The Wolfbait story

[Full MeTal Jack]

It was a dark cool moonless January night in the Texas hill country. Our troop had settled in for the night. I was all snug and comfy in tent and speeping bag and wanderd off into La-La Land. Could hear a pack of wolves in the distance. I thought to myself, how beautiful, haven't heard those howls since I lived in far northern Wisconsin many years ealier. Found out early to respect those creatures. Don't ever get in their way.

Sounded like they were on a distant ridge. I can hear them, not to be concerned though, they're far away. What seemed like much ater, heard them again, closer, howling! Hmmm! The wolves are too close. Jumped up out of my sleeping bag. Got dressed in this tiny tent designed for normal size people.
My thoughts were of my two sons out there!
I have to ward off the impending danger!
H-oo-oow-l ! Again! Even closer!
Wrapped jacket around left arm and grabbed Kershaw fixed-blade knife.
Got out of tent. What? There's no other fathers out here!
What the heck?

I'm ready to defend-to-the-death my two sons from these wolves!
Ran up to the campfire. It was still burning strong. I See Phil, another dad, sitting calmly in lawn chair by the fire with his legs crossed and smoking a cigar. He blows a puff of smoke aganist the orange glow of the fire. He also wears a Dorfman, Indiana Jones hat, even before it was fashonable,
I'm shaking uncontrollably. He's cool as a cucumber. Levi Jacket wrapped around left hand and still shaking like a leaf with knife in hand, look at him and say , "Phil, WOLVES! ". "Wolves!"
He says, bringing his right index finger up to his lips, "shhhhhhhhhh, they're getting closer."
I about flipped!!!
Well, Phill is a varment and predator hunter. He wasn't worried. Why should I? Looking him eye-to-eye, I sat down by the fire still just shaking watching every shadow pointing the knife and anticipating having to pounce at any time.
Then........

..............I here a click.

The wolves start howling, the crows start cawing and the crickets start chirpping!

WAIT A MINUTE ! Chirpping crickets in the dead of winter? NO WAY!

OH CRUD!!

I'd been HAD!

Phill had a cassette recording of wolves in the wild and he was playing it
trying to annoy the other adult leaders. But that didn't happen. He got me. I became colateral damage.
Oh God! I really been had! I did not know there are no wolves in Texas. (at that time)
From then on I became known as "Wolfbait".
I tell this story at least once a year to the scouts and scouters while on a camp out in the dark of night.
kkb