Chapter Text
Rory was in the campsite, not really because he wanted to, but simply because he was forced to against his will. His ‘friends’ needed him to clear his mind. He was always so busy with his spaghetti business, rarely taking time for himself or for anyone! Now he was in this predicament for a weekend. In nature. Full of bugs and other critters. Fun. Out of all the places for his friends to choose to take him for a brain-break was the so-called ‘great outdoors’? Ugh. Whatever, there was no time for him to be debating on the matter. Rory had no shame in saying he was a city boy. Not only that, his friends knew this for a fact. As he was sitting outside of the tent, with the soft rays of sun shining on his skin, his friends were playing in the nearby river.
“C’mon Rory!” Canti, a bubbly woman with lucious, black waves for hair. Complimented with her tan skin, motioned him to join the group; only to be rejected with a simple shake of the head.
Brian, a man with tattoos sprawled over his body, crossed his arms, “boy, so much for cleansing of the soul, eh?”
They were only into the first hour of the first day. For Rory, this felt like an eternity. He did enjoy spending time with his friends, even if he wasn’t fully participating in the activities. Rory remained sitting, tuning into the laughter of the rest of his friend group. He couldn’t help but smile. He was snapped out of his thoughts when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a newspaper dancing in the wing. As much he despised being in nature, he felt the same way about littering. He stood up and ran behind the newspaper, swatting his hands occasionally to have a chance to grab it.
“Huh,” Henry, a soft-hearted fellow who was quite unfortunate, “hopefully he won’t wander too far…”
Canti hummed, “if anything, he’ll get a nice cardio in. Not to mention an adventure.”
“Hopefully,” Brian added, but a bit more emphasis on the word, “that adventure doesn’t include anyone being driven to the hospital.”
The group laughed it off, continuing with their game in the lake. In the back of their minds, they were quite worried for their friend. Though, Rory is a grown adult! What could go wrong?
While Rory continued to chase after the sheet of newspaper, the ranger watched from a distance. They appreciated the effort the man was putting into keeping the grounds in shape. They had to admit that the sight of it was quite comedic. Watching Rory run was like when one of the rangers go chasing after one of the ducks. Annoying. But someone has to do it! Rory ended up wandering off to the lake before he finally managed to grasp the sheet. He huffed as he unwrinkled the sheet to check if there was anything at least to make his time worthy.
Nothing interesting.
“Ugh, so much for nothing,” Rory frowned as he shoved the newspaper in the nearest recycling bin.
As he looked up, he found himself in the lake. There were some people in canoes and children playing in the water. It was soothing, to say the least. He took off his shoes and set them by a picnic table. He sat on the dock, dipping his feet into the cool water. Rory hummed as he swayed his feet back and forth, enjoying the sight that the lake brought to him. There was the occasional child who would accidentally splash him, but he didn’t mind. If anything, he would laugh it off and splash water back at them. After some time, he looked up at the sky to watch the setting sun. It was beautiful. When he heard the parents of the children be called, he gave them a small wave as they ran off.
Rory continued sitting on the dock, staring up and wasting time. By now, the only people out were adults looking to spend time together. Many couples were walking around as they held each other's hands. He began to wonder how he even managed to arrive at the lake. He couldn’t recount his steps. He only remembered chasing that damned newspaper. All he remembered was where he and his friends were camping at, Campsite C. He stood up from the dock and went off to the closest camp map. He was standing beside the ranger station trying to decipher the map. After enough time he began to walk down the path to his campsite. When he finally arrived at where he was going, he saw his friends sitting around the grill.
“Ah, it’s great seeing you,” Henry commented, “even better knowing you’re uninjured.”
Rory didn’t answer, verbally at least. Once again, only a nod.
Canti patted him on the shoulder, “sorry to say this, but we already ate without you, bud.”
“Let me guess,” Rory cocked his head over to Henry’s direction, “someone here got hungry, and when he began to eat, you all ate, too.”
No one responded.
