Chapter One: They Entered in the Usual Way
They entered in the usual way. Panchito on his serape, Aladdin and Jasmine were on Carpet, Iago took naturally to the air, Jose in a first generation yellow Hummer, Mickey Mouse in his red car with Minnie in the passenger and Horace and Dodger in the backseat. Robin Hood, rode a horse-drawn carriage from Nottingham, with Cyril pulling it. Next to Robin was Mr. Toad and Walter Rat. Little John was in the back along with Sher Khan and Marian. Pete paddled along the Fourteen Mile River in Steamboat Willie which was happily chugging along. Oswald borrowed a car from Bosko, his Warner Bros. contemporary and Scrooge drove his limo with Huey, Dewey, Louie, Donald, and Daisy in tow.
All of them drove down the gravel road, each of them, except for Panchito, Aladdin, and Pete hit a pothole, but then again, it was gravel and was already uneven so none of them complained too much.
They continued down the road and parked their vehicles around the circular fire pit. Mickey was out first and called everyone around. Panchito jumped from his serape to the ground, barrel rolling, doing a bit of acrobatics that he would use for his private investigative work. Carpet simply let Aladdin down nicely. Panchito whistled for his rug to enter his sleeve. It did so.
Cyril came in a little fast, Robin Hood pulled the reins.
"Whoa," Robin said, "we're not at the races Cyril."
"Quite right," Rat said, "you need to control yourself."
"Sorry boys," Cyril said with his cockney accent showing. "habits an' all."
"Aw, let the horse be Rob," Little John said as he got out of the back, "he ain't doing nothin'"
"Ain't doing nothin'?" Sher Khan repeated in a thick British accent, a bit confused, "I'm sorry but when in the history of histories is that proper English?"
"Since me you big fat throw rug." Little John said with a smile. Sher Khan was three seconds to swiping his claw when he remembered his mantra that his multiple therapists gave him: "Killing is murder and murder is bad."
Marian was waiting behind the tiger, "Excuse me Sher Khan." she said sweetly. Sher Khan smiled, did a regal bow and moved out of the way, "Madame." He said, she turned towards him and smiled a bit, thankful for the compliment.
They eventually all met up in the fire pit. Pete had to park Steamboat Willie on the river so he took a bit longer. Mickey stood at the center. "Alright everyone," he said with his optimism, "we're gonna be here for a while so I hope you packed for an extended stay." He looked around, making sure he had everyone's full attention.
"Now, how do we want sleeping arrangements?" Mickey asked.
"I propose couples together." Robin said.
"I thought the point was to get away from all that," Minnie said, "we're all friends here, so we should all sleep under the same roof and divide the couples up."
"No podría estar más de acuerdo." Panchito said. Everyone looked at him confused out of their minds, Pete was the only one to do anything.
"You speak English from here on out understand amigo?" Pete said rather mockingly on the amigo part.
"Don't tempt me to use these," Panchito said, placing his hands on his Beretta M9's.
Pete smiled, "You don't have the guts."
Panchito raised an eye brow and pulled them out spinning them with two revelations and fired them straight into the air.
"Alright," Pete said, "you win."
"Panchito!" Mickey said.
"Si?" Panchito asked.
"Put them away and refrain from Spanish, it is a bit confusing." Mickey said rather politely. Panchito sighed, nodded and put them away, but before he did so he unloaded the bullets first. "Just so you know," Panchito said looking at Pete, "I'll be watching you. They don't call me Raging Bull for nothing you know."
"Raging Bull?" Robin asked, slightly confused. Panchito nodded, "It's a nickname Mr. Hood, Chicago Police Department type of thing."
"Alright!" Mickey said, "Enough chatter, let's get a move on."
They all went to the Old Trading Post.
Upon entering with their sleeping bags, clothes bags, and other bags full of stuff for their own amusement, they were rather taken by the feel of the place. They each took whiff of the old musty and rustic smell. The slight hint of a fire and the strange creepiness of the lights overhead. Panchito, Jose, Donald, Mickey, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Iago, Huey, Dewey, and Louie took top bunks. Pete, Minnie, Daisy, Little John, Scrooge, Oswald, Marian, Toad, and Rat took bottom bunks. Sher Khan and Dodger, with the help of Oswald and Marian, were given mattresses on the floor to sleep on.
"Well," Scrooge said, testing his bed, "it's not the most comfortable, but it's not the worst."
"Hey this is a gold mine compared to what I got back home so you can shut your can." Dodger said testing his bed also, "I don't wanna here complain' from none of you understand, not a single whine or cry or anything like that. I've heard it, been through it and don't deserve it. So just end it all right here whatever grievances you have."
They unpacked.
