leaving now. Riding the storm out, inside the dollhouse-sized interior, basically sucked; but it was far preferable to losing your footing on the slippery rungs, especially with the wind doing its best to blow you into Alcona County.

  Attempting to quell a series of vivid thoughts of impending peril, Olivia reminded herself that the tower had survived the elements since it was erected in 1931. This was hardly the first time it had slightly swayed in the wind. The engineers had most certainly accounted for whatever the weather might offer. But, as the next gust hit, Olivia dropped to the floor and hugged her knees.

  A sheet of rain slapped the windows and she shrieked.

  To calm her rising anxiety, Livvy squeezed her eyes shut. It didn’t help. She was just being silly, of course. The tower wasn’t going to blow over. The bolts weren’t going to suddenly fall out and no tree was going to smash into the side of the cabin – it was too high up. Okay, that didn’t help! Maybe a distraction would help take her mind off the increasing torrent, which most certainly was not an approaching tornado.

  Reaching into the pocket of her high-fashion green trousers, Olivia took out the gift her friend had surprised her with on their little tour. She brought the handle to her nose and inhaled the aromatic cedar. With a blade measuring only three inches, the knife was hardly formidable, but she cherished it nonetheless. Except for holidays, she couldn’t remember a single gift she’d ever received, and no one had ever bothered to worry about her welfare.

  No, she wouldn’t break her promise; she’d keep it with her always. Forest workers weren’t technically allowed to ‘carry’ but this hardly seemed to qualify. With the image of a sitting fox carved into the handle, it was obviously more souvenir than weapon.

  As rain continued to pelt the metal roof, she slid the knife back into her pocket and tried to pull her knees closer when a flash of lightning lit up the sky. And, even though she knew the thunder was soon to follow, she jumped when it boomed. Okay, this totally sucked. Even if it probably wasn’t that close, the whole inside of the tower shook.

  Even though she knew they were safe back in the cabin, she started worrying about the kits. They’d never experienced lightning before. Probably scurrying for cover this very moment, they could most certainly use a little comforting. They, of course, weren’t the only ones.

  Flinching from yet another series of gusts rocking the structure, Olivia took a quick survey of the windows. Considering the tower’s vintage, the likelihood of safety glass seemed highly improbable. As if mocking her growing anxiety, the wind steadily increased, until it started to sound like a dystopian symphony.

  Nearly panic-stricken by the sudden sound of a tree branch slapping against the metal struts below, Olivia pulled her jacket tightly around her trembling frame. Even if she’d never been particularly religious; it seemed like a really good time to send a silent, little prayer up through the slate-gray clouds.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Olivia woke up sometime in the early hours, shivering on the tower’s floor. The rain had slowed to a slight drizzle. The world now seemed quiet and peaceful; and, every inch of her body ached. Uncurling herself on the cold surface, she staggered to her feet, bracing herself against the Osborn table. Regardless of the effort required trudging back to her cabin, she couldn’t resist the lure of her real bed any longer. The tower had no heat and the poor girl was chilled to the bones.

  Back at the cabin, she hung up her jacket and draped her knapsack over the back of the kitchen chair. Even if her eyes were the only part of her body that wasn’t sore, the rustic shack, stark as it may have been, was still a sight for sore eyes. Four, knotty-pine rooms of Home Sweet Home; the bedroom, in particular, beckoned her seductively. Before she could entertain the luxury of her inviting patchwork comforter however, babies had to be fed.

  Just as she turned to the fridge, Olivia glanced through the bathroom doorway. Two sets of amber eyes were locked onto her every move.

  “Who’s hungry,” Liv teased.

  The kits, who’d been eagerly awaiting breakfast, tumbled off the towel they’d captured and scampered toward her. No longer just two fuzzy lumps, the little canines grew even more endearing as their features developed. The demands of parenting were unrelenting, it would have been far too easy for the weary girl to simply crawl into bed. Mother Nature, however, was a clever gal. Well aware of the constant toil required, she made baby animals adorable.

  Bounding out of the bathroom, the kits greeted mom with unrestrained anticipation, mouths agape. Confronting the kit’s impish, whiskered pusses, Olivia sighed. Who could possibly ignore such darling little creatures?

  Chapter 4 – Wet Campsite Morning

  “No, I’m just saying that dating one guy at a time is unnatural,” Courtney argued.

