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We made it to the clearing with the crazy-looking kudzu roots. I figured that was the only area open enough for a tent — even a small one. The clear sky above let the sun filter down to us, and shafts of light pierced the leafy trees through the humid air.
I found a spot opposite the kudzu, and started clearing the ground of old debris. Hailey helped me pick up every stick and rock we could find. We threw them into the bushes. She made sure there were no fire ants.
Unzipping the carrying case, I unfolded the small red tent over the cleared spot. Hailey started banging thin metal stakes into the ground to keep it from blowing away. I was surprised by how quietly she managed to do it.
I busied myself unfolding the pull-apart tent poles and snapping them together to make two long, flexible poles. We fed them through little holes in the tent fabric, stuck them into the anchor holes on the ends, and popped the tent up.
The whole time Hailey kept glancing nervously around.
It took us a little time to get it to stand up right, because I’d forgotten to tie a strap between the two poles.
Setting the tent up took us nearly twenty minutes. Which was stupid slow compared to when my dad sets it up.
Finally, we strapped the bright red raincover over the top. I looked up to check what little sky I could see. Still no clouds.
I threw my sleeping bag and pillow inside the tent. I almost put the flashlight in there as well, but Hailey reminded me I’d probably want it to find my way there later.
I must be nervous too, I thought.
Part of me wanted to go a little further to the creek, and check for the footprints I had seen. Maybe I had just imagined them? Or maybe they were just some other animal’s prints? I debated but then decided I’d better not mention them to Hailey. She’d probably just try to talk me out of sleeping here again.
I zipped the tent closed, and we headed back toward the house through the woods. Hailey walked quickly. I was actually feeling better about them now. Maybe because I had decided to face them head on? I dunno, but the woods didn’t seem as spooky.
When we reached the lawn, Hailey turned to me and said, “You absolutely sure?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m doing it.”
“Well, okay then,” she said. “Good luck, Scott.” She stood there in her purple jacket for a moment, looking at me weirdly.
“I gotta go eat dinner,” she finally said.
She ran off across the grass toward her bike. As she lifted it up, she called back, “You’re the craziest kid I know, Scott! But your dad is pretty cool!” And with that she jumped on and pedaled away into the evening.
I walked across the green lawn to the house. This thing was really happening tonight.
I got to the cement porch and turned around to look at the woods.
Quiet.
Silent.
Then the hairs on my neck stood up.
The smell.
I took a whiff.
It was there.
Don’t freak yourself out, I thought.
“Dumb skunk,” I said aloud, looking at the woods. Yeah, just a stupid, stinky skunk.
Nothing was going to scare me out of it tonight.
No trick Zach could come up with could stop me. I wasn’t going to be the wimp at school.
I clicked on the flashlight in my pocket.
Click.
Then off again.
Click.
My mind was made up.
I went inside and slid the door shut behind me.
