© 2002 Bry
“Nice, isn't it?” Kevin tranquilly asked. “Yeah,” Nick softly replied, his shoulder rolling back at the feel of a hand on it. “When’s the last time you saw something like this? Outside, in the openness.” “I don’t know, maybe last time we were here?” Nick answered with a light chuckle. “That’s not my point.” “I know, but last time we were-” “It’s just beautiful, okay?” Nick grinned coyly, shrugging innocently at Kevin’s imminent upset. “But, ya know what?” Nick asked, watching Kevin gaze at the amazing display of bulging gray clouds behind the remarkable array of dark green trees and grass flowing along the sides of the mountains. “Mmm?” Kevin moaned in question, figuring Nick might have something noteworthy to say about it after all. “I really need to pee.” Nick snickered as Kevin groaned and rolled his eyes, then began to walk away. He strolled along the dark dirt trail, leaving their party, to look for a sufficient place along the way to cut through and forge farther into the woods, as to find a nice private place to go. Not before long, he found himself pushing through the brush, rustling leaves, and cracking sticks, delving deeper and deeper into the woods. Most people would probably not go as far as he did, as they were not Nick. There were many people on this hike, those of which constantly took his picture, constantly paid attention to him, and would love to get a picture of this. He also just liked the opportunity to be alone for a while. So he told no one where he went, and only faintly hinted to Kevin he was leaving at all, with his declaration of needing to urinate. The farther he went in, the less likely somebody was to see, and the less likely somebody was to take his picture. Granted, most people had respect enough not to, but Nick still wanted to keep his modesty. He grimaced every now and then as the odd stick or two scraped the bare skin of his arms, often even through the white cotton of his thin T-shirt as he went along. He found it to be appropriate clothing, as it was around 65-70 degrees that day. Kevin had told him to wear more, at least a long sleeve shirt, but Nick told him he was good. Though he had still taken Kevin’s suggestion to wear at least jeans instead of the shorts he had planned on. Kevin had grown up in the woods of Kentucky. Nick had grown up in Tampa, Florida. And Nick still liked to pretend he actually knew something about the wilderness. Besides, there were plenty of people around, and they were supposed to be leaving soon, anyway. The sun set at a rather steady pace now, which meant there was no time for anything too actually happen, of course. Nick’s feet were soaked and dirty. Never, he decided, would he wear tennis shoes to something like this again. He wished he’d worn those cool hiking boots like Kevin had. At least he had a change of socks in his backpack though, since Kevin had stuffed them in there along with a few other things, despite Nick’s protests. “Hey, a bunny!” Nick cried in extreme amusement, watching as it hopped along. He kept walking, delighted at the site, until his foot caught on a jutting root. He fell forward, caught completely unaware. One hand reached for his crotch, while the other stretched out in front to catch himself. Neither did much good. His feet tangled, tripping over each other and he just barely caught himself, landing on one knee. Barely able to stumble through the brush in the first place while trying to avoid urinating until he could find someplace, the jostling of the fall caused him to unintentionally lose control. He screamed at himself, grabbing and fumbling, trying desperately to hinder the warm strong stream running down the inside of his pant legs. It was of no use, though, and as it finally came to an end, he sat down, collapsing in defeat and astonishment, shocked it had actually happened. He plopped to his butt, sulking, ashamed and not wanting to believe. He hadn’t peed his pants since he was about seven years old. Well, at least that’s as far as he would admit to having last done it. And he was twenty-two now, for goodness sake! All because of a cute little bunny. He looked around, remembering, then dropped his head. His bunny was gone, too. Thoughts rushed through his mind about what in the world he should do now, what everyone would think, and if there was any possible way he could hide it. Because, obviously, he couldn’t just go back with the entire front and insides of his jeans soaked. They would all know. And they all had their cameras, too... He shuddered. Somehow, someway, somebody would get a hold of that photo. He could see it now, if not in some newspaper, then at least spread around the Internet: Nick Wets His Pants. He sighed, shivering, and reluctantly pulled himself to his feet. He examined the front of his pants, his eyes glossing over with tears he