The golden light of dawn broke through the meshes of my tiny hut waking me under the canopy of the trees abound. As the great sun climbed the morning sky I walked the black top unto the palace of the Dairy Queen whose beautiful servants blessed me with her Blizzards and coffee elixir.
It was the day of the Gods, and thus my dwelling place of forted towns had bowed its head in closing in their honor. I uncovered a great market place within the village and restocked Rommelton’s waning supplies, including a new spirit catcher for the eye to see years to come. Here I met again the great Russ and Wilma who told me of a place to quench my hunger. AJ’s was its name, and so I went, and hunger I did quench at the serving hand of a beautiful maiden. I left a man who would wander without need for many miles more.
The great black top carried me further that day, and on its path a prayer came to me for the Great Kansas whose bosom would nurture me for this passing of the moon’s full cycle. The Great Kansas called to me with a great breath from the south a call of sorrow for she had seen no rain for many months, and this is what I prayed for her:
Great Kansas, may your arid torment fall soon into a den of moisture so that your many crops may flourish for the harvest moons up coming.
Great Kansas, you have treated me with great benevolence and mercy, as your coyote stays at bay, and your snakes stay hidden from sight in peace. I owe you a great debt, Great Kansas, for your kindness and I pray that you see the fall of rain soon for I will survive its wetness and you shall prosper with its fertility.
Great Kansas, were I to know the dance of rain I would dance it for you in your honor, but alas I do not and know only the song of karaoke and the dance of mad funk while I dehydrate myself under the fallen night.
Great Kansas, I pray to you.
These were my words as I walked the Kansas blacktop as the many bladed grasses bowed under her breath as I passed before them an honored guest. I then came across Scandia, the village of many blonde women.
My first stop was a station of gas, for where the car refuels, I too refuel my soul with ice cream and conversation. Here I met the Beth who spoke many words with me and guided me to the Kaffe Haus. I followed her guidance and sat over dinner with an aged couple and shared our life stories of travels.
At their departure I conversed with a man whose appearance was identical to that of the great bard of old, Bob Hope. And still I talked at length with the many blonde girls behind the counter of serving. Happy was I as I left this town of Scandia, home to my Nordic kin.
A great mile I further traveled under the rays of heated sun until her legs grew weary too and wished to settle beneath the western ground. I found good ground for camping, and called forth to the gods if it was where I was to bed at that night. Nay they cried, so I carried on another mile and then half of yet one more. The beer seeker Duane offered me relief from my weary legs, but I sent he and his lady onward in their quest, fore I had my own. At their passing I found a bed of grass, past a plentiful orchard I could have eaten at upon the coming dawn had I bedded against the will of the gods, so I cursed them and made my bed in this grassy gully.
I reconciled once more with these gods before falling into slumber that night, fore it is only to call ill fortune to bed down without making peace with your god. Alone I lay, a wandering traveler, nineteen miles of the worn path beneath my feet once more.