🌲 Packing for the day should be simple. It rarely is when assumptions get involved. 🌰
Sebastian rested his foot on a rock and took a deep breath. A shiver ran down his spine as he adjusted the straps over his shoulders. He rubbed his chin and stared down the twisting path as it wound up the mountain like a noodle someone dropped onto a pile of dirty dishes. His gaze swept up to the pine trees leaning overhead as the whispering wind jostled the dangling needles.
Thump.
Sebastian cringed as his shoulders jumped to his ears. As several more wet thuds squelched out, his shoulders fell. He turned to find Jimmy yanking a heavy canvas sack. The bag sailed through the air and collided with the ground, creating another wet squelch.
“Jimmy…,” Sebastian rubbed his eyes as his head shook. “Why is your bag arguing with gravity?”
“What are you talking about?” Jimmy wiped his brow with his sleeve. He hauled the bag up to his shoulder as he marched forward, swaying with each step. “Nobody can argue with gravity. It’s a force of nature.”
“That’s…” Sebastian slammed a fist into his palm, “what’s weighing your bag down?”
“Oh, that question makes more sense.”
“Could you answer it?”
Jimmy dropped the sack down next to Sebastian and clapped his friend’s shoulder as his smile grew wider. “It’s mushrooms.”
Sebastian bent down and grabbed a corner of the sack, lifting an edge. “Mushrooms, unless there’s far too many in there, don’t thud.”
Jimmy shook his head, reclaiming the bag as he levered it onto his shoulder. “That’s true unless they’re determined. These are very determined.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s too complicated to explain.” As Jimmy turned to stare down the path, the bag swung like a wrecking ball, smacking Sebastian’s hip. “What’s down there?”
Sebastian’s arms flailed before he fell to the ground with a grunt. “Jimmy! Be more careful with that sack!”
Jimmy turned back to his friend and offered Sebastian a hand as he steadied the bag. “See? Very solid mushrooms.”
After climbing to his feet, Sebastian dusted off his pants before jabbing a finger into Jimmy’s chest. “Walk me through your thought process.”
“You said we were exploring a mountain trail today,” Jimmy said, hiking the bag further up his back.
“I did.”
“We would spend the entire day exploring every inch.”
“I’m with you so far.”
Jimmy smiled as he brandished the sack. “I packed lunch since our stay today will extend for many hours...
Continue reading the story below: https://www.stevenmeehan.com/archives/2026/03/25/original-story-202603/
