Nice Sunset - Short Story

Nice Sunset

By Jeff Dillavou

I dove into the ditch right behind the high school just as the cop car turned the corner. We all hung out behind the school just off the “school property” which normally in the summer was a cool place. Sometimes someone would spot us. We would run and hide in the big ditch, other times if they approached us we took off for the woods. Once in the woods, they would never find us. It was not like we did anyone harm. We were not inside the school grounds, and we would just hang out and goof around. We would enjoy some damn good grass and lay in the sun.

There were about six of us who hung out together. Heather, Julie, (both them were beautiful girls but they also knew they were so they… can we say, had a little attitude), Max (who was small for his age but did not put up anyone’s crap, and was smart), Joel (he was a year younger and would do anything we all did just so he could hang with us), Susan (she was exceptionally tall, she even towered over me by 2 or 3 inches, sweet and smart), and then there was me, my name is Eric. I am not the most popular, or the best looking, or the smartest, but I like to have fun. I was always looking for a good time whether

it was just hanging out, joking around, playing games, or just being in the woods enjoying everything around me. The girls seemed to like me even the ones not in our “gang,” but overall I got along with everyone. Everyone that is, except David. Dave was about one and half sizes bigger than me, and thought it was fun to just pick on anyone he wanted to. It was like they were simply placed there for his enjoyment. Just a bully, I avoided him when I could, which was most of the time.

It was late June when I was walking along the road on the north side of town. Highway 34 was busy as tourists scrambled into town for the season. There were campers, hikers, beer drinkers, and most of all the hated out-of-state drivers that knew nothing of how to drive in the mountains. They looked at the locals like we were something they had never seen before. I usually avoided the highways, but for some stupid reason, I was walking along 34. Soon I was at the Estes Park Mountain Shop. I loved hanging out around their place. People there were nice and never gave me any hassle.

That day I headed north up the valley. No further than a half mile up the road… there was David. “Damn it”, I thought. I was just about to turn around and head away up the field when Dave saw me. I knew I could not run away, he most likely would catch me and he had his boys with him. Those guys feared him so much that they became his cronies just to avoid his harassment. Then they became just as mean as Dave. I took a deep breath, sighed, and walked forward straight up the road. Just as I passed his gang hanging out at the edge of the road, I nodded and not looking at anyone said “afternoon.” Just as I thought I made it by, three of his boys ran in front of me and from behind I heard, “Eric, where do you think you’re going buck-a-roo?” Crap, almost made it. “I am headed up the road, just for a walk Dave, and you, what are you guys up to? I haven’t seen you around much!” Dave snorted back “This is my valley boy… and you are trespassing…” before he could finish I shot back, “What are you talking about Dave, you know we all hang out up here to

avoid the out-of-towners.” “Well not anymore, and if you’re smart you’ll turn that white ass of yours around and head back to town. Tell your little buddies they are not to come up here anymore” Dave said as he pushed his chest out as if I was supposed to be impressed. But I did not want trouble. “Hey Dave, relax man, I am out of here... not a problem man.” Dave shot back with a little humph and “I thought so … you know I was going to kick your ass… so I would get back down the hill before I do.” Asshole, I thought as I turned and walked back towards the highway. Someday, yep, someday he and I are going to butt heads, and win or lose, I will not allow him to push me around. But today was not that day.

Later that evening, I met up with Heather and Julie. They were just laying in the field watching the sun set over

Longs Peak . The park had cleared out of visitors and tourists. I plopped myself down between them. “Hey you know Dave is starting to burn me up.” I started to tell the story of my run-in with David, when Max, Joel and Susan

enter the park from the west... I stood up and waved them over. They joined us in the tall grass and I started

my story from earlier that day. Max jumped up and said, “We should kick his ass, he’s not that tough.” As he stood there in his fight stance, I wanted to laugh a little as he was so much smaller than Dave who would kill him

in about three seconds into a fight. Max had the guts but not the size or strength to win. Joel joined in with, “Yes, I could help.” He said it in his little voice attempting to make sure we all knew he was there with us in mind and thought. Just as Heather and Julie started in with “yes you should,” Susan cut the conversation off. “What fight Max, get hurt for the “right” to go up a valley road we only use to escape the crowds? Someone could get killed, we all know Dave is not the smartest, but remember he has four or five guys with him. Yes, none of them are really into their cause like Dave is. They will do whatever he says even if it means they could get in trouble or worse, as long as Dave leaves them alone. So Eric was right to just walk away. I think I would, wouldn’t you?” Joel and all of the girls sat back down. Max looked at me, hung his head, and sat down as I did. “Nice sunset, huh?” Each of them acknowledged the setting sun.

