An Escape in the Forest of Darrington

in #writing6 years ago (edited)

The following story is one of my first writing attempts. It's based on the real story about the mountain man from Seattle. I'm looking forward to read your criticism.

***

The wild forest was a mile away. Frederick was almost running. He wanted to hide himself from the world in these mountain woods. The poor boy was fed up with his friends' modern habits. Always show off, chill out and be cool OR be dumb and die alone - this kind of fool's worldview has caused him a huge headache recently. Why he should hang up with people making pictures of their new shoes while walking in the park?

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The forest of Darrington is close to the town and today Frederick finally spotted it as an opportunity to escape from what has been irritating him recently at least for few hours. He stared at the Whitehorse Mountain thinking about the Mountain Man who lived there decades ago. He wish he had the chance to meet him and ask him few questions, however he simply wasn't born when the man left the woods. All that Frederick had were the memories from the countless stories of his parents. Once they really met him. He also had the Seattle Times publication printed and put on the wall in his room.

For years, people in the Darrington area have known about an older man who lived alone on Whitehorse Mountain... he was able to declare the whole article and now he was doing it once again.

The exercise has interrupted the accumulated anger against his modernistic friends' habits. He really couldn't stand people who were in love with themselves, all the time seeking for attention and approval.

Selfie sticks, glasses in various colors, dogs clothes, and even hair gel for their dogs - it was all serving their Instagram profiles.

Frederick was a simple boy. He wasn't into social media and logically he didn't have Instagram and a fancy phone. What he was really interested in was literature. Writing was his hobby. There were hundreds of files stored in his notebook. Text files containing all the stories he has heard from his parents and the old people from the town.

Frederick was already in the forest enjoying the pure nature around him. It was now only him and the forest - no selfie sticks, no Instagram, nothing! The captivating silence was spread everywhere around him. Few birds birds were whistling - the only sound interrupting the unique atmosphere.

Soon he followed the birds' song trying to recall the right tones of his favorite childhood song. And then he suddenly saw him. An old man walking among the trees. It was about 300 feet straight from the place he was standing. Frederick started trembling. He quickly bent. Did the old man saw him? Did he hear him whistling? He was scared, but not in a way to completely lose his mind.

There was a choice. To keep staring at the man from that distance or to quickly get back to the road to Darrington. Unfortunately he didn't have a chance to make a decision.

On the nearby rock a huge brown bear has just appeared with her family - two small bears.

Image source

The babies were playing around their mother while she was sniffing the area, probably looking for more food. The old man saw the animals, slowed down and started walking in another direction. The man's escape plan was good enough, however he had to pass through Frederick's stash.

The meeting was inevitable. In 30 short seconds the old man appeared and saw him. He only said: 'Don't stay here. It's dangerous. Follow me' and then kept on walking. Without thinking to much Frederick followed him.

'WOW! Is this the mountain man?', thoughts were rushing in Frederick's head. He was both curious and slightly frightened.

Half an hour later both men were sitting on a huge log taking a rest from their quick walk.

'Now we can speak, but please do not speak loudly', said the man.

'Do you live in the woods sir?', was the boy's first question.

'Yes', a short answer came.

'Are you the mountain man, sir?', He couldn't resist the temptation.

'What do you mean?', then man replied with a question.

Frederick has just realized that the man wasn't aware of that term coined by the media. He decided to change the topic and quickly introduced himself. His name was Michael.

They didn't continue their conversation for too long and soon he had to leave. He liked listening, but didn't share a lot about himself. The last thing he said is: 'Do not share with people that you've seen me.'

The boy returned at Darrington. Now he had all the needed ingredients to write a whole new exciting story. He said himself that he will write it and won't share it with anyone. Ah, but how he could keep his mouth shut when all people in the town and the whole area thought that the Mountain Man was captured 20 years ago!

I just saw him. Everyone here is wrong.

'Yes - this was him' ... 'Otherwise he wouldn't want to forbid him sharing that I have met him in the forest' - these thoughts couldn't get out of Frederick's head. He had to do something about it, however the only thing he did for the next few hours is staring at the Whitehorse Mountains through the window of his house at Stillaguamish Ave.

That was a real disaster for a writer - he had to hold the story for himself only.

***

Somehow two weeks has passed like few days. The boy couldn't stop thinking about his meeting with the man in the woods.

In the meantime, Frederick decided to give his friends another chance. Everything was the same, but this time for his own surprise Instagram and the selfie sticks didn't irritate him so much anymore.

***

One day he was getting back home when he saw his friends holding a newspaper and talking loudly. What he discovered a minute later is his forest friend's picture at the middle of an article. His name was Michael indeed. Michael Maynard. He was found dead at the Sauk River. Frederick was disappointed. He wasn't that legendary Mountain Man. Michael Maynard was a local carpenter from Tulker who has lost his wife and two grandsons 2 years ago at a car accident. Police was looking for him for the past year and half. His daughter Judy has recognized his body.

'What has happened with this man?', although the disappointment Frederick was looking for answers. The boy tried to recall the hour they spent together in the woods last month. Probably Michael was trying to settle a new beginning at a new place... He was probably trying to forget his fault or even more - trying to forgive himself.

***

Frederick wasn't given the chance to learn the real facts that day. What he had remembered for the rest of his life though is that running away from himself is just a temporary solution against the source that's causing a pain. The sooner we face our issues and enemies the better. That's what makes us real men. Michael was a big man too - a day before his heart stopped beating he heard God's voice. He was now forgiven for the lack of attention during the car accident. He was found with a smile on his face.

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What, The forest of Darrington! Good to knew about it, thank you man.
Good Luck
Thanks again.

I simply love your articles, what great content and quality of posting you offer the community here on Steemit and abroad.

Thanks a lot :)

I don't really believe you.

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I liked the end. And people clicking photos everywhere is so damn annoying! It would've been cool if he was the legendary Mountain Man though :)

Thanks for reading @stelmar!

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