CHAPTER 11: WANDERLUST WITH A DEAR

The group organized themselves in the morning to search for TJ. They asked Burke for his best plan and after some deliberation he broke everyone into teams; a road team, several woods teams, and a town team. Almost everyone belonged to the woods search party while the Toosh girls of course worked the town for volunteers.

As they pulled out in the Piscataway, Burke notice Spunky happily trotting down the sidewalk. He wondered if TJ may have had the good fortune to follow him home. He watched as Spunky walked into a bar, ready to begin his day and felt in his heart that TJ may be wanting very badly to be where Spunky was right now.

Soon they were out in the wilds again. Back at the lake; the "Scotch Spot." The note under the rock was undisturbed. It was hard to find a beginning, until Sunni grabbed Burke's hand and said "I've got my partner!" That was it: the starting point. Burke gave last minute directions for a rendezvous and off they went to try and find their friend.

The woods were strangely different for Burke today than yesterday. Although it was sunny and beautiful as it was yesterday, everything seemed so much more vibrant and alive. He was hearing, seeing, and smelling the magnificent Shawnee National Forest on a much more intense level. He senses were not clouded by scotch, and he was of course experiencing the day with Sunni. Her presence always seemed to magnify the experience of living.

A short distance into the woods Sunni noticed something on the ground. It was a hat; a black hat with a wide brim. It looked almost new. They examined the area for other clues. But there were none.

There was little else to do but to keep going deeper. At least the ground was rising perhaps they could find a vantage point to survey their surroundings from. There was a strange silence between Sunni and Burke. Usually they had lots to say to each other. Today their words were few and sounded contrived. Sunni seemed to have something on her mind, but was not letting on what it might be.

After a short while Burke told Sunni that he had to-"take care of business." Slightly blushing he reported "I've had four cups of coffee this morning" in an apologizing tone. "This is something I've gotta do myself, it can't wait and it will not go away" he said as he wandered off. He thought he heard Sunni say "I'm going to think like a lost person."

Burke returned a moment later but Sunni was not in sight. Where the hell? Burke started moving in the direction they were heading before he stopped, but then pause to evaluate. "...think like a lost person...think like a person who wants to be lost" which way did she go? He scanned around him. There was the hat that Sunni found, ten o'clock position, hanging on a branch. He grabbed the hat and headed that way. Although the woods were thick, Sunni did not have a great lead, and he saw her running for some large boulders. Burke figured that he probably could surprise her and circled around to see if he could head her off from behind.

After a while he did manage to move to the area she was heading toward. He hid along the path. Sunni came walking by, she was looking back trying to see if she had been too clever and really gotten lost herself when Burke grabbed her ankle. Sunni screamed and jumped about four feet off the ground, there was blonde hair, arms, and legs swinging everywhere. Burke stood up as best he could because he was laughing so hard. He could only imagine what she had envisioned grabbed her. "Beware of the Wolf!" Burke said.

"I deserved that" she said obviously embarrassed.

"Yes you did, and not only that, you invoked my hunter and gatherer spirit. Don't mess with mother nature!" He said.

The morning crept on. The sun was burning full force now and Burke had adorned the hat and to removed his shirt. "Wish I could do that!" Sunni said.

"Well you can!" said Burke. Just like that Sunni began to respond by starting to lift her shirt, but Burke freaked out. "Hey stop that! No! Don't do that. I was only kidding!" he said.

"So you want me to keep my shirt on?" Sunni said coyly.

"Yes of course. I was only kidding." But deep down inside he was thinking "Are you insane? The guys at the house would murder for this chance."

They continued on. Sunni heard the sound of running water and headed to the left to the top of a hill where she stopped short to gather in the sight. Burke soon joined her where he also was stunned by the beauty of the area. They were at a heavenly region with towering pines that allowed splashes of sunlight to explode color over countless wild flowers. A peaceful brook meandered through. This was indeed a spot where angels dream.

Sunni sat on a large rock and removed her shoes. She smiled in delight as she dipped one tired foot in, and then the other. The water felt cool and refreshing. Burke had an idea. He took the shirt that was stuffed in his back pocket and soaked it in the cool water. Then he sat behind Sunni. "Pick up your hair" he said.

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I am going to cool you off."

She lifted her hair and Burke began to apply his cool shirt to the back of her neck.

Sunni's entire being had a positive response. "Oh Bany, that feels so good" she said.

"Yeah?"

She pulled her collar back so that he could reach farther down her back. The water was as refreshing to her as her skin was to him.

"Oh yes! I love this."

Burke expanded his turf to include her arms that were beginning to show signs of sunburn. Sunni responded by unbuttoning her blouse and lowering it to her waist. To his delight, Burke now had absolute Sunni back; unbridled by undergarment, tantalizingly tan-line free. He dared to glance only for a moment-the experience was abysmal. It was just as he had imagined; astounding. Her skin was smooth and anticipating touch.

