DAYS OFF WITH BIGFOOT
I left the boss's office with a big smile. I finished a big and very important project ahead of schedule. I worked extremely hard almost all summer and I had a very short vacation. The boss is extremely pleased with what I did. He patted me on the shoulder and suggested that I take a two-week vacation. That was really generous of him. It would be very welcome for me at this point.
- So? - my colleague Fred asked me when I returned to my desk.
- Everything is great! The boss was extremely impressed and he praised me. Besides, he suggested that I take a two-week vacation.
- Oh, great! My congratulations, lucky man! What are you going to do during that time?
- I have no idea! I'll sleep, watch movies... I don't know, I'll think of something.
- Hmm... I have a suggestion. I have a summer house in the Pacific Northwest and it is empty right at this moment. Dude, go there! It's almost the end of September. The cottage is in the forest and the leaves have changed color. It's a real paradise now! You can enjoy nature, sleep in silence as much as you want. The river is close by and you can fish. If you really want to, then you can watch movies on TV there too.
- Going to nature for a city boy would be a real adventure. - I laughed.
- Look, it's only about 200 miles from here. You can easily go there in your car.
- I don't know...
- You don't have to think about it. I'll bring you the keys tomorrow. Get a girl and enjoy yourself there, man!
- It's going to be a little harder with a girl. I haven't been in a relationship for a while.
- It doesn't matter, you still have a few days, so maybe you'll find one. Anyway, go and enjoy yourself!
- Ha, ha! Ok! Let’s see!
My colleague’s suggestion started to sound tempting to me. Some quiet days by a river in the forest would fully charge my batteries. In the afternoon at home I started making plans in my mind and thinking of the equipment I had to take with me.
Fred really brought and gave me the keys to his cottage the next day. ‘Super! The adventure begins!’ I thought and thanked him a lot!
- Mm! Lush and extensive forests with the tallest fir trees on earth, frequently cloudy skies, cool temperatures … grizzly bears and gray wolves! Wow!
It’s time that I turn off Chat GPT now and prepare my backpack. It could be good if I buy a torch, the binoculars, … I will surely need my thicker anorak for the night. Lovely! Everything will be ready soon and I'm going to bed early. I don’t want to miss a minute! Oh! Just fancy! Suddenly I became so impatient.
However, I decided to spend the weekend at home. I assumed that the traffic on the roads would be heavier these days. I wanted to travel more peacefully and Monday, which is a weekday, seemed like a much better choice.
I followed Fred's advice to go out and try to meet some girl. Who knows, she might want to go out into nature with me, even though we don't know each other well enough yet. It would be much more fun there, especially at night. It really sounds completely crazy, but life is completely unpredictable and sometimes full of surprises. If I don't try, then I definitely don't have a chance. But I was out of luck. I still remain single.
The pleasant autumn sun made the countryside more and more magnificent as I approached my destination. As a completely urban person, I absorbed this beauty in an enthusiastic way. All this calmed and relaxed me in some way. I slowed down and completely surrendered to the pleasure. The various colors of the leaves that mixed with the green surfaces seemed unreal compared to the grayness of the city streets where a bunch of illuminated signs "scream" and the few autumn leaves that fall on the asphalt are quickly smashed and deformed by the pedestrians’ footsteps.
I didn't start early in the morning, so it was already late noon by the time I was very close to Fred's cottage. I saw a restaurant by the road and the idea of stopping there seemed great. I was in no hurry, anyway, I was already at my destination, so to speak. I could have lunch, drink coffee and refresh myself. I parked next to the only car in the parking lot. The restaurant seemed nice to me as I entered. An older man in a red and white baseball cap on his head was sitting at a table in the corner. It seemed like he was just finishing his lunch. He looked at me disinterestedly. I concluded that the car outside must be his. I sat down at a table in the other corner opposite.
I was staring at the decoration of the shop around, the walls, the furniture and its layout, when a smiling face approached me, holding the menu. It was the waitress, a young woman with her hair tied in a ponytail and wearing an apron, a little shorter than her already short skirt, with the restaurant's logo. On her bust and to the left of one of the apron straps, a badge had her name on it.
- Thank you, Daisy! - I told her, smiling as soon as she handed me the menu.
- Oh, hello and welcome, Mr …
- Bob! Robert, actually, but Bob for the friends.
- I haven’t seen you around before, right?
