Kickapoo Kicks!

[Mattie Chappel]

"I think there's a rule," Mattie commented as she took one of the assembled s'mores, "that anything cooked over a campfire automatically counts as health food, and if there's a char on it, even better!"

She laughed then bit into the treat and rolled her eyes. "Man, I forgot how good these are! Why don't people do these at home? If you have a gas stove, you can roast your marshmallows that way." But then her nose wrinkled up and she shook her head. "Well, I guess if it fell off into the fire that could make a pretty bad mess. Maybe that's why!"

There was another laugh, then a brief distant look before Mattie looked at Kev again.

"You know, this brings up memories, but they're good this time." Not even bittersweet, she found that she could concentrate on the happy times and appreciate that she'd had those, and now there were new memories to be had.

"I'm glad you talked me into this!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Yeah that has to be one of the best rules in life and you’re right, char means charcoal and that is very good for you according to whoever says it is.” Kev added grinning at Mattie, she was right camp food counted as at least veg or good things because chocolate came from a plant. Marshmallows, pretty sure that sugar was a plant too and that crackers well that was just the part he wasnt too sure on but he was sure there was a grain in there too.

“True and I’d hate to be working the fire department shift when they’ve got to go water the house because the marshmallow did it but then again, it wouldnt taste the same as cooking them in the open air.” He said grinning, “Nothing like a camp fire and the open evening air to make things taste that little bit better.”

Kev saw her distant look as he smiled at her, memories yeah he figured as much though he didnt have any memories like this. His first camping experience that wasnt to do with the Navy as his family didnt really do the camping thing. Nope this was an experience he wasnt about to forget any time soon at all.

“I’m glad you’re here and I could talk you into this. Wouldnt have been the same on my own plus like you say who’d protect me if the bears come.” He said with a grin, “Besides I’m glad you could be here with me for my first real camping trip so thank you for coming.” Kev said smiling at her as he ate the smore he had made, honestly there wasnt anything better than real camp food.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"First real camping, huh?" Mattie smiled widely, although she couldn't quite fathom what 'not-real' camping was. "Well, we'll have to see about recruiting some raccoons for you, to get the whole 'real' experience. A few shooting stars and we're good!

She thought for a moment, then asked, "How are you at getting up in the middle of the night, anyway...I mean, without Reveille playing? We're out here, we should take advantage of the chance to really see the stars...the Milky Way."

Sighing, she held out another couple of roasted marshmallows for him to make into S'mores...another good memory, looking out at Orion and Cygnus marching across the night sky, learning constellations, a privilege lost to 'city folk'.

"Well, I guess you've seen your share of the stars in the Military, huh? But man, if I could...when Mom's gone, I'd be happy to run off to Montana, or Wyoming and fade in...you know, just 'fall off the gird' and disappear."

Well, he could know where she was, so he could visit!

Kev Allison

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Raccoons, I’m sure I don’t have to experience all the real camping in four days right, you know save some for next time and all that.” Kev said with a grin, the navy taught him a bit but his childhood camping was forts in the front room made from couch cushions before being told off for ruining the chairs. Not exactly the tough it rough it out kind of camping he might have wished for.

“Sure getting up in the middle of the night doesn’t bother me. What about you?” He asked as he nodded to her about seeing the stars. His usual stars at night were flashing neon signs in Chicago or street lamps, not exactly the dark skies of the Milky Way. “That sounds like a plan to me, wouldnt miss it for the world.”

Kev took the marshmallows and made the s’mores again as he grinned passing her back one. “A few yeah but you know when you’re on a ship in the middle of an ocean, going outside for a stroll isn’t really a thing. Then again the lawyer thing just meant late nights so usually I’d be catching sleep when the sun came up again.” He joked grinning at her.