Slowly he cooled her shoulders and her back section by section, bit by bit. Taking his time, he performed the task with the tenderness of a Saint. He went into a near meditational state; becoming one with nature, water, and sensuous skin. She turned to offer a smile of thanks. Time seemed to freeze for that moment; destined to become a cherished snapshot in Burke's heart forever. It was as if he was standing beside himself watching a prayer winging it's way to heaven.

"Banyon, I need this. It’s been so long since anyone has touched me without an ulterior motive. Thank you so much." Although Burke could not see her face, her eyes were closed, and her mouth was a bit open, occasionally curling into a slight smile. She was in a trance as well, lulled by the delightful sounds of gurgling water, the caress of the sunlight, and the gentle breathing of Burke. She did not realize that his need was just as real as hers, and as pressing.

Burke had to stop before he reached the point where he could not. His hands were beginning to tremble a bit. After a pause, Sunni turned and searched Burke's face looking for a clue as to what would happen next. If there was one, it certainly did not show. She raised her shirt and began buttoning up.

"I knew you would get my shirt off" she teased.

"Doesn't count" he replied, "didn't see anything, didn't touch anything. Zero points!"

Sunni turned and looked Burke deep into the eyes. He tried to say something, but was lost in her gaze. It was like looking into the moving water. Sunni wonderfully smiled. There was a long pleasant pause. It occurred to her that Burke looked vulnerable--like a deer in the headlights. She gathered courage. "What do you think of me, Bany?" She said, her eyes searching his for meaning.

"I think you're great." He replied.

"No. really think. What do you really think of me?"

"No really I think you're great." Burke was feeling the full court press coming on.

"Do you like me?" She prompted.

"Well of course I do."

"Banyon Burke. You are avoiding my questions!" No matter how hard she skated, Burke was a champion figure skater when it came to his feelings. "I am not! I'm answering them, aren't I?" He insisted.

"Bany I'm trying to find out how you feel." "She stopped; paused again in thought. Sunni's feelings were obviously hurt. Burke was waiting for the next expectation to come, but she just looked down at her feet. He did not know what to say next. "What's up Sunni? What are you trying to say?" he asked with a growing concern.

Sunni was silent though. Whatever it was that was bothering her was now bottled. Burke tried to back out. He was looking for a way to bring her back. "Sunni you have no idea how special you are to me. You add colors and dimension to my world. I'd be lost without you. You-you give me a reason to shave in the morning!"

"Give you reason to Shave?"

"Well yeah, not only that but showering too."

"I think you can do better that I give you reason to shave." She said. Burke had her coming around though. There was a hint of a smile on her face.

He thought again and tried: "You are the foam on my beer!" Again a trace of a smile. "Is that good?" She said.

"Oh yes yes yes indeed. You are the frosty jacket that my mug wears from the freezer to the temperate climate of the tavern. There are lots of mugs in this world, but a frosty mug is a delight to the senses. You bring a frosty mug out into the world and everyone says "look he has a frosty mug!" Like a snowflake in the hand, however its distinction is temporary. It must be enjoyed immediately."

"You make me sound so cold!" she replied.

Burke was getting warmed up now. "Oh no no no." He said. You are the warm and spicy cheese on my pizza. Lovingly crafted and baked to perfection." He was not nearly as poetic as Mostly-Bob but he was holding his own.

"Go on."

"When the pizza is ready to become the focal point of the table gathering. All gaze at it with desire and hunger; waiting with anticipation for that first piece to be ever so gently lifted, that they may dive into and experience the wonder and delight of your astounding taste.

You are the wine that lifts the spirits, and brings song to the heart."

Sunni had a full blown smile beaming now.

"I feel the same way about you."

"Hey I'm getting hungry and thirsty. Let's get some beer and pizza!" Burke said.

"Bany, I'm trying to tell you that I think we should go out..."

"Go out? Like on a date? We do that already-don't we?"

"We just have to think differently about it..." She stopped short as her eyes caught sight of something over Burke's right shoulder. She stared intently for a moment and then excitedly announced "there he is!" Burke spun and scanned to see what Sunni had seen. "Where?" he asked.

"Other end of the clearing" she replied.

Behind Burke was a strip of land that looked that it had been cleared of trees, nearly as wide and twice as long as a football field. Burke still did not see TJ. "Where? Are you sure?" he asked again.

"He's running his ass off into the woods!" Sunni replied. "We gotta move now!" and she was off running like a white-tailed deer. Burke followed, but since he did not see TJ, only could follow Sunni's lead. She made it to the other end of the clearing, but was winded, she needed to catch her breath. Burke hadn't even made it half that far. All those years of smoking and partying were catching up to him.

