Camping Trip

Caleb has never been camping until today. He wasn’t much of an outdoorsy kid. He found comfort on the couch with his controllers in his hands. He found train models soothing and knew every single dinosaur known to man. He wrote the story for his comic books, while his only two friends drew them. He wore prescription glasses and wore suspenders instead of belts because it made him think of his grandpa. His grandpa was a quiet but intelligent man. His work as a paleontologist intrigued Caleb and he was determined to follow in the man’s footsteps. This was how Uncle Jack convinced Caleb to go camping with him. He said he’d found a dinosaur bone while hiking out in the woods. It was a secret spot Jack had found by accident, a small island up north. He had taken a drive to clear his mind and found peace in nowhere. There was a small wooden bridge that went over the lake and all Caleb could see were trees. They pulled into a small clearing with red dirt and huge boulders.

“It’s about time,” Jack said as he grabbed the tents from the back of the pickup truck. “You’re fourteen. You should’ve gone a million times by now. Plus, it’s your parent’s anniversary. It’s nice that they can have some time to themselves.” Jack looked up and saw Caleb eagerly looking around the campsite.

“Are you even listening?” Jack asked.

“So where did you find that dinosaur bone? And where did you put it?” Caleb asked. “I still haven’t seen it.”

Jack shrugged and rolled his eyes. “I put it back. So we can find it again.” The lie rolled off his lips easily and the gullible teenager ate it up.

“I wonder what kind it came from. I have my guesses, but I’d have to see it to be sure. I wish grandpa was here. He’d know.”

Jack nodded in agreement. He didn’t really get along with the man, but it would have been nice to have his dad here with them.

“So when can we start looking for it?” Caleb tucked his fingers under his suspenders and leaned forward. If it were up to him, they would already be looking for the skeletal treasure.

“After we set up camp. Now help me with these tents.” With patient instruction, Caleb weaved the poles through the fabric and pounded the stakes in. He wiped his brow with a smile and turned to his uncle for praise. Before Jack could open his mouth, there was suddenly a loud shriek that made the both of them jump.

“Must have been a bird,” Jack said, quickly dismissing the noise. “Solid job on the tent.” He pulled at the corners to test it. “Won’t be blowing away from us.” He laughed and ruffled Caleb’s blond hair.

They got their fishing gear and walked down a dirt path to the lake. Caleb has also never been fishing before. He wasn’t excited for the activity, but Jack seemed more than ready to cast out, so Caleb went along with it. He didn’t want to admit that he was having fun with this new adventure. He still preferred his Lego sets but he believed his uncle when he said this would be good for him.

Jack explained how to fish in small broken sentences. Caleb tried to follow along, but refused to hook the bait. Jack sighed, thinking this would be easier if Caleb was his son. He would’ve taught him in diapers. After three failed attempts, Jack showed Caleb how to cast and watched as the bobber bounced on top of the water. They sat in silence for a moment. Caleb took in a deep breath of the fresh air around him and smiled. The leaves were barely changing color, mostly green with hints of red and yellows. The water was a murky green with weeds sticking out by the shore. The boat rocked gently in the wind.

“What if we catch a Tylosaurus?”

“A what?” asked Jack.

“Tylosaurus,” Caleb repeated, “This giant water dinosaur.” He chuckled at the thought. “It wouldn’t even fit in this boat.”

“Well,” Jack replied, not sure what to say. Jack knew about baseball and action movies. He always had dirt under his nails and a permanent five o’clock shadow. He would often research like volcanoes and superheroes before he came over, but it still felt forced. He tried to picture what a Tylosaurus would look like and settled on the image of a large catfish. He loved catching catfish.

“Let’s focus on the trout. I bet they are easier to cook.” Air moved out of his nose in a snort as he smiled. Caleb nodded and casted his rod again. Jack nodded in approval. They spent the next hour talking about all the creatures that could dwell in water besides fish and what they would do if they caught one.

“We’ll definitely have to eat it,” Jack said. “Take a picture too, so your friends believe you.” Caleb laughed at the thought. That’s when the boat tipped sharply to the right. They both released a gasp and grabbed onto the railing of the boat.

“What was that?” Jack asked, peering into the water. The boat jerked again to the left this time and the bow dropped underneath the waves. It popped back up and stayed still for a moment. Caleb noticed some bubbles rising to the surface not far from where the boat was. It looked like the water was boiling.