“So you want to fall off the grid? Disappear into the wilderness, it sounds like a good thing to be able to do. Not sure I could completely disappear though, I like coffee too much to go total forest dweller.” Kev said thoughtfully, “And no running hot water... but then again I can see the appeal there.” He offered grinning at her, if she did disappear into the middle of nowhere he would be glad to go and visit her and try to tempt her back into the wide not so open spaces of Chicago.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Didn't say no hot water!" Mattie shook her head, licking sweet stickiness from her fingers. "Nah, I'd have at least a generator, but I don't think I want to be without cell service, cable and internet." She grinned, leaning back. "Need those creature comforts...oh, and Walmart twenty minutes away!"

Laughing, she assembled another S'more. "But you're right about coffee...need that to survive...oh, and bagels in the morning...and pizza..."

Trailing off, she shrugged. "Guess it sounds more like being a city dweller, huh? So maybe I just need a cabin in the woods for weekends or something?"

She looked at him with a grin. "You want to go in with me? Joint custody? We can split weekends?"

Or not...he was a lot of fun to be around and she found his company relaxing. She wouldn't mind spending more time with him.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“A generator would be great but yeah no cell service or internet, too much of it about these days but then not sure I’d cope with my phone being detached from me permanently.” Kev joked, sure he loved shutting his phone off as much as the next person and it was now but then a permanent shut down. It was a dream but then that wasnt likely because it meant giving up his job too he figured.

“Sure, cant beat a Walmart at all.” He added grinning, “Oh yeah but then with a generator we can work all those things out, plus a Walmart pizza would do me fine.” Being totally and completely cut off, unless there was a serious issue in Chicago he guessed he was about a city as the rest of them really.

“Yeah I think the weekends are better at least that way you can look forward to it more you know.” Kev said smiling, “Like living in the city you are used to it because you do it so it loses its appeal but if you lived in the woods full time then it might do the same after a while.” Kev wasnt sure on that one as it was appealing but then he didnt want to lose hte mystery of it all.

“Oh I’d love that and no need for joint custody, I’m pretty sure we could find a place for all three of us. Plus I wouldnt mind hanging around a weekend or two with you either.” Kev said not sure if that was the right thing to say but he felt it was true. He didnt mind hanging around with Mattie at all, she was normal, funny, bright and he was really enjoying her company.

Tag:Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"Yeah, me neither." Mattie felt a blush come to her cheeks and she hoped it was hidden in the dark or could just be written off as heat from the fire.

It had been a long time...since all that mess in Oklahoma, all the heartbreak and then the obligations, that she'd lightened up enough to allow anyone past the barriers...to be a real friend, but then Kev was quickly getting there. Sure, there were all the problems with her mother, but he knew about that and didn't mind, and besides, that was just a convenient excuse she had used.

"Kev..." Her expression was serious now, although she wasn't sure she should ruin the fun, but still, it seemed like the right time. "I had a family...husband and son...Andrew...they were killed in a house fire."

This was something she rarely spoke of, especially in detail, but Kev was different. "My husband accidentally hit a little girl with his car, killed her. She was the daughter of a biker gang president. One night while I was at work the house caught on fire...I know why, although it was listed as electrical." She shrugged. "I came home...here...after that..."

And until now, life had been just living one day to the next, work, home with her mother, keeping the house livable, but it had been her protection, her way of keeping sane, keeping her heart safe.

But Kev had changed that.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev smiled watching Mattie, he wasnt sure if it was the blush in her cheeks or just colour from the fire but still he was enjoying his time with her. He wasnt sure he would ever be doing anything like it, between work and sleep he was pretty much that working robot in life. There wasnt much else other than work and home, sure it was great most of the time but then he knew he had his nose into work too much to be a part of life outside that weekly grind.

Maybe it was out of choice but then he had done the same thing for so long, breaking that pattern was difficult to do yet there he was. Sat in a forest, camping with a beautiful woman. Could life really get any better than that? To him no not at all as he smiled seeing her serious expression. The smile fell from his face as he guessed this was that moment. The moment where he was told sure he was a nice guy but that was about it, boring or just bad at camping and thanks but no thanks sort of conversation that would make life very awkward.

