500 Word Short Story
The Sasquatch Encounter
Scott A. Gese

500 Word Short Story

Richard Kellin, avid hunter and fisherman.

Richard spent most of his free time deep in the woods or along backwoods streams of the Pacific Northwest. He had quite a reputation as a story teller and braggart. If there was ever an ounce of truth to his tales, they were puffed up beyond recognition.

One evening, while sitting with some friends, he confided, “You're not going to believe what happened to me yesterday.”

Even though his friends had already decided Richard's story would be a fabrication of the truth at best, they still wanted to hear it if for no other reason, the entertainment value it would carry.

“Really?” Remarked one of the men sarcastically. “Do tell us.”

Richard continued. “I was fishing along Abiqua Creek, up above the falls. I had just hooked a nice trout. It was a native. A real beauty. Probably a five pounder.”

Eyes rolled at the unbelievable comment, but Richard didn't notice.

“I had him in the net when out of the corner of my eye, not more than fifty feet from me, I saw it. At first I thought it was a bear, but then it moved. It was standing on two legs and it was watching me.”

“Don't tell me,” interjected one of the men. “You saw Bigfoot.”

“Exactly,” replied Richard.

Eye rolls and laughter ensued, but Richard continued.

“Once I released the fish, the thing started to leave. I decided to follow it. It was easily ten feet tall and had one hell of a stride, but I kept up. It never got out of sight. It was as if he wanted me to follow him. This went on for at least two miles. It must have gotten tired of me because it turned and let out a roar I'll never forget. Scared the shit out of me. I swear I almost pissed my pants. It took off again, this time faster.

At this point I realized I was lost. I called out to it. 'help me, I'm lost'. It stopped as if it understood me. It motioned for me to continue following it. I did, and I swear I wasn't more than ten feet behind it. We eventually came to a road and it pointed to the right., then disappeared into the trees. I walked about a mile up the road and found my truck. Man I wish I would have had my camera with me.”

“And so do the rest of us,” came the reply.

“That's one hell of a story, Richard. Maybe better than the one about how you dug your way out of an avalanche on Mount Hood,” commented another.

“I'm not making this up. I swear, it happened just like I said.”

They all enjoyed the story, but no one believed it.

Meanwhile, back on Abiqua Creek, a ten foot Bigfoot relayed the story of how he helped a pathetically lost human find his way out of the woods.