“Maybe we’re done fishing?” Caleb asked with a quiver in his voice. Jack nodded. He was frustrated that they were taunted with bites, but no fish. His nerves got the best of him and he didn’t know how to swim. This was also when he realized Caleb didn’t have a life jacket. He held his breath and jumped on the engine. They made their way to shore. Caleb looked behind the boat and saw ripples of water chasing after them. He stared at the bubbles until Jack docked the boat on the sandy shore and they both hopped out quickly.

They returned to camp, soaked. Jack suggested they change and collect firewood for the night. Caleb was excited for S’mores. He’s never had one. He was also curious about the process of creating fire. He’s looked online before the trip, taking notes on camping so he was prepared. He unfortunately left his notebook on the counter in the kitchen at home. Jack insisted that they didn’t need it.

Caleb put on his blue windbreaker and a pair of jeans. Jack had his favorite flannel on and cargo pants. Caleb tied on Jack’s old hiking boots and put on his backpack. It was empty, except for a bottle of water, but it made him feel like he was actually hiking. He followed his uncle into the woods. They walked along a trail that followed the creek.

“So,” Jack broke the silence, “How’s school?” Jack was, in his opinion, not the best uncle in the world. He did his best, but he felt like he could always do more.

“Fine, I guess,” Caleb said.

“Do…you…still like science?” Jack asked.

Caleb nodded and kicked a rock that was in the path. It bounced down a bit and then hopped into the grass. “I’m always going to like science, Uncle Jack. I like Spanish too.”

“Those kids still bothering you?” Caleb shrugged and kept walking. “I could teach you how to fight. I was captain on my wrestling team back in school. I could show you a thing or too.”

“Dad said violence never solved anything,” Caleb said. Jack rolled his eyes.

“You’d be surprised at how often your dad would beat me up,” Jack said, “He had a great right hook.” Caleb raised his eyebrows. His dad was the manager of a bank and never once raised a hand to him or his mother. He was a big guy, but gentle.

There was another loud screech that shook the leaves. They stopped for a moment and looked around. It sounded closer than the last one and less like a bird.

“Another bird?” Caleb asked. Jack nodded and gestured forward in silence. They came across a clearing and began collecting sticks and broken branches. Caleb’s eyes widened as he peered through the blades of grass and saw a little footprint in the mud.

“Uncle Jack, look!” he called. He moved the blades of grass out of the way and pointed to a three toed print. It was just a little larger than Caleb’s palm, with triangular tips and a wide base. Like a misshapen ‘W’. “It looks just like a dinosaur footprint. Is this where you found the bone?” Caleb asked eagerly. He turned his head around him, looking for clues.

Jack took a look at the print and touched it with his finger. “It’s fresh.” He said. Jack used to hunt with an old college buddy of his. He never killed anything, but he found he had a skill for tracking. “I’ve never seen a print like this before,” he confessed. “I don’t know what this is…”

“If you had to guess?” Caleb pressed him.

“A lizard?” Jack said with a shake of his head. “A really big lizard.”

The bushes behind them moved. Caleb jumped and froze, staring at the leaves of the bush. They remained still. Jack went to inspect, but returned with nothing. He looked up at the sky and sighed. “Let’s get this firewood and go back. It’s getting dark.”

Caleb let out a small sigh as he placed the logs on top of each other. He was careful to place them just right and Jack waited patiently for his turn. Once the base was complete to Caleb’s liking, Jack placed smaller twigs and kindling in the middle. Within seconds, and the use of a small firestarter, they had flames. They roasted hotdogs and Caleb had his very first S’more.

“So, what do you think?” Jack asked, “Good, huh?”

Caleb shrugged. “They’re messy.” He pressed his fingers together and watched as the marshmallow goo pulled apart from his skin. He didn’t like being sticky. He wiped the goo on his jeans and looked up at the stars.

“I wish I knew about the stars,” Caleb said with a slight sigh.

Jack scoffed. “You know about everything else, but not the stars?” Caleb shrugged.

“We don’t have stars in the city.”

“Okay well,” Jack pointed to the sky, “That, of course, is the big dipper.” He moved his finger to another constellation, “That’s Orion, he was a hunter. And that big glowing dot right there is Betelgeuse and that…well, that’s weird.”

“What?” Caleb asked. He looked at where Jack was pointing and realized there was a huge black spot in the night sky. It also appeared to be moving. Closer. That’s when they felt it. It started small and subtle at first, a little rumble in the earth’s crust, like being awoken gently. Then, it got louder and shook a bit more intensely.

