The Sweet Spot

"Happy Birthday, Mack."

"Thanks, Dad."

"You know, since you're older than 20, I wanted to give you something you'd enjoy. I rented a cabin for you on a lake where there may or may not be other campers for a week.""No way! That's awesome. Thanks, Dad."

"It's just for you. Nobody else. Understand?"

"Sure. Got it."

"Okay. The map and the keys are in the glove box of the Jeep."

"What? I'm leaving now."

"Yup. See you next week; bye and enjoy."

"Okay then. Thanks again, bye."

Mack blasted his music to Lake Wannogonkin, which must have been huge from its size on the map. Chipper said about his solo adventure, and his anticipation grew as he drove by each mile marker. The long, tall grasses by the side of the roads and the farmhouses weren't becoming boring sights but rather welcome reminders that he was getting away from the big city and into the state's rural areas.

An announcement came over the radio: "A series of unsolved crimes have been occurring at Lake Wannogonkin. Please be aware that if you are travelling in this area, we ask all the renters to stay close to their cabins and lock their doors."

He saw deer, fox, mountain goat, and bison on his excursion. He wondered why there weren't more raccoons or opossums because that's what he thought of when he thought about animals from the country. He was definitely not thinking about human animals.

Why would he believe humans were animals in a country where no one locked their doors and everyone left their car keys in their ignitions? The sky was so large it could swallow up the road, the cars, the trees, and all the fireflies that danced over the field tops, leaving their fiery glow for sober drivers to become swallowed up into.

But Mack never thought about danger in anything until he heard that radio announcement. He saw everything as outstanding all the time. This trip was supposed to be the highlight of the most remarkable adventure he'd ever experienced before in his life. He just knew it. He focused on that thought for five hours until he read the sign painted with a big fish with a lure on a line in its mouth and "Welcome to Lake Wannogonkin.

He drove down the narrow pathway to the cabins surrounding the lake. He found 13, pulled his vehicle into the driveway, and unloaded for the night. He noticed there weren't many lights on in many other cabins around the lake, so he figured people would show up later in the week, or his dad booked in on a cheap weekend when nobody came to the lake. Either way, Mack didn't care; he was ready to use the dock and the boat moored there, which he had spotted below right before it got dark at the lake. Super dark. Pitch black dark.

He unpacked the groceries he had brought and sat on the enclosed four-season deck out front of the cabin facing the lake. He heard the loons calling to one another, crickets chirping, and firefly lights zagged like bubbles in a soft wind. Mack ate in the serene atmosphere and drank his first Scotch of the night. Perfection was everything for him at that moment. He discovered his ideal place.

A large bang outside startled him; he must've dozed off after his second Scotch. A man shouted, "Help, please. My wife, she's been stabbed; it was an accident, and I'm not sure how to help her."

"Sorry, I'm unable to help you. Come back in daylight."

"Please, please, I need your help. She could die without your help," the man sobbed.

"Hold on. I'll be right there," Mack yelled.

"Okay, hurry, there's a lot of blood," the man screamed.

Mack followed the man down a path to another cottage with low lights, a screened-in porch, and an open door. The man went inside and showed Mack by pointing to his wife as if Mack could fix it.

While Mack ordered the man to get a pot of hot water, cloths, and compresses, the task kept him busy. However, as he completed it, Mack, intent on saving her life, lost track of him.

"She's been stabbed!" Mack shouted. Nobody responded. The fatal stabbing since the woman had lost too much blood; Mack turned to offer his condolences. He suggested the man call the authorities but discovered he was nowhere to be found. Mack jumped to his feet and looked around from side to side, now that he understood the man had lured Mack out of his cottage and that the man had murdered her wife.

The hair on the spine of Mack’s backbone stood on end as a chill ran through his body. A killer was on the loose. Mack looked for something to arm himself with for his walk back to his cottage but could only find a spade by the front door.

He took it and moved through the bush trail with his eyes popping all over like a lighthouse beacon in the night for lost ships.

He wondered about the spade. Was it a plant? Did the killer leave it there for Mack to find? Was it useless against the murderer? Was he lying in wait for Mack to kill him, too? Or was he going to toy with Mack and drive him scared to death, mad?

Mack felt a surge of craziness as he caught sight of his cabin door.

He arrived relieved. He consumed two glasses of Scotch despite his suspicious alert mode. He remained vigilant throughout the night, focusing one eye on his surroundings and the other on the map without even a glimpse of sleep. He diligently studied the map—looking for an alternative route to get out of the area. He didn’t want to cross paths with the man.

He saw two alternative routes, one by water and one by motorcycle. He chose the bike to go through the off-road bush. He noticed a boat at the dock and wondered how much fuel and far he might get. The bike was stored under a tarp by the side of the cabin and was more readily available; he also thought about its fuel amount, but he felt it was better to run out of gas on land than on water.SHIT! What if there’s no gas? Or just enough to get out into the centre of Bisonville Lanes? I’ve got to find some gas and oil. Enough to get just far enough to be in Bisineville lanes. Ooh, oh my God! Shefiddledeeshitme, FUCK! Wait, what was that?

Digging around in the basement cubby between the ground and the cottage, he found a gas can and oil. Holy sweet Jesus, dilly grasshoppers! Oh my God! JACKPOT! Can an oil and gas can? Now we're talking. He slivered across the floor and filled up both tanks. He put the remainder back on the side of the bike. He wheeled it out and down the road, and when he got far enough away, he jumped on, started the machine, and was going strong.

