“What’s going on?” he inquired. “Don’t you want to swim with the others?”
“I-i-i-I’m f-f-fine.” Mica stuttered. “I-i-I’m just going to play on my l-l-laptop.”
Clifford calmly watched him shuffle through his luggage until he found his laptop and pulled it out.
“I heard what you yelled at your cousins just now,” he said with a deep frown. “I don’t like for you to talk that way, and I hope you don’t mean it.”
“Would serve them right,” Mica mumbled uncomfortably.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa.”
Still concerned but not knowing what the problem was, Clifford wisely left the boy in the room and headed toward the pool.
Mica began to compose an email his friends. It was so much easier putting his thoughts into words on the computer than having to say them out loud.
He addressed his note to all four of friends that made up his band.
Hey Guys:
How is everything there in El Paso? It is really boring here. I wish my folks had let me bring my guitar. My cousins are awful, except Opal. She plays the piano and we have music in common. The rest of them are real losers. Plus they make fun of my stutter. Not when the grownups are around of course, then they are nice as pie.
We did our first hike today. It was interesting enough I guess. I was the one that found the cache. Now they are all swimming in the pool. One of the idiots pulled me under so they found out I can’t swim. That is another thing they can tease me about. None of them like me, but I don’t care. I don’t like them either.
Mica
Later that night when everyone was asleep, Mica quietly slipped out of bed and cautiously opened the door. He paused when the hinges creaked, then when no one stirred he sneaked outside. He’d gone to bed wearing his swim trunks for pjs. Now he was determined to enjoy some time alone in the pool.
The gate to the pool area should have been locked but it wasn’t. There was a young man swimming in the pool. Mica almost turned around and fled, but changed his mind.
“What do I care if a stranger knows I can’t swim,” he thought to himself as he continued to the shallow end of the pool and walked down the steps.
The man gave a casual wave before swimming a few more laps. Mica paddled about in the shallow end. The man finished his laps and swam toward the steps at the shallow end.
“Hey there,” he said as he settled onto the step with water up to his waist. “My name is Rocky. I just arrived today. You been here long?”
“We arrived yesterday,” Mica volunteered. “We will be here for a whole week of hiking.”
“Your whole family is here?” Rocky asked.
“Not my parents. I’m here with my grandpa, my five cousins and some other grownups.”
“What’s your name?” Rocky inquired.
“Mica. Mica Warren.”
“How come you’re out here swimming so late by yourself?”
“I-i-I like being alone,” Mica said suddenly feeling nervous.
“M-m-My c-c-cousins tease me about st-st-stuttering. I had to get away for a while.”
“You weren’t stuttering a minute ago,” Rocky pointed out. “You only stutter when you are nervous or angry?
Mica nodded.
“Practice relaxation techniques and you won’t stutter. Then they won’t have anything to ridicule you about.”
“I-i-i-I think this treasure hunting stuff is stupid,” Mica commented, trying to get off the sore subject of stuttering.
“What treasure?” Rocky asked with interest. “Is there a hidden treasure here in Big Bend? I haven’t heard of any.”
“N-n-Not that I-i-I know of,” Mica snorted at the idea of finding a real treasure. “This is a wild scheme our g-g-grandmother thought up. S-s-She hid some b-b-bottles for us to f-f-find.”
“Anything valuable in the bottles?” Rocky inquired, an evil look in his eyes.
“N-n-Nothing r-r-really, we just have to find them all so we can inherit our t-t-trust f-f-f-funds before we turn twenty-five. I-i-i-I just want to go home and play guitar with the band I’m in. Those guys are my friends, not these c-c-creepy cousins.” Mica complained. He jumped onto the side of the pool and stood up.
He stomped off without another word.
Rocky watched his retreating back until he disappeared.
At the breakfast table the next morning Clifford had everyone get out their GPS and check to make sure they had the coordinates for the day’s hike input correctly. He walked around the table sipping his cup of coffee while checking to see if anyone needed help, but the teenagers had caught on quickly.
Just like the day before, Clifford told his grandchildren to form a straight line and did a pack inspection before they loaded up and headed out.
Myron drove them to the trailhead for the Chimneys Trail. They had passed it the day before on the way to Mule Ears. It was right on the side of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. He dropped them off with the same promise of being back in a couple of hours.
Everyone shouldered their packs, settled their hats on their head and picked up their walking sticks and waited for Amber to lead out.
“Where is the trail Grandpa?” she asked hesitantly.
Yesterday’s trail through the desert had been fairly plain. The trail today was not as easy to spot. Because of the solid rocks it was just a faint worn line. Her grandfather pointed out a rock formation off in the distance.
“That’s our destination,” he told them. “Even if we get off the trail a little our turn around point is clearly visible.”
Amber headed out at a slow pace trying to follow the faint trail. It was even warmer today than yesterday and Clifford reminded everyone to drink plenty of water. During one of the water stops Amber pointed out some plants about three foot tall with blooms on the end.
“What is the pretty cactus with the red blooms called?” she asked
“Remember the Candlewood I told you about yesterday? This is it, this is what happens if there is enough moisture. Doesn’t it look like a candle with the bloom on the end like that?” her grandfather asked.