Panchito brought seven packs of cards and started for no reason at all building a gigantic house of cards. Jose organized his cigar box ranging from most expensive to least expensive, favorites, color shade, and brand at the same time. Huey, Dewey, and Louie began reading and drawing, Scrooge played around with a few gold coins, and Sher Khan and Dodger went outside with the others.
Robin Hood was busy building a fire. He had enlisted the animals help in collecting firewood, particularly wood for fuel while Robin grabbed a bucket for the water when the fire was to be killed off and rearranged appropriate seating for everyone.
Minnie was preparing dinner on a propane stove. She had a large box full of all of the supplies and a cooler with the food. She would be fixing burgers, adding a bit of burger seasoning, and adding the options of lettuce, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. She screwed on the propane tank, took a lighter, lit the stove, grabbed a skillet and slapped the burger meat on. Donald and Huey would be in charge of dishes later.
Dodger carried the biggest stick he could carry while Sher Khan hauled two logs, both with his teeth. They were both about six feet long and could be cut with a saw. Dodger simply got a three feet stick that was about as thick as an 8 oz. filet. This didn't bother either of them though as they happily assisted. Robin petted both of them as they brought their spoils, "Excellent job," he said, "you guys can take a break now, I'll call for you if I need any more."
The dog and feline walked back to the cabin passing Minnie along the way who smiled at them. "How's the fire coming boys?" She asked.
"Robin claims that he can get it started in five minutes or less but we'll see about that." Sher Khan said.
"Fire's done!" Robin called. Sher Khan and Dodger looked at the fox, stunned and confused. Robin just stood there smiling. Dodger and Sher Khan walked back over.
It was a small fire but Robin had enough work materials to keep it going all throughout the night so yes, the fire was done. "How did you-" Dodger started to say when Robin pulled out a flint and magnesium. "All in the wrists." The fox said. Robin noticed that Sher Khan stayed back a bit. Aladdin walked by, he was busy checking for poison ivy, which was ravenous in this area and usually grows in unexpected places, it was always a smart thing to know where those sorts of things were. "What's a matter Sher Khan?" Aladdin said with a taunting voice, "still afraid of fire?"
Sher Khan growled at him and roared a bit, "Yes you insolent little rat! I'm sure that doesn't bother you anymore so I should be free to say it."
Aladdin shrugged his shoulders and walked inside the cabin, not really caring.
"Hey Al," Minnie said as he passed her, "everything okay?"
"Yes Minnie," Aladdin said with a polite smile, "everything's fine, I got rid of most of the poison ivy, even found some Virginia Creeper."
"Alright," Minnie said, "tell everybody that dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes or so."
Aladdin nodded and walked inside.
Dinner was superb. The burgers were cooked to a nice well done, they were large, juicy, and had the heavenly amount of seasoning. Along with the burgers were some chips and in the coolers was plenty of water. That was a strict rule between the group. No soda. No alcohol. Just water. Everyone sat around the fire and ate, and talked about their lives up to that point.
Panchito talked about his police work, mentioning that he finally caught Hannibal, the drug lord that has been plaguing Chicago for years. Robin Hood mentioned how he is currently tracking and looking for his adopted son Skippy who went presumably missing and believes that the kidnapper is somewhere in the area. Jose announced that he brought his last cigar box with him and that after this box was going to quit. Donald is starting therapy with Sher Khan. Scrooge is giving to charity and Huey, Dewey, and Louie are currently in middle school. Daisy was launching her fashion career and Dodger is running away from his past. Pete is a successful businessman for Colgate toothpaste. Oswald, Marian, and Iago started an orphanage for children and a homeless shelter in upper Manhattan. Aladdin was busy taking over as Sultan and Rat, Toad, and Cyril were trying to run miles and see how far they could go to better themselves.
Once dinner was had, the dishes done and put away. Panchito pulled out his Spanish guitar, Héroe Soul and tuned it. "So," the rooster said, "anyone know any good campfire songs?"
"Kum-by-ya, my Lord, ku-by-ya." Mickey started to sing. Panchito smiled as he played the correct chords and he too started to sing. "Kum-by-ya, my Lord, ku-by-ya."
Everyone else joined after that. The fire warming them as the wind blew a bit, their hearts filled with a sense of unity as they sang the song they all knew by heart, a song that meant something a little bit more than just a campfire song. But rather a reminder that they were here, in this peaceful place, where none of their troubles would follow, or nothing could go wrong really. They just sat there and sang. Old Camp appeared to be swaying back and forth as they sang songs like: "Birdie", "Columbo" and "Alice Where are You Going?" behaving as if each one were being recorded live on television broadcast to the world. Jokes were told, skits were performed, and the world made a whole lot of sense.
That would change in about three hours with the introduction of a ghost story.