“Yep, that seems to be the case then,” Rory concluded as he leaned back in his seat, “somethings don’t ever change… and I love you guys for that.” He finished off with a grin.
The group continued to sit with his friends, by now he was feeling uncomfortable being barefoot. That is when he realized he forgot his shoes at the lake. Damn it. Oh well, he could always go get them the next morning.
As the night went on, the group eventually retreated into their tents. Most of them went with a clear mind. Except Rory. He only rested his head for maybe an hour or two before stepping out of the tent. He was hungry. To all Hell with the fact his friends ate without him. He sat beside the grill as he made some burgers… for himself. He cursed at himself for wandering off too far. As well as the bastard who littered that sheet of newspaper in the first place. Not to mention himself, for forgetting his shoes. As Rory was busy making sure he wouldn’t start a fire, there was a subtle rustling noise in a bush. At first, he didn’t pay attention to it due to him already being preoccupied. Then, a metal jingle was heard. A rather soft one. At that, Rory finally turned around to look at the source of the noise.
“Oh? What are you doing here, buddy?” Rory spoke in a baby-ish tone.
The dog, which he assumed was a Boston Terrier, was eyeing the food. However, there was no hunger in his eyes. But Rory was only human. He took a burger from off the grill and set it down on a plate for the dog. When he had the chance, Rory looked at the dog’s tag.
“Huh,” he gave a chuckle, “Popeye… that’s a cute name for you.”
Rory caressed the side of the dog as Popeye ate. At least he had someone to accompany him. While eating his own burger, the dog stood up and wagged his tail excitedly. He began to wag his lil’ tail as if his life depended on it. From the shadows emerged a very tall fellow. Rory was frozen in fear. Goddamn, that thing wasn’t human. Yet… it was wearing clothes. As the figure stepped into the light, the first thing Rory saw was the facial expression. Concern. The fellow crouched down to Popeye's height and petted the dog.
“Good boy…” The voice that came from the being was deep and gruff. Then the thing stood up, “Sam… I am Sam.”
Rory gulped, “O-Oh, nice to meet ya Sam…”
He analyzed Sam for a moment. Sam was easily taller than him by a head, maybe even two!
“Say… Sam,” he forced a smile, “care to eat with me?”
Rory watched as Sam eyed the food before nodding, “yes… please.”
The two ate together, mainly in silence.
“Camping… is nice.” Sam commented as he took a bite of his food.
He shrugged, “it’s not really my cup of tea, my friends dragged me into this.”
Sam smiled, though he had sadness in his eyes, “friends. Having human friends must be nice.”
Rory laughed at his comment of ‘human friends’, “ah, you make me laugh. You seem to be well off with your furry friend.”
Sam only chuckled as he finished his food. He stood up and thanked Rory for the delicious meal.
“This is yours…?” His voice became meek as a mouse as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a pair of shoes.
Rory nearly gasped, “yes they are! How did you know those are mine?”
Sam pet Popeye again, “furry friend helped.”
“Thank you, Popeye and to you too, Sam,” Rory took the shoes from Sam’s hands, “and I’m Rory, by the way.”
Sam gave a final wave before turning to leave. Along with Popeye following behind him.
Rory gave a contented sigh as he reflected on the time shared with Popeye and Sam. He set his shoes outside his tent before stepping inside to finally sleep.
The next morning, Sam was sitting in the ranger station at a table. He was holding a pencil in his hand with great pressure.
“Gentle, Sam,” a woman, in her fourties’, soothed him, “you’ll break the pencil if you keep holding it like that.”
He exhaled deeply before nodding, signifying that he was ready to begin his lesson.
The woman, named Catherine, clasped her hands together, “perfect! Let’s start then!”
She would say the names of various fruits and foods. Expecting for Sam to write them out on the sheet of paper. He would carefully, and sometimes hesitantly, do as planned.
After writing, they would move on to oral practice. The vocabulary was also fruits and foods (Sam’s favorite unit). He enjoyed practicing his speech and vocabulary with Cathrine.
