STORY BREAK - Tent Town

Liam felt stuck. At 35, he had done everything expected of him - finished school, got an office job, bought a house in the suburbs, got married. And yet with each passing day, he felt less and less fulfilled. There had to be more to life than this monotonous routine.

On weekends Liam would go for long drives trying to clear his head, often winding up in remote rural areas far past the borders of the city. It was on one of these drives that Liam first stumbled upon a strange gathering.

From the winding two-lane road, he nearly missed it. But glancing over at just the right moment, Liam spotted a patchwork of tents nestled into a clearing within the forest and a small wooden sign reading “Tent Town”. Intrigued, he pulled over onto the dusty shoulder to get a better look.

Through binoculars, Liam examined the community sprawled out before him. There were tents of all shapes and sizes - everything from simple backpacking domes to elaborate multi-room canvas structures. People milled about, talking, and laughing. Plumes of smoke rose from campfires surrounded by cast iron pots.

In the center of Tent Town was a wide-open field, where residents congregated, and kids played games. The structures had no rhyme or reason, plopped down wherever there was space. Yet there was a beauty to the chaos, a kind of free spiritedness Liam envied.

As the days passed, Liam found himself drawn back to observe Tent Town. Through careful observation he began picking up on routines. Mornings were lazy, with people awakening at their own pace. Afternoons were spent on chores and crafts - gathering firewood, tending gardens, sewing clothes. Evenings brought the community together for singing and dancing around the bonfires.

It was so unlike the hustle of Liam's city, where everyone rushed to and from offices tethered to their smartphones and smartwatches. Here, people lived by the rhythms of nature, unencumbered by modern trappings.

One Saturday, Liam finally worked up the courage to approach Tent Town on foot. From his usual vantage point, he spotted children playing and waved. A young boy waved back enthusiastically.

Liam reached the edge of the community along a dirt trail. Up close he could see intricate wood carvings decorated tent poles and strings of seashells bordering the campsites.

An older bearded man in overalls smiled warmly as Liam approached. "Well, hello there! It's nice to finally meet you!"

Liam stood dumbfounded. "Have you noticed me watching from the road?"

The man laughed heartily. "My boy, very little escapes our notice around here! What brings you to Tent Town?"

Liam stumbled over his words, not wanting to admit he'd been spying for weeks. "I...I'm just so fascinated by this place. It's so different from my normal life. You all seem so..."

"Free?" The man smiled knowingly. "That we are. Many who find us are drawn to the idea of living unrestrained. Getting back to our natural roots without technology and to-do lists ruling every minute."

The man invited Liam to join the community for a home cooked stew. Liam sat marveling at the easy laughter and connection between these impromptu neighbors. Some were lifelong tent dwellers, others had professional careers before abandoning city life. All shared a weariness of the rat race and longing for deeper purpose.

As sunset neared, instruments emerged, and a fire was kindled. Liam felt goosebumps as the community sang folk songs to welcome the stars. He joined in tuneless but beaming ear to ear.

When it came time to say goodbye, Liam did so regretfully. The bearded man pressed a woven bracelet into Liam's hand and whispered knowingly, "Come back and visit us again."

The simple existence Liam witnessed in Tent Town planted a seed within him. When he arrived home that night, his manicured lawn, and mortgage paperwork felt stifling. Liam tossed and turned, dreaming of campfires and starlit songs.

Over the next weeks, Liam found excuses to detour past Tent Town daily. He'd observe the goings-on from the safety of his car, too shy to venture in again unannounced. He envied the residents' barefoot ambling and carefree laughter.

At home Liam grew more detached. His corporate job felt like a prison, meetings, and deadlines just boxes to check off while the hours until retirement ticked away. His tidy neighborhood was devoid of any real community, with neighbors uttering quick uninterested hellos on the sidewalk before rushing on.

On weekends, Liam's wife would drag him shopping at strip malls, out to impersonal chain restaurants and formulaic blockbuster movies. Liam dutifully went through the motions but found his thoughts continually wandering back to the fireside songs of Tent Town.

Eventually, Liam knew what he needed to do. He waited until his wife was away visiting her sister for a long weekend. Then he took the leap, packing his belongings into his car with plans to leave the keys on the counter along with a note.

Liam's pulse raced as he piloted his car for the last time down the rural highway toward Tent Town. The call of a more authentic, unfettered life sang out like a siren's song.

Liam got out and approached Tent Town on foot along a narrow dirt trail. He could see the tents dotted amongst the trees, campfire smoke drifting through the air. But up close, he saw no sign of inhabitants.

"Hello?" Liam's voice rang out hesitantly in the still woods. "Is anyone there?"

No reply came. The tents sat silent and empty amongst the fall foliage. Liam felt a chill run through him despite the sunlight dappling through the changing leaves.

Cautiously, Liam began inspecting the camp. The tents showed signs of recent life - rumpled bedding, open books, playing cards strewn mid-game. But no people could be found.

Meandering toward the center of Tent Town, Liam came across wider dirt tracks and a communal fire pit. He could remember it once crackling with a crowd sharing food and stories. Yet now only ashes remained.

"Where is everyone?" Liam muttered aloud. Unease crept up his spine. It was as if the residents had vanished into thin air, dropped what they were doing mid-moment to disappear. Liam couldn't imagine what would make the people abandon their shelters so instantly.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, Liam quickened his pace. He was eager to leave yet compelled to stay and investigate. Tent Town's deserted state left him unsettled. He began peeking inside chests and cabinets, searching for any clues about where everyone had gone.

Mostly Liam found mundane items - clothing, books, cooking tools. But in one trunk, buried beneath a folded quilt, he discovered a leather journal. Liam hesitated only briefly before opening it, hungering for answers.

The journal pages were filled with poetic musings about living simply amongst nature. But it was the final entry that made Liam suck in his breath sharply:

"They will be coming for us soon enough. Our days untethered and untraced are numbered. We feel their presence lurking inexorably closer through the forest..."

Liam slammed the journal shut, hands trembling. He strained his ears to listen for others but heard only the soft forest sounds and his own nervous breaths. Still, the ominous final words left him deeply unsettled.

Who was coming for Tent Town? Why? And what had ultimately become of the residents who seemingly knew their time here was limited? Had they fled deeper into the woods? Been captured? Worse?

 

"Tent Town" by Oscar Mendieta Bravo

Want to read more? Check out my other short stories: "The Unknown Parallel" on Blogger, inspired by the Twilight Zone series! 

Link: The Unknown Parallel