Creature in the Woods

We took our usual family walk today. And by usual, I mean the somewhat walk that is sporadically scheduled once a week.  We get points for trying.

There we were, walking along, my sweet husband walking beside me, Ethan on his bike ahead of us.  It was a perfect afternoon.  We could see deer on the mountain beside us -- not to close that the could pull off their ninja moves and jump in front of us.  It's been known to happen, and let me tell you something else for free:  it's no bueno. Almost terrifying, in fact. Ethan would stop and hop off his bike every once in a while so he could throw a rock in the bushes.  We don't really know why he does this, other than the fact that he is a boy and therefore must be somewhat genetically disposed to throwing rocks.

At one point, we rounded a corner and saw Ethan walking towards us looking quite concerned.  I thought maybe he hurt himself and already imagined him in a cast and, to be honest, the mounting medical bills of the cast.  But no.  Ethan was scared.  

Scared of what?

Scared of "the square-faced, tall, hairy and big thing" he saw in the bushes. 

I'm sorry, what?

"I was coasting along when I heard a sound.  When I took a look, I saw this thing looking at me looking at him. It was big.  Tall.  Hairy.  And square-faced."

His eyes were huge.  His hands were... expressing themselves freely.  

Man, I love that kid.

We tried to convince him that maybe it was a raccoon, or perhaps even Big Foot -- seeing as we don't live in an area that has critters that match the description he gave us.  He listened patiently to us, but didn't agree.  In the end, Ethan just got back on his bike and pedaled away.  Truly, given the circumstances, I think that was probably the best recourse.  Who would want to stay in the area with such a beast running amok?  

Not us.

We made it home and ate cheesecake to celebrate our safe return.