Deep in the dark forest, where birds once sang and trees once grew, there came three scavengers to pick among the ruins.

A great fire recently snuffed by torrential rains was still smoldering, soon to die out completely. This is the scene our explorers came upon that winters day in the Santa Monica Mountains of California.

Joe, Rudy and Tammie were good friends who hung around together looking for things to do, looking (some might say) for trouble. They left school after seventh period ended, met up by the gym and snuck out the back door of the boy’s locker room which opened to the parking lot. Leaving a boring school day early is always a stand-alone thrill, and this December day was no exception. The three were enjoying that tremendous sense of freedom found when you’re on the outside with two hours left until the final bell rings.

With high fives exchanged – the adventure began. “Where to gentlemen?” Tammie wisecracked as she fumbled for the keys to her red Ford Focus.

Dumb ideas were bantered around until Rudy said, “Let’s head to the mountains and check out the forest fires.” Nobody said a smart idea would catch the trio’s imagination, and the forest fire just seemed right. Off they went.

These kids knew the territory. They smoked weed in the forest, they drank beer there. All the things teenage kids with a wild streak and time on their hands like to do…can be done in the privacy of the forest.

As the little car made its way up the mountain roads they were shocked to see the destruction all around them. Their taunts got fewer, their voices more subdued. Tammie pulled the car into a parking area which on a good day would lead to the trails. But there were no trails left, only tree branches and naked black tree trunks everywhere. Tammie shut off the ignition, placed the car in park and pulled on the parking brake…just in case. Joe got out first and gasped as the smell of burnt trees hit his nostrils and made his eye water. He pulled his t-shirt up over his mouth and nose, then motioned to Rudy and Tammie who waited in the car, to come on out.

The three moved slowly, almost reverently as they approached the edge of the forest. There was a smoky blue haze which hung in the forest like a canopy blocking their view of the sky and sun. It was as if they were actors staged in an apocalyptic movie set in the distant future...READ MORE

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