By: J. Monette
My dad always wanted to take us from the city said it clouded our minds with all of the technology like the T.V. He told us that a camping trip would be good for us, a chance to just get away and partake in things like cooking over a fire and hunting for animals.
We loaded up some of the things we needed into our camper, and took off. He was so excited about this place he found, He said it was far enough from civilization but close enough just in case something did happen.
We traveled for only a few minutes, going past the busy drive-in. Finally we took to the off road following the base of a cliff into a recess in the wall forming a formidable spot to park the trailer. You really couldn't see much from there, no Las Vegas, no Primm. All was quiet upon this cliff.
It was almost night so dad said we can't hunt but we'll cook what he bought just in case this happened. A couple of steaks sizzled on the skillet positioned on top of a grill, the fire cooking beneath.
Dad told stories of his youth and how his dad use to be, taking him to car shows and doing stuff such as this. He laughed at some of grandpa's antics when he was younger. I never met grandpa, he passed not too long before I was born. With all the great stories I hear about him, he sounded like a great person who went too early.
We ate our steaks and settled into our cots in the trailer. No noise or sound besides the occasional howl of a far-away wolf. As I began to fade into sleep I dreamed about the wolf, he was a big grey wolf with shaggy fur and tattered ears. He howled at the moon in search of a pack to accept him. The howl, a mix of desperation and loneliness.
Also in the distance we heard a small sound, like a jet airplane breaking the sound barrier. The wind picked up considerably and flowed over the cliffs and over the trailer. Dad was awake and ran over to me, he told me everything is going to be o.k. But I soon figured this a lie when the camper became hotter to stand in. I wanted out but my dad held me there.
A grim feeling fell upon me and I never would of thought, that the far away noise was a nuclear bomb contacting with the hard ground, detonating and mercilessly roasting everyone around that didn't have time or money to get to a vault.