“What’s happening?” Caleb said with fear in his voice. “Uncle Jack?” he whimpered. They heard the screech again. It was so loud that they had to cover their ears. They stood, Jack placing Caleb behind him. The creature was so close now, its silhouette nearly covered the entire sky. Caleb gasped as the creature lowered its head to the flames. It opened its wide jaws to show its sharp teeth. It roared in their faces and stomped its massive foot. Spit flew out of its mouth and its tongue curled as it let out the piercing scream.

“It’s a T-Rex!” Caleb yelled.

“What?” Jack shouted, “How?”

“Don’t move,” Caleb instructed, “They have horrible sight.”

Jack clenched his teeth. “Says who?” The dinosaur took another step forward and Jack and Caleb screamed and ran to the truck.

Jack fumbled with the keys and Caleb desperately pulled on the locked handle. The Tyrannosaurs picked up the tent Caleb had set up and ripped it from the ground with ease. The key scratched its way into the slot and Jack threw open the door. He reached over and unlocked Caleb’s door. He started the truck as Caleb crawled inside.

“Why is there a dinosaur here?” Jack asked loudly.

“I don’t know!” Caleb shot back.

The truck grumbled to life and Jack stepped on the gas. They peeled out of the campsite and onto the dirt road. The Tyrannosaurs roared and trampled after the truck.

They easily outran the giant dinosaur, but the curves of the road were unforgiving. With a sharp turn, they rolled the truck into a ditch. It slid about ten feet before coming to a stop. There was a moment of stillness as the dust settled. Jack groaned and orientated himself. The truck was on the driver’s side. The headlights blinked and the tires spun. Jack took in a sharp breath as he freed his foot and turned to his nephew. He pointed to the window and Caleb rolled it down and crawled through. Jack groaned and followed closely behind.

“You okay?” he asked. Caleb weeped, but nodded. He rubbed his arm and limped toward the street. “Caleb!” Jack shouted. In the light of the full moon, he could see the shadow growing. The ground shook beneath them. “Come back,” Jack shouted. Caleb hobbled back to the safety of the truck and hid from the giant lizard. They knelt down in the shadows and waited. The Tyrannosaurs got closer and tossed the truck with its nose. It huffed and flipped the tuck back onto its wheels. Jack tugged at Caleb, keeping him safe from the rolling truck and brought him under the bed. Caleb’s head grazed the metal framework. He lowered his head and crawled to the middle, hiding in a mound of dirt. The beast roared. Caleb covered his mouth and closed his eyes as tears freely fell from them. The T-Rex was no longer his favorite.

The Tyrannosaurs stood tall and turned its massive head. It flexed its feathers and stomped after a noise in the woods. “It’s gone,” Jack sighed. “Last I checked, dinosaurs were extinct. What’s happening?”

“They are,” Caleb explained, “Or they are supposed to be. Over sixty million years-”

“That didn’t look extinct to me!” Jack shouted. He rubbed his temples and crawled from under the truck. He stood from his hiding spot and dusted himself off. “What is this, Dinosaur Island?”

“I want to go home,” Caleb whined.

Jack nodded, “You and me both, kid.” He went back to the driver’s side of the truck. He held his breath and turned the key, but nothing. The engine bubbled and died. He cursed under his breath and punched the steering wheel which let out a brief honk. “At least the horn works,” Jack sighed.

“Jack,” Caleb said nervously, “Jack!”

“What?”

“I think we’re in trouble.” Jack looked over at Caleb and saw an ostrich-sized bird with scales carefully approaching them. A pointed nose with short triangular teeth and razor thin eyes. Jack reached for behind the seats and pulled out a shotgun. He loaded the gun quickly and placed a few extra shells in his pocket. He ran to Caleb and pointed the gun at the dinosaur. It hissed at him.

“What is that?” Jack asked.

“A velociraptor.”

“Not anymore,” Jack grinned as he pumped the gun and pulled the trigger. A loud blast and a flash of light came from the barrel. Caleb jumped in surprise and the raptor dropped to the ground.

“There,” Jack said with satisfaction.

“Uh, Jack?” Caleb said with a pull of Jack’s sleeve.

“What?” Jack turned to Caleb, but his eyes widened as he noticed more shadows pop out from the trees and bushes. He heard clicks and chirps, as if they were communicating to each other. They got closer and closer.

“Velicoraptors hunt in packs.”