couldn’t let fall. Think if he went back with wet pants and tears streaming down his face, sobbing like the little boy who peed his pants. He’d never be taken seriously again. So he avoided it as best he could, his face in a deep blush, as he began to trudge back towards the trail. “I got pee in my shoes,” he softly pouted, hating himself even more as he felt the squishiness beneath the arches of his feet. He didn’t want them to see, and continued to ponder every option possible to avoid letting them know. He considered taking off his pants, maybe losing them or something, but knew walking back to them in his underwear would look even worse. But what if there were a way he could make it look like he’d gotten wet some other way? He paused, all the little gears in his brain beginning to crank a little faster. What if there were some water around, someplace... His face brightened as he remembered. On that map thing Kevin had...he saw a river. Yeah, it was just a little bit away from the trail, right? He stopped walking and turned around, listening. It was supposed to be ahead, that direction, Nick was sure he could find it. And if he found it, then he could get a little wet, pretending he’d fallen it, and then nobody would have any idea of the truth. He beamed with pride, hiking towards where he thought it to be, as his wet baggy pants rubbed together with the swing of his legs. For a moment he considered leaving something, or things, to mark his way so he could find his way back. “Nah,” he thought, “it can’t be that far, I can find my way back.” And so he continued his walk, a rush of triumph filling his belly as he found what he’d been looking for. He watched the steady, calm flow of water as it tumbled over the smooth rocks on the bottom. The water was about waist deep. All the better, he thought. He began untying his shoe but then decided not to. He had pee in them; he needed to get rid of it. And how odd would it be if he came back with wet pants and dry shoes? So he took a step forward, touching his toe to the water, then slowly letting it submerge. “Dang, that’s kinda cold,” he quietly said, but continued with the other foot. He kept going, slowly walking forward, careful on the rocks, and wondering if he’d end up regretting this decision. And, sure enough, without a moment’s noticed after he‘d gone in a good ways, his foot caught the slickness of a rock and he was slipping under the water. His entire body submerged and, as he came up, thrashing wildly in shock, though he didn’t know it, he rushed to the nearest side of the river--the wrong side. He just wanted to get away, and both sides looked basically the same. He crawled up the embankment, watching the river behind him as if it were some animal that had just attacked him and would attack again, so he had to be on alert. He felt betrayed, hurt, and even more embarrassed--that wasn’t supposed to happen. He pushed his hair back, pressing some of the wetness out of his damp darkened blond hair, and looked up at the gray of the sky. He really hoped it wouldn’t rain. It would be too much colder, he thought, as his dip in the water seemed to have stripped him of a lot of his warmth. He tugged off his wet shirt and wrung it out, then pulled it back on. Surely he would be much colder if he kept it off, he thought, then began heading, to where he thought was, back. Though he didn’t know getting out of the wet clothes would be so much better. As he trudged along, he became more and more worried, as well as frustrated, to find, well that he was not finding the trail. It didn’t make sense; it wasn’t that far away, he thought. After what seemed like the longest while, he gave up, sat down, and started to cry. The sun was almost gone, as it had begun to set when he left to pee, and he was so cold he could barely feel his fingers and toes. He didn’t know what the temperature outside was; though it had fallen at least 10-15 degrees. Why hadn’t anybody found him yet? Shouldn’t they be looking? How could nobody notice Nick was gone? And that hurt. Everybody noticed Nick, but the one time he needed them to, they weren’t around. It also didn’t help that he had kept walking, going and farther and farther into he had no idea where instead of staying put where he was more likely to be found, but it hadn’t occurred to him. He genuinely assumed he could find his way back. He pulled his backpack off his shoulders, which was also wet, and tugged it into his lap. He began to search through it, finding the flashlight Kevin had stuffed in there. He pulled it out, testing it right away, and then throwing it at a tree as he found it wouldn’t work. He sighed again, the tears streaming down his face, warm and welcome, then went back into his bag. His heart seem to skip a beat as he found it, filling with a joy that seemed to halt its beating until