"Common Burke!" she yelled. "Move your ass! He's going to get away!" she shouted to him. Burke started running again, but slowly, and he was holding his side. He looked more like he was limping at a fast pace than running. Sunni kept switching her attention from Burke to the woods trying to see if she could catch a glimpse of TJ. "Common Burke!" she said again with desperation. He finally caught up and they began heading once again into the forest. There seemed to be a trail of brush moved aside and lightly trampled. Sunni was sure that she was still on TJ's trail. The pathway curved back and forth for a while, but when the terrain changed back to tall trees with little brush between it was obvious that he could have gone any direction.

"Well we know that he's alive" Sunni said, "and apparently in better shape than you!" she added. Burke was feeling old. "Are you sure it was TJ?" he asked. "Was he carrying a carton of cigarettes?"

"You know TJ better than me. He probably smoked half a carton since yesterday. 'Should only have about five packs or so left" she said.

"He was coming out to purify. Maybe he quit those too."

The two proceeded to move forward in the last direction that the presumed TJ was going. Without knowing which way he was headed though, there was no point in moving quickly. They traveled another half mile in. Burke was glad for this distraction. It couldn't have come at a better time. The conversation was getting too intense. He was grateful for the renewed silence. He wondered if Sunni was quiet because she never got closure on her point, and now the mood was gone.

Sunni had a question. "Bany, do you know the way back?" she asked.

"No-first you played hide 'n seek, the TJ ran us around in circles. We've gone quite a way in. I don't even know which direction to head" he answered.

"With that in mind, how about if we focus our efforts into finding our way back and if we see TJ that would be a good thing. It may take hours for us to find our way back." She said.

Burke liked that idea. "Sounds like a plan" he said.

Meanwhile Jak and General Marchbank started driving the perimeter of the chunk of forest that TJ dug himself into. They had traveled more than six miles before they found a crossing road making the next border. The other borders had similar distances, although none of them a straight line. The lakes and the bluffs added complexity to their patrol. The second trip around, Jak that he had spotted him on near the road on the bluffs side but by the time he got the Piscataway over to the point where they thought he had been, he was gone. They were now resigned to cruising back and forth along that stretch of road trying to see if they could spot him again.

They were listening to WBUZ on the radio. The disk-jockey came on with a comment about TJ.

"I've heard from a couple of beautiful ladies that a good friend of mine is missing. This is to you TJ, if you can hear me: Let your friends know that you are safe. To those that are looking for him: Please find him!

TJ is a great friend. He introduced me to both my first and second wives-now that I'm single again well-hey we all need him around to make life fun eh?

If anyone has any information about a guy-this guy looks like a cross between an ape and a brillo pad, you can't miss him. If you see him stop the girls in The Velvet Touch van and let them know.

Can I do anything else Fauna? Give me a call and let me know. And now onto an hour of screaming steno-guitar."

Jak was excited. Everyone's going to be looking for TJ very soon! We ought to have a prize for the first one who finds him" he said.

"That is a great idea. TJ would love to turn this into the next party. He will be very pleased when he's found" General Marchbank added. "Are you sure that it was TJ that we saw this morning?"

"Can't be positive, but if it was a hiker, why'd he head back into the woods when he saw the car?"

"Maybe it was Big-foot!" cackled Marchbank. "Hey let's go all the way around one more time, we've only been around twice and Burke's plan was for us to keep circling. So they passed their established turn around point and kept going. It was good to see new scenery again.

Sunni and Burke had a growing concern. They both considered the possibility that they would not make a roadway before dark. Constant input from their imaginations driven by emotion did not help. They had no idea how large the chunk of forest was that they were in. The sun had passed midway overhead and that gave Burke a toehold on their direction. He studied their surroundings for a moment. "Let's go that way" he said pointing to the right.

"Why that way?" asked Sunni.

"'Cause that's what I feel we should do" Burke answered. Even though Sunni hadn't know him forever like his friends did up North, she had begun to respect is sense of-whatever it was, a strange sort of luck with impeccable timing, punctuated by small miracles. Most of all though she trusted and believed in him.

"OK, let's go."

They changed direction and walked again in silence. It was Burke that stopped this time. "I hear the road" he said with deliberation.

"You do? Bany are you sure?"

"Yes I do, and at least MY hallucinations are REAL" he teased. He continued at a faster pace. Although they did not realize it, they were pretty high up. The trees gave way and down below they saw a winding valley with a road drifting through it like a stream that had been striped. Sunni hugged Burke's arm. "You did it!" she said with a little jump. Yes indeed. Burke did enjoy that little jump greatly. "Well we may be stranded out in the middle of nowhere," Burke said looking at her very intensely, "but there is no one I rather be no where with."

Sunni smiled that smile at Burke again. "I feel the same way."

They headed down to the road, and soon the were walking again upon a slab of civilization.