Peering thoughtfully out the window one day, Dad suggested that we should take a walk in the woods nearby. The old faded-red woolen sofa groaned with a sigh of relief as bustling kids, excited about going on a walk with their Grandpa, jumped off and hurried to get their jackets. The sleeves wiggled as my four children attempted to do their best to put the jackets on by themselves. Amidst the chaos, Mom and I worked together to put hats and gloves on them in spite of their protests.
The shouts and squeals coming from the hallway woke up my parents’ old golden retriever, Rufus, from his slumber. He gave us a forlorn look as if he was saying, “I just had a wonderful dream that I was getting belly rubs and eating salivating pieces of red meat until you woke me up!” However, seeing that we were planning to go outside, he trotted with an eager gait to the back door and began to wag his tail to show that he decided to forgive us for our transgression. Chuckling, I grabbed his red leash and attached it to his collar before I opened the door to the woods. My children waved goodbye to their grandmother, who opted not to go with us, as they ran outside. Dad and I followed right behind them; our exploration in the woods has begun.
Leaves crunched out staccato below our feet while the cold, crisp air nipped at our noses and cheeks. Several trees showed off their vibrant leaves, each giving off a sweet, exotic flavor of passion fruit and mangoes, while others looked ashamed of their nakedness since most of their leaves were gone. At the same time, falling leaves of swirling rainbows continued to flutter toward the barren earth to blanket it. A flock of birds chirped us farewell as they migrated south for warmer weather while squirrels and chipmunks gathered acorns to prepare for the long winter. “Fall is finally here,” I thought, inhaling the atmosphere which has a smell that reminded me of cherry woodchips smoking in the grill.
During our walk, Dad would sometime point out to different animals and trees to the children as they listened attentively to his every words. “This is the big oak tree,” he would tell them, “and over there is a woodpecker. If we’re lucky, we might even see a deer!” I smiled, remembering how my father did the same thing with me when I was young. In fact, the woods have not changed much for the past ten years. My childhood memories slowly entered my mind like I was savoring a bite of a warm apple pie. Nearby was a ten feet tall pine tree whose branches bent over gracefully that allow me to use its pinecones as birdfeeders. I would watch visiting birds pecked at the creamy peanut butter and crunchy sunflower seeds concoctions that dangled by my bedroom’s windows. At the bare circular patch of earth, my father and I would spend our summer nights camping out and watch the twinkling stars winked at us from above.
The tugging of Rufus’s leash startled me from my thoughts; he whimpered as he tried to pull himself toward some squirrels that stopped to look at him mischievously. “Come and get us, big boy!” they sneered with a mocking tone; their chatters created a cacophony in the middle of the woods’ musical performance. “There is no way you can catch us!” Provoked, Rufus lunged at them as I tried my best to control him. Seeing this, my children laughed at the sight of the dog’s making a fool of himself and the breezes echoed their laughter as well. Only a sharp command from my dad did Rufus stop, albeit reluctantly. Seeing that their game was over, the squirrels gave us one last look before they scattered away.
We continued our walk until the sky darkened into a dull gray, the air gradually feeling like iron on our shoulders. The winds rose up to a fortissimo as they chased after us, urging us to hurry. Our breaths lingered like misty raindrops in the air as we jogged back home; we quickened our pace when we caught the sight of the house, which beckoned us like a lighthouse guided ships to safety. Waiting for us at the door was my mom who greeted us with a warm smile. As we entered the house, the aroma of cinnamon from the hot spiced apple cider entered our noses. Sipping the spicy drink slowly so that we did not burn our tongues, we stretched out in front of the warm fire, which welcomed us home.
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