Down by the lake was honestly my first effort at writing a story. It was as if I felt compelled to write it. I feel it has held up well.
I've been going through and correcting errors, harvesting out a ton of commas and generally just polishing.
To everyone who commented in the first version; I thank you compliments were appreciated, criticisms taken in the spirit given.
Enjoy a revisit with Josh, Madge, Jeannie, and everyone else.
BSB
One
1
There is a lake bordering the southwest corner of my property; it's fairly large, and I have several hundred feet of shoreline - mostly trees and brush with a few open areas. The rest of the lake is surrounded by National Forest, with a county road running along the western tip.
Every so often campers will wander onto my land, so I make it a habit of checking over there weekly during the summer months. Usually I just point out where they are, and if they seem nice enough I let them stay.
Well, early in June a few years ago my dog Bogart and I were making a pass down there and encountered a couple with a tent set up and signs they were planning a longish stay. They looked in their late twenties or early thirties, he was 5-7 or 8, brown hair, with the tanned look of a man that worked outdoors. She was maybe 5-3, medium length brown hair, freckles over pale skin. More than that I couldn't tell since it was a chilly day and they were dressed for warmth.
When I come on a camp I like to announce my presence before stepping in, so I called "Hello the camp!"
They both sort of jumped, then he called me in.
I introduced myself, then explained they were on my land.
That's when the first problem cropped up: he said his name was Dave Jensen and she was Marjorie Franklin, and he was sorry he didn't realize they were on private land. Her head did a quick twitch, and in fact, so did mine.
"Son, I came from over along the road, and if you're driving a blue Ford pickup you just lied to me, and that's no way to start out."
His eyes widened and he took a deep breath, then he dropped them down and mumbled an apology; "I'm sorry, we got here last night and didn't know..."
At that point I cut him off:
"That's two. You're parked within twenty feet of a 'private property' sign, you walked right past it to get here. I think you should camp elsewhere."
That's when she spoke up; "We're running out of places to go."
"Are you broke? Homeless?"
"Yes. We've both lost our jobs, ran out of unemployment, and never did have much in savings. I sold my car and moved in with Dave when I couldn't afford my apartment, and a few weeks ago he lost his and we've been living in campgrounds, but now... we don't have the money for camping fees and food and gas."
"What sort of work did you do?"
"Well I was in real estate, then office work, then anything I could do that pays."
"And you?"
"Construction. Mostly rough framer, but really anything that pays."
"Alright. My name is Murphy, you can stay here for a while, but I do require you keep a clean camp. Also, you may want to move farther up in the trees; you'll get more shelter from the wind and the bugs are less bothersome."
"And dig a pit toilet well away from the water."
I whistled up the dog and headed back up to the house, thinking as I went. I remembered early adulthood when I was scuffling for work with a wife and two young kids. I'd take any job I could find. Even worked in a porn shop for a while, but was happy to find something better. Never did have to tent live though.
*****
I should give you some personal background: my name is Murphy, Josh Murphy. I'm in my mid - sixties, pretty fit, but with the aches that come from working hard for a living. I'm only 5'6", and at that time I was 200 pounds, and I liked to think most of that was muscle.
I was in the Navy after high school, made rate in electronics and served aboard a destroyer with several tours off Viet Nam. After the service I worked at several aircraft companies in Southern California and married. Eventually we moved up to Northwest, where I caught on with a local utility and found a career.
3
By then we had had two kids, a house, a couple cars, and of course the usual cats and dogs. I made good money, was reasonably lucky in my investing, and had a decent pension when I retired. My wife and I bought this 25 acre parcel in the Cascade foothills thirty years ago, when land was reasonably cheap. We built a four bedroom, two bath cabin at the upper portion of the meadow, in the wind shadow of a large hill. There are several out buildings including a barn I use as a garage for my truck, the two cars I restored, and a small tractor. In the loft we set up a small apartment.
We had been married thirty years when she developed cancer, and within three years she had passed. Since then - almost five years, I had lived alone; the last three retired.
The next week I was busy; working around the place, running into town, meeting up with a couple friends - you know the usual stuff we all do. When I finally checked back on the couple I was impressed with the site; they had done as I suggested and the camp was clean. Dave wasn't around and when I called 'hello the camp' Marjorie responded with 'Hello the landlord'.
A sense of humor. I liked that.
