WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE GAYVNS--DAY 4
CVK and I awoke the next morning, me still smelling like a campfire, and we hit the shower together, which is something we haven't done in a long time and was fun.
Everyone else was still asleep, and so I quickly made eggs, sausage and toast for us. I had had the forsight to grab a quart of tomato juice at the General Store the night before, which is my usual breakfast routine, and I poured myself a big glass. After I do a lot of drinking and smoking, I know my body is thirsty for replenishment when I drink tomato juice. My body and soul just seem to sigh "Ahhhhh..."
CVK and I decided to go for a walk along the river which ran behind our cabins and explore. Armed with a camera, we went down the short embankment to the water. I lost my balance and came after CVK—fast—but he heard me and deftly sidestepped out of the way. I was able to stop before I hit the water, thank goodness. At the time, I had no idea that this little mishap had been seen...
Back at our cabin, others were stirring and STEVE JEROME began making breakfast for everyone. DJ and DAVID were up and dressed, saying Dink was still snoring away, but the man himself showed up not long after that, as did KADEN SAYLOR and the rest. Breakfast was devoured by everyone, and then it was decided that we'd go to a beach that JUDE knew of, so we piled into 3 SUVs and found outselves at Pfeiffer State Beach. It was a spectacular sight. Huge rocks jutting out of the sand, waves crashing on the shore, pink sand and a wooded cove that David explored. The boys climbed on the rocks for some photos and soon we returned to our cars and back to the cabins for lunch.
After eating, Jude suggested we check out Pebble Beach and the 17-mile drive that showcased some beautiful homes. Dink paid for us all, and about halfway through, we pulled over to look at some sea otters that were cracking oysters open on their bellies. David found this fascinating, but Dink, us, the Donners and the rest of the boys...uh...less so. So we decided to split up. Some of us returned to the cabins and the rest would continue sight-seeing. Back at the cabin, Dink told me that he'd gotten up that morning to take a leak and had seen me stumble my way down the hill. So much for clandestiny.
Before we knew it, it was getting dark, and Dink was the cook that night. He made his famous steaks, and they were great, as always. I had some red wine and soon we were back around the campfire again, smoking cigars and clove cigarettes. CVK had gone to bed early, but the rest of us were chatting away.
Suddenly, Dink said "Jett, tell us a scary story." So, I began to tell a true story that happened to me and my 2 best friends one night when we were all in high school and bored out of our minds. We ended up in a remote cemetery in the woods searching for a local urban legend.
I was halfway through the tale when suddenly Jude, who had been sitting quietly on the seat bench of a picnic table, keeled over onto the concrete slab. In an instant, he was surrounded by people. I was concerned that it might be bad, as he was lying there moaning, but they got him up and took him off to his room. Soon, the survivors were back at the fire, and Kaden was having a good ol' time at my expense.
"Jett's story was so boring that it made Jude pass out!" the blonde ex-marine laughed hysterically. "That was some boring story!"
Mike Donner joined in. "Yeah, Mr. Best Screenplay, halfway through your boring story and you put someone out cold!"
"Go on, Jett, finish your story," Dink said.
"Yeah, Jett, finish your boring story, just try not to put any of us in a coma!" Kaden laughed.
So, with a wry smile, I finished my tale, leaving everyone unimpressed. "That's the problem with a true story," I said, "you don't control the ending."
"Tell us another one," Dink said.
"God, no!" Kaden laughed.
I smiled and excused myself from the group, telling everyone I was going to look in on CVK, and went into my bedroom. I turned on the light, waking my hubby up. I got out the hockey mask and put my black windbreaker on backwards. CVK zipped me up, then I put on the hockey mask, grabbed the plastic bloodstained machete and slipped out the front door of the cabin unseen.
It was dark. So dark I couldn't see very well, so I waved the machete back and forth in front of me like a white cane until I made my way to the far side of the 3rd cabin. I could see the campfire and hear everyone talking. Minutes ticked by, and I grew impatient. It might be hours before anyone in this cabin decided to come by for anything, so I decided to go back and sneak around to the porch of the 1st cabin. Once there, I looked around the corner and saw the group through a couple trees. An idea struck me: I would go into Donner's cabin, flick the lights on and off a few times, then hide and jump out at anyone who came in to investigate.
NOTE: Dink had asked me to do this weeks ago, and I agreed, thinking it would be fun, but my main concern since was that if I jumped out at any of the 3 marines, I might end up getting my ass beaten. This ran through my mind as I was planning out my strategy.
NOTE #2: I later found out that while I was prowling around the camp site (and wouldn't it have been a blast if someone else had come across me), Dink said he was going into our cabin to use the bathroom. He did, and as he left the john, he realized that I might be hiding in the house and could potentially be waiting to scare him. So he crept through the dark hallway, whispering, "Jett? Jett?" He opened the door to our bedroom, saw CVK sleeping in bed alone, chuckled, then made his way outside, deciding not to look into the 2nd dark bedroom. Once back at the fire, he told everyone that I was sound asleep next to CVK.
Okay, back to me. After deciding on the light flickering plan, I gripped the doorknob, but it was locked. Shit! I know Dink had wanted me to creep through the trees near the river, but once I was seen, I knew they'd figure out who I was, so my last resort was a surprise attack on the group where they were.
Peeking around the corner again, I could hear them talking about horror movies. Steve was saying how THE EXORCIST was a good movie. "Here we go," I thought to myself, and began to walk quickly toward them. I made it around the trees, and as I became visible to everyone, there was a yell, scuffles, and I grabbed Steve around the neck and raised the machete high into the air, causing more yells.
I raised the mask off my face, and as the yells turned into laughter, what had happened became clear: the group gasped as a whole, Donner had jumped up, DJ and David sat back sharply, and Kaden...well, Kaden had lept out of his chair and jumped/ran 10 feet in the other direction! Yes, the big, musclebound ex-marine that I was worried might reactively attack me, had performed a time-honored military maneuver: a hasty retreat.
As everyone ribbed him about running, he returned to his chair. "Still bored, Kaden?" I asked him as he sat down.
After 1am, the group began breaking apart until it was only Dink, DJ and myself. Dink talked with the handsome ex-marine about a new business venture and asked me for my advice, which I gave and hopefully, helped. Dink and I ended the night again (watching a skunk run around under the porch), and as he went off to bed, I put out the fire and cleaned up. CVK and I were leaving the next day after breakfast, and the rest were leaving the day after that, although Dink said they might also leave the next day, as he was getting bored.
When we got home, the cats were made at us being gone, but a bowlful of wet food placated them. It had been a wonderful few days, but now the Grabby lay ahead and it would be time to do it all over again.
JBK
Comments