  It wasn’t really an argument though, Stacy didn’t argue. She didn’t care if you agreed with her or not. Besides, it was bad for your karma. Courtney didn’t believe in such drivel. Karma was the kind of nonsense Jenny babbled about. She did, howev
er, agree with Stacy about arguing. Only losers argued. Courtney didn’t argue, she clarified. Cynics might accuse her discourse as being little more than a series of verbal validations, which was ridiculous. You don’t have to validate the truth.

  While Courtney continued her diatribe, Stacy focused on building their campfire. Nodding toward the pile, she said, “Nicki, bring me those twigs.”

  Nicole complied eagerly. No matter what anyone implied, she was not simply playing fetch, they were a team.

  Rather than comment on Stacy’s ever-obedient puppy, Courtney picked off the last remnants of her nail polish and continued enlightening everyone. “It’s simply a matter of balance. You never get dependent on just one.”

  It really couldn’t have been more evident. Any girl with half a brain would be foolish to ignore the advantage of supply and demand. Not that there weren’t plenty of girls out there, but false modesty was silly. Guys wanted hot chicks, models, beautiful blondes with knockout bodies, like hers – not disgusting muffin tops or warped boards.

  Stacy had learned to basically ignore Courtney’s rants. She’d heard it all before. Calling the girl on her self-righteous prattle only encouraged her. The blonde could have her soapbox, getting the fire going was enough to contend with.

  Trying to snap a branch, Stacy mumbled, “Everything’s wet.” Although her complaint wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular, Nicole offered an apology, as if the rain had somehow been her doing.

  Jennifer, who was busy hanging her things out to dry on every available tree limb, was listening to Courtney, but didn’t take her comments seriously. Jenny would never two-time anyone, and doubted that her tent-mate would either. Girls sometimes just said things to get attention.

  Courtney, however, not only two-timed, she often three-timed. If she didn’t get caught – no harm, no foul. And, all the better if she did. She understood the guy mentality; knew they were instinctively drawn to competition, which was good – it made them work all the harder.

  Meanwhile, as their conversation paused, the day unfolded, slowly erasing remnants of the storm. A mist gently rose from the ground, birds began to chirp, and the clouds thinned. The entire park seemed to delight in the rain’s blessing. Making a fire, however, proved to be an exercise in futility. Stacy finally decided the contents in the fire pit were simply too saturated and removed the entire tangled mess. In spite of the pride she took building fires strictly from nature’s offerings, she spouted, “I need some paper!”

  It was a simple exclamatory statement, hardly mean it as a command. Nicole, nevertheless stopped her search for sticks in midstride. “I’ll get some,” she chirped.

  “Does she come with a leash?” Courtney inquired, just loud enough for Stacy’s ears.

  Stacy straightened up and retied her ponytail. It was always so muggy after a summer rain; tends to shorten one’s tolerance. Besides, even though Courtney had uttered the snarky dig under her breath, cattiness toward Nicole irked her. So, even though she would have usually dismissed the girl’s bullshit, Stacy picked up the discussion, confronting the blonde’s blatant double-standard.

  “And what happens if a guy two-times you?”

  Courtney’s look was priceless. It was as if Stacy had asked what she’d do if an alien came down and landed on her head. Even though she’d obviously never considered such a possibility, she answered without hesitation, “I’d send him to a shrink – after I cut off his balls.”

  Jennifer giggled, assuming Courtney was making a joke.

  Ramona and Keisha had returned from showering, just as Nicole came back to the fire pit holding out a meager offering of newspaper to Stacy.

  “That’s all I could find,” Nikki confessed.

  Quick to show her appreciation, Stacy said, “Thanks, that’ll help.” Careful to never let it appear she was taking her for granted, she reached for the paper Nikki had scrounged. She genuinely appreciated Nicole; and yes, didn’t really mind the adoration – even if it was a bit much at times. It was understandable though, Nikki’s parents had recently divorced after they’d both used her as a pawn. You couldn’t really blame the girl’s consequent clinging – her home life had been completely shattered.

  Despite Nicole’s blatant attempts at transference, she still had a lot going for her. She was a good friend, considerate, and fiercely loyal. And, even though she’d been dumped by her boyfriend the same week as her parent’s separation, she was somehow dealing.

