It Was A Summer of '08 (Anglų k. leksikos namų darbas)

I have a story to tell and give you complete freedom to decide whether I‘m telling the truth or just have a vivid imagination. It‘s about how a short summertime stroll along the coastline of the Baltic sea unfolded to one of the most extraordinary and emotional experiences in the endless misery that is my life.

I was on vacation in Juodkrantė. It all began when I decided to go on a little improvised adventure. I had just about an hour of daylight left so I‘ve put on my black linen tunic, took my longbow, a quiver full of arrows with sharpened steel arrowheads, my one meter-long sword replica and left the comfort of the guesthouse I was renting. I left the house and quickly marched towards the path leading to the sea. Along the way I‘ve seen many holidaymakers and locals. Most of them were wearing tracksuits and trainers, although none of them seemed to be doing athletic activities. I just felt their scornful stares, just full of excessive jollity, but I didn‘t blame them – I guess I seemed pretty alien to them. Kids where cautiously pointing and making silent honking sounds, just like little piggies waiting for their ride in the slaughterhouse themepark, as if the circus was in town and my appearance was the main act. I saw many happy couples, wandering around the coastline of the Curonian Lagoon with their hands joined. In the dim and bleak light of the evening I could clearly see them smiling, smell their joy a mile away. I then realised I needed a drink.

I took a glimpse at what was inside my wallet and realised I was a bit low on budget. I counted about 15 litas and heaved with frustration. I rushed to the nearest local store. It was almost closing-time, but I pushed the shopping trolleys blocking the way and slowly walked in. It was an old appartment, turned into a small shop. The place looked cheesy and the peeling stucco was all crumbled. The stench of antiquity and rat droppings was in the air. I then nicely asked the saleswoman to service me. When she slowly turned around to see who‘s bothering her after closing-time, she seemed to petrified by the sight she has just seen: I long-haired barbarian with rabbit furs on his shoulders, chains lashed around his waist and an icy stare, standing in front of her.

-H-h-h... how can I help you...? – she muttered with her lips trembling.

She seemed to be twitching from fear and her eyes were running around the place, desperately looking for the nearest exit. I approached her, disgorged a handful of coins on the counter and with the voice so calm yet convincing, asked:

-Can I have that bottle of cognac for 14. 99, please?.

With some visible signs of relief, she reached out and fetched the bottle of the cheapest booze, sweeped the coins off the counter without even counting them and pointed at the door.
In a few seconds I was out and continued marching towards my destination. It was getting darker and darker every single minute, but I quickened my pace, still feeling great anticipation to see the sun, drowning in the depths of the sea. Running through the woods, I started to feel a warm summer breeze on my cheeks, which meant that I was getting close. I ran up the steep dune, tripping over small spiky bushes ant cutting myself. Breathless and wounded – I made it. The sad part was, that I missed the sunset – the last rays of sunshine where hiding beneath the horizon and the waves had already washed away the blood of the drowning sun. Overtaken by grief, I went down to the beach and sat down on the golden sand. I sticked my sword into the ground, tossed away my bow, arrows and clenched a bottle of cheap cognac in my hand.

-To you, my misery, - aloft went the bottle.

Toast after toast I was going into a deep chemical trance. The sea was raging, the wind blew with more and more power, getting rough and nasty sand in my hair, mouth and every other part not covered by clothes. One caught in a sandstorm during a chilly pitch-black night might start freaking out, but not me. I was as calm as a drunk person who‘s not giving a damn. I‘ve put my heavy head onto the warm silky sand and went into a deep sleep. As far as I can recall, I slumbered away a few hours, when suddenly, I heard a silent, yet clear squashy sound. I swore aloud a few times (can‘t really explain why) and sluggishly lift my head up. When I was finally able to focus my vision – fear struck me.  It suddenly dawned on me, that I was facing a pretty damn serious situation. Just about 8 meters from me, stood a creature from the depths of hell.  A 500 pound wild female boar. With dense vapour comming out of it‘s jaw, enormous tusks, shining in the moonlight and blood-red eyes, just pulsing with hatred – every single thing about this monster indicated that it wanted to tear me apart. The moment became still and a flow of sudden thoughts penetrated my mind. I was looking for a hasty solution. Some of us would probably start calling out Christ‘s name, but I realised, that no fictional characters and saints are going to help me deal with this. I peered around hopelessly, desperately trying to see a shotgun lying somewhere in the sand by my feet, but I was being realistic. All I had was a longbow. With utmost caution, I bent down and gripped the bow in my left hand, while taking an arrow from the quiver with my right one. I slowly got up and aimed at the creature, which was beggining make growling sounds and approach me. I knew it was time to let go of the arrow, but then I thought of the consequences, which would fallow if I missed the shot. I steadied my breath, beamed wildly at the creature and shot. The arrow went straight and pierced right through the beast‘s front leg. It howled with pain and started running. Luckily, in the opposite direction. I can‘t explain the feelings that struck me that moment, but let‘s just say I felt the stream of manhood, strength and the beauty of wild ways of our ancestors. Then I did what I felt I had to do – I pulled my sword from the sand and pursuited the wounded beast. I ran through those spiky bushes again, tearing my tunic. I screamed and roared, chasing the helpless animal through the dark forest and waggling my sword with crazed fury. I ran until the beast dissapeared in the distance. I stopped. I was victoriuos.