Chapter 20.4 - Greatest Need

“I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the flame of that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives. It is our connection to God and to each other.”

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

“What do you think of this spot?” Len asked Maria as he backed the motorhome into the Natural Bridges National Monument camping spot facing northwest off highway 275.  They were on an arid plateau peppered with high desert juniper surrounded in the distance by rising red bluffs .  The windows in the back of the motorhome faced southwest so that the morning sun would give them a splendid breakfast with plenty of heat.  The setting sun danced off the distant cliffs floating above the landscape like passing ships in the night.

“I’ll get out and start the fire so we can roast some marshmallows.”  Len said.

“I think we should have spaghetti and toast tonight.  What do you think?” Maria asked the family.

“I want macaroni and cheese.”  Peter said not looking up from sitting in the swiveling chair across from the microwave reading Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut.

“Quit tickling me!”  Jenna screamed in joy.

“Jonathan, quit teasing your sister.  How does spaghetti sound?” Maria said lovingly.

“Great Mom.”  Jonathan replied scooping a giggling Jenna up by her feet and dangling her upside down on their way to the front of the motorhome.

“Hey, Mom, do you think Jenna and I could walk around a little bit before dinner?”  Jonathan asked.

“Oh honey, I don’t know.”

“It’ll be OK, Jonathan is way to thin to be much of a meal for the mountain lions around here.”  Len said.

“Make sure you dress your sister warmly and hold her hand the whole time then.”  Maria told Jonathan.

Jonathan put Jenna down head first and reached over to tickle her.  Jenna sprang up and put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek returning to ground on her tip toes.  She spent a great deal of her standing life pushed up on her tip toes in her pink tennis shoes.  Apparently the kiss on the cheek was not enough to satisfy her need of love from her brother.  She stood on her tip toes with her arms stretched up and her lips puckered.  Jonathan leaned over and kissed her gently.  Jenna touched her upper lip with her index finger, touching the spot that had become special.  Jonathan helped Jenna put on her pink jacket and hat with the white fluffy edge.

“Peter, get up and help me with the fire will you.  I’ll let you light it.”  Len told Peter.

“Just one more paragraph till the end of the chapter.  Is that OK?” Peter asked.

“Sure, I’ll get the chairs out from under the motorhome and get the canopy down.” Len said.

“Hey Peter, see if you can start the fire with just one match.  I packed some small branches in with the wood in the left compartment of the motorhome.  Remember to start small and make sure there is a lot of air.”  Len told him.

Jonathan and Jenna took a short walk from the motorhome.  They had only walked a little ways when they turned and saw their dad patting Peter on the back next to the fire.  When Jenna saw the fire she started pulling Jonathan back towards the motorhome.  Their walk was over.

The whole family sat at a small folding red table set up next to the file with spaghetti, bread, and milk.  For dessert they all roasted marshmallows.  Len held the coat hanger with a flaming marshmallows for Jenna to blow out.

In the early morning they all decided to take a walk to the nearest arch 1 mile from the camp.  Len carried Jenna on his back and the boys and Maria carried backpacks with water and snacks.  The sun had been up for two hours when they started their hike and felt warm and welcoming on right cheeks.  The wind was blew lightly and the cold settled into our bones.  Jenna constantly leaned forward in the pack and kissed Len on his ear playing with the back of his hair.

She chortled in happiness pointing out a coyote in the distance, “Look, doggie.”  When they got to Sipapu Bridge Len let Jenna down.

“Hey you guys, look at these.  They’re mountain lion tracks.”  Len said.

“What are these tracks?”  Peter said.

“Those are dear tracks.”  Jonathan said.

Len noticed that the tracks of the dear were spaced far apart and that it was running.  “The deer was being stalked and hunted.  Do you guys see how the tracks are so far apart?”

Jenna kept saying,"Tracks, Tracks."

They rounded the next bend and the terrain became rougher and more rocky.

“Can I take Jenna and go sit on that rock up there? Jonathan asked.

“Of course.  Just be careful with her.”  Maria said.

Johnathan took Jenna and walked up the ridge to the south on a sold sheet of red rock. Len took the opportunity to pull his pants up and rewrap his knee.  The orthroscopic surgery on his knee the week before was bothering him.  When he looked up from wrapping his knee, Johnathan was walking back towards him holding Jenna’s hand.  When Jenna saw Len stand up from fixing his wrap she pulled her hand from Jonathans and started running towards Len.  Jenna was on top of a sloping rock knoll.  Len and Maria watched in horror as Jenna build up speed.  Jonathan was bolting to catch her.  Maria screamed.  Within 10 seconds Jenna had gone out of control and plunged head first onto the rock embankment with an audible thud.  Len and Johnathan and reached her at the same time.  She lay crumpled and mewling on the ground.  When Len picked her up her head was bruised badly.  Len scooped her into his arms noticing that her head was bruised badly and already beginning to swell.  He ran back to the motorhome as fast as his injured leg would allow. Jonathan, Maria, and Peter were close behind.

“Oh my God, Len, is she alright!”  Maria said frantically as Len checked Jenna's pulse, breathing and eyes.

“I don’t know.  She hit so hard.  Thank God, Jonathan put her hat on.  Come here son, help me make her comfortable.”  Len understood the pain his son must be feeling and knew he had to help him own her recovery.  “Get me some crushed ice out of the freezer and wrap it in a towel for me.”  Jonathan wiped the tears streaming from his eyes and got Len the ice and towel.  Peter sat in his chair staring.

Maria said, “She’ll be OK, Len.  It wasn’t that bad a fall.”

Jenna’s eyes weren't responding to light properly.  Each pupil dilated differently.

“I need you all to stay calm.  Jonathan, please hold this ice on her forehead like I am.  It is not your fault in any way.  The rest of us are going to pack up the motorhome and get her to a hospital.” Len said.

“No, Len.  It can’t be that serious.”  Maria said.

Len was out the door packing up the chairs and table.  Peter put out the fire.  Maria packed up the inside of the motorhome.  They arrived in Blanding, 30 miles from camp, in the motorhome within 40 minutes.  Blanding was 30 miles distant.  Blanding did not have an emergency room, just a small hospital with a number to call for 24 hour emergency servide.  Len called the number posted on the door and a doctor arrived within ten minutes.  The doctor looked at Jenna and wanted to make sure there was no pressure on her brain.  He asked them to watch her closely for 24 hours and that she should be within close medical help.  They checked into a hotel and waited out the night.

The whole family waited through the day watching her anxiously, not letting Jenna fall asleep.  She was not herself for the first six hours but then started to be like her normal self around 6 that evening.  Jonathan insisted on staying up all night with her and Len.  They played blocks and read books to Jenna.  In the morning everything seemed to be all right.