“Now, tell me,” she had her full attention on him, “what did you eat last night?”
He leaned back and wondered, “...meat.”
The uncertainty in his voice was obvious.
“What meat was it?” Catherine asked, “chicken, pork, or maybe it was beef?”
“Borgor?”
She stifled her laugh, “ah! You mean burger! Repeat after me: burger.”
He repeated the word, “burger…”
She took a sheet and wrote the word in large, all capital letters. Sam followed, he slowly copied the word down on the same sheet. His hand was shaking a little to write the letters properly.
“Burger…” Sam mumbled, “B-U-R-G-E-R.”
Catherine chuckled, “yes Sam, burger. So tell me, where did you get the burger?”
He thought for a moment, debating whether or not he should tell her. The rangers always told him to stay away from other humans
“Popeye…” he lied, “Popeye gave me burger.”
If it weren’t for the broken English, she would have been able to tell it was a lie,
“Hm… Popeye, your dog?”
“Yes.”
Catherine nodded, “you’re lucky to have a sweet dog!”
After the lesson, Sam left the ranger station. He had never lied to anyone before, like that, anyways. Sure, he lied that he was a human but that’s fine. Yeah.
Another ranger, Malinda, approached Catherine.
“So,” she leaned against the wall as she chewed her gum, “how are the lessons going for Sam?”
Catherine looked at her notes, documenting all the lessons with Sam, “well, he is improving. Much better compared to three months ago.”
Malinda picked up the sheets of paper and analyzed his writing. The letters are shaky, yet legible. Catherine doubled as Sam’s tutor and ranger, she was the only one willing to sit down with the sasquatch and teach him. She gathered her things and put them in her locker before preparing for her own rounds on the campgrounds.
Sam went back to his home in the corner of the campgrounds. He enjoyed seeing the many different people coming to visit everyday, especially on such a beautiful Sunday morning. While passing by Campground C, he heard his name be called. He turned around to face whoever was calling his name. It was Rory, he was sitting at the grill again, but this time making some steak. Oh, that steak smelled delicious.
“Morning, Sam!” Rory waved the pitchfork, “join me for another meal.”
He sat down across the man and set his backpack down. He wasn’t sure why he was being invited to eat again, but hey, free food is free food.
“Nice to see you again,” Rory glanced a look at her before flipping the steak to cook it on the other side, “how are you?”
“Hungry.” Sam stared at the food. After that lesson with Catherine he was starving.
Rory laughed, “you can say that again!”
When the steak was done cooking, he handed it to Sam on a plate. Sam accepted the plate and took the steak in his hands. Before Rory knew it, Sam took a bite right out of stake from his hands. He didn’t even realize he was staring. Sam glanced up to the human and cocked his head to the side like a curious dog. Ashamed, Rory broke the gaze between them and looked down to his plate.
Last night, it made sense that Sam was eating with his hands. It was a burger, and burgers are meant to be eaten with your hands. Maybe, it was just easier for him to eat with his hands in the first place? Rory cut a piece of his stake and lifted the piece to his mouth with his hand. As he chewed the meat, he gave a shy smile. Sam smiled and straightened his neck before continuing to chow down. As they shared the time together, it was somewhat less awkward than last night.
Sam was a bit confused seeing other tents in the same campground, but it was only Rory.
“Where is friends?” Sam asked, with no ill intentions.
He shrugged, “oh? My friends. They… they went somewhere. Without me. Again.”
Rory frowned for a split second before shaking his head.
“Not nice…” Sam shared the frown and it lasted longer, “friends must be nice!”
Rory shrugged once more, lifting another piece of steak to his mouth.
Once the two finished their meal, Sam thanked Rory once more.
“Friend…?” Sam asked shyly, he was making puppy eyes.
Rory reached over and patted him on the back, “Friend. Oh! Here, take this for Popeye.”
He handed Sam some bacon and watched how he put it into his backpack.
“Bye-bye Rory,” Sam gave a child-like wave.
“See you around,” Rory waved good-bye in return, “friend.”