he could find if it was really real or not. A bag, a plastic bag...oh and it had all these little goodies in it that were dry! He wanted to scream. Matches and a candle and, man, even candy bars. Why hadn’t Kevin told him about those in the first place?! Probably because he would have eaten them... He opened the gallon size freezer bag as quick as he could, having slight trouble now as he’d begun to shiver uncontrollably. His clothes were still so damp. He pushed his black backpack to the side then dumped the contents of the small clear one between his legs. He loved Kevin, he really did. There was so much crap in that bag. Kevin had even put Nick's extra pair of socks in it, which Nick had assumed had gotten soaked along with everything else in his bag. If Kevin were there, Nick would hug him, simply squeeze the life out of him. Then it dawned on him--if Kevin was with him, then Nick wouldn't be lost at all. Lost--Nick still didn't like to admit he actually was, as it was just one more thing to embarrass him. If Kevin were with him, they would be gone, out of these stupid woods, and warm, and probably making fun of Howie right at that moment. But he wasn't. His face broke again with the tears, which had only recently ceased. He wanted Kevin. Kevin really was so much smarter than he was. It would have killed him earlier to admit it, though everyone knew it, especially since Kevin was eight years older, but now he would scream it. He would tell Kevin he was the smartest man alive, a genius who knew all, if it would make him be there. If it would make Kevin get him back. He yanked off his shoes, tugging arduously at the mass still rather plump with water. He peeled off his socks, too, then held his cold unfeeling toes between the palms of his hands. He really hoped they were looking for him. Well, actually, he assumed that was a given. It was when they would find him that he really worried about. He wouldn't let his mind contemplate the if they would find him part. A little later, he pulled the dry socks on, relishing in a place on his body being at least somewhat warm and dry, then went back to sorting through the contents sprawled out between his legs. He took the candle between his fingers, wondering what to do now. Surely, matches along with a candle meant one was to be lit. Would that bring about a decent amount of warmth? Or had Kevin put it in there expecting him to actually start a fire, also expecting him to get lost? Nick didn't really know anything about fires... So he lit the candle, savoring the small warmth and light, which also eased his fears some as all light seemed to have just about disappeared now. He scooted himself back against the rough bark of a thick tree and waited, hoping it wouldn't be long, but knowing it probably would be. As much time progressed, Nick only got colder, the wetness hugging his body, and, as his unknown hypothermia set in, so did his loss of coordination. No longer would he be able to light that fire, nor would he be able to recognize something was wrong with him at all. By now he was gone, with things getting even worse. A lively crack snapped, just behind him, and he turned to it, taking a minute or two to adjust his seating. His bunny must be back! he thought, and unknowingly dropped the half melted candle to the ground as he stumbled to his feet. He grinned dumbly, watching his hallucination, and then fell to his knees. He didn't hear their voices; he didn't hear them come. He was barely aware of the people crowding around him and bright whiteness of their flashlights shining in his eyes. He was too far gone to be thankful, too far gone to notice Kevin. Cold to the touch and inert, he stayed mostly still as they removed his clothes, mumbling incoherent words about Kevin and his mom, and how the bunny left because of his pee, but it was cute bunny. At least that's what he tried to say; it was just stutters of various words. He snuggled up to the warmness though that enveloped him, the warm body with bare skin that held his. He didn't know it was Kevin who held and comforted him, since Kevin had insisted to come along in the search party. They needed somebody to warm Nick up, the skin-to-skin contact, and Kevin was the one who knew him best, until more help could arrive. Kevin kissed his head, speaking words of comfort and relief Nick couldn't understand and held the boy with a blanket wrapped around their shoulders. Kevin rocked him lightly, in an effort to “keep moving” until, somehow they were able to leave and get Nick to the medical attention he needed. He pulled through just fine, never realizing just how close to losing consciousness, falling into a coma, or even dying he was. Simply thankful to be back in the warmth and no longer alone. And so the meaningful lesson Nick learned? If you have to pee--take Kevin with you. |