Crybaby Bridge

You know...

Do you want everything to stand out?

Post-traumatic stress.

It's not a personal failing, but rather a treatable malfunction

with certain biological mechanisms

that allow us to cope with dangerous experiences.

But what if you don't want to manage your way through life,

exposing yourself to a painful past

in a safe and supportive environment can be a way of dealing with trauma head-on

so that you can stop avoiding life and start living it freely.

That's for you're new book?

Published once a draft in three weeks.

You'll get it done.

You always get it done.

What do you think?

It's red.

It's not red.

It's wrath.

It took me two dozen combinations to get this exact hue.

Yeah, that's what happens.

Can't fight rush hour.

We wouldn't be stuck in rush hour of the movers that come on time.

They do it on purpose.

Make excuses about running late.

Knowing if they work past five, we get charged an extra day.

Not everyone is as manipulative as you think, sweetheart.

And not everyone is as guileless. Miyamoto.

Especially when they get paid by the hour.

Well, they're on their way now.

And this time tomorrow

we'll be in our beautiful new house, unpacking our beautiful things.

I can't believe we're doing this.

I've never not lived in the city.

Oh, you'll love it.

Trees, mountains, ...

Deer.

Ticks. Mosquitoes.

Rednecks.

Is there even Wi-Fi?

Maybe spotty in some places, but

where there's no Wi-Fi, there's better connection.

Hey, Sam, you want to try driving?

Really?

I don't think so.

So there's barely any cars out here.

It's a perfect place to get our feet wet.

We've discussed this.

I haven't had a seizure in over a year.

We'll talk about it once you're back on your medication.

Okay, listen, how about this?

Once we're settled into our new place and Sam's back on our medication.

We'll go out.

I'll teach you how to drive. Okay? It's okay.

Whatever.

You need some help?

I can't quite figure out how to make this...

They make these things unnecessarily complicated.

I've never done this before.

Don't be too hard on yourself.

I mean, my years ago pop up tents with the way to go

in my humble opinion.

I'm Steve.

Wife and kids are over there.

My wife Evelyn is inside, and

our daughter Samantha's around somewhere.

She's here for the weekend.

Oh, no. No, just the night.

We, actually bought a house down in Emporium.

Thought we'd make a little camping trip out of the move.

Emporium's a nice town.

We're up in Ridgeway, just a hop, skip away.

Hey, we're cooking s'mores later.

If you'd like to join.

This might take you up on that.

Come by any time.

Who was that?

Steve.

Would you like to make a s'more?

I'm good.

Can I tell a ghost story?

Here we go.

Little ritual of ours.

Go ahead, son.

There once was an old woman who went into the woods.

Dig up some roots for dinner.

When suddenly she came across something ugly toad!

Oh, God. Not this one again.

Mary swore.

Mary.

- He tells this story every time. - Do not!

I think it's a great story.

Go ahead Noah.

Those two are always at each other.

Not that I blame her.

He does tell this story every single time we go camping.

He's obsessed.

You camp a lot?

Only, like ...

200 times a year.

My dad has a thing for the great outdoors.

Thinks it brings us closer to God.

story being told in background

What about you?

You guys do a lot of camping?

First time.

Really?

What do you think?

It's ... okay.

It's pretty lame sometimes.

Like now.

Never find a better view.

I'm Luke.

Sam.

I eat your hairy toad!

The woman shouted.

Yes you did, the giant said.

Nobody ever saw the old woman again.

The only clue to her disappearance was a big footprint

next to her house with a missing big toe.

The end.

Hey, do you guys want to hear a real ghost story?

There was a girl in the 1800s who lived in this area.

Her family was super conservative

and wouldn't let her go out with boys.

But little did they know, she'd fallen in love with a guy.

And the two of them would sneak off into the woods

every day to kiss under the covers of trees.

Gross!

It wasn't long before she got pregnant.

And knowing her father would be mad, she asked her boyfriend for help.

Only to learn that he wanted nothing to do with her.

Seeing no other choice,

she went home and as expected, her father was furious.

He threw her out and told her to never come back.

So she ended up on the streets

begging for food and shelter.

But no one would help her.

Nine months later, she gave birth.

Starving and cold,

she took her baby to a nearby bridge.

What story is this?

The girl looked down into the black water

and saw the answers to her problems.

She and the baby would leave this miserable world together.

It's said that if you go to that bridge,

you could still hear the baby's cries.

And if you're pregnant,

the vengeful ghost will kill you.

- And you're... - Okay.

That's enough.

You let him tell a stupid story!

Where did you hear this? From my app.

What app?

Some folklore app.

You put in your location and it tells you all the legends in the area.

This one happened right up the road.

Take it off your phone.

It's just a story. Mary!

Obey thy father.

Hear those?

Hey. You okay?

Samantha?

Hey, kiddo, it's dad, can you hear me?

This happens sometimes.

It's been a long day.

I think we're going to turn in.

There we go.

Good job. Okay, there we are.

Okay.

You guys okay?

Thanks for the s'mores.

Morning!

How long was I out?

Not long.

Well, now they definitely think I'm a freak.

No one thinks you're a freak.

That's why I don't want you driving, though.

Yeah. Got it.

Where's dad?

On the phone with his publisher.

You can't rush these things, Kathleen.

I'm really happy.

I think it's the best work of my career.

We're going to leave as soon as he's done.

There's something resembling showers up the path.

You wanna wash up?

I see you figured out how to roll her up.

Took a few tries, but I think I've got it down.

How's Samantha?

Oh. Much better. Thanks.

I was wondering which way you plan on taking to Emporium?

Uhh..

I think it's route 20.

20 will take you forever.

- Highway's faster. Safer too. - Safer?

Never know where you're going to get on the back roads.

Fallen trees, flooded creek beds.

Potholes the size of a Buick.

Plus, there's not a lick cell service

once you hit Clinton.