The Bug Treasure

Troy: “Dada, look at this giant tree. It looks like it got struck by lightning.”
Me: “It sure does.”
Troy: “And look at all of these letters and pictures cut into it.”
Me: “Yeah, it looks like a lot of people vandalized it. I don’t know why they can’t just leave nature alone, so everyone can enjoy it. Nobody cares about who hiked this trail or who they have a crush on!”
Troy: “So, they carved their initials into this tree trunk, like a pumpkin.”
Me: “Sort of, yeah.”
Troy: “So, it’s a trumpkin?
Me [laughing]: “Yeah, I guess it is. I love that! Trumpkin! That’s awesome!”
Troy: “Well, these marks don’t look like anyone cut them into the tree. What are these?”
Me: “Which ones?”
Troy: “These squiggly ones here.”
Me: “Ah. Those are caused by insects and worms living under the bark of the tree as they dig around inside. You can’t really see them until the tree dies and the bark falls off.”
Troy: “It’s really cool. It looks like a picture. I wonder what it means.”
Me: “Maybe it’s a treasure map to the bug’s treasure! If we follow it, we just might find it. Let’s follow their path.”

…a few minutes of me walking in squiggly lines like I’m drunk and trying to walk the yellow line, then looping back on my path and going in circles, and I end up about two feet from where I started and from where Troy is standing, staring at me like I’ve lost my mind…

Me: “If I’ve done it correctly, the treasure must be here under this plant.”
Troy: “It’s not a treasure map. Bugs don’t have treasure.”
Me: “Well, you could have mentioned that earlier before I made a complete fool of myself!”
Troy: “Let’s just keep walking.”
Me: “Fine.”