He waited to hear what she had to say and what he did hear wasnt exactly what he thought it might be. Sure Mattie had mentioned a relationship before but nothing about the detail he now knew. He sat there silently and listened to Mattie tell him what had happened to her husband and son. It really was heartbreaking to hear as he nodded to her. “I’m sorry about your family Mattie.” Kev said seriously, “I can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like for you.”

Kev wasnt that kind of person to say he could relate when he couldnt possibly. He hadn’t been married before, sure a few relationships but nothing to write home about. As for a child, he hadn’t had one of those either. Kev shuffled himself closer to Mattie as he held out his arms for her to hug her. “I’m glad you came home, back to Chicago and I am sorry about how that happened for you.” He added, “Just know that if you need to talk I’m here, any time at all.”

Maybe it was because he was a lawyer and asked questions or maybe it wasnt and he just figured it was the next logical question. “So Mattie, did this biker gang know where you went to?” Kev asked not sure how things had wrapped up with it but he did know from the cases he had worked how things like that played out. It wasnt pretty, kind and collateral was often the case but losing a family. He didnt have any idea how Mattie had managed to keep things going at all.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Mattie shook her head, finding that, while she felt a twinge of heaviness talking about this, it wasn't so bad that she was overwhelmed or that she was afraid that the feeling would linger for days.

"I don't think so. I think if he did something would have happened by now." She shrugged. "Not like I changed my name or anything, but I don't use social media. Maybe he's too scared of me and Koda. But then, my mom is the one to really be afraid of!" She laughed.

"Anyway, that's my sob story, so besides my dad driving his car into a tree to kill himself, that's all the baggage!"

She paused a moment as she dealt with a particularly gooey bite of S'mores, actually giggling as she licked her fingers then tried to get the chocolate at the corners of her mouth with her tongue.

"Over and done, right? Camping kind of washes it all away, you know. Do I have any chocolate on my face?"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev just nodded to Mattie, she had a point if something was going to happen he was sure it would have by now but that didnt change the loss she had. Kev smiled and nodded, “Oh the three of you together, you, Koda and your mum, I’ve no idea how I escape there at all.” He joked smiling.

Peoples stories were always interesting ones, Kev had no idea how Mattie could do what she did with that amount of loss in her life. In a sense Kev knew he had walked away from his family, yes they were still there and he called and occasionally visited. Usually just when his mother insisted he be there for the annual, yes this is the junior son that doesn’t really exist most of the year just for the odd ‘hey guys I’m still around’ conversation.

“Camping can do that and you know something I still think you’re an amazing woman.” Kev said smiling as he glanced over her face for a moment. “Oh yeah you do.” He said grinning as he moved a little closer to her, using his thumb to wipe away an imaginary bit of chocolate on her face before he kissed her lightly and moved away. “That bit’s gone, I just can’t help with the rest of it on your face.” He said chuckling knowing there wasnt anything there in the first place.

Call him old fashioned but the cheesy stuff still worked at times and besides it wasnt like he wouldnt have told her if she had chocolate on her face. Well maybe not until he had to he wondered grinning.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

The kiss was small, but it was just enough, maybe the spark of a beginning, a gesture that wasn't demanding or imposing...just...a start, and enough.

Mattie smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Well, I guess if I'm the one that tastes like food the bears will get me first." She laughed, then speculated, "Or maybe the raccoons will snuggle around me and keep me warm!"

Sighing, she looked into the fire, feeling content and happy, realizing that this was maybe something she should have done a long time ago, although she hadn't had anyone to do it with, and even though she could have come out here alone, there was something about Kev...

"We probably should be thinking about getting to bed if we want to get up at O'Dark-thirty to look at stars." She glanced at him and grinned. "And the bears won't have a chance to attack if we stay awake all night!"