So I sat and we talked. Bogart came over, gave her the sniff test, and then sat with his chin in her lap, she idly rubbing his ears as we chatted. That big black dog knew a softie when he saw one.
Dave, it turned out, had found a couple days work and would be back around sunset. She was staying busy around camp, then just walking the woods. But not being a 'nature girl' didn't know what she was looking at.
The more we talked, the more I got the impression of a smart woman finding herself in a difficult situation, and trying to make the best of it. I also had a better look at her since she wasn't wearing three layers of clothing; she may have weighed 120 pounds, and her shape was pretty nice, if still covered by jeans and a sweat shirt. Her eyes were blue-grey with golden flecks. There were the beginnings of lines around her eyes and mouth, probably indicative of the stress she had been going through.
After a while I suggested we walk around a bit and I would give her a few nature lessons.
As we strolled I named the various trees and plants, pointed out a few of the birds around us including an Osprey sitting in a tree at the side of the lake. I noticed how stiffly she walked and commented on it.
"I'm not used to sleeping on the ground." She said with a wry smile.
"What about Dave?"
"He's not much better, but working helps him get the kinks out."
"I may have a solution. You two come up to the house when Dave returns and I'll buy you dinner." I pointed up the hill, and then Bogart and I headed home.
I wanted to keep things simple, yet fancier than camp food, so opted for spaghetti, salad and wine. Before they were due I grabbed a shower and shaved several days of stubble off my cheeks, then donned clean jeans and shirt. I was feeling nervous but put it down to not having entertained for several years. Even so, I kept fussing with my shirt, combing my beard, pacing about.
They came up the hill just after 7; she had changed to a flannel shirt, and he was in jeans and a sweat shirt with cut-off arms.
I welcomed them in and both took a moment looking around. He was first to speak; "Wow... this is a nice place. Looks well built."
She just said; "It looks very homey, but I don't see much of a woman's touch."
I realized I hadn't mentioned my wife, so I gave them a brief run down as we did a short tour of the down stairs. Back in the kitchen I put the spaghetti on - it only takes ten minutes to be just right, and the sauce and salad were ready. The wine was a merlot, and I served a glass while the pasta cooked.
Before the pasta was finished Dave had drained his glass and was looking around as if expecting another. I shot a glance at Marjorie, who had barely touched her's, and she cast a worried look towards him. I poured him another, smaller amount. He looked up at me but said nothing.
We sat at the table and they ate as if it had been a long time between meals. Luckily I had made a lot of spaghetti and they, especially Dave made deep inroads in it.
When everyone was finally satisfied I got up, reaching to clear the table. Dave sat back, but Marjorie jumped up insisting that since I had cooked she would take care of it.
5
Dave still hadn't moved, except to pour the last of the wine, and throw it down in one move.
I looked toward the kitchen and there she was; doing the dishes and humming. I started to say something, but she just said; "Let me do this."
"Okay, but make it quick, we need to talk, and it's going to be dark when you head back."
She quickly finished up and joined. Dave had taken my easy chair, so Marjorie and I sat on the couch.
"Ok," I began; "I have a rough but serviceable apartment over the barn. I'll make you a deal: in exchange for a roof, a bed, and running water, Marjorie..."
"Call me Madge."
"Ok... Madge, will do some housekeeping for me and you Dave, perhaps you can do some of the stuff I've been neglecting." Almost before the words were out of my mouth Madge was nodding and Dave was frowning. "Well what if I have a job?"
"We can work around that. Perhaps do things in the evening or on weekends."
"Hmm, I'd like to think over your offer." "Fair enough. Let me know." After a little more small talk, with Madge looking at Dave in a way I'd seen from my wife when I had screwed up, they headed back to camp. Even before I had closed the door I heard Marge saying; "What do you mean you need to think it over?" After that they were out of earshot, but I had a good idea the kind of night Dave had ahead of him.
I closed up, heading to bed. Sleep did not come quickly, as it normally does. Instead I kept picturing those beautiful eyes and auburn hair. The fact she jumped in to help, and readily accepted my offer impressed me, but I suspect she felt anything was better than that tent.
The next morning, while I was having my first cup of coffee, there was a knock on the front door. Well I know there aren't many people that would stop by at 6:30, and Bogart would have barked if a car came up the drive, so I just shouted 'come in' and took another sip of eye opener.
