Sophomore year... don't judge too harshly
Charlie watched the rain slide lazily off the overhang and into the ever growing puddles below, the previous thunder of the storm now just a light pitter-patter above. His feet dangled carelessly over the edge of the shelter, now hopelessly drenched from the day’s trek. It had been pouring since morning, the rock strewn paths of the Appalachian Trail turned into cascading waterfalls, making the hike a real challenge. It was now a little past 4, the sun beginning its evening descent early in the dwindling days of autumn, and Charlie and his two friends had decided unanimously to stop for the night at the Adirondack shelter only a few miles off the trail. Not unexpectedly, it was packed to capacity, few backpackers wanting to spend the night in the rain soaked open. And as one would expect, backpacking tends to attract a rather interesting crowd, and with a large concentration as was now the case, it was only a matter of time before Charlie found himself face to face with one of the more peculiar members of the bunch.
“Hey man,” came a slow, drawling voice from over Charlie’s left shoulder. “You wanna try it for me?” Charlie slowly swiveled his head around to face the newcomer. Standing before him was a raggedy looking man of about 25, with long black dreads so dirty they may have one time been blonde. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and torn khaki shorts, which hung loosely over his mud stained legs. Upon his feet were equally filthy boots, their color undeterminable under months of grime. Around his neck was a beaded hemp necklace, his long shaggy hair covering most of his face. And in his outstretched hand was a small, orange, mushroom.
“I don’t know Charlie man,” came another voice, and one Charlie immediately recognized.
“Oh come on,” echoed a third, drawing the last word out with a sneer. “He seems like a nice guy.” So caught up in the strange man with the mushroom, Charlie had completely overlooked his two best friends and trail buddies, Mike and Todd. Todd had spoken first, his words of caution reflecting his wary nature. He wasn’t a small kid, but was naturally shy around others, never fitting in as easily as his friends. Instead he kept to himself, most of the time preferring to see life through his books instead of actually living it. It was only with much poking and prodding that Mike and Charlie had finally coaxed him into this adventure, and from the looks of things, he was not enjoying himself.
Mike was the polar opposite. He loved being the center of attention, and there was no story too wild, no dare too dangerous for him. A boy of medium build, he was often picking fights with kids in the grade below him, with mixed results. It never dampened his spirit however, and he had of course jumped at the chance to spend a weekend in the woods with no parents, and therefore no rules.
“What?” Charlie asked incredulously, completely confused as to what his friends were talking about. “Try what for you, what are you talking about?”
“The mushroom of course!” the man exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I need you to eat it for me.”
All eyes were on Charlie as he sat there, too stunned to speak. “Look dude, its like this.” It was Mike who had spoken, a strange glimmer in his eye, as he attempted to make Charlie understand the situation at hand. “This here, is the mushroom man. Mushroom Man, meet Charlie, Charlie, meet Mushroom Man. OK, everyone acquainted?” he finished, with a silly smile on his face that clearly showed he was rather enjoying himself.
“Heya dude,” remarked the Mushroom Man. He spoke with a sort of half smile, which along with his half closed eyes, formed an expression one would expect to find on a sick hippie (his occupation at the time.)
Charlie, who was still too mystified to speak, let Mike continue with his introduction. “You see Charlie, Mushroom Man is bit of a guide here, and he’s writing a book about the Appalachian Trail; more specifically, about its numerous mushrooms, or “shrooms.” Am I saying that right Mushroom Man? OK cool. Yeah anyway, he’s writing a guide book all about the shrooms on the trail, which ones are good to eat, which ones to avoid, stuff like that. And so he’s just been walking up and down eating all of the mushrooms he sees, and writing down what happens in his notebook. Isn’t it great?!” Charlie stopped talking to catch his breath, his face now beaming with excitement, having clearly overlooked the negative side of eating wild mushrooms.
“People do that?” Charlie managed to spit out, as Mushroom Man nodded vigorously, eyes wide open now, just as thrilled as Mike was at his lifestyle choice.
“I’m afraid it’s true,” Todd added, now flipping through a worn blue notebook, its pages littered with notes, which included everything from Polaroids of the various mushrooms, to hand drawn pictures of what Mushroom Man had seen while on the shrooms.
“Don’t do it Charlie,” Todd warned, a slightly panicked look in his eye. “Do you know why the “Mushroom Man,” (as he rolled his eyes in disdain,) “can’t eat the mushroom himself?” The Mushroom Man shuddered, and started to rock slowly in place. “I’ll tell you why!” Todd continued, his voice starting to rise in pitch and volume. “It’s because the last mushroom he ate had him puking his brains out for two weeks! He couldn’t even stand up! Not to use the bathroom, not to eat, not for anything!” Todd finished almost at a yell, jumping to his feet, and gesturing towards the Mushroom Man, who was looking slightly embarrassed. For a moment afterwards Todd seemed unable to remember where he was. A second later however his face flushed a deep shade of crimson, and he sat down, looking embarrassed. “All I’m saying Charlie…” his voice lower now, barely audible, as he stared intently at his shoelaces, “Just don’t do it man,” he said quietly, as he slowly shook his head.
“You’re a real pussy sometimes you know that Todd!” Charlie, Todd, and the mushroom man all looked up in surprise. It was Mike who had spoken, and he was now on his feet. “Don’t listen to him Charlie, you’re a big boy, you can think for yourself. Its just one little mushroom, how bad can it really be? Todd’s always been afraid of his life, don’t let him ruin yours!”
Todd simply sat there, his face now bright red, his lip starting to twitch. Mike was still standing, a mix of anger and disgust now resting on his face. Charlie was the only one who didn’t appear moved by Mike’s speech, and instead was concentrating on the mushroom still resting in the Mushroom Man’s open palm.
“Fine!” Mike shouted, his eyes now ablaze. “If you two are too scared to do it, then I will!” And with that, he snatched up the mushroom, swallowing it whole. Still standing, he rocked unsteadily for a moment, and then collapsed in a heap on the floor.
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