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

“Aww well I vote for the raccoons but then if a bear snuggled with you, it might get too warm. Then again I’m only to outrun you right if the bears attack?” He teased, sure Kev wasnt the sort to throw anyone under a bear like that but then there wasnt any harm in teasing about it. Though if he woke up to find her snuggling with a raccoon he was going to have to start wondering if she was Dr Doolittle.

Glancing at the fire in the evening light it was a great feeling, to be out there, away from the noise and rat race of Chicago. The peace and quiet no matter how terrifying the thought of bears were it was just nice to be out there. Nice to be out there with Mattie too as he didnt think there could ever be any better company for the trip.

“You’re right we should. Can’t wait to see the actual stars and not the street lights or emergency lights.” Kev said grinning as he finished off the marshmallow he was eating. “Yeah can’t let those bears get the better of us, we’ve worked too hard in setting up this camp site to even think about them coming in and getting at it.”

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

Standing, Mattie started to kick dirt over the fire...they wouldn't need it while they were sleeping and it was stupid to leave it going when no one would be there to attend it. "Making Smokey happy," she explained with a grin, pouring water over the dirt, causing a plume of steam to rise.

"By the way, remember, you're supposed to be behind me when the bear comes." She laughed as she headed for the tent. "And with luck, we won't have any visitors in here." Sometimes a variety of flying bugs managed to get inside the tent, although that usually wasn't until they had the lantern lit inside and the light attracted them.

Leaving her shoes outside, she ducked through the flap and turned on the LED lantern before sitting on her sleeping bag. One advantage of wearing a tee shirt for the day was that it was easy to slop off her bra and quickly stuff it under her pillow without actually taking off the shirt. Once in the sleeping bag she could shimmy out of her shorts so she was comfortable.

Koda followed her in and settled at her feet with a long doggy sigh.

Kev Allison,

[Kev Allison]

[googlefont="Oswald"][googlefont="Allura"][googlefont="Abel"]

MIND YOUR MANNERS

and tell the truth

Kev watched the plume of steam start to rise, it was a shame to see the fire extinguished but it wasnt like they needed it. The last thing he wanted was to be blamed for the latest wild fire or forrest fire or for burning down half of Chicago because he fell asleep watching a camp fire. Better to put it out and then he couldnt be responsible for any of it.

“Okay bear behind Mattie.” He said chuckling as he headed toward the tent too. “That’s great luck, I’d rather not have visitors because sure I like to share but when I’m sleeping I’d rather not walk up with a raccoon or something.” He said chuckling wondering what kind of things would end up in there in the morning.

Kev ducked in as he pulled off his shirt replacing it with a tshirt as he practically jumped into his sleeping bag happy to be there. It was fun camping, a lot more fun than he had first expected when they started off. He shuffled off his jeans as he pulled them out of the bag before settling down hearing Koda sigh as he grinned.

“Sounds like someone’s had a tough day here.” He said sighing equally as loudly as he grinned. “Well I guess I’ll see you in the morning, unless there’s a bear attack and then I’ll see you a lot sooner than that.” He added grinning at Mattie for a moment before he settled back into his sleeping bag.

Tag: Mattie Chappel

SWANSKI

[Mattie Chappel]

"No kidding on that!" Suddenly, Mattie rolled over and grabbed his pants then stuffed them into her sleeping bag. "You're not going anywhere without me! Koda, here." She patted the spot between them and the dog shuffled up, warding off any potential attack...not necessarily a fair tactic, but who said they needed to be fair?

"G'night, Kev!" Giggling, she pretended to snore. Sure, this was silly, but it was vacation, right? Not a time for worrying about appearances, it was a time for having fun!

++++++++++++
She was a little groggy when she woke up, but not so much that she didn't remember that they were going to go out to look at stars, so Mattie stretched and yawned, then nudged Kev in the shoulder. She didn't know exactly what time it was but that didn't matter as long as it was still dark.

"Hey, wake up, time to go look at stars!"

Kev Allison