Reading+Journal4


 * Hatchet Journal Chapters 1-2 **

Dear Journal, Today was horrifying! I was on a plane to my Dad's house and I flew above a forest. A weird gas was in the plane and the pilot just twitched in his seat. I felt his heartbeat, but there was none. Thank goodness before wards he taught me how to fly, but I got like 5 stomach flips and nearly puked at one point. Now I am not sure what to do. The pilot's dead, I don't know where I am, I used a special pilot helmet 17 times and he just broke up and I'm on the verge of tears. Why me? Why is it always me? I’m going to try a dive and see what happens. Maybe I can land it at the edge of the lake but it's any easy say, hard do. Oh well, here goes nothing. Sincerely, Brian


 * Hatchet Journal Chapters 3-4 **

Dear Journal, Today I tried to land the plane and everything went wrong. When I attempted to land, I hit the lake and the pilot’s body and the plane sunk down. Now I'm 100% stranded and have no way out and I'm half-crying. I wonder what my mom would think and my dad has no idea where I could be right now. In fact, I don't even know where I am or how I'll get home! I might as well drown.

-Brian


 * Hatchet Journal Chapters 5-6 **

Dear Journal, I am as hungry as a horse! At first I was so thirsty I drank from the lake until I was full then I kept having visions of a hamburger. It’s juicy richness...its warm bun. GRRR! Stay focused! Anyway I just found new shelter that's a nook. But as I was building it, I noticed some birds having red berries. I ran over and scared the birds and found the berries, about half the size of a grape. As I shoveled them in I realized they had a huge pit and they were tart. It was the only source I had so I decided eat more of them. When I found sticks to weave for nook, I figured that the berries are filling. I'm now growing fonder to this forest, as if it's my new home. I wish Terry was here. Well, I'm tired so until tomorrow...

-Brian


 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 7 **

Dear Journal, Owww...my stomach! Today I realized those cherries I ate have major side-effects if you eat too many. I was sick and it felt as if all my muscles were gone. When I was hungry I had some gut cherries then I brought a couple to my shelter. The next day my gut cherries were gone! As I searched for food I found raspberries, just like the ones me and Terry ate on bike trips. I ate some and they were like the best thing I ever ate! But as I was eating them I saw a bear and he saw me. He didn't eat me, he just ate berries. I guess he was okay with sharing. I still ran from him, about 50 yards until I realized if he wanted me, he would've gotten me. I brought back the remaining raspberries and put them in a pile with the gut cherries. I had some liquid from the mix of berries and it tasted like soda without fizz. I am real tired and I'm going to sleep. I’ll tell you what happens tomorrow.

-Brian


 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 8 **

Dear Journal, Last night I awoke to a slithering noise. It could have been anything! Bears, Bigfoot or any kind of monster! In fear, I threw my hatchet but I missed and hit a rock with a shower of sparks. At once, a sharp pain entered my left leg. It felt like dozens of needles! When the slithering was gone I knew that is was a porcupine. I was so sad I started to cry because I can't take it out here! I was lucky that it was a porcupine. It could be bears if I'm not careful! When I pulled them out slowly with a pause then pull technique, I got to sleep and dreamed of my father and he was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand. He disappeared into fog and then Terry came with me by a fire. He pointed at it. So what a fire? But then I realized in the morning I could make fire with my hatchet! I just need to hit on a rock then sparks will fly, causing fire! I struck a dark rock with the hatchet but it wasn't hard enough. I tried again and few sparks flew. With all my might, I delivered a huge blow to the rock making many sparks, some even bouncing across the sand. Well, I got to write later; I’m going to cook some lizards! -Brain


 * Hatchet Journal Chapters 9-10 **

Dear Journal, Okay fire is hard to make! I’ve tried grass and 20 dollars all shredded but nothing works! I’ve tried tree bark and other things but they don't make fire! But the inside of the tree works best. I sometimes get and orangey glow of it when I wad to the size of a grapefruit but when I smashed the rock hard enough the paper was burning and I made fire. My only friend and guardian of mosquitoes and porcupines! It will also signal helicopters and planes to rescue me. But I couldn't lose the fire. I had to feed it twigs. I kept tossing twigs into it and the blaze grew but I had to collect wood because I couldn't collect at night, it'd be to dark! When I collected wood I realized the fire would die in the night so I had to sleep in periods. I woke up at night the fire nearly gone. I tossed in a few twigs and gave it a blow. The flames ignited at once. Then, I notice foot prints not sure what they could be. Maybe an animal just wanting to play. But I'm such a silly city boy. Why would an animal want to play? I followed the tracks and found eggs. Turtle eggs. I heard about them once on television. But knowledge didn't matter. It was hunger now. I thought of cooking them but no container. I poked a hole with the hatched and sucked out the yolk. Ewww.It was slimy but actually quite addicting. I had nearly six more and tried to think "Save the rest. Eat one a day.” But I remembered about the rescue team and had to hope. I wonder what adventure awaits me tomorrow. Until next time... -Brian