- You are absolutely right! My first time at your place and this thanks to a good friend and colleague of mine, Fred, Fred Flemming. Most probably he has never come here. He's a family man, I don't think he eats in a restaurant … Sorry, Daisy, for my becoming so talkative!
- No worries, sir!
- Bob, you can call me Bob! All right! It’s time I had a look at the menu.
- Take you time! I’ll be back soon.
I don't even know how I got into such an open conversation with this girl. In fact, she seemed very attractive to me at first glance. She had an incredible smile that I had rarely seen. Wide, sincere and warm! I guess I wanted to impress her right away.
I glanced at the menu page and the combination of sausages, fries and eggs seemed very good to me. If I add ketchup to it, it will be excellent. Besides, I can afford a beer too. Of course, I definitely want coffee.
Daisy came back and she wrote down my order on a small pad that she had taken out of her apron pocket. Once again she treated me to her magical smile.
The man on the other side stood up, pulled a bill from his jeans and he left it on the table. A moment later he got out and the muffled sound of a car confirmed that it was his vehicle in the parking lot. Daisy hurried to his table to pick up the dishes. I could see the whole figure of her body now. Slender body, long legs, smiling face. I must admit that she is very pretty. She was becoming more and more interesting to me. I thanked God that there were no other guests here, so I would have more opportunities to talk to her.
A voice from the kitchen called her, because my lunch was ready. She placed it all in front of me very skillfully.
- You’ve chosen one of our most delicious dishes. - Daisy said.
- I have the nose of a tracker dog. I am attracted to everything beautiful and delicious like a magnet.
- Ha, ha... You came to the right place. The area is full of hunters.
- I’m more keen on fishing, you know! Tomorrow I’ll have the chance to explore the area along the river.
- You will get thrilled, I’m sure. - Daisy said and turned on her way back to the kitchen. I spent a few seconds looking at her before starting my lunch. She liked my comment about the nose of a tracker dog. We share the same sense of humor, I think. Everything has started well. I’m going to have a really great time here.
I gulped my lunch and hurried to have my coffee and another small talk with Daisy when I called her to pay.
- We hope to see you again! - she said as soon as I paid the bill.
- That goes without saying! I was very satisfied. But, I’m afraid it’s time I went and settled into the cottage now.
We exchanged a warm smile with the goodbye and she was already about to welcome a group of three men that entered the restaurant and looked like they were hunters.
I found my way to the cottage very easily and I smiled contentedly when I stopped the car under the carport that Fred had made just for that purpose. He really does think of everything. I got out of the car and took a deep breath. The pleasantly fresh and fragrant air filled my nose. This was truly a little paradise in the forest, that's what it seemed to me at that moment.
I took my backpack, a package with cans of beer and cans of food, and I entered the house. Everything inside was clean and neatly arranged. I immediately swore to myself that I had to leave everything in the same condition as well. I put my things together and I turned on the refrigerator. I took a can of beer and I sank into Fred's armchair. I put my feet up on the chair. This is real life! I decided to laze around until I went to bed. I turned on the TV and as I was changing channels, I fell asleep well and long.
I was surprised when I saw that the clock showed 9 o'clock. I prepared and ate breakfast quickly. Curiosity pulled me to get to know the surroundings better, so I decided not to have time for coffee. I did not want to go too far, because I still do not know the forest well enough. I walked contentedly under the trees, while the rays of the sun broke through their branches. Occasionally, some leaves fluttered in the air as they fell to the ground. Fred described to me the path that leads to the river and his description was so detailed and good that there was no doubt that it was something else and I dared to go there.
The river looked fantastic, green-blue. I had only seen something like that on TV or in pictures in magazines. The clear and clean water made me immediately dip my hands in it. I was surprised that it was so cold. I laughed at my poor knowledge of nature. I took a small stone and threw it into the middle of the river. The sound of the stone hitting the surface completely delighted me. I walked a short distance along the river in complete, incredible silence. Only the occasional chirping of some birds could be heard.
- Hey, fish, be ready! I'll be back tomorrow with fishing gear! - I turned to the river and I loudly uttered my warning, laughing.
I went back to the cottage. It wasn't noon yet. It was still very early for lunch, but I got in the car anyway. Still, I thought it was a good idea to go to a restaurant.
Four cars were parked in the restaurant parking lot now. I got in and I immediately determined that the girl serving was not the one I wanted to see. She looked different, a little older and she had a different hair color. Her name badge said Jenny. I ordered only coffee.
