Now What?

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" came a voice from the darkness. "We're over here under this tree. Doris thougt she heard something so we shut off the lights and were trying to listen," said Shauna. "Oh! Well, sorry," responded Kim, "But we didn't see even a glimmer of light when we came over that rise - it kinda scared us to think we might be stuck out here in the dark all alone." "You have the truck keys in your pocket," said Doris with a sigh, "WE would be the ones stuck out here all alone if you had decided to drive off without us. I suppose we might as well give up the canoe search for tonight and head on back to the cabin." "Fine by me," answered Shauna, "We don't seem to be making much headway in the dark." The group gathered themselves up and started back down the trail. Judy, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped and began to dig around in her bag. "What are you looking for now?" asked Shauna. "Well, I have been thinking about this and I think we might be closer to the cabin than we are to Kim's truck since we have come halfway around the lake. I used to have a map with all the trails on it and thought I tossed it in this bag on the way out the door. Yep, here it is. Do either of the lights still work? We can take a look at this and maybe get our bearings." They all gathered around the map and tried to make sense of it. "It would sure help if we had a compass," Doris lamented. "A compass? I carry one in my pocket all the time," said Kim, "Here it is, but how is a compass gonna help us?" "Look at this map," said Doris, "The cabins are to the north of the lake and we came in from the west where we picked up the canoes. We went, best as I can figure, northeast, so Judy might be right about being closer to the cabins." "I wouldn't bet on it," responded Shauna, "We went to Lancaster once from Baltimore and she took a shortcut that took us through Groveport." "I KNEW where I was the whole time," said Judy, "I just thought you might like to see a little of the countryside!" Kim piped up saying, "If you'd had a compass you wouldn't have had to tour the countryside! I came all the way home from Marietta once with my compass, using only township roads and I made good time." "I'll remember that next time," said Shauna. Meanwhile, Doris had been studying the map. "I think," she said, "If we go back to where the canoes were, there should be a trail just a little way on around the pond that will take us right back to the cabin. And it does look closer than walking all the way around to the truck. Let's go." The girls, led by Doris with Shauna at the rear made short work of the hike back to the lake. When they reached the spot where the canoes had been beached, however, Doris stopped so suddenly that they all piled into her. She pointed, without saying anything. There, right there in front of them, were the missing canoes. "HEY!" said Kim, "There's our canoes! Where'd they come from?" "I TOLD you somebody touched me, " Judy told them, "And there's the proof! Whoever it was moved the canoes and then moved them back!" "I wonder if they'll float or if the mystery somebody drilled a holes in them?" wondered Doris. "One way to find out," said Shauna as she pushed one of the canoes into the lake. They all watched the canoe as if they were expecting it to come to life or maybe just sink. It did neither. Just sat there waiting. So Doris pushed the other canoe in only to discover it too, was fine. "I don't know about this," said Judy, "What if somebody is out there waiting on us? If they tip the canoe I'll swim just like a rock." "You have 2 life jackets on, water wings and probably an inflatable raft in that bag. You'll be fine," Shauna assured her. "I might lose my glasses," Judy worried. "Here we go again," Shauna said, "Get IN the boat." Concerned they really might leave her alone Judy did as Shauna suggested and climbed in a canoe. Just as the canoes got about 20 feet from shore a bolt of lightning split the sky and thunder CRASHED all around them! "INCOMING! HIT THE DECK!" shouted Judy as she began to dig frantically in her bag. Mumbling to herself she came up with an umbrella. "PUT THAT AWAY," came from Doris, "Before you attract the next lightning strike and fry us all. Judy put her umbrella back in the bag but pulled out a rain suit. "Don't even think about it," said Shauna, "You are NOT gonna dump us in the drink which is exactly what will happen if you try to put that on while you're in this canoe. We are almost to the other side and if you'd quit digging in that bag and help me paddle we could be there in a few minutes." "I want to ride with Kim next time," mumbled Judy under her breath. "Don't worry, next time you WILL."
In short order the girls reached the dock, climbed out of the canoes and headed for Kim's truck. "Oh, I sure hope my truck is there. I hope, I hope, I hope," said Kim. "You aren't the only one," came a chorus of 3 voices. Another few steps and they would see if the parking lot was still home to Kim's truck..............