  Nikki might not be drop-dead, but she turned her share of heads. Her body was firm, toned and athletic. A hard worker, she was probably one of the best volleyball players Lakeview ever had. Even if her hair tended to succumb to humidity the level of that presently accumulating, bluer eyes you’d never see. And regardless of whatever Courtney might imply, Nicole was hardly a twit. Her 3.5 grade-point instantly dispelled any such nonsense. Stacy, consequently, didn’t usually feel the need to defend her friend. All the same, everyone knew there was simply a line you did not cross.

  Well aware of this, Courtney decided it best to stifle further comments and simply check her email. No matter how much Nicole’s need-to-please behavior might bug her, there was another reason why you didn’t argue with Stacy; although she was rarely caustic, when challenged, her tongue could not only reduce you to tears, it could damn near peel the makeup off your face.

  Chapter 5 – Moose Tracks

  Stacy finally managed to get a fire started, but it was pretty pathetic. It would have been nice to gather around a cozy fire pit and have the flames take the chill off as soon as everyone was up and about, but there just wasn’t enough dry kindling. Besides, they’d slept in late as it was, and the morning was nearly gone. It was starting to look like a decent day after all, and they wanted to get some sun. No camping trip would be complete, however, without sampling the hand-scooped delights in little park store, which was almost on their way to the beach.

  After everyone had finally made their selections, the girls headed out to stake a sunny spot in the sand to lay their towels. The ensuing conversation, fueled by such luscious frozen delights was considerably more congenial.

  “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” Courtney asked through the remaining mint-chocolate ice cream in her mouth.

  “As young as I am now,” Stacy answered, no trace of sarcasm in her voice.

  “Not me,” Nicole voiced without raising her head off her beach towel.

  “What?” Courtney asked, her tone overflowing with sarcasm. She wasn’t mocking the comment, just its uniqueness. Nicole obviously tried too hard, but despite what anybody thought, she did have a mind of her own. Deciding on Moose Tracks right after Stacy had, didn’t make her a copycat. Who could possibly dispute the allure of chocolate and peanut butter? Courtney however, just couldn’t pass up an easy dig.

  “Why not?” Stacy inquired, as she licked the last remnants of her breakfast from her fingers.

  “What’s wrong with growing up?” Nicole answered, reaching in her bag for her mirrored sunglasses.

  “Nothing,” Stacy admitted, “I’m just happy being who I am, now.”

  Ramona, who’d been struggling with the last line of a new poem, put down her spiral. Although her thoughts were usually confined to paper, she found their discussion intriguing, and asked, “Why do you have to change?”

  Determined to make the best of whatever sun they could get, Stacy pulled off her cover-up and gave her an expression that wasn’t really a smile. “You don’t have to, but it seems that everyone does.” Then, as if confronting the bigger picture, she vacantly readjusted her view, scanning the sparkling water all the way across to the far shore.

  College life was only weeks away. As much as they were all excited to begin a new chapter in their lives, a fair amount of apprehension lurked beneath their chatter. Their misgivings, of course, varied drastically in direction and intensity.

  “I don’t think I’ll change much,” Ramona admitted.

  Looking back, Stacy agreed, “No, you p
robably won’t.”

  The French girl didn’t take offense. The other girls had obviously known each other for quite a while. As an exchange student, she’d felt totally out of place, but they’d made a special point of inviting her. Even if her self-esteem remained predominantly intrinsic, this was the first time she’d ever felt included. Anyway, Stacy’s insight was probably quite accurate.

  “You don’t lose yourself,” Keisha chimed in. “But you do have to grow to meet new challenges. She’d been applying a healthy layer of sunblock. Contrary to Courtney’s verbal assumptions, Kiki could burn just like anyone else. Besides, her skin was already a beautiful shade of mahogany. It didn’t need to get any darker, and lotion in any form helped keep skin soft and silky.

  “You’re going to Central,” Nicole teased. “You won’t be challenged.”

  “Pay your fee and get your B,” Kiki concurred, demonstrating how much fun banter could be with no malice intended.

  “Oh right,” Courtney taunted, “I’m sure Parks and Rec. at State will be brutal!”

  “At least I’m not just going for my MRS degree,” Nicole retaliated.

  Both she and Stacy had been accepted to Michigan State with the intention of becoming Recreation majors. The trip itself had been conceived as a great way to hone some of their outdoor skills. Serious relationships, let alone marriage, being the last things on both their minds.

  “Say what you want,” Courtney countered, “But I don’t intent to waste my future on some bearded backwoods buffoon.”

  Without even looking at the blonde, Keisha asserted, “I’m sure you’ll land the richest guy in Mt. Pleasant.”