Saul was lost. It occured to him that this was not a recent occurrence, rather it was something that had long been true, of which he was only now becoming aware. He reasoned that this was probably for the best, as being lost can be a rather stressful and distressing affair, and he was glad to have avoided that for the last... well how long had it been since he'd gotten lost?
He ruminated on this for a bit while he caught his breath. There was that evening he'd played chauffeur? No definitely before that. That time he missed the "best burgers in town" for a rather important phone call? That was more part of the middle than a start. The night he'd been forced into a crinoline skirt and paraded about? But no, traumatic as that was, it was not when he'd gotten lost. Saul reluctantly returned to the present and took small pleasure in noting that being lost in thought, while not having got him anywhere, had not in fact got him any more lost either. He chose a direction at random and set out once more.
Damn, now he really wanted to figure out when he'd gotten lost. He considered it a little more. He was thinking too recent, he needed to go further back. He had, after all, really and truly skunked himself and, credit where credit's due, that would've taken time. There was that time he'd gone on vacation without telling anyone? Hmm, that was stupid yes, but not point he sought. The day he decided to skip living in Europe for a year? Again, probably not bright, but definitely not right. Farther. Picnic lunch on an island? Cat ears bandied about while waiting for the bus? A flawed grasp of humor resulting in unavenged injury? The hotdog, perhaps defrosted, but definitely not cooked over a sixty watt lightbulb? Counting out eenie meenie minie mo in an to attempt to defraud an unsuspecting parent? He was flitting through memories faster and faster, when suddenly it hit him. It being a tree. Saul rubbed his forehead and shin gingerly. Trees, he reasoned, could be real jerks sometimes.
Having long since learned that striking a tree in anger, much as in any other emotional state, accomplished little more than a sore hand and potentially some embedded bark, Saul made quick peace with the tree and continued on his way. He thought about trees now, different kinds. He personally was a fan of redwoods, as they were very tall. This made them not only majestic but also created a shaded, but still very open space, or so Saul imagined. He hadn't really ever seen a redwood so he based this on what he felt was pretty intuitive guesswork. He would've liked a little of that intuitively imagined shade right now as he continued in his directionless travel. Next choice he made was definitely going to be based upon environmental factors.
It seems Luck had drunkenly spilled a little of itself on Saul as it was not long before he found himself in a forest, enjoying the shade so freely offered. Trees, he reasoned, could be real kind sometimes. It was pleasant and he thought he could feel a gentle breeze and birds singing in the distance. It reminded Saul of camping trips long ago, where food was full of sand, bedtime was preceded by thirty minutes of killing mosquitoes and being dry was a dream as unachievable as growing wings, but it was all enjoyable anyways. It had been on a camping trip that he'd had his first kiss. Saul stopped very suddenly. Luck, apparently having gotten even more generous with the drinking, left him staring at a tree. The path was turning.
Perhaps thought Saul this was it. His first kiss, what more auspicious time than that to get lost? Well plenty really, but sod that, this had potential. He had been but a young lad, eight years old, out for a lark in the park with family and friends. And she, she had been a twenty three year old man, with surprisingly good grip. She had also not been particularly satisfied with just a kiss, much to young Saul's chagrin, but then he hadn't taken a very active role in the proceedings to begin with. After what seemed forever, but Saul would later learn to be considered a disappointing amount of time, young Saul was allowed to frolic once more in the park. This mostly involved hiding in a bush and suffering from what he was certain was a once off bout of hay fever.
Saul decided that this was in fact when he'd gotten lost. It made so much sense, well some sense, maybe, if you squinted? Yes, definitely this was when he'd gotten lost, so long ago. It must have been tough to be so lost, but he'd soldiered on through so much adversity regardless. Despite his obvious disadvantage he'd accomplished... well, anything at all was good considering his circumstances, right? Yes, just being here was a heroic feat and he'd managed it. And now, finally, he knew when it was he'd gotten lost and why everything had gotten so mussed up, and why it was certainly no fault of his.
However, a small part of Saul couldn't help but think, it was kind of like telling yourself that the bed sheets in room 217 at the hotel you'll be staying at are blue. It may or may not be true, you're unlikely to find out and, in the end, it really doesn't matter.
