The Lost Map App

Ezra and his dad Colin have planned this camping trip for months. They've promised themselves a weekend completely off their phones, except for the hiking app that tracks their route. The plan seems foolproof. Then, halfway up the mountain, Colin's phone suddenly dies, taking the map app down with it.

"I thought I charged it this morning," Colin mutters, shaking the phone as if that might help.

Ezra checks his own phone, but it's already down to eight percent. Neither of them thought to bring a portable charger. Without the app, they have only a vague memory of the trail. There's also the old paper map, sitting unused in the bottom of Ezra's backpack since they left home.

"Good thing you insisted on bringing that old thing," Colin says. He sounds more relieved than he probably wants to admit.

They spread the map across a flat rock and try to match it to the landmarks around them. There's a fork in the trail, a ridge shaped like a saddle, and a lone dead tree. It takes a while, since neither of them has used a paper map in years. But slowly, the picture starts to make sense.

Just as they get moving again, the sky darkens, and a light rain begins to fall. Ezra pulls his jacket tighter and glances at his dad. "Should we look for shelter?"

Colin studies the map for a moment. "There's a rock overhang marked about ten minutes from here. Let's head there and wait it out."

They reach it just as the rain grows heavier, ducking under the stone ledge with their bags. For twenty minutes, they sit together, watching the rain and eating the snacks they'd packed for later.

"You know," Colin says eventually, "I think I actually prefer this to staring at a screen."

Ezra laughs, folding the damp map carefully. "Let's just remember to bring a real compass next time, too."