We avoided Dave that June and July. In August, Joel ran into him up near the park one day but all of the old folks were there discussing the upcoming fall plans so Dave did not even see him. Dave was too busy strutting around talking crap to Sam. Sam was one of the leaders in our community and Joel could see Sam roll his eyes as he spoke to the other elders. Dave was trying hard to impress them. Joel stayed his distance but could see the older men were becoming aggravated with Dave’s bragging and acting tough. Finally Sam said, “Excuse me gentlemen,” turning to David, “we are busy trying to plan our fall. As you know, we must have our plan in place and all you do is talk. That is what it is -- just talk. We are not impressed, and we do not have time to waste on your stories right now.” Sam looked down at Dave with a firm strong look of disapproval, and for one moment, Joel thought Dave was going to start something with Sam. Joel thought, man that would have been great to see. Joel remembered how one summer a stranger from out of town had wandered into the neighborhood and was hitting on Joel’s mother being really forward and disrespectful. From out of nowhere, Sam came out and knocked him six feet to the ground. Before the guy even knew what had hit him, Sam kicked him so hard blood ran from his forehead. Sam could have finished him off, killed him right there, but Sam was not only strong but smart! “Get out of here, and if I ever see you or hear of you in Estes Park again, I will not be so kind -- you’ll be dead.” The stranger hobbled upwards and took off. Joel liked Sam. Everyone respected him. And to see him smash Dave would have been a sight of great pleasure.

We avoided the northern valley that summer, not because we feared David, but the girls liked the stream and the cool water. On the hot summer days of late August, Joel, Max and I would get into our pushing wars. Basically pushing wars was a game where we would attempt to push the other until the other surrendered or end up flipped back and when we play our little game in the river everyone laughed as the other ended up very wet. Max would put on a great fight. One day he and I started out as we always did, pushing and turning trying to throw the other off balance. This day Max had a new move. Just as I pushed down trying to force him down, he suddenly stopped resisting and stepped aside. Then just as I slipped by him, he shoved his head into my side knocking the wind out of me. With a little shove, I went over sideways into the river. Joel and the girls along the river bed cried out in laugher. As I shook myself off, Max took a bow to his cheering audience. Max had the heart and soul of a great fighter and was always a great challenge for me. But if he won in the past, it was merely because I let him win. Today he won fair and square, hands down. “Where the heck did you learn that move?” I said as I slowly waded to the shore. “Last week we were eating dinner with Sam, and I asked him how he learned to fight.” He said, “Fighting is for fools, winning is for winners.” Max went on to tell us about how Sam explained that everyone fights, but to avoid the fight sometimes means winning a fight. He showed us how Sam told him to move away from the fight then move back in when it was time to win. Max demonstrated on Joel a couple of times, and poor little Joel became his willing victim. Max made sure not to hurt Joel and apologized every time Joel was knocked to the ground. Joel would smile and say, “Thanks Max that is a cool trick or move.” I watched and understood with Max’s obvious movements now, what he was taught by Sam. Max then stomped over to me and said,”Come on big boy, want me to take you down again?” “Sure,” I responded as I stepped back into a fight stance. Joel cheered me on, the girls joined in encouraging one of us, then the other. Max took a step forward frustrated with my simply circling him. Just as he tried to stop, I turned to my side and kicked him as he passed me with his lurch. Max flew back into the water. “Oh my God, I did not mean to do that so hard man. I am so sorry. Are you ok? Man I am so sorry….” As he shook his head in semi disbelieve that he was knocked so far, he said “I am OK, really, ouch, ouch, yeah I am ok. Hey … I think ... you might have it down… I think... no I am sure, my ribs are telling me you got it.” I felt bad about Max, really bad. He was OK, but I still felt bad about actually hurting my friend. At the same time it was like I was enlightened. Something deep inside me felt powerful. I looked at my buddies. We all had grown stronger, quicker, and closer. We all walked back to the shore. “Nice sunset” Julie said and each of us repeated “nice sunset” except Max who just gutted, “Yep.”

Late September brought a different beauty to Estes Park. It was not that the amount of visitors slowed down any. They all heard of the fall colors and so the town was full as ever. We had grown a lot over the summer.

We became closer friends and our trust and camaraderie grew stronger. We often would join the old guys in their discussions, and they allowed us to sit with them. We respected those guys, without them we would not have the tight community we did. Most had aged well, a few started looking weak and old but Sam even with his age provided good leadership.

Everyone liked Sam with the exception of Dave. David never really got over the fact that he was called down publicly by Sam, and I think it shamed Dave so much that he detested the fact that he had to back down. I am sure his boys only built his hatred by trying to give him support. I had heard to Dave talking down Sam from others, it never bothered Sam or at least he never showed it.

