Camping with my Marine Dad

---

[Image Source: www.pixabay.com]

---

Life as a military brat was extremely hard yet fun. Maybe it was just the way my father used the Marine aspect in raising me and my brother. Either way, it was a great experience that I would never forget.

I remember I was 6 years old when my father said to my brother and me, "Boys, we're going camping!" I was so excited when I heard it. Three days before the day, dad gave a briefing on the area and the amount of time we would be out. That's right, a briefing as if we were service men. The day before the camping trip, dad bought each of us a rabbit. I had no idea why but I loved it.

The day of the camping trip, we had all the gear packed and we headed to the site. We drove for about 2 and a half hours and high up in the mountains to the campsite. It was a place called Three Peaks in Japan outside the base.

Now once we arrived, dad said "Now boys, don't expect me to do anything for you. I will talk you through but you will have to do it. Do you understand?" Screaming like little Marines we said, "Yes sir!"

After acknowledging the order dad talks through setting the tents, collecting the kindling, tinder, and firewood, and making the fire. My brother and I were so tired and we were starving. I asked, "Sir, what are we having for dinner?" Dad slowly began to turn his head towards me at the same time as a smile was developing on his face and said, "Rabbit!"

Once I heard that I ran to the van and grabbed my rabbit cradling it in my arms and said, "No! Bugs is not dinner!" Mind you I just got this rabbit the day before and I was attached, it was my first rabbit. I then started to realize why he gave the rabbits.

Dad looked at me after handing a knife to my brother and attempting to hand one to me he said, "Kill it or you don't eat." I was filled with so much emotion that I couldn't comprehend. I was thinking, "Do I eat or starve?" All while thinking I glanced over at my brother, who was already stabbing the crap out of his rabbit. (Imagine being 4 and having your father tell you its ok to kill the rabbit) My brother was enjoying it.

I was sobbing with a stutter cry, I grabbed Bugs by the ears with the left and raised the knife with the other. Dad calmly says, "Aim for the heart or head." The knife goes down, my tears were like rain. As it's over with dad calmy says, "Now take out the guts and remove the skin."

I am still crying as I was doing what he was saying. Crying and trying to breathe I was saying "I'm sorry Bugs. I'm sorry." Dad then handed me a stick and a tin cup then said, "Put the stick through it. Put the heart, kidneys, and liver in the cup. Then come near the fire."

Image source:

Now that we're all by the fire, my dad dipped his finger in the rabbit's blood and rubbed it on me and my brother's forehead. He then said, "Fill the cups with water and place them next to the fire about 4 inches. Then place the stick into the ground leaning towards the fire."

The campfire was the only light source besides the moonlight beaming through the canopy. I was still crying but the stutter cry was fading. My brother then looked at me with wide open eyes and a smile then said, "We redrum the bunny. Redrum. Redrum."

The aroma of the rabbit's flesh began to fill my nose and my tears began to lessen. "It's time to eat now," says dad. I then took my first bite into Bugs and as a single tear fell I sat straight up chewing then said, "I'm sorry Bugs but you taste so good." Looking around the fire I see my brother eating rabbit and sipping organ soup.

After I saw my brother, a smile grew on my face but when I turned to look at my dad the smile changed to a jaw drop. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was eating a damn burger from Burger King. As the burger was being chewed up in his mouth he said, "I said you were eating rabbit not me."