Leif’s feet ached as the bus he rode up into the mountains came to a stop outside a small roofed bus stop.  He looked around and thought the two bus rides and train ride were worth it.  The sun had just risen over the distant mountains and his watch read 8:13 AM.  The trip took about 6 hours, Leif having left around 1:30 AM that morning.  My parents are just waking up now, he thought.  It’s Saturday, there’s no way they’re up before this, he continued to think.  He thought for sure his parents would just be remembering Leif’s “non-sense” the night before and realizing their son was gone.  But all of that was behind Leif now, for he hiked up the road for a while.  After what seemed like about an hour, Leif stopped for a drink.  He realized his water bottle was not going to last very long.  This made him decide it was time to face the dark, ominous woods that lay directly to the left of the road.  Leif Stuart, the picked on loser, was walking into open space and freedom.

Leif walked until his watch said 4:32 PM.  The bright, yellow sun was beginning to start it’s decent towards the night.  Leif thought is best to set up camp for the night.  He chose a spot between two large rocks, with a good, wide view of his surroundings.  At once side of the rocks, he stuck two long and strong sticks into the ground.  He cut them from large trees and they measured about 7 feet high.  Next, he placed two more long sticks diagonally from the tops of the other sticks to the ground.  He tied them together using shredded bark.  The structure of his shelter was strong and strategically shaped for protection from the back side.  Leif found a slender pine tree with wide branches.  He took about 12 of them back to his home.  He placed them diagonally on the support bars and tied them to it.  Now, he had a roof.  Next, he placed one of the pine branches on either side as walls.  After that, he placed one of them along the top of the front opening and two more along the sides, making sure to leave a door opening.  His new home was roomy and comfortable.  The large rocks on either side protected him from the wind.  Leif needed to find a good bed.  He made sure to keep a keen eye out while he was looking for dinner.  Leif found some edible flowers, berries and fish for dinner.  The fish had died no more then a half hour before Leif discovered it.  Along his search, Leif found a big, dead tree with loads of bark.  He took huge chunks, finding a good size one for a door and one for a bed.  Leif took the door piece and fastened it carefully with some more shredded bark.  Then, he took some left over pine branches and laid them in his hut.  He placed a then pieced of bark over it to keep it in place and to protect him from the sap.  After his hut was completely finished, Leif made a fire with a flint stick and cooked his fish and enjoyed his meal of berries, flowers and trout.