On Sunday nights everyone would meet in the park. Max and Joel was usually there early and saved Julie, Heather, Susan and I a spot up front. This Sunday’s meeting was about the Fall Games in the Park. Each year everyone would go the park. Then all the guys would start the games – Max and I were old enough to play this year. After playing our games near the river, we were ready to play with the big boys. We did not know if we could win, but we had played hard. With the knowledge Sam had passed on to us, we felt pretty confident that one of us could take it all. The game date was set for the end of October. It could really go on for a couple of days depending on the players. Max turned to me and said, “I bet this year you and I are the two last ones to fight… and I am going to kick your ass…” We were standing only a few feet away from Sam in front of the group. Sam cleared his voice and stared down at Max. Max quickly said, “Sorry sir, I just got excited and ..” Sam cut him off and continued to speak to the crowd as if Max never interrupted at all.

After the gang all headed off towards the school, the girls were giggling at Max and me talking about winning the games. One of the parts of the annual ritual was that the winner got to be wooed by all the ladies. Heather informed us she would be the first one to get to kiss the winner this year. Julie then said, “No she was the prettiest and she would get to kiss the winner first.” The two went back and forth about who was prettiest and who would have the right to kiss the winner. Then Susan stepped out in front of both of the girls and said, “Stop it you two, you are both pretty and neither of you is going to win this fight going on and on like this… And besides, you are both pretty… Pretty lame and I am most beautiful and I shall be the first to kiss the winner this year. Both Julie and Heather’s

mouths dropped open. They stared at each other, then back at Susan… then Susan laughed and took off across the field with both Heather and Julie in hot pursuit. We laughed at them chasing Susan; they all looked appealing to me in the sun. Joel yelled out, “Hey, no fighting – that’s for the men at the games -- or are you both just a couple of boys!” They all turned short, and headed towards Joel at full run. Joel turned and started to head for the river with the three girls in hot pursuit. Max turned to me saying, “Boy the way this looks with three ladies chasing Joel, you’d think he had just won the games and had all the women wanting him.” I shoved my shoulder into Max, nudging him and we ran after the others.

The Saturday before the games, not one of could sleep. Knowing we needed our strength for the fight, we finally dozed off late. All of a sudden, Joel stood up and yelled out, “It is morning... we are going to miss the games...” We all jumped up and ran towards the park. Sam was at the front. Everyone from the whole valley was there, with many from the hills we rarely saw, and many I never met. Each of the men walked in front of Sam who either approved of them to compete or not. Each male strutted out with their chest pushed out, their head held high trying to look like the biggest bad ass in the crowd. Many of the older males stood near Sam and whispered between them often stepping up to Sam and telling him their thought of each potential candidate. Sam would nod each time. Since we arrived late, we ended up at the end of the line.

Marcus was one of the elders who approached Sam with each of the group’s thoughts about the guys as they presented themselves to Sam. Sam trusted the words and the thoughts of other wise men. Most of the strong were allowed to participate in the sparring. A few of the males were too small, too young or too old or weak or ill to fight.

Time seemed to stand still as I waited to have my approval. Max and I had started talking about the fight and how we were going to spar when we heard Dave yelling, “Shut up old man, your option is nothing… I am the strongest and deserve the right to fight... If you would stop listening to these dying old f…” Sam stopped him in his words, “First, there is no right to fight, and I only as the leader will choose who shall play and who shall not. Secondly, those men you speak so harshly of are here next to me as they have played the games and won many of these years. They have earned the right to stand here. But you, son, are not only disrespectful of this but maybe strong in your shoulders and legs but weak in the mind. But since you think you’re so strapping, you

can spar with me.” Marcus, thank you for your good guidance, but I feel I must allow this young one to learn something… from me. Marcus nodded yes but with a small shaking in his head still showing his disapproval.

Max and I finally got to the front, Sam gave his approving nod to each of us, and as soon as we were out of Sam's eyesight we gave an approval “YES” and butted each other. “Good luck,” Max said, “I know I got in and I would love to win, but Eric, you’re my friend and I know you’re stronger and wiser than I. I know we may have to fight but you are good.” I turned to Max and said, “Come on, each of us have a chance…besides either way we will always be friends and next year Joel will be old enough to fight us in the games. He’ll probably kick both of our white asses.”

We laughed and out of the corner of my eye I spied Sam looking at us. As he turned his head back to the crowd, I saw a small smile.

We then heard Sam announce, “Let the Games begin, as we have played them in our valley for over a hundred years. Let the sparring begin.” The clashing of bodies echoed up the canyons, howls from the crowd cheered on each male as they put everything they had into the battle. Bit by bit the play narrowed. I was told by Marcus that I was up. I ran on to the field, my eyes wet with energy. My opponent was big, really big. He had traveled down from the hills to play in the games and I had never seen him before. We ran towards each other. Running into him felt like I hit a truck. I did not back down but held my ground, pushing back hard. He was taller than me, so he pushed down hard. Then I took one quick step back, his eyes showed a look of surprise like what are you doing? As he pushed forward and I stepped back, his head dropped just enough to give me the chance to push him to the ground. His chin hit the dirt and grass. I could hear Julie, Heather and Susan going crazy as he rose and bowed to me. I thanked him for being an excellent fighter and competitor. He nodded to me as if to say, “And you, we may have a chance to do this again someday, sir.” Oh my, sir, sir… this guy called me sir. Wow.  Max was in the middle of his sparring when my head came back to earth. He was fighting one of David’s boys.

