Mom walked over in one direction, and E and I followed her. We were just wandering about when I noticed someone familiar. I walked over to him. He was sitting in a store chair, and looked kinda nervous or worried, like he was waiting for someone and they haven't showed and haven't showed.
I walked up to him, and asked him if he was okay. He continued to look around, and then stopped darting his eyes long enough to see me. He smiled up at me, and then said, "oh.. you're here" like I was the person he had been waiting for.
I couldn't even place a name to him, so I just say, "yep... thought you needed some company". He smiled some more. He grabbed one of my hands and just held it for a bit. He said that we had to go now.
"Why?" I'm totally confused about this, but I will go with him. I have already forgotten that I came into the building with my family.
"We must leave now. It's coming for us."
"What is?"
"No time to explain, let's go."
Okay. So he stands up and realize he's SUPER tall! Like, a monster would cower next to him. He looked down at me, surprised that I was so short. It was an odd moment. I was nearly at his naval! It probably looked odd too. Funny, because he didn't seem really tall while sitting. It's not like his legs were sticking out super far or anything. Just struck me that I hadn't noticed at all.
He starts to lead me by the hand through the maze of obstacles in the building. He seems to know where to go, so I just let him lead me. I'm not sure how I know this, but I realize that I've known him a long time. Like he was a best buddy from my school years or something. I just can't place his name. (In real life, I have never known this person).
We finally get to the outside border of the building, but before we can leave, he sees something flashy and it catches his eyes. I don't think it's our way out, but I don't even know what's after us, so I don't feel the same urgency he does.
I just sigh as I realize what he has been drawn in by. Another guy, I think... *sigh*. I swear, if I had a dollar everytime someone I knew wanted to play this... I'd have, like, 3 or 4 dollars. :)
The time was ticking down on the options menu, and he hadn't placed any quarters in, but he jumped up on the machine and proceeded to be clueless. It was a 5-footer. He didn't know that when he started, so he inevitably failed. The other person playing was trying on about a 9-foot, and he wasn't quite the skill level needed. They both failed!
Big whoppin' failed. All over the screen.
The tall guy I was with turned to me and said he didn't know how to play, but thought he could pass it. (I don't even think he knew it was a pass/fail sorta game).
I told him we had to go, because, well, we did. He snapped back to reality world, and grabbed my hand again. Off we went. Running.
We ran into this tree-laden path in the forest, which was, surprisingly, next to the building we had just been in. It got dark all of a sudden, and the trees seemed to be talking... whispering... I just couldn't tell what they were saying.
All I knew is, whatever was after us, was close by. Up the path a ways, we saw more people heading away from the building... like they were being followed too.
I noticed them disappear into the trees and come out later on a stretch further down the path. Why were they leaving the safety of the path?
I soon found out why.
There was a brown bear, not full adult size, but scary nonetheless on the path. People went into other danger to avoid one obvious danger. I was frozen in place. I couldn't move once I saw that bear.
No way I could go. I just held still and hoped it wasn't going to notice me. Someone from behind us passed me by, disappearing into the forest to emerge again safely down the path. I just couldn't do it.
I held up the guy I was with so long that my mom and brother showed up again. They walked past the bear on the path, like it was just a cuddly little teddy bear that was never intended to scare anyone.
I just watched in awe of their fearlessness. I was still frozen. The guy I was with didn't ever let go of my hand, but he leaned down and said we had to move ... now.
I couldn't take my eyes off the bear. I feared that if I did, I would be it's victim. The tall guy leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, and told me that I was okay... he then said he would lead me and if we got to the other side of the bear okay, he would give me a reward. I wondered what it was, but wasn't able to look away from the bear to see his intention.
This is where I woke up.
Carisa
Happy idea for today:
(From: 14,000 things to be happy about. by Barbara Ann Kipfer)
English muffins served with bacon and cheese(p. 489)
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