“If we remember we can Google it when we get back to our rooms,” Crystal said as they started out again along the trail.
As the walk progressed the Chimneys seemed to rise up out of the desert floor. Soon they arrived at the Chimneys, where the trail split in several directions.
Amber looked at her GPS. “It looks like we need to head this way,” she said pointing toward a large overhanging rock further west.
“Okay, we’re at the coordinates,” Amber said. “Let’s spread out and find the bottle.”
Below the overhanging rock was a rock wall that looked like it might have been a building at one time. Garnet went inside.
“Hey everyone come look at this,” he called.
They came over and looked at what appeared to be grinding stones.
“You think this is Indian stuff?” He asked his grandfather.
“Could be,” Clifford said. “Don’t disturb them.”
The search moved on and Flint came upon a small spring but no bottle was discovered near it either.
The adults watched the teenagers search until Crystal squealed, “Snake!”
She felt a rush of adrenaline and her heart raced at a frantic pace. She slowly backed away and the three adults cautiously approached. A rattlesnake was coiled near the base of a prickly pear cactus about four feet directly in front of Crystal.
“Everyone just stand still,” Clifford quietly ordered.
After what seemed like an eternity to Crystal the snake uncoiled and crawled away.
“You weren’t in eminent danger,” Ava said placing a comforting arm around Crystal. “The snake never rattled.”
The search for the bottle resumed with everyone on the watch for more snakes. Garnet finally located the cache behind a nearby boulder. Ava again assembled the teenagers near their g
randfather and took the picture of Amber holding the bottle to prove they were all there when it was found.
Amber opened the bottle and read aloud the information about the next day’s hike.
“Garnet will be the leader of the next hike. It will be on the Cattail Falls Trail. Latitude: 29.2735334 / Longitude: -103.3346215,” Amber replaced the note in the bottle and tucked it into her backpack.
They found places to sit, removed their shoes and rummaged in their backpacks for snacks. Ava made good use of the opportunity and snapped pictures of the group and also the scenery. The teenagers had gotten used to her constant picture taking and had given up trying to hide from the camera. As Ava come over Crystal stopped chewing on her apple and smiled for the camera.
“Ms Ava,” Amber addressed the photographer. “May I use your photographs so I can draw sketches?
“Of course you can,” Ava replied with a smile. “I plan to give everyone a set of pictures. You can all make a scrapbooks.”
A flash of blue caught her attention and Ava turned her camera to capture pictures of two Mexican Blue Jays came calling to beg for food. Clifford told them not to feed the birds and before long they gave up and flew away in search of other hikers to beg from.
When the rest period was over they made the return trip in good spirits. They had begun to enjoy the camaraderie of the hikes. They could see the van waiting for them at the trailhead.
Garnet ran up to his dad. “We saw a rattlesnake today!” he exclaimed a little breathlessly.
“It looks like everyone is okay,” his dad said looking over the group.
“Oh yah. Crystal saw it before anyone got close. It never even rattled. We stood still and it crawled away.”
“So what is tomorrow’s destination so I can find the trailhead?” Myron asked Amber.
“It’s Cattail Falls,” she said, “and Garnet is the leader.”
The teens that could swim again opted for an afternoon at the pool. After some coaxing by his Grandfather, Mica finally consented to at least hang out by the pool. He took a hand held game along and didn’t get in the water. He sat at a table in the shade under an umbrella and played games, pretending he wasn’t watching his cousins having fun in the pool.
Amber and Opal talked Ava into taking them over to the gift shop area and they headed out. Opal was on a mission. She planned to buy a pair of scissors and cut her hair. She wanted to join the pool fun, but she was afraid to tell anyone for fear they would make her call her mother first.
The three walked around enjoying themselves and Opal found what she was looking for. A sewing kit, complete with a set of small shears. She quickly purchased the item.
“This will make a nice gift for my mom, don’t you think?” she asked Ava. “She likes to sew.”
Ava nodded and they continued to look around. Opal now wanted to get back to her room so she professed a headache. Ava agreed to let her lay down in their room, making sure she locked the door. Then she and Amber continued on to the pool to join the others.
Opal quickly set to work. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror she cut off her hair in great gobs. It was crooked and too short in spots but she didn’t care. She cleaned up the hair scattered on the bathroom floor and ran her fingers through her shorn locks. She smiled at herself and looking like a little pixie she changed into her swimsuit and went to join her cousins at the pool.
Just before she left the room she grabbed her phone and took a selfie and sent it to her mother.
At the pool everyone ignored her as she came up. They didn’t recognize her. She dove into the pool coming up next to Crystal.
“What do you think?” she asked her cousin who looked at her in surprise.
“Oh my gosh!” Crystal said. “What have you done? Your mother will kill you!”
“Maybe she will just be relieved that she doesn’t have to blow it dry for me every time I take a bath,” Opal responded as she swam away.
Crystal called to her brother, “Look at Opal!”
Everyone’s eyes swiveled to look at the girl swimming toward the shallow end and the steps. Opal climbed out of the pool and headed toward the adults seated nearby.