Indeed, he said to himself—I have completed the task. Even though I am well-versed in the task, there are times when I find myself questioning its origin. ---Therefore, I will continue to believe slower is faster in everything.

Come on, Mackie Boy, you can do it! He heard his father say in his ear. Daddy's here for you; that's it. Then he heard his mother say, That's my boy. Ooh honey, look at 'em. What do you think, hon? His father spoke again, Nice, baby, nice. Come on, you did it. 'Atta way, boy. And some years later, he heard his dad’s voice again: Don't be drinking and driving. While his mother’s voice said, You’re so handsome. Remember Mack, gentleman first, boyfriend second.

He heard his voice say, I know, I know, Mom. How could I not? Then he said again that, at a later stage of his dating life, Trudy and I met at school. I'd like to introduce her to you. Then, in his following announcement to his parents, Camille and I were having a baby; isn't that great? His mother said, Oh my God, are you two crazy? You just got married. His father said, Congratulations, son. Are you planning on finding out the sex of the baby? Wow, I'm going to be a grandad. I can't believe it. He's beautiful, a gift given by God.

His mother said, Don't worry about that, honey. I'm moving in to help out for the first three months. Come on, baby George; when you walk, it means you're a big boy. He heard his voice say, You can't beat that. This house is gorgeous and has a lot of room for us and the kids. Camille said We'll have a great life in this one. Right? George said, Look at the facts, Mom; do you believe that I would steal from you for drug money? PLU---EASE, I have my money and no need of yours. He heard himself say, George, that's enough. We've told you before. Any more drugs, and you're out of here. Go and pack your bags. You must leave before sundown.---Spt, spt, sputter—stop.

The engine came to a complete stop and died. Mack looked around and saw he had gone far enough and could not return to the cabin. What was that? He thought he saw a shadow move behind a tree. He placed the bike on the side of the road and went into the bush. He heard a twig snap and jumped. He looked for a place to seek shelter for the night. He heard a low moo. He knew the bison were out and grazed in that area. He saw a freshly fallen branch covered in foliage that seemed just fine. Mack ran to the branch, lifted it, and lay beneath it. It covered him very well.

Like that, Mack disappeared, giving him a false sense of safety, so he slept.

He awoke to a man’s footsteps walking nearby—the same man from last night.

This man searched for something but could not find it. Instead, his eyes caught a piece of material showing through the leaves of the fallen branch. Mack saw him step toward him, where Mack thought he was hidden under the branch. He shook in his boots. But as the man bent to pick up the branch, Mack pushed the branch up and over more than expected, and he toppled it over onto the man, with the branch causing the man to land on the ground. Mack heard him curse as he fled the scene.

He looked back briefly; a giant bison stood there and urged Mack to accompany him. ---George, Sandy, and Elliott were all out of the house at school now, and Mack and his wife were at peace. They enjoyed the silence sometimes that couples who've been married for a long time don't worry about anymore. George came home with Lilah and said. Guess what, Mom? Lilah and I eloped last weekend. She's due in January. We wondered if we could move back home until we could save for a good downpayment. Lilah said, Yeah, Pappa, I promise you it won't be that long. Camille said Jason is the first baby of the New Year. He got a lot of press and circumstance. Mack heard himself say,

The crowd showered the couple with gifts. They got a house around the block. Sally came home and announced Roger and I needed to move in for six months until we moved to Thailand to study yoga. Mack thought about how Elliott left at 17 and never returned. Camille and Mack wondered where he was sometimes, but he'd called every once in a while, and when they asked where he was, he'd leave a clue in the form of a riddle—his mother's favourite pastime. Camille cried with Sally on the phone for hours the year. Roger announced he was gay and left Sally for a man. Sally announced two years later that she had met another man, and they married two years later. Camille stated Jason was the only heir and was raised without knowing his fortune. Mack decided that in speaking with Camille, they should separate; Mack and Camille had what they always wanted. But they looked at each other and didn't see much they liked anymore. They were tired of what they were looking at. It was difficult to feel any passion anymore. Camille booked a trip, and somehow they rekindled their fire, and when they died. She died of old age.

Mack didn't die because he jumped. That's right, he jumped through a gaping hole to his left. Mack didn't know what to do. He had no experience jumping through gaping holes. If he jumped, where would he end up? If he didn't, what would become of him? SHIT. He jumped, and the gaping hole closed behind him.

He looked around and saw he was on his street, not far from his house. His vehicle, the Jeep, was in the yard. He scratched his head and wondered if he was asleep. Nope, not that.

He shrugged and walked back to his house.

When he opened the back door, his dad said, "Hey, Mack. You’re back already? Did you have a good time? You look like you need some sleep.""Yeah, I think some sleep would do me wonders." He smiled to himself and opened the door to his bedroom. "You are aware of the adage that 'your entire life flashes before your eyes just before you believe you’re going to die?' Well, I had one of those experiences."What?

How you just turned 21.""I know, but I saw it coming and felt every second like I had lived it already.""Strange. Strange indeed. Sleep on it, and then we'll talk again tomorrow."He climbed the stairs and entered his room. He peeled off his clothes, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and hopped into bed.