Dear Journal, Today I brought the eggs to my shelter after my little meal and I realized that I gain a little weight. My mind also is also changing and I'm hearing things and seeing things differently. Now when I hear things I know what it is. When I see something I really see it. Now my eyes and ears are more of a pair now. I finding wood to make a signal fire but I can't do that everyday. I walked over to the L-shaped Lake and saw a bird, a kingfisher. He dove for a fish, caught one, juggled it twice and swallowed. Of course! Fish is food! But to catch one I need a nice fishing spear then I'll have tons of fish! I need to find spear wood to make this but. There are things to do. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 11 **

Dear Journal, The fishing spear isn't working! Every time I use it the fish dart away! I've tried to wait then stab but it's no use! I need to make it spring forward so fast the fish can't expect. Ah ha! A bow and arrow! I guess I need to 'invent' it like the cavemen who did. I later searched the forest and the raspberries were getting overripe! I picked as many as I could ate them since I hadn't eaten yet. Surprisingly, I was full! My stomach didn't bulge like it does when I have 2 hamburgers and a freezy slush. But that hunger will always be there, the hunger that makes me hunt. Later, I went to find fire wood but the trees I found lack the snap of willows. I then heard an explosion of sound. I ran away then realizing it was a bird who collided and I was one step away from stepping on it and maybe cooking it. Yes, it probably tastes like chicken. Maybe I could catch some birds. I went back to collecting fire wood and heard an engine roar. A plane! I had to run and grow the fire quickly before the plane left. I could see the pilot in my mind, amazed that I'm alive! I'll get to see dad. I kept throwing wood into the fire but the noise was fainter and fainter. It was all my imagination. Gone. I’m left from the family. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 12 **

Dear Journal, I'm looking for fool birds now instead of fish. I saw the bear and it had some cubs and I realized I don't want to get in between them. I also noticed a wolf was watching me and he watched as if he owned me. He was right, so I nodded and smiled. The wolf walked away with three other wolves. But now I'm used to seeing things like this. I'm the new Brian. The crash was about forty-seven days ago and new Brian was born forty-two days ago. I just want to die and I think I'll end it by cutting myself with the hatchet. In my sleep I whispered // cloud-down. // I made a new fire and I spent two days making bow and arrows. I used my shoelace as the string and tested it out on a fish but I ended with splinters in my face. Too stiff. When I tried to get him when he was close he got away. But then I realized water refracts! It bends light so fish aren't where they seem! I tried and got one! A nice golden one and I held it to the sky as it squirmed. I cooked it over the fire and ate it. Yes! The taste of victory! -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 13 **

Dear Journal, Okay I’m not in lucky land right now because I realized if I sprain my leg I'll starve. That's the most important rule of the forest. Food. Speaking of food, I saw a skunk looking around where I found the eggs. Those were mine so I threw sand at the skunk. Quicker than you can say "you'll never take me alive skunky!" The skunk flicked up his tail and the air was filled with what smelt like a mixture of the elephants at the zoo and baby diapers. I was slashing my head in the water, trying to remove the stench. Such funny cartoons on skunks but when it's real, your not going to laugh. Food had to keep safe and that was the second rule of the forest. The eggs were un-protected and I had to pay the price. I have to upgrade my shelter and store food in case I sprain my ankle. I weaved a new door today and its small animal proof. I also found a new food shelf outside the shelter because a bear could smell it and easily break in. I put on top of the shelter where animals couldn't reach but neither could I. I built a ladder and it worked perfect. I cleaned off all the bird manure and I guess that was there because they don't like the fire. I know I can't store fish because then it'll smell like the skunk. Then, I thought maybe if putting the bones of the fish back in the lake would attract new ones...or maybe store the fish live in a small pond. I dropped rock in and fish darted away but with the leftover fish they came back. Within an hour I had 30 or 40 fish. ”Fish for sale!" I yelled. But I hope I won't get sick of them. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 14 **

Dear Journal, So many events have happened and I had to burn them into my mental journal. There was the day of the first meat where all my understanding started. Meat. I crave meat. Small animals everywhere but there's also fool birds. Five or six in a flock and everywhere. It'd be easy because I'm camouflaged and they're so dumb. But they explode off the ground when they fly away. I got my bow and arrow and went off to hunt for fool birds. The hunt was horrible and when twenty flew away I had to give up. Then I saw a bird fly and in the sun I saw its pear-looking body. I saw more of them and I tried to shoot them with my bow yet none of them were caught by the feather and stabilized. I gave up because I worked better with fish. I tried using the fish spear on the birds, the original spear, and it just wasn't fast enough. I kept trying and trying getting close twice until I finally got the bird by the beaver house. It hit the ground and twitched and I grabbed it when it was 100% dead. I went back to the shelter to clean then to cook like the fish. I plucked off it's feathers and chopped off the head and feet with the hatchet. I threw the leftovers to attract the fish then I washed my hands. I held it over the fire and it nearly ignited. I kept raising and moving it and it cooked only one side so I had to rotate it with my hands. It was nearly black and I decided to eat it. I bit part of it. Never. Never candy, burgers, fries or meat had anything tasted this good. The first meat. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 15 **