“Well that solves the identity problem,” her grandfather chuckled. “Looks a little ragged, but I like it!”
“I think I could even it up but if I do it will get even shorter,” Ava said, inspecting Opals handiwork.
“I wanted to be able to swim and those braids were hot and heavy while hiking too,” Opal tried to explain.
Amber took to the idea right away.
“Can I borrow your scissors?” she asked Opal.
Turning to Ava she asked, “Will you cut my hair for me?”
“Let’s go call you mother,” Ava suggested.
“It is better to ask forgiveness than permission,” Opal spouted off and Amber agreed.
“Well don’t tell you mother I did it,” Ava said as she and the girls headed back toward the rooms.
“So much for telling them apart,” Evan said to Clifford as they went out the gate.
As they approached their rooms Ava grabbed Amber’s arm and halted the group. The door to Myron and Clifford’s room stood wide open.
“Opal, go get your grandfather and tell them to hurry,” she quickly directed.
Soon the whole group came rushing up.
Myron motioned for everyone else to stay back and cautiously approached the open door and peeked inside. The bed was made, the towels had been changed and everything looked in order. He motioned that it was okay and the rest of them came to look inside.
“Anything look out of place?” Evan asked with concern.
“Looks the same to me,” Clifford said and Myron nodded agreement.
Myron opened their closet and the suitcases stored inside appeared unmoved. He placed his suitcase on the bed and unzipped it to look inside. His laptop was still there. That was the only thing of value that had been left in the room.
Clifford shooed everyone off to dress for dinner. On the way to the café they stopped by the resort office and Clifford made a report about the open door.
The on duty clerk was most apologetic. He said he’d make sure the cleaning lady who took care of their rooms was reprimanded for leaving the door open.
“Please make sure this doesn’t happen again!” Clifford said.
After dinner, Amber reminded Ava that she’d promised to cut her hair.
“I’m sorry,” Ava said. “The door being open swept that right out of my mind. Come on, sit here and I’ll do my best to give you an even haircut.”
Amber complied and within a short time her hair was cut into a cute bob, longer than Opals pixie cut.
The morning of the third day at the resort, the alarms went off as usual. However, when Evan rolled out of bed and glanced toward Mica’s bed to see if he was moving, he saw the bed was empty.
He quickly slipped on his clothes and shoes and stepped outside into the cool desert air.
“Mica!” he called hoping the boy had just woke up early and had stepped outside.
He walked over to the pool area but the gate was locked, and Mica wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
He quickly returned to the rooms and knocked on the door of Clifford and Myron’s room.
“I can’t find Mica anywhere,” he informed them. “He was already up and gone when the alarm went off.”
“What do you mean you can’t find him?” Clifford demanded in alarm.
“He’s not in the room, and he’s not down by the pool.”
Clifford brushed past Evan and called, “Mica! Where are you Mica!”
His force raised in alarm he attracted the rest of the group, and they all came out to help with the search.
“If this is some kind of joke,” Myron said heatedly, “It’s not very funny.”
“Where could he have gone,” Opal asked in concern.
“I’ve already checked down by the pool,” E
van repeated his earlier report.
“Did you try his cell phone?” Clifford asked. At Evan’s head shake to the negative, Clifford got out his phone and quickly punched in Mica’s number. They could hear it ringing in the room inside.
“Damn! Spread out and look,” Clifford ordered. “Don’t wander off by yourself though, we don’t want to have to look for anymore lost people. Make sure you have your cell phones on, and call me if you find him.”
The men headed over toward the golf course, while the boys headed down toward the stables. Ava and the girls headed over toward the café in the Main Lodge.
Shortly thereafter Clifford’s phone rang. It was Garnet calling.
“We found him,” Garnet said much to his grandfather’s relief. “We are headed back to the rooms now.”
Evan passed the news on to Ava and soon everyone was back in front of the rooms awaiting Mica’s arrival.
Soon the three boys appeared. Mica looking unperturbed by the stir he’d caused.
“I overheard some of the workers talking about a new litter of German Shepherd puppies that was down at the stables,” he managed to explain before his grandfather could start yelling at him.
“I woke up early so I headed down to take a look. I lost track of time while playing with them,” he continued. “I’m sorry I upset everyone.”
His grandfather pulled him close for a quick hug.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” he said releasing him. “Don’t go off alone again.”
Mica nodded in agreement as they split up to their rooms to finish getting ready.
“Do you think I could buy one of the puppies and take it home when we leave?” he asked Evan as they got ready.
“You’re going to have to call home and get your parent’s permission on that one,” Evan said. “But I’m sure there would be room in the van for a small dog if they agree.”
The breakfast, inspection and loading up for the drive was uneventful. Myron again headed out on Ross Maxwell Road southward. As the van approached a ranch on the right hand side of the road a few miles into the Park Myron saw the turn out on the left hand side but he was driving too fast. He braked after passing it and quickly made a U-turn. He returned to the wilderness road and pulled over to unload his passengers.
“Have a great hike,” he said. “See you back here in two hours.”