The Storyteller at the Campfire

At the state park campground this summer, an old man in the next site invited everyone to his campfire at dusk. He said he had "some stories."

About twenty-five people came: families, kids in pajamas, a group of college students, a couple on their honeymoon. He sat on a stump with a stick in his hand and told stories for two hours. Tall tales about a bear who stole a pie. A ghost story that wasn't scary at all, but very funny. A true story about the year he got lost in these woods as a boy and was found by a dog.

The kids were spellbound. The adults were too. We roasted marshmallows and laughed until our sides hurt.

When the fire burned down, he stood up, bowed and said, "Same time tomorrow?" We all came back. And the next night, too.