- Daisy's not here? - I asked as she served me.
- No. She works this afternoon and tonight.
Jenny only had a small, forced smile and she didn't seem particularly friendly. So I gave up on the conversation. I indulged in enjoying the coffee, which was really good.
A vivid talk of the company who shared a table after the one next to mine caught my attention. I realized that they used to come very often to this place, since they had retired and enjoyed the forest life. I smiled to myself, thinking that in some years I may be a member of such a company myself. I may bump into them later in the forest but I think it’s better I went now. I asked for the bill and left.
I spent the afternoon in the forest. I dared to go further than the cottage. I took the binoculars and I imagined myself a real explorer.
Twilight was already turning the day towards evening. It was the right moment for me to return to the restaurant. It was lively inside and it surprised me how many people were here. Most were men in plaid flannel shirts and I concluded that they must be locals who had come to spend a pleasant evening. Daisy was there, as I expected. She quickly approached me and she treated me to her warm gaze and unforgettable smile.
She very quickly brought my order, a toast sandwich and a beer. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity for any longer conversation. She very quickly disappeared into the kitchen. I took a sip of beer, and then I took the first bite of the sandwich. The people around me were talking lively.
A sudden, very strong, piercing and panicked scream disturbed us all. Immediately there was a crash as if a door had slammed shut. Daisy ran out of the kitchen with a frantic expression on her face. Before anyone could react, I took her in my arms.
- What happened? - I asked worriedly.
- It's there! It's out there! - she said in a trembling voice.
- Who? Who's there?
- I saw it! I saw it!
- What did you see?
- That... That... creature!
- What kind of creature? What are you talking about?
- That... That big hairy creature!
The cook came out of the kitchen too. She looked upset too and she stood next to Daisy.
- What happened? - one of the guests asked her.
- I don't know. I asked her to take out the garbage from the kitchen. She opened the door and screamed. I was scared too. I don't know what's going on.
- Daisy, calm down and tell us what happened. What kind of creature are you talking about? - the man with slightly gray hair in a red plaid shirt asked in a calm voice.
- Come on, Daisy, tell me. Don't be afraid. You're in safe hands - I was playing the big protector.
- It was very tall and strong. And... Yes, it was very hairy... Brown long hair, I think... It was digging through the garbage with leftover food...
- Ha, ha, ha... It's a bear! You're scared of a bear! - someone laughed.
- No, it wasn't a bear. It looked different - Daisy said, still agitated.
- How different?
- It... It didn't have a head like a bear. It looked more like... like a monkey.
- It's already dark. You must not have seen well.
- No... No, I saw it clearly. It looked like a big ape.
- Bigfoot, guys! It had to be Bigfoot! - the older man with the hat on his head got excited.
- Who is Bigfoot? - I asked in surprise.
- You are kidding, aren’t you! - the old man turned and looked at me in an almost contemptuous way.
- He is right! - another man was heard to say, - Have you really never heard of Bigfoot, the Sasquatch?
- Ah! This rings a bell to me, coming on a second thought… - I was left to try to remember more when a tall man stood next to Daisy and seriously asked her:
- Did it try to attack you, my young lady?
- No, really not! It moved quickly away, I think, but I …
- Surely you can’t tell if you noticed a pungent smell of it, right? - the same man continued.
- The smell of garbage is enough to mix her up, chap! All the more, she got so terrified that she could not tell for sure.
The people at the restaurant started to go back to their seats little by little and Daisy took her way to the kitchen, still trembling a bit.
The evening became interesting. Bigfoot completely changed the atmosphere and became the main topic. People were divided. Most of them insisted that Bigfoot did not exist and that it was just an ordinary legend, maybe even a clever trick to attract tourists and the curious. A minority, including the man who first mentioned Bigfoot, insisted on the existence of this creature. They cited numerous stories and some photographs as evidence of the truth. I think some of them were ready to give chase, if only it hadn't been dark. I couldn't decide on either side. I'm definitely not a person who knows nature well in general, let alone its phenomena. But the discussion became more and more interesting to me, because it became very dynamic and each side stubbornly held on to its own opinion.
Daisy calmed down completely, but the incident still left its mark on her. She was no longer in such a lovely mood, and her smile was not as warm. Besides, she was busy, because in such an intense discussion the drink orders increased. I stayed late and decided to leave when most of the guests started leaving the restaurant. The question of whether it was a bear or a Bigfoot remained completely unresolved.
