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Before I overthink it
(Liam)
Taking trips from the room tae the bed of the truck, I asked, “How come ye think this will all fit in yer pack?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course it will, Liam, everything I bought is for hiking. If you’re going hiking, you have to have this gear, the one precludes the other.”
“I understand the words ye’re sayin’ but still, it winna fit unless ye hae some kind of fae magic.”
She looked at the growing pile in the back of the truck, slow blinking as if she couldna see it. “I’m just a master packer, you’ll see.”
As I took another trip tae the truck I said, “Och, ye might need some wheels tae drag the bag behind ye.”
“Won’t need it, don’t worry this has all been planned.”
“Has it now? Dinna ye plan tae bring yer husband along with ye?”
She shook her head as if tae say I daena want tae hear it. “I don’t need him for anything.”
She climbed in my truck and I closed the door for her.
I drove up tae the cabin.
She said, “Okay, stay here while I check the code to make sure it works.” She tugged on the handle of the truck door.
I said, “I canna stay here, I hae tae get out tae open yer door.”
“I forgot.”
I climbed from the truck and walked around tae let her out, then leaned there while she mounted the stair and fiddled with the lockbox. After a moment, she flung open the door, and announced, “My cabin!”
I carried the pizza in and found her standing in the middle of the room looking around with a forlorn expression. “We picked this cabin because it was rustic, nestled in the trees. I loved the photos, looked at them again and again.” She dried her eyes and pointed. “That stair handle made from a branch, the sculpture of two bears with their arms around each other. The red and black checkered wool blanket.” She sighed. “This cabin was half the reason for forming the plan.”
“Aye, tis a braw cabin.” I went out for another load tae give her time tae collect herself.
* * *
I sat at the table beside the pizza, half pepperoni and half pineapple, and watched while she packed her pink backpack.
“Okay, see, I’m laying it all out — socks, three pairs. One extra for sleeping. My plan is to rotate the hiking socks, so there will always be at least one pair that’s dry. I’ll keep one pair out for tomorrow... wait, where is the moleskin? I need moleskin for my blisters.”
“Ye hae blisters, Woodshee? How come they arna goin’ tae hinder yer hike?”
“Because nothing like a little blister is going to stop me.” She stuffed a first aid kit in a pocket, came tae the table tae eat a few bites of pizza, then returned tae packing.
She stuffed some packages of food down into a side pocket. A small pot into the bottom, matches and utensils.
I joked, “Och, ye are right, Woodshee, there is plenty of room. Ye might want tae take the leftover fruit pizza with ye.”
She put all her weight on the pack trying to get it to compress. “It’s going to fit, I mean...” She strained tryin’ tae pack it down. “It will fit.”
She looked around at what was left. “Damn, I really wanted to take this, let me see...” She turned the heavy pack over, then pushed it back, stood up, and came tae the table for more pizza. Standing there chewing, she asked, “Why are you helping me?”
I grinned. “Tis a verra boring town — ye are the most interestin’ thing tae happen in a long time.”
“Aw, that’s very nice, but still, you have a life, a pub, a motel—”
“Tis nae my life.”
