“Dad.. i am so excited..!” Danny held pulled his dad’s hand
dragging him out of the house. His dad,
Nick, smiled broadly at his son patting on his back.
“Easy, my boy..! Slow down..!” he said pulling his son
back.
“Dad.. we need to pack..!” Danny dashed inside screaming
with joy. Finally his dad had agreed to
take a couple of days off for his son. A
single parent, his had had to work hard to make the ends meet. Danny, a ten year old boy, like any other kid
wanted to spend more time with his dad.
“Finally... we are going!” Danny raised his hands in the air
jumping on the bed with excitement.
“Yes!Yes!Yes... we are going.. on camping.. only me and my
dad!” he said stuffing his clothes in his sack.
“Take light weight clothes... you should be able to carry it
by yourself..!” his father was at the door of his room. Danny nodded happily stuffing only the
required things.
They were ready with their bags packed... his father had
hoisted a tent pack on the car and was waiting for Danny.
They raced away. It
took them two hours to reach the entrance... The camping season had started and
the weekends were flooded with the campers.
“Dad.. we have to hurry up.. to get the good spot..!” Danny
screamed running ahead in excitement.
“Danny careful!” his dad warned.. “I know, Dad! He shouted
back!”
“Stop sonny... i know a perfect spot near the river
bed. No one knows about it!” he said
holding his Son’s hand. Danny looked up
at his dad, in admiration.
“Really? We can camp there!” he said swinging his hand. Nick smiled.
“But we may have to walk down the river more deeper in the
woods..! Are you ready?” he asked and Danny nodded “Yes... i can walk any
distance...!” his father smiled and their journey began.
They were carrying the food, some vegetables, yogurt packs,
grains and soup packs to boil. Had
packed some salami , were carrying body lotion .. a torch, Swiss knife, Hammer,
a long stick, a rope, rippling nails, trekking shoes, sleeping bags.. lighter,
and water bottles.
“Give me your bag for some time, sonny.. i will carry it!”
his dad offered.
“No.. I can carry it myself..!” said the son. His father smiled.
They could see families camping along their pathway. Danny looked around excitedly. His father was walking faster now.
“Danny, hurry up.. we must reach sooner if you want to enjoy
the river water..!” his father pushed him a bit to increase the speed.
“Dad.. I am so excited...!” Danny couldn’t stop himself from
running forward. His dad followed. His father took him inside the woods and they
could hear the crashing, cascading water fall.
Danny ran forward till he reached the river bank. He looked around in excitement. They had left the crowd behind. He looked at his dad and hugged him around
his waist.
“This is the best day in my life!” he shouted.
“Ok. Sonny, let us find out a clearing for erecting our
tent. They wandered around and found a
clearing very near to river bank.
“This is the best place, Dad..!” Danny screamed..! Everything his Dad did was best for him.
They looked around. Danny pulled out a drinks bottle and
tried to open the seal.
“Give me.. i will do it for you!” dad offered. “I can do it myself, dad!” said the son
grinning.
His dad started clearing the ground.. Danny stopped him..
“I will do it! I can do it, dad! You sit there...!” he
pointed at a distance. Danny started
clearing the ground picking up wood, stones, dried leaves and clearing the
ground for their tent. His father sat on
a boulder and watched his son doing it ..!
Danny stopped. A
particularly big boulder was in his way.
He had to remove it. He tried in
vain. He looked up at his father...
Nick smiled at his son folding his hands without moving from
his place..and said
“Sonny, use all your
resources to remove the hurdle....!”
Sonny nodded. He tried everything
in vain but his excitement and ego didn’t allow him to give up.
He took out their bags and started rummaging in the bags
taking out the tools they had brought with them...
********* ***********