‘‘Isaiah’s Centre for Nature Learnin,’ is not recommended for children, though the facility fails to mention this with the exception of a small sign inside the ‘Centre’ itself. Unwitting parents will likely read the sign several minutes after their children have begun to engage with the ‘Learnin’ aspects of the ‘Centre,’ a series of brightly colored trivia questions on particle-board displays and flashing plastic buttons with which to answer.
The sign may very well be an extension of the ‘Centre’s’ overall educational philosophy, that the inquiring mind learns best through trial and error. Maybe it is up to the parents to ‘learn’ the dangers of unmanned, unlicensed educational centres that advertise in cardboard and stand so far off the paved road.’
THE AMERICAN RED SQUIRREL’S DIET OF (SEEDS, PLANTS, MEAT) MEANS IT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A (CARNIVORE, HERBIVORE, GRANIVORE).
…
YOU CHOSE (MEAT) AND (CARNIVORE).
…
WRONG!
The controls of the trivia machine flash red in disappointment and I stretch, glad to be out of the rain, which taps lightly on the roof. ‘Isaiah’s’ doesn’t have any sort of security system as far as I can tell, nothing in the way of cameras or alarms or self-locking doors, which means I likely have the run of the place until the weather passes. This will be like low-effort camping, I tell myself. It will be completely unlike squatting.
The noise on the roof grows louder and I cross the ‘Centre’ to its windows, hoping the bike’s cover will hold. It’s windy outside, autumnal leaves churning about in the dirt parking lot, but the rain has stopped.
Behind me, the trivia machine speaks:
YOU CHOSE (MEAT) AND (CARNIVORE).
I become uneasy about the noise on the roof.
WRONG!
The forest outside shifts with life.
-traveler