The guy was about the same size and weight as Max, but it was obvious that Max had the heart to win. He had pushed him back two times, but he returned each time. The third time Max hit a rock and tripped forward, which threw him off balance. His competition easily pushed him down to the ground. Max shook his head but stood and started to thank him for a good fight. Just as Max started to speak, he turned his back on Max and walked off. I saw Marcus whispering to Sam and Sam shook his head and looked down. I walked to Max and said,”He did not really win.” But Max cut me off. “He won fair and square. He did not put the rock there and I did not see it… but thanks buddy.”

The fights went into the early evening. I sparred with a couple of others, and either my confidence or my ability had grown as I took each one down quickly. The girls were all crazy and the men that had fallen in play cheered on their buddies.

Marcus then called out that next was … Sam vs. David. Both approached the field. Sam spoke to David saying, “Son you are a strong one as I have watched you win your other fights. You must learn to use your mind and heart.” And with that, one of Dave’s boys yelled out, “Shut up old man and fight.” The disruption caused everyone to turn and look, including Sam. Just then, Dave lurched forward stabbing Sam deep in his side and knocking him to the earth. Sam’s eyes had a look of shock as Dave pulled his antler away leaving a gaping wound in Sam’s side with blood pumping out of it. Marcus started to run to Sam’s side when Dave’s bys all jumped in front of Marcus, stabbing at him. Marcus was too old and weak to defend so many. Out of nowhere, Max dove towards the gang. The first one dashed towards him rather than hitting him head on. He let the first one slide by only to find the second one rushing him now. With amazing agility Max turned and with both of his rear hooves he kicked into the head of his assailant. The other three bull elks lower their head to fight with Max just as I jumped in next to him.

The first one ran towards me and just as Max taught me and I did to him, I turned as he jumped forward towards me. This time I planted both hooves in to his neck. He flew back to the ground. He did not get up but with this I did not see Dave run forward towards me with his head down and his antlers pointed towards my chest. Just as I turned … Dave slammed into me. Max turned his head catching him in the neck. But with the speed Dave had heading for me, Max’s fatal wound did not slow him fast enough. Dave’s right antler stabbed deep into my shoulder.

I fell to the ground to see Max turn to protect me as I lay wounded on the ground. Dave’s lifeless body lay next to mine, his antlers still red with my blood. Whoever was left of David’s boys ran for the hill and the deep forest. “I am ok… I think...see how Sam is.” Max walked over to Sam whose breathing had become faint. Marcus stood over him and licked his lifelong friend’s head. Sam spoke to Marcus with what air he could breathe out. Sam’s eyes rolled back and his spirit left. The herd stood in shock. Cries of the other elk sounded though out the valley.

Marcus stood and walked in front of the herd. He said, “Today your leader has passed on. We will remember him, but he spoke to me of the future. He knows the games are important to the herd’s survival. The winner shall lead the herd into the winter and beyond. Today Sam’s last words were those of wisdom. He has proclaimed the new leader of the herd to be … Max. From now on Max shall lead us and he shall choose a new counselor as I was chosen by Sam.”

Later I passed out but woke to find Julie and Susan licking my forehead and pushing my ears pack and forth with their noses. Susan said, “Come on get up, you get a little cut and you just want to sleep. I brought you some fresh grass, the tall ones from the edge of the park we like so much.” Julie lightly kicked me in my tail. “Come on get up, there is a lot you missed in two days.” “Two days?” I said. “Yes, Max has selected his harem, and Heather joined him, along with eleven other girls.” Susan then said, “Yes and he has chosen his counselor.” I stood and shook the

dirt from my fur, looking at my shoulder and the dried blood. “Joel, did he pick Joel? Joel is great, Joel…”No silly,” Susan said hastily, “He picked you.” “Wow.” Max, the new leader of the herd and a new harem of twelve cows... “Hey what about you two... He did not pick you gu…” Susan ran over and licked my ear, Julie quickly joined her on my other side and they whispered, “No, we are still available Mr. Counselor”… “Humm... Maybe I am going to enjoy my new duties.” Susan then stopped and said, ”Well we have plenty of time for this later, Max has called all the bull elks together and he wants you there for guidance when he lays out our strategy for the winter.” We all started to walk to the field, my left hoof dragging a little. I looked up and said, “Nice sunset.” Both girls replied, “Nice sunset.”

The End