a story I wrote.

SYNOPSIS:

This story takes place in the Lake Pawtuckaway campground in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1953. During this time, vacationing across America, passing through several states, and occasionally even camping were all very popular. The lake is well-known for its crystal-clear, golden water, tiny islands where you can pitch a tent, wide hiking trails, a beach where you can relax, a small store where you can buy ice cream and other refreshments, among other things, and restrooms adjacent to the campsites.Of all the camp rangers that worked at the lake, Gary Burnham is remembered as being the best hiker and the most knowledgeable tracker. He would take the hikers on trails that would take them to gloomy bat caves and underground streams. Of all the people who had ever worked at the lake, he had the best trail expertise, and he went out of his way to make sure the hikers had a fantastic experience. He liked to hang out in the marsh toward the western end of the lake. He would take people who loved observing birds to this incredible bird sanctuary. One of the reasons he liked it was the marsh, which was home to a huge, three-foot-long snapping turtle they called "Big Snap.” The police report states that it all started when ranger Burnham caught up with his hiking group at the start of the "Creepy Trail" on a cold, misty Sunday morning in August. Father Roy Sloan, a priest, David Sterling, Rose Marie Cain, and their pit bull Abe were all present, as well as a rather youthful grandma of fifty-five and her twin grandchildren ( Candace Bowmen, Sam and Walter sterling ). They were excited and set off on the hike. What transpired after they disappeared over the hill is now only a matter of legend and speculation. Some, though, insisted it was the twins. The police report states that it all started when ranger Burnham caught up with his hiking group at the start of the "Creepy Trail" on a cold, misty Sunday morning in August. Father Roy Sloan, a priest, David Sterling, Rose Marie Cain, and their pit bull Abe were all present, as were a rather youthful grandma of fifty-five and her twin grandchildren (Candace Bowmen, Sam, and Walter Sterling). After the group turned left to reach the marsh, the first person to leave the party did so, but the twins did not follow for whatever reason. As soon as it was discovered that they were missing, ranger Burnham set out on his own to look for them. To look for the missing twins, Ranger Burnham split off from the group near the old north tree, but he was never seen or heard from again. The priest was found disheveled and covered in spider webs; the college couple was also found disheveled and unclean; and the dog had a toe that had possibly been bit off by the snapper. The grandmother appeared nervous and jumpy at the slightest sound. Three days later, following a thorough search, his hat was located in the swamp. The twins were found later that day, fully submerged in mud and marsh algae. In the report, they merely stated, "We never saw him, but whatever it was that came up behind us, we sank it." On a gloomy August Sunday, a hiker reported seeing a figure that resembled a ranger slipping through the woods before vanishing into the fog. Additionally, if there are any twins present, they may occasionally be discovered hiding, terrified, and claiming to have witnessed a park ranger shouting violently at them while covered in reeds, mud, and algae. He was honored by having the marsh named in his honor, and accounts of this continue to this day. His corpse was never found. Several camp rangers tell this story to hikers who stop at the Pawtuckaway camp sites around campfires.