Note: This is a fantasy story and 100% fiction including the characters and the place. Although Lost Maples SNA inspired the story, it is not the origin story. There is a true life origin story for Lost Maples, but this is NOT it!
I am in the process of developing this story, so expect it to be edited and changed as I develop it.
"Do you mind if I sit down?"
"Please. Here let me scooch over and give you some more room."
"Thanks. I was happy to find a bench in the park. I love the trails here, but my old legs and feet are yelling at me. I didn’t want to sit on the ground or a wet rock."
"I hear you. It’s a bit foggy and misty this morning. That can make it a little tough on the trails too. My name is Bob, by the way."
"James, again thanks. It’s a bit peculiar that there is a bench here in the middle of a nature park. I mean, it’s the only one."
"Well, it’s a memorial to the person who donated the land for the park."
"Must be a story about that."
"Yes, there is. Would you like to hear it?"
"Sure. Did you look this up somewhere?"
"Not really. I knew the person who donated the land. He and I were college roommates. I became his lawyer and executor for his estate."
"Well then. This has to be the inside story, so I want to hear it. Go on."
"Alright. Well, the land that the park is on used to be part of a much larger ranch. JD, the person who donated the land, was given this parcel by his grandfather. When his mom died, the rest of the land was sold. JD could not part with this parcel, because it was a gift from his grandfather. But that was not the only reason."
"Go on. This is getting interesting."
It started many years ago when JD had gotten his PhD in Physics. This was his second degree. His first was in linguistics and ancient languages.
JD decided he did not want to teach and that was about all you could do with a PhD in Physics. He had worked as a mechanic during high school and college, so he moved back here and got a job in the city. His real love in life was this land. He would spend weekends here. He bought a camera and started photographing everything on the property. I think it was his excuse to just spend time here.
Every Friday, JD and I would get together for dinner at my house, and discuss the week’s events. When we were in college, we would get together every Friday and discuss our weekend schedule – who was going to be wingman etc. JD was responsible for me meeting my wife, Mary. One Friday after dinner we sat on the front porch. JD seemed to be very disturbed.
"Bob, I am not joking. There is something out there and it’s been tracking me," JD said.
"It was probably just the wind. You know how it is in the canyon," Bob said.
"It was a foggy morning. No wind at all," JD said.
"Then what do you think it was? Sasquatch? A mountain lion?"
"Sasquatch in Texas? Too funny. And I don’t think it is a mountain lion. I know that property very well. I have never seen tracks of a mountain lion. As far as I know they are as scared of us as we are of them. No, I don't know, but I am going to find out."
JD was up early and at the property that Saturday morning. It was another foggy misty morning in early November. JD was kneeling down taking a photo of some leaves on a rock...
“Hello? Is anyone there?” JD said without turning around or getting up.
“Please, I know you are there. I know you have been following me.” JD said...
Bob walked off back down the trail. James sat on the bench for a few more minutes. Out of the corner of his eye, James thought he saw a blur. Then he felt a breeze and heard a whisper, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”