Dear Journal, Today was a great day...NOT! When I was hunting fool birds I hit one then out of nowhere a moose came and it was apparently angry. It knocked me into the L-shaped Lake and shoved me into the mud. I got up and it was super-close to me. I tried to move but it whammed me into the mud again and rib hurt. Finally I used a technique that helped with moose's hairs rising. Swim hair up, stop and hair down then repeat. I noticed my fool bird was still in the water so I waited for the moose to leave until I collected all my tools and fool bird. It took forever to get to my shelter because of my rib. When I finally got there I went to sleep. Then I heard a low noise. A tornado. I had to throw out everything because I was getting thrown around by wind. I grabbed a rock wall and held on. I just lost a giant coin flip and I hope the moose is in that twister. I silently fell asleep. I woke up. I noticed all things were destroyed and I have to rebuild it. All of it. When will I get home? -Brain
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 16 **

Dear Journal, Today I re-made my fire by collecting firewood and what not. I also tried to make my shelter again and most of the weave that was from before was still there. I also made a bed out of pine boughs and I was angry with the scattered wood. Tomorrow I'll make a new spear and hope the fish will be back. I already saw the plane flipped onto it's tail and I wondered if the survival pack was there. My life would be so rich with that survival pack. But I need a raft. Tomorrow. The next day I found some fish in my fish pen today. I got three fish and cooked them. I found driftwood and got four equal looking pieces and tried wedging them.GRRRR! It's not working! I have to weave them together. In the after noon I had a nice raft but I have to swim by it. I swam to tie the raft to the plane with my shoelace and windbreaker piece but it took too long to get there so I left and watched a beautiful sunset. But what if my life switched and I went back to watching TV at home. Sleep. I woke and though that checking the plane was good. It was higher and it showed the elevator, perfect for the rope. But I have to drown to get it through. And see the dead body. No way into the plane. But I need to get that survival pack. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 17 **

Dear Journal, I had to get the survival pack so I kept trying to get in but nothing worked. Stupid thing. I punched it and surprisingly the aluminum dented. Now there's a way in. My hatchet. I cut a triangular hole in the aluminum like it was soft cheese. The amazing hatchet! All I'll ever need to survi... I dropped the hatchet. I dived down then came up. No hatchet. I dove in an arrow shape and made it down but couldn't find it. I grabbed a rubber handle and pounced off the bottom. I had to breathe now.// Tchaaak! // I got air and my hatchet. I have to be careful with it. I looked in the fuselage. Only little bits of paper. I had to find the little bag of supplies. Every bit of metal I cut I kept for arrows. I cut deeper in the plane and swam in to search for the pack. Another breath. I dove and swear I hit some cloth. I dove again and grabbed the cloth, it wouldn't budge. It was the survival pack! I looked at the pilot's head. It was eaten by fish. A half-clean skeleton. Terrifying. That pack wanted to stay. I kicked out with pack I finally got. So rich! Yes the pack. This is going to be way easier living here. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 18 **

Dear Journal, I love that pack! It has a sleeping bag, a cooking set with utensils, matches and two butane lighters, and a knife with a compass and first-aid kit. A fishing kit and a .22 survival rifle. Now those fool birds are going to be so easy to get! I found a little radio-looking thing. An emergency transmitter. I flicked the switch a couple times. Nothing. Two bars of soap. Now I’ll have nicer baths in the lake. Freeze-dried food. Beef and mashed potatoes, cheese and noodles, chicken, egg and potato and fruit mixes and dessert mixes. I could be here forever! I'm going to have a feast! The delicious orange drink tingled my tongue so I had a few more glasses. Then I smelt my beef ready. But then a roar of an engine came. I'm rescued! A pilot came out and said “I heard your emergency transmitter and saw the crashed plane. Hey you’re that kid who had the plane crash. They quit looking two months ago." I said "My name is Brian Robeson.” My food was done.” Would you like something to eat?” The transmitter. I used it right and was rescued on my fifty-fourth day. Now I am more thoughtful and a little less city boy now. Now I know gut cherries are actually choke cherries. The nut bushes were hazelnut. The rabbits were snowshoe and cottontail. The fool birds were ruffed grouse. The fish were bluegills, sunfish and perch. The eggs were from a snapping turtle. The wolves were timber wolves, which don't like human contact and the moose was a moose. I had dreams of the rescue and the pilot’s body was taken. I was interviewed and pictures were taken of my nice shelter. I'm happy I didn't have to go through winter as I would lose the fish and my life. My parents might get together and I'll still live in the city. But after all that I never told dad the Secret and I'll remember this journey forever. My hatchet helped so much. I am no longer known as a complete city boy. I am Brian Robeson, wilderness survivor. -Brian
 * Hatchet Journal Chapter 19-Epilogue **