Busted

While counting the floaters under my eyelids, my spouse conducted the noon campground check. As she passed our campsite, she said that a stash of wood was available at site 38. I immediately opened my eyes and looked for my gloves. When she returned after completing her rounds, I drove the electric cart as rapidly as its engine and conditions permitted to #38. Sure enough, a huge pile of termite killed soft wood was stacked neatly next to a bush. Also nearby was a box of kindling, a few camp chairs and a ratty table cloth on a picnic table. Since it is not unusual for campers to leave behind camping gear, I loaded the cart and sped back to my site where I neatly piled the wood. Then, I returned to load the remaining wood.

After stacking the second load, I experienced a feeling of having scored a great salvage victory. Just then, the dos Cowabungas arrived from a grocery shopping trip to Ralph's. I proudly showed them the  stash of wood and said, "We are going to have a big, big fire tonight." Suddenly, a car pulled up and a man and woman got out. The man said someone had removed his firewood from their site, #38. He said he noticed tire tracks which appeared to match the host cart. I admitted I had removed what I thought was abandoned wood. He said they had gotten in to the site early to drop off the chairs and wood and tablecloth. I told him I would return the wood asap.

With the help and pointed commentary from the dos Cowabungas, we reloaded the cart. I shamefully drove slowly to site 38 where the guy help me unload and restack the wood. After the second returned load was stacked, I drove back toward my campsite but got sidetracked by the presence of a new Mercedes Benz Sprinter van.

The van owner, a surfer and electrical contractor, invited me on a tour of the van. It was brand new and would accommodate 11'6" boards. He said his brother-in-law saw the wood pile in site 38 and suggested they quickly glom on to it. The surfer declined since he sensed the wood was not abandoned. He said he saw me remove and return the wood and was glad he resisted temptation.

It is said that firewood warms you twice. First when you get it and secondly when you burn it. In my case it was three times. Getting it, returning it and burning with shame. Busted.