Zip. Thwp. Unroll, unroll, unroll. “I’ll put my sleeping mat here, my backpack can lay here, and I guess this log will make a nice seat by the campfire.” I think to myself. A soft breeze wafts through the trees rustling my short brown hair. I can smell the sweet scent of pine, flowers, and a nearby river. The pines surrounded us though we had found a nice clearing for tonight’s camp. My tent is bright yellow and can fit only one person. I used to carry a tent that could fit me and all of my stuff, but I wanted to reduce my weight, so I had gotten one a few kilograms lighter. One of my friends joked that I slept in a bear burrito. I guess they expected a bear to want a large yellow camper for dinner. It didn’t make much sense, but we chuckled anyway. Usually, my tent was set up beside a fallen tree so that I could set my backpack against it, and I had found the perfect spot. Flat with a resting tree.

I set my bear cannister beside my backpack to make it easier for me to get out my other stuff. “Dang my stomach is rumbling.” I mumbled as I put my hand on my stomach. “I guess it’s early enough to have a quick snack. Opening my cannister I pull out my bag of trail-mix which has peanuts, M&Ms, raisins, and almonds. I love everything but the almonds, but my dad said I had to eat everything, or he wasn’t going to buy it anymore for me. I take a small handful and pop it into my mouth. Munch, munch, munch. “Sweet and salty.” I think.

Turning back to my tent, I set my bag down and start to work on some other things. I lost track of time, but after a little while I notice some ruffling behind me. I turn around and see a squirrel creeping up to my food. It has gray hair with small brown spots creeping up its fur. A big puffy tail that twitches as it moves. Little thieving hands start reaching out as it anticipates eating my food.

“Hey!” I yell. “Get away from that!” As I shout, I reach for a small stick next to me and throw it at the squirrel. It runs away and I resume what I was doing. Again, I hear the sound from behind. I twist around as fast as possible and see the squirrel even closer this time. I grab a bigger stick and chase it a few feet before it runs up a tree. “There,” I think. “He shouldn’t bother me anymore.” I set the stick next to me as I go back to setting up my area. “Man, I hate squirrels.”

Twap. The sound of a small stick breaking causes me to twist around and there is my nemesis. He is right next to my bag of trail-mix, and I swear I could see a little smirk across his tiny face. I grab my club and jump to my feet. Startled, the squirrel starts to run toward another fallen tree about 20 feet away. I wasn’t going to let him get away so easily. With a mighty war cry I start running after him with my cudgel raised high. “AAAAAAAAAH! LEAVE! MY! FOOD! ALONE!” I yell as I start bludgeoning the tree where I last saw the squirrel. THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! The peaceful forest of a moment ago is shattered by the sounds I was making as I defeated my furry enemy.

Silence. I had stopped hitting the tree and I was waiting and listening to see if the thief would show itself. One minute passes; nothing. Two minutes pass; nothing. I turn around with a satisfied smile on my face when I see my dad for the first time. He set his tent up about 10 feet from mine and had a perfect view of the show. He had been reading, but now he was laughing at me. “You beat that squirrel?” He asked between laughing.

“Yes.” I respond sarcastically as I walk over to my tent. I had dropped the club because it had broken during my siege. I close the lid to my food after placing my snack back inside. Better safe than sorry I guess.