Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
“What’s going on?” he asks. “We’re getting reports of a noise disturbance from this sector of the park.”
“Everything’s fine, sir,” Jethro says quickly. “My girlfriend and I were up there birdwatching and a bough broke.”
“Bullshit!” the old man spits. He turns to the park ranger. “Birdwatching? These two were fornicating up in that tree! I want them both arrested for public indecency, not to mention the fact that I was practically knocked out by an acorn when the bough broke.”
The ranger looks confused.
“Are you sure? Fornication in a tree?”
“Yes!” the old man screams. “Haven’t you been listening? I saw it with my own eyes.”
The ranger looks mystified, but when we don’t deny it, he shrugs.
“Alright, you two, turn around. Hands behind your back.”
With that, cuffs are snapped on and tears begin to form in my eyes. This can’t be happening because I had good intentions, I swear! But now, we’re being carted off to who knows where, and the worst part? That some of the allegations are true.
10
Jethro
Jessie is shaking beside me. Her hands are held immobile by the silver cuffs as tears pour down her face. My curvy girl sniffles and tries to keep calm, but I know this woman well, and she’s falling apart.
I turn to face the ranger with a supplicating look.
“I swear, I can explain.”
But the ranger merely shrugs.
“Explain it at the station.”
My jaw drops.
“Really, is that necessary? We’re being hauled off to the police station?”
The ranger merely shrugs again, already looking bored.
“Sure. Actually, violating national park rules is a federal crime, so I’ll definitely be taking you to the station.”
The old man starts cackling again, jumping from foot to foot with glee. “That’s what these young whippersnappers need,” he caws. “Millennials think they rule the world but Baby Boomers are here still! Bwahahaha!”
I stare at the elderly man.
“For your information I’m a member of Generation X,” I growl. “So I’d appreciate it if you kept your comments to yourself.”
But at that moment, Jessie turns to the park ranger, ignoring the old man as best she can.
“Please sir,” she says in a beseeching tone. “I’m a birdwatcher and this is all my fault. I got carried away because I saw an Inca dove, and you know how rare those are. I’ve been dying to see one since forever, and imagine my surprise when I clambered up the tree and caught sight of one not twenty feet away.”
The ranger’s face softens a little, his jaw loosening just the tiniest bit.
“Really? An Inca dove?” he asks.
Jessie nods and goes on about how they build their nests, and how male and female pairs take care of one another even as they raise their hatchlings. Wow, it was truly the right decision to install those feeders in our tiny backyard because as Jessie extolls the virtues of Inca doves, it’s clear that ornithology is her passion.
“So, obviously, I had to climb the tree to glimpse them in action. I tried to watch from below a bit, but it was tricky because there were so many leaves in the way. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I never should have done it, but the bough really was the best place to see them clearly.”
The old man snorts.
“She’s lying! I saw what those two were up to and it was not birdwatching.”
Jessie ignores the grumpy old coot and keeps going. “So yes, that’s how I ended up in the tree with my boyfriend. We weren’t trying to cause any damage, I swear, because I love this place. I’m an avid birdwatcher, and I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid. Please sir,” she entreats. “Don’t haul us off to the station. We’re just hobbyists who got carried away.”
I nod approvingly.
“It’s my fault. I never should have climbed the tree, but my girlfriend always speaks of birdwatching so highly, and I wanted to try it for myself. Our adventure was ill-fated, but we’re grateful to the park for providing this opportunity.”
To be honest, the ranger seems intrigued, like he’s actually quite interested in our story.
“Really?” he hums. “Inca doves are quite rare, and I’ve been wanting to see one myself for a long time now.”
“It’s right up there!” Jessie exclaims, pointing to a shady spot in the tree. “You can see the nest from down below, although given the recent commotion, I suppose the birds have vacated out of fear.”
“Hmm,” the ranger continues, craning his head to get a glimpse. “Oooh yeah! I do see the nest.”
“That’s it!” Jessie beams. “Imagine how excited I was when I spied it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.”
Meanwhile, steam is beginning to pour from the old man’s ears.
“Do you hear yourself?” he demands of the park ranger. “They’re playing you. Arrest them immediately because I want them behind bars for life. Look how close they came to squashing me like a bug! I should be as flat as a pancake right now, given her big ass.”