GRAY FOX

 Judy sat on a log as she excitedly sips her hot coco. Wood started to cackle and the smell of roasting ribs permeated in the air. Crickets were chirping, wolves were howling and an owl hooted from a distance. It’s been a long time since she went camping, but she’s doing it again now, at last.

“Ow, ow, ow!” Dennis yelled. Bits of flame flew near his hand as he fanned the flames on the bonfire too hard.

“Dad, you okay?” Judy said.

“I’m fine honey, are you okay?” Dennis answered back. CLICK! He pushed the button of his old Ipod attached to a speaker. All the forest sounds stopped, replaced by a distant zooming of cars hurrying in the freeway.

“You okay, sis?” Clyde asked from the barbecue pit. He’s a lanky senior high student with thick glasses, flipped a barbecue rib with extreme caution.

“Everything alright, girl?” Annie, her cousin, inquired while cutting veggies for the salad. They’re both on 8^th grade this year, even though they go to different schools.

Judy sighed. “Yeah… I’m fine.”

She’s a bit tired of them treating her like glass that could shatter any moment, just because she’s blind. She lost her eyesight the day she was born but she liked the outdoors like her mom, Janice, who died two years ago. Janice used to bring her out in the forest for a stroll, but now that she’s gone, Judy hasn’t been in the wild since. Her dad has a hectic schedule at work, and her brother is too busy studying. They treat her like a princess and doesn’t allow her to go camping, saying it’s too dangerous for her. Judy understands that they don’t have Janice’s skills to guide her. The only forest Dennis and Clyde venture in was in the Forbidden Forest in The Lord of the Rings Online.

Even though they’re just camping in their suburban backyard, she’s thankful for their effort. Ever since the power outage was announced, Dennis and her older brother, Clyde, made plans for the backyard camp. She knows that her tech savvy dad is not the most skilled when it comes to these kinds of stuff, and her brother never really liked the wild. They were doing it just for her, but sometimes, she would appreciate it if they could realize that she’s not that fragile and there’s so much more that she can offer.

BLIP! Clyde’s phone beeps.

“I told you, Clyde, there’s no internet in the depths of the Amazon,” Dennis said, as he struggled to shape the small bonfire into a triangle.

“Yeah, dad. Just double-checking the weather. There’s a public service announcement from the home owners association – beware of burglars and mind your candles to prevent fires.”

“Uh… yeah, got that one, too, just this morning.”

Clyde started walking back to the house to put his Iphone away. “Don’t forget to close the door,” Dennis added without looking.

Clyde enters the house but Judy didn’t hear the click. He forgot to close it again. He often does that and even invited a possum once. Nobody seemed to notice that he left he door ajar. Judy stood up and her bare feet caressed the wild grass. One-two-three-four… she counted every step until the twelfth one gave a different texture of the concrete walkway. She turned right and traversed with ease. She had memorized every pots and plants and knew her way around by counting her steps. She reached the door and closed them, and went back to the fake log where she was sitting without anyone knowing. Her watch blips. It’s 6pm and darkness will envelop everyone else in a bit.

After they ate dinner, they huddled outside their tent, around a feeble light of the pitiful looking bonfire while toasting mallows on a stick. It was time to tell scary stories. Dennis told a story about a sly gray fox that outwitted the hunters that was chasing it, leading them to a den of wolves as the fox was weak to hunt during the day and he’s used to move around the forest at night.

“That’s not a scary story,” Judy protested. “Campfire stories should be creepy with uhm… ghost and stuff.”

Clyde did a better job with the ghost of a headless man that supposedly haunts the school, and the mystery that surrounds the locked room that should never be opened. Judy and Annie liked his story better, and even Dennis clapped.

Annie told a story about Skinwalker Ranch that she watched on Youtube and Judy told them about a demonic possession in a summer camp that resulted in the death of two students and a camp councilor. Judy’s story scared all of them and signaled the end of the campfire stories. Judy prepared well for her story by listening to scary podcasts a few days ago. It took no effort to put the bonfire out and Dennis kissed her on the forehead as she went to the girls’ tent with Annie.

Judy was lightly asleep when she felt Annie tugging her on the side. Judy thought Annie was up for a late night gossip about boys.

“There’s someone in the house!” Annie croaked.

“C’mon, Annie. Campfire stories is over,” Judy said, dismissively.

“No, I’m not joking. There’s someone in your house right now!” Annie whispered. The fear in her voice was palpable. She was looking at three tall figures in the house with flashlights, looking around for valuables.

“You mean we’re getting robbed?!” Judy exclaimed.

