“I heard a bear … I … I was ah … scared … terrified. I ran up here and your dad let me sleep in the camper with …”
I had to jump into the conversation fast since Tara did not know I had arranged things to look like she’d slept at the other end of the camper. I was afraid she was going to blurt out she’d slept with me.
“Yeah girls, I made up the other bed for Tara. She was literally shaking with fright when she came up last night.” I said, and it was no lie … as far as it went.
“Oh geeez Tara … I told you the bears aren’t any big deal around here.” Amy said very sarcastically to her friend.
“Hey Amy, cut her a break. She’s never been out in the wild before … camping, or whatever … and she really was scared. So just back off, OK?”
“OK Dad … geeez!”
I made the kids breakfast and as we were finishing up, Helen came out, still in her long flannel nightgown. She yawned and stretched.
“How’re you all doin’ this beautiful morning?” She asked, addressing the question to no one in particular.
“Fine dear … you want some coffee?” I said and give her quick good morning kiss like I always do first thing each morning.
“Oh yes … that sounds wonderful.” She said.
I had the pot over a low flame so the water was still doing a slow boil. I had her coffee ready in a jiffy. I handed her the cup and sat next to her and enjoyed the warmth of the fire.
“How did you sleep last night, dear? I slept like the dead … I feel so rested this morning … I just love this clean fresh air.” Helen said.
“Pretty good. That is, until Tara came up from the tent.” I replied.
“Oh? What was wrong?”
“I heard a bear outside our tent last night Mrs. B___.” Tara jumped in on the conversation. “I was so terrified … so I ran up here and asked Mr. B___ if I could sleep in the camper.”
“I made up the other bed for her as best I could. We don’t have a spare sleeping bag, but I scared up a few blankets.” I lied to my wife.
“I told you last night there weren’t any bears.” Amy insisted.
“Buy I heard one!” Tara protested.
“OK, OK … that’s enough. No one can prove it one way or the other so there’s no sense in arguing about it. OK?” I tried to play the peace maker.
After breakfast, I just messed around the campsite. The girls all went down to the river and rented one of the rubber rafts and paddled around and enjoyed the sunny fall day. They wore their bathing suits to get some sun but the water was far too cold for swimming this late in the season. I collected deadfall from the surrounding woods for the campfire while Helen went up for a late morning shower. I read a bit and then it was lunch time.
Not long after lunch Helen asked who wanted to go for a good long hike? Emily and Amy both agreed immediately — they had always loved hiking in the woods when we went camping.
“I’m gonna pass. I need a nap. I really didn’t get much sleep after Tara came up last night.” I said.
“Suit yourself.” Helen told me.
Tara didn’t respond because she was snoozing on the chaise lounge on the other side of the camp fire, so Helen did not disturb her.