The morning promised another very beautiful autumn day. Only a few small, white clouds decorated the sunny sky. I decided to try my luck at fishing today. I had never fished before and this was a real challenge for me. I had studied a lot of advice on the internet and it was time for me to choose some of Fred's equipment. I believed that fresh fish could be my lunch today. But if I didn't catch anything, that wouldn't be a problem. I would in any case have a unique experience.
I headed along the now familiar path towards the river. A bird flew by not far from me. I'm not sure I could recognize it, even if I could see it better. Immediately afterwards I heard a knock. It had to be a woodpecker. Now I should just expect a characteristic laugh from Woody Woodpecker. I wanted to point out my presence in the forest, so I started carelessly whistling an old song.
I arrived in this way almost at the edge of the forest. I could already see the shore and the river between the sparse trees and low bushes. At one point it seemed to me that someone had moved there, but I couldn't see very well. Someone else had come fishing, so I'll have company, was my logical conclusion. That could be good for me. I can learn something from him, if he is an experienced fisherman.
I took a few more steps and I had a much better overview. I froze in place. It was not a fisherman. It was something much larger than an ordinary man and it had no clothes. It was hairy.
- A bear! - I whispered excitedly, completely unaware. It must have come in search of food before the winter hibernation that would follow relatively soon. In that situation, it really wasn't wise for me to go to the river. But here I considered myself well protected so that I could curiously observe what nature selflessly offered me. I will be able to brag to my friends about all this that they can only imagine. Only Fred has the incomparably greatest direct experience with nature.
My bear took two or three steps and it turned around. I was completely shocked then. It was not a bear! Its head was completely different. I saw without any hesitation that this creature looked more like a man.
- Bigfoot! - I restrained myself at the last moment from shouting. Unbelievable! He is right in front of me! It's true that he exists! I began to tremble slightly with excitement. I have to take a picture of him! I quickly pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and immediately began to position myself for the photo. But my fishing equipment was in the way. I let my fishing rod fall to the ground. In my haste, my folding chair caught on the strap of the bag I had on my shoulder. I jerked and pulled all of it, feeling like I was wasting my precious time. Somehow I managed to get it down on the ground. But Bigfoot moved, so the tree and the bush mostly hid him. Then I quickly moved to find the best position. I focused completely on him and I picked up my phone. I only needed one more step to have the best position. And that was a fatal step. I tripped on a thick dry, slightly rotten branch on the ground that broke with a rather loud bang. At the same second I fell to the ground, and my phone slid off the dry leaves somewhere into the nearest bush.
- Damn! - I gritted my teeth, as I stood up as fast as I could. I quickly approached the bush and started looking for my phone. I couldn't see it, so I started searching the ground with my hands. It was covered with leaves, so it took me almost half a minute to find it. I was now looking for Bigfoot with my eyes, but I couldn't find him. I went out to the shore. Everything was deserted. No one was there.
- Damn! Damn! Damn! - I repeated angrily. I had Bigfoot almost in the palm of my hand, and now I have nothing! Who will believe me now that I saw anything?
- Damn branch! - I said bitterly. My desire to fish completely disappeared. I felt that I had lost something very important and precious. I completely despaired and returned to the first trees and sat there in a kind of ambush. Some small hope that Bigfoot might return began to smolder in me.
I sat there and carefully watched in all directions for a long time. But nothing happened. If I had at least known in which direction he had gone, I would have certainly followed him. So, I reluctantly picked up my fishing gear and headed back to the cottage. The cold beer was only a small consolation.
I went to the restaurant in the afternoon. I decided to have lunch. Daisy was there, in a good mood and with her incredible smile.
- I saw him this morning! - I told her confidentially as she wrote down my order.
- Who? - she looked at me a little surprised.
- Bigfoot! Over by the river.
- Maybe it was a bear.
- No, it wasn't. That's what you saw too.
He looked at me with a serious look for a moment, and then she smiled broadly. She turned and went towards the kitchen.
I spent the rest of my free time with the thought of Bigfoot. I mostly wandered through the woods, sat by the river and went to the restaurant. I kept hoping that Bigfoot would suddenly appear somewhere and I would finally get the chance to have the perfect proof. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The Bigfoot discussion happened a few more times in the restaurant. I joined the discussion every now and then. I also joined the small group that advocated his existence. I didn't want to say that I had seen it. Well, who would have believed me?
THE END
FEBRUARY 2026