“Shhh! Keep it down,” Annie whispered. “Let’s call the police, they’ll be here in a jiffy.”

“You know all our phones are inside the house right now, right?”

“Dang it. Let’s go to your dad’s tent.”

Judy and Annie crawled to the boys’ tent and learned that they’re awake as well. Nervously looking at the thieves.

“There’s three of ‘em,” Dennis said.

“It’s my fault for wanting to go camping,” Judy said at once.

“No, Annie should’ve pocketed her phone like I said,” Clyde said.

“What?! You probably forgot to lock the front door, Einstein,” Annie snapped.

“Shush! It’s no ones fault, damn it! It’s probably mine, but it’s not important right now!” Dennis said. “We’re probably fine right here. They think no one’s in the house and they’re not gonna snoop around in the backyard. Let them get what they want, they’ll leave soon enough. As long as we’re safe.”

They all went quiet. Dennis was right. The thieves were like six-foot tall and the only adult on their side was Dennis, who was not build to fight and a foot shorter. They should just keep quiet and let the thieves go in and out. But it was still painful to watch your house get robbed without being able to do anything about it.

“It was actually a good thing that we went camping here huh,” Dennis said, smiling. “If we were inside the house when… this happens. Things can get a bit...”

“Iffy,” Judy finished his sentence. She knows that her dad was only making things lighter for them to bear.

Moments of silence as the three watched.

“Are they done?” Judy asked. She hated not being able to see, especially now.

“No, they’re going- No not there, you imbeciles!” Dennis said.

“Why? What’s happening?” Judy asked.

“These suckers are going up in the store room where we put mom’s stuff!” Clyde said angrily.

“That’s it! I’m gonna scare them away. Everyone, stay put!” Dennis said.

He bolted outside before they could protest. Judy felt her heart pumping out of her sweaters.

“Damn it, dad’s in their escape path, I gotta warn him,” Clyde runs out to the tent.

Judy was so scared and desperate. She remembered the day her mom died. She was in the hospital room with her family, unable to tell what’s happening. She only realized her mom was gone when her dad started to cry. She absolutely hated it. Not being able to tell what’s happening, the feeling of absolute powerlessness.

Suddenly, Annie stifled a scream. “Uncle Dennis, NO!” Followed by the sound of breaking China.

Judy cannot take it anymore and crawled out of the tent before Annie could grab her back. She’s not going to let anyone harm her dad. Judy maneuvered in the backyard with ease. She got inside the house nimbly and as silent as a shadow. It gave her confidence. She then remembered that there’s no electricity and the entire house was dark. This was her domain, the darkness that she had lived her entire life. She had memorized every nook and cranny of their home, and right now, she can move like she’s only one who can see.

Judy heard the struggle between her dad and one of the robbers. She moved past them without being seen, going straight to a shelf in the living room where she puts her stuff, including her phone, then pulled out the portable speaker she smuggled outside the tent and connected them. She gave instructions to Siri, to play police sounds, and soon enough…

“GET DOWN ON THE GROUND, NOW!” Followed by the clacking of guns and gunshots. The thieves ran out the house in an instant.

The commotion woke their neighbors and it didn’t take long until police cars were parked in front of their house. They all gave their statement and the cops were impressed by Judy’s quick thinking that probably saved her dad’s life. The thieves weren’t able to take anything and the police assured them that they will patrol tonight to prevent more break-ins.

The rest of the night went crazy fast. Judy talked to numerous people and she even heard familiar voices of the neighbors who went out to check up on them. The dust settled and they go back in the house. They still cannot believe what happened, and after Judy’s bravery and resourcefulness, they see her now in a different light.

“So, are we still going to sleep in the backyard?” Clyde asked.

“Of course,” Judy answered. “We’re still in the middle of Amazon, right, dad?”

“Yeah, but let’s bring our phones to be sure. I didn’t know that there we’re thieves that would steal your TV in the middle of the forest.”

They all laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Can I have a hot coco before we go to sleep?” Judy asked.

“Of course,” Dennis answered.

Before he could move to make her some, Judy counted her steps towards the pantry and starts making hot coco by herself.

Crickets were chirping, wolves were howling, owls were hooting, and a police siren screams from a distance. Judy sat on the fake log and sips her hot coco. She picked her phone and turned the volume of the forest sounds up.

“Don’t stay up too late… my little gray fox,” Dennis said as he kissed her on the forehead and went to his own tent.

Judy’s heart felt warmer than her drink. Annie sat beside her and started telling the latest gossip into the wee hours of the morning.