SHACK 86 THE PARTY

freindsofanonwildnernessarea.org

Being invited to a Anniversary was unexpected.

On reaching the venue I was amazed.  I had been living in nature in a shack without hot water, only to boil it on a camping gaz ring.

The house was a mansion, with large column pillars, eight in all. Vast grounds well manicured.

Large cars silently rolled up, each alloted a parking place by liveried attendants.  People decanted from the limousines and were attired in expensive and fashion clothes.

My cycle was huddled in a corner, people looked at my faded jeans, rough skin jacket and open boots at the toes.  My long curly unkempt  hair, deeply suntanned, red and black beard--- a wild man.

I smelt clean and my hair was curly but orderly, one lady said as if undressing me, for I was well muscled and lean 'who is that gorgeous man'? 

My hosts embarrassingly explained to all and sundry I'd been away for years in the wilds, researching, which was not true, I had been away several years and had taken a degree and just traveled and lived wild, yes in a place of residence where I traveled and came back too. 

As I went into the main hall, my nose was assaulted by perfume, after shave and deodorant.  My nose or rather my sense of smell, the olfactics, had become sensitized by living wild so to speak, I could smell animals, hear sounds that others maybe could not.

I lived alone in a simple herdsman's cottage, one step removed from a shack although it was broken down in places it could well qualify as a shack, at least I thought so.  The nearness and noise of so many people actually frightened me.  All vying for attention and importance.

People did not know what to say to me or me to them and could not look me in the eye and avoided my open gaze and shied away as if they had secrets to hide and that I could look straight through them and know their masks and other things. For where I lived people were simple and had open innocent eyes and posture.

My hosts had not realized the changes in me nor I in them.  The last we met they were stony broke as was I and still am.  We had gone our ways they to make millions, me to the wilderness.  They were extremely happy with their lot as I with mine.

I returned to the wilderness and freedom of my shack to be greeted by a tortoise.

SHACK