A Young Mans Dream

[Feathers and Fins]

I have for years enjoyed writing shirt stories mostly for friends or family to enjoy. I thought I would share a few here. Hope you all enjoy

A young Mans Dream

It was the boys first time in the woods, all his life he had wanted to go with his dad on a rocky mountain elk hunt. For years he saw the racks and meat come home and hear the stories that accompanied. But not this time, for this time he was old enough for the long hard trip. He was twelve and had drawn an Elk permit, for weeks after that wonderful yellow piece of paper came in the mail all he could dream about was going with his dad hunting. He packed and unpacked checked and double checked everything.

Then came the day that wonderful sweet day, They arrived at the main lodge, as they pulled in there was this giant log cabin its wood was a golden brown with a beautiful wrap around porch, Elk antlers adorned the entry pillars. There were tall pine trees on both sides and the scent of a fire burning in the fireplace. Off to the side was a coral full of horses and another next to it full of burrows. They unpacked the truck and walked through the front doors of this Lodge. He was reminded of the stories he read of Teddy Roosevelt, John Audubon and Aldo Leopald he remembered the painting on his wall by Ansil Adams and how he had hoped and dreamed to someday see a place such as they described and here it was not just a picture but he was living it.

The lodge had a roaring fire glowing with pictures of game and many mounted animals on the wall. There were ducks and geese, deer and elk in the corner was two massive black bears posed in a fight for life and death. Trout and bass adorned the walls, some just mounted but some posed as if they were taking a fly gently off the surface of the water. They had just arrived in time for dinner and one of the lodge owners took them in to this great room. Pictures covered the walls wildlife scenes and hunters with the game they harvested. A wonderful plate was placed before him, Turkey with potatoes and gravy fresh hot buttered corn and biscuits as big as his fist were placed before him. The boy sat and ate not speaking a word, listening to the conversations of the older men of hunts from many years. He was mesmerized by these stories.

After dinner all the guest went in to the room with the fire place, some of the men were playing cards others just sitting in chairs talking. The boy kept bouncing from one conversation to another like a sponge absorbing water he was there taking in every story to the smallest detail. Not a word did he speak, just listening and letting his mind wonder. As the hours past and the guest went there ways to bed the boys father searched the room and there on the sofa covered with a bear skin rug lay his son fast asleep. Gently he picked him up and carried him up the wooden stairs to his room and laid him on the bed. That night the boy dreamt of the stories he had listened to at the dinner table and in the great room with the warm fire.

The next morning came fast to the young boy, sounds of men hustling around the lodge. horses and mules being readied for the days trek in to the woods. The smell of bacon and eggs cooking was a sweet aroma that filled the lodge. The boy walked out on the porch and the brisk cold air hit his face. The night had brought a light powder of snow to the ground and the porch he stood on. Breakfast was full of talk of valleys and mountains where the Elk would be found. The discretions were that of an alien world to this boy who had only known the concrete and asphalt of the city.

After breakfast was finished they carefully loaded the rifles on the horses that would carry them in to the mountains. They mounted the horses and in the dark of night they began their voyage in to a different world. Not a world of concrete and screeching tires, horns blowing through the night and people clambering around. But here was a world of strange fragrances of pine, the noises were replaced by the sounds of the wind blowing through the trees and a brooks waters gently flowing. There were no neon signs or billboards along this path but stars were as bright as a neon sign and helped to guide them on their voyage.

As they traveled the night started to give way to day, The suns rays shined across the tops of the mountains they looked as silver, gold laser beams shooting through the trees. Birds were starting to sing the song of morning life, Squirrels were running through the trees, the occasional gray cloud would pass over with a dusting of snow. The breath from horses and riders turned to steam with each exhale. They arrived mid afternoon to a clearing, snow covered the ground but they could still see shoots of green grass peaking through the white powder. They unpacked the horses and burrows and began to set up camp. The green tents were set with care as to not easily be blown away by a wind. The sleeping bags were unrolled and placed side by side in the tents. They set up a small folding table as their guide started a fire its warmth was instantly felt throughout the camp. Cast iron pots and pans were set around on flat stones and the soft sounds of the creek nearby complemented the crackling from the fire. The guide produced some fly rods as if magic from inside his tent and offered them to the father and his son. They gratefully accepted his offering and took to the creek.

