It Was A Grey Day And The Fir Trees Were Dripping

 

            It was about midday the next day when Ralph finally awoke from his long nap. He was alone in the cave. And he started thinking.  You know how it is.  You’re still lying there, but your mind is awake.
            He was a little worried.
            While he was thinking, Ramona and Cherry came through the door. Ramona noticed that Ralph was awake.
            “What did Maurice want in the middle of the night Ralph?” Ramona asked him, standing still for a moment, with Cherry perched on her hip.
            He sat up, hanging his feet off the side of the bed and said, “oh, he was just bummed because he got into trouble with those band people he was working with down south. The drummer’s cat disappeared.  Well, you can imagine why.
            “They kicked him out, of course. Not only that, but they also told him to get out of town.  So, he thought of us, and when he thought of us, his muzzle was pointed this direction.  So, of course this is the direction he headed.
            “I guess he thought I would help him somehow, or he was just you know…lost.
            “He’s kind of a bum, really, Ramona.  And, somehow, I always end up doing something I wish I hadn’t done, just to amuse him.”
            “Oh? I wondered what you guys did all night.  I thought you were just out there yakking, and feeding him a duck,” said Ramona.
            “Well, we went down by the river where those BigFoot hunters are camped, and we teased them. We got them all excited and then we split on them.  Those poor guys. I bet the whole story is online already in six different places.”
            “In the cold light of day, I feel like that was mean Ramona,” he said, standing up at last.     

      
            Ralph stepped outside and saw that it was cloudy and foggy up in the tree tops.  It had been raining and everything was drippy wet. He smiled when he saw Twigg and the puma bros. playing near the fire spot. But, he was still feeling regretful about the night before.
            “I think I better go back to the researcher’s camp and be nice, Ramona. People already think we are mean, or stupid, or imaginary or whatever.”
            “You better eat first,” she said.
            “Yeah, good idea,” said he, feeling better at the prospect of breakfast.
            So, sitting on one of the convenient logs, he had a bowl of wild blackberries, a cup of mint tea, and some cold left over roasted wild pig. He finished up with a couple of handfuls of wild hazel nuts, which grow in the edges of the great forest.
            He was feeling better, but knew he had something he had to do.
            He kissed Ramona and Cherry, and noogied Twigg, and he told them he would be back later and started down the same path that he and Maurice had taken last night. It still took about an hour.
            It was dark and damp all the way, but weather doesn’t bother Ralph.  He’s practically weather proof. It did bother the researchers.  They looked pretty dispirited when he came within sight of their camp.
            They had a much bigger fire this time. The guy with the sleeping bag had stuffed it in his car and was sitting on a folding camp chair with his elbows on his knees and his chin on his knuckles. He had a big wolfie-looking dog lying beside him. Ralph and Maurice hadn’t noticed the dog last night.
            The couple in the tent were in their tent with the door open, just looking out.  There was no sign of the older couple in the RV, but the RV was still there.
            Ralph felt a great wave of sympathy in his big old heart.  He smiled to himself, standing there out of sight. He decided to give them a visit that they would never forget!
            First, he sent a string of a dozen or so golden spheres of light sailing over their heads in a circle. To get their attention!  I told you Ralph has skills.  He sure does.
            The young guy hopped up, mouth open. His dog barked and ran in circles. The guy, whose name happened to be Mike, started yelling at the other campers. The people in their tent rolled out and stood amazed and silent. No one thought of a camera yet.
            Mike pounded on the side of the RV, hollering that they better come and look at this! Those two, Roger and Lulu, stuck their heads out and nearly fell out of their RV, totally astounded.
            Having gotten their attention, Ralph strode into the clearing. He let them just absorb his presence for a while.  He knew it was hard for humans to arrange their reality in such a way that he was there, and all the usual stuff was there too.  It takes a minute usually.
            He had the lights hold still then, because they are pretty distracting flying around like that, and he spoke.
            “Greetings, and welcome to the Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. My English name is Ralph. A lady reporter from Milltown named me that, and I like it. The reason I appeared like this is in the way of an explanation  of all that nonsense last night. A friend and I were just teasing you guys.”
            The campers started looking around for their GoPros and recorders. Mike whipped out his iPhone 15.
            “I’m sorry,” said Ralph. “None of that stuff will work right now. My fault!
            “In relative obscurity is where we Forest Keepers must remain. Hard evidence, is a no no, you know?
            “But to go on, I regret that we created a false impression in your minds. Some of the younger ones among us do enjoy pranking you guys, but most of us don’t go around banging on trees or any of that stuff.  To your ears, if you heard us speaking our language it might sound pretty outlandish to you. But, please don’t be frightened. Most of us are friendly, if a little standoffish.
            “I just wanted to make it up to you by giving you something concrete to write up for your channels and journals.
            “I wanted to say that most of us like you humans, and we love this place we all share….. “
            Lulu, with her hands clasped under her chin, said, “oh thank you Ralph! You have answered so many questions, just by showing up!”
Roger and Mike and the couple from the tent, Dimitri and Lena, all nodded and tried to talk all at once.
            Ralph held up his big hands, just as wide as you can imagine. He said, “then I’m happy. I hope you’re happy campers too. I guess I’ll skedaddle. Take care everybody. Have fun camping and it was great to meet you!  Peace Out!”
            He remembered to put out the golden lights, turned on his big old heel, and headed up the path, rumbling deep in his chest. He couldn’t wait to tell Ramona and the kids all about it.
            He was feeling pretty darn good.
            And when the king is feeling good, why, it’s a good day all over the forest!

Both sections.