Wednesday, June 27, 2012

WWCD: What Would Campers Do? Part 1


What would you do?
We did the wrong thing, but I think I'd do it again, if I didn't know what I know now.

The Engineer and I are camping without kids, 20th anniversary trip. 3:15 am, I am awakened. At first I think it's because I need to use the bathroom. Soon it becomes very apparent that it's a car horn that woke me up, being used as a signal of some sort. Sometimes one long, sustained, minutes long sound, then silence for, oh just about enough time to almost fall asleep. Then it's a staccato, repeated over and over, for several minutes, and next, maybe 15 minutes of silence. Repeat cycle, yet with various, um, variations. Symphonic movements, if you will. Obviously, someone wants attention, but who? And why? And what, if anything, should we do?

We choose trying to go back to sleep, but that's impossible. Instead, The Engineer and I are discussing what might be happening, and what, if anything, we should do. Analyzing.

We don't think it's coming from somewhere in our campground, because we're on the road edge in the most secluded loop. Instead, it seems to be coming from the road, because we can hear cars driving by where we hear the ruckus. We know that there's no cell-phone service. Stranded motorists usually try to flag down a vehicle. They don't sit at the side of the road and honk. At least not sane ones, but we'll get to that later.

Soon the yelling starts. Drunk voices yelling unpleasant things, peppered with the F-bomb. Listening, (how can we not – we can hear them as if they're in the campsite next to ours!) it soon becomes very clear that it's some sort of “domestic dispute”. There are certain phrases that make that obvious. We feel a bit relieved in the decision making department, because that's the sort of business that's out of our control and we're not cops.

Suddenly, there's no more horn, instead, just a woman screaming, “Helpmehelpmehelpme won't ANYONE come and help me!”

Decision time, what would you do? I'll let you know what we did and how it turned out in my post tomorrow.

P.S Coming to you from The Sticks, TX.  Thank you McDonald's for the internet.  I'll be home Monday and respond to comments then.  

6 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Calling 911 as I go out to see what is going on. Dumb move to go out, but I couldn't just sit there. Probably wouldn't jump in if I thought weapons were involved though. Sorry, not a real Ninja.

JoJo said...

Eegads. I'd suggest 911 too but you said there's no cell service. I'd hope that 911 would still work. I would be afraid to get involved too due to the possible weapon factor, unless I had my own weapon at the ready. Very curious to hear part 2!

Andrea said...

Might've needed to take the car to some cell service...quite the cliffhanger here!

Brian Miller said...

dial 911...and cautiously investigate...

Sally said...

Yikes!!! I agree with above comments but then I'm not a heroine so in real life .......

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

Ah Gee, why can't people get their shit together and let you enjoy a good night's sleep? Or whatever it was you were dong in the tent ;)