They came over a bluff and below them was a crystal clear and calm pool, trout could be seen swimming in it darting back and forth, occasionally a insect would land on the water only to be sucked in by a beautiful shiny trout. The guide explained what they were feeding on and quickly tied on an appropriate mimic to the boy and his father’s line. The first cast produced a beautiful trout followed by another and another. Soon they had plenty for dinner and continued on catching them for several hours watching the graceful jumps and darts as they hooked one after another. As the sun set behind the hills the boy and his father returned to camp. As they came closer the smell of fresh coffee and trout being cooked was a pleasing scent to them. The guide had carefully prepared these fresh fish with biscuits and freshly picked berries. They slept well that night exhausted from the day’s trip.

The next morning they found fresh pancakes, eggs and bacon waiting for them with hot coffee the guide so carefully prepared. After breakfast they picked up their rifles and started up the hill. One after another they climbed every so often the guide calling and their ears strained to hear a return call. They came upon a large stream flowing swiftly and sat down on a log to rest their feet from all the hiking when out of nowhere and cutting the silence came a loud eery cry, it was a mature bull elk! they all grabbed their binoculars and started scanning for him. Then the guide said in a anxious whisper there he is not 150 yards downstream. The young man prepared for his shot... It seemed an eternity then as if a ghost manifesting there he was. Behind him snow covered mountain tops the creek before him aspen trees and their white bark directly behind him. The picture he had dreamed of for many years was real and before his eyes. He raised his gun to his shoulder, he took careful aim and as he did this ghost stretched out his neck the boy could see him clearly now a 7 x 7 monster filled his scope. Then he let out a bugle all his muscles tightened the hair bristled hard. The boy put the safety back on and slowly lowered his rifle.

His dad asked him what was wrong why he didn't shoot. The boy looked to his father and said. Dad you have always taught me how we need to have the best animals for breeding so they will pass on their heritage to the young. This animal is bigger than any picture I've ever seen and truly must be the best of this area. The boy looked and their guide and asked if this was the best. The guide softly said yes, then said stand up. He took a camera out and took a picture of the boy with this ghost in the background. The boys father was so full of pride as the guide said to them. Many would have shot him and for years talked about their trophy. You could have took him but allowed him to continue on and insure future hunters to enjoy this animals offspring.

They sat there watching this beautiful creature listening to him scream to let all know this was his mountain and he was king of it. He slowly turned and faded back in to the woods like the ghost he was on appearing. The hunters stood up and started back to camp. The boy in front of them occasionally walking up a hill and back down. The guide and his father talking about what they witnessed that day a boy becoming a man doing what few would have. They heard a loud thundering shot ring out from one of the boys ventures to the top of a ridge. Both men ran in Ernest to see what the boy had shot at. As they crested the rise there sat the boy on a rock. They asked what he shot at but before they could finish they could see in a small meadow below the motionless body of an Elk. They waited for 30 minutes in silence then walked down to it. A beautiful 5 x 5 was laying right where the boy shot him. The guide turned to him and said wonderful shot well done...

They began to dress the animal as the guide went for the horses and burrows. They loaded the mighty Elk and started the long trek back to the cabin. Upon arriving many were around with their deer and elk all admired the boys harvest and congratulated him many times over. Dinner that night saw the talk of many hunters and their trophy hunts. The old guide stood up in his hand was a picture , the one he took the day before and said this was the best Elk of the week and of a lifetime. All around the table then relised that there across the table was this quiet boy in the picture. One man asked the boy to tell his story. The young man stood up and told his story. Many years this boy listened to stories! But this was his time! All listened in silence as the boy told the story and at the end all applauded him, not for the Elk he took but the King of the forest who he left to be seen in his dreams forever.

[Justin Spencer]

Loved the story! Sure wish they would have released those trout though.

[Terrierman]

Great story.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I liked this story. Kinda like the story of Big Ben. A bear that was well known, but no one could shoot.