Yikes! It was my turn to be the leader for the Free Write this past Friday. So, you’d think I would have had my own pieces kind of already set in my mind. But that was not the case. I was a little too nervous. I don’t know why – this is the nicest group of people you could ask for. Anyway, the prompt was, “The longest night…” in honor of winter solstice.

They were exhausted when they got to the campsite having raced the stealth-looking canoers for one of the few campsites on the lake. They were very happy to see the raised lean-to meaning they wouldn’t have to pitch their tent – just roll their sleeping pads and bags out on top of the wood plank floor.

Late fall, the night came on quickly. After a pot of mush cooked on top of the tiny propane burner that tasted gourmet to growling stomachs and finishing off a flask of wine, they were ready to turn in.

As the night wore on, the wood planks felt harder and harder against hips and ribs and knees. The wind came up. The moon disappeared and then reappeared over and over. Then in a moment of bright moonlight a bear appeared waving its arms wildly. They closed their eyes and opened them. It was gone. But no. There it was again.

Exhaustion finally brought uneasy sleep. In the morning the bear was still there, waiting. Their rain coats hanging on a tree waved hello in the morning breeze.