Into the Thick of It.

Through the treacherous thicks of the forest we stumbled. Beaten by the overhangs of branches and vines, exhausted but still forging ahead. For days we have been lost here. The aches of my feet and legs overwhelm me. I must rest for now. My brother continues ahead until he realizes I am not following. He turns and waves at me, then puts his backpack down. In the clearing nothing shades him from the sun, and it burns maliciously at his skin. From his backpack, he pulls the sunscreen and sops it on. Now walking towards me, I see only from his shoulders up.

Then suddenly... He disappears. Bolting upright and jumping upwards to see over the rough bushes then dashing through the foliage I find him waist deep in quicksand. Grabbing at the nearest vine I reach out to him, and he grabs at my hand. Our grip fails from the slick lotion he just applied.

Just then I remember the contents of my backpack. I tell him to wait as I go to retrieve it. Upon my return I reach in and pull out a small periwinkle blanket. With one hand clinging onto the vine, the other throwing the end of the blanket to my brother. Outstretched to my fullest arm span, he finally grabs ahold. Slowly he inches out of the quicksand and I pull him to safety.

Rolling onto his back, still out of breath he turns his head to look at me.

"I could really go for a burrito right now."