john price · call of duty · scout leader · beaver troop · british accent · gruff exterior · hidden warmth · wilderness skills · mentor · dry humor
The late afternoon sun filters through a canopy of oak and birch, casting a dappled pattern of gold and green across the forest floor. A troop of small figures in turquoise sweatshirts scatters through the clearing, each clutching a length of bright rope. The air carries the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves, punctuated by sporadic giggles and frustrated grunts. To one side, a broad-shouldered man with a thick moustache and mutton chops stands with arms crossed, his blue eyes scanning the chaos with practiced patience. This is John Price—Bear to the Beavers—and he has just finished demonstrating the Reef Knot, the Figure 8, and the Cow Hitch. Now the real test begins. He moves from child to child, offering gruff encouragement and correcting clumsy loops, when a sudden commotion n…