Kevin N. Murphy

As I am a slacker, I overslept that morning. Woken not by an alarm but in a state called alarm. I thought to myself, “Self you’ve really got to do something about this.” Alas, I resolved to still go to the project. I met with success some hours later. As I arrived I saw some familiar faces constructing scaffolding and joined in. The weather was perfect. Like the blanket that surrounds kids at a bonfire, the breeze wrapped me in cool.

Speaking of bonfires, I had already decided not to attend. Why, I had just been driving for some distance for the second time that day and 245 miles later I wasn’t in the mood to drive some more. However, I was offered a spot in a vehicle with the same bonfire destination and cordially accepted said invitation. My stomach was eager with anticipation and the Venti Vanilla Latte only added to such excitement. “Shall we put the top down?” “Let’s do it!” “It’s gonna be cold?” “We’re not stopping for you to put it back up!” Thus the top went down, the windows came off and the protective wind breaking went on. We were off.

The wind was most pleasant that evening. My coffee kept reassuring me that it had been a worthwhile investment and I didn’t question the authority with which it spoke such things. Rubicon’s are kickin’ little vehicles. Nice speaker set up. Windblown or not, it’s audible.

After sorting through the bridges we found our way to the vicinity of the bonfire. Not only that but we found ourselves headlong in the midst of a veritable emergency or freak accident. A visitor from out of state had been attacked by dogs. Yes that’s right, dogs. She had been bitten twice. She was being waited on and the police came to file a report I suppose. We proceeded with the bonfire setup duties. I was happily privileged with helping to transport chairs, half a fifty gallon barrel, and some wood.

Windbreaks are necessary, especially when trying to start fires on a beach. Oh thats right, did I mentions, this was a bonfire on the BEACH. OH YEA! This was the best night time beach outing I’ve been party to. (Back to the paragraph at hand) The fire was started and was quite quickly an inferno. Chocolate began becoming hot, as did the apple cider. Some sticks were sharpened for marshmallows. Some music was played, although I feel that the temperature was a little inhibiting in the group sing along. Pleasant to say the least though.

I frightened a child, unintentionally of course, I made up for it by helping him make a s’more. I didn’t frighten Alice that I know of, but according to her the day rated as an 8. That’s pretty good I think. I know what you’re thinking though, “That’s great it was an 8 but what color would you describe it as?” Well she told me it was a turquoisey type bluish. So there you have it. We wrapped things up with a game of wink. I died. But I took solace in the fact that in this very same wink of death, came the exposure of the killer. Be careful when you wink at people, others are watching. Conclusions they must draw.

On the way home, we were held up by a large accident. Someone got out of our car and knocked on the door of the bus. “Can I use your bathroom please?” “We don’t have one.” So it was the ditch. As people quickly began to stir comments began to fly mocking such individuals. Freaks. Hahehahehahe (snort). The helicopters came, lights went up. Some time later we arrived at the central location called Tim and Marja’s. Thus brought to an end October 29th.

You can find photo documentary of these memories (you know what I really said) in the Photo Project.