ADVENTURE JOURNEY EPISODES
by Jeremy Russell

Episode 5: Aspen, Colorado, Winter 1983
This is one episode in a developing story. Links to PRECEDING EPISODES at bottom.

The crisp mountain air, however invigorating, exacerbated Charlie's depression. Meanwhile, his brother was out on the ski slopes, impressing everyone as usual.

Charlie scribbled a knot over the face of the stick figure he'd been doodling on the cover of his spiral notebook. He was supposed to be recording a book report for Mrs. Harrington's senior college prep English class.

He heard footsteps on the porch, then Akiko clomped through briefly, knocking snow of her heels before disappearing down the hall with barely a nod. He'd been in love with her since ninth grade, but she'd been dating Dave for the last three months.

Charlie lay his forehead on the white, lined, college-ruled pages.

"How's your leg?" said a voice, Dave's voice, a moment later.

"Cast itches," Charlie said into his paper.

Wood creaked as his brother settled into the chair across from him. "Dad's friend just gave me an offer on the clasp design. But, you know, I'm thinking of starting my own company."

Charlie lifted his head and put his chin on his forearms. "Where will you get the seed capital?"

Dave waved away the words like a cloud of gnats. "I'll use my college money. I'm dropping out anyway."

"After a semester?"

"I don't need a degree."

Charlie looked down the hall in the direction Akiko had gone, then looked back at Dave. "I'm not going to college either,” he announced. “I want to travel, and ... and I'm just going to do it."