Blog 1

Around ten p.m. on a Saturday night, I was with my friend chatting as we paced to the campfire. I can remember the atmosphere as clear as day. There were people unknown to me sitting around campfires gossiping about their new boots or bike. My nine year old self could not understand what the point of that meaningless banter was, but I figured it was enjoyable. Everything was perfect, the campfires were crackling, people were bantering and children were scattering.  I was talking with my friend Brick when he pointed out that something was sparkling over in the hedges on the outskirt of the grass laden campground. We quickly hiked to the mesmerizing glow only to find what we wished it was not. A small green garter snake lay somewhat hidden inside the lofty hedge. It did not move its body as we got closer, only its head. Its head stayed locked onto us like some sort of heat-seeking object and when Brick tried to grab it, it launched at him with full force. It’s lanky body flailing through the air while latched on to his small arm. I immediately grabbed the snake’s neck like they do in the movies and completely running off of instinct I slammed its head into the ground. Its once life filled body now lay in solemn quiet on the soft green grass. Brick and I sprinted back to our motor home and grabbed his mother. The bite was not deep, but it did leave him with a large bruise and two abnormal scabs. We decided, honorable as we were, that the snake needed a proper burial for putting up an astounding fight. We trailed back to the hedge where the deceased snake lay. Our shovel like hands ripped up the dirt around it and eventually the hole was big enough to put your foot in. I did the honors of putting the snake to rest. I reached out with my dirt covered hands and grabbed the snakes tail and head. Slowly I placed the corpse into the hole and with one big push of dirt, the snake was buried. Brick and I stepped back to the fire, sat in our lawn chairs and gulped down some nice hot chocolate. I looked at the powerful fire and enthralled as I was, I just sat and watched as the flames swallowed the air around them. I took a deep breath looked up to the sky and closed my eyes, only able to hear the sound of the fire crackling before me. Moments later I opened my eyes and there I was in my bed, at my home.