Camp Lore - 32. Chapter 32

Totally unexpectedly, on a Friday three weeks into July, Julie showed up. I’d just gotten back to the bunk, and we were all getting ready for general swim, when Brian got a call. He put it on speaker because he was changing.

“Where are you?” Julie asked. She had a nice voice.

“Where do you think I am?”

“No, I mean specifically.”

“You gonna ask what I’m wearing, too?” he joked. “Because at the moment, not a lot.”

“Well, I’m at the front gate.”

“Of what?”

“Your camp.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I am. Parked in front of a white house with a sign in black that says ‘Office.’ And there’s what looks like a motel nearby, and a big white barn across the road.”

“You’re looking by satellite.”

“No.”

“Then I told you all that,” Brian went on, still not accepting.

“I can’t believe I’ve just driven for eleven hours, and you’re not racing down here.”

“I’m going now. But if this is a joke...”

“Just move your rear end.”

Brian pulled on a shirt, shorts, and shoes and gestured for me to come along. I didn’t know why but figured he still didn’t believe her and wanted a witness. But three quarters of the way, he saw her, standing beside a car.

“Oh, holy jeez! She wasn’t kidding.”

“You want me to get out now.”

“No – that’d be rude. Let me at least introduce you.”

But as soon as he parked, he was out of the car and kissing and hugging Julie for at least five minutes before he remembered me. I should have walked back, but I stood, facing away. Listening to the birds. Studying plants and trees. Noticing cloud formations.

“Rob... Get over here,” he finally called.

“Didn’t want to interrupt,” I joked.

“Thank you for that,” Julie told me. And Brian made introductions.

Julie mainly smiled and looked pretty relaxed for someone who’d just drive for eleven hours.

“Did you come alone?” I asked. I don’t know why. It was the first thing I thought of.

She smiled again.

“Yeah. That took some doing, but I persuaded my parents.”

“How long are you staying?”

“That depends.” And she looked at Brian.

“We should get you a room,” he said, starting toward the office. “If there’s even one free.”

“All taken care of.”

“You made a reservation?”

“In a place called Norwich.”

“Norwich?”

“It was the cheapest I could find.”

“Better anyway,” Brian said, grinning. “More private.”

Then he thought.

“Let me work dinner... Then we can get out of here.”

I offered to sub.

“Nah – let me work. If I don’t show up for breakfast, you take that.”

He turned to Julie.

“Want to eat here? Or go for a swim? We were about to. There’s a dock the parents use, just behind those cottages...”

“Past a bench,” I wanted to add.

“ I’ll go to Norwich,” Julie decided. “Check in. Make sure the room’s okay. If I want to swim, they have a pool.”

I’ll be there by seven – or as close as I can.”

“I’ll clear and set up for you,” I volunteered.

“Thanks,” he said without turning.

He was staring at Julie and just grinning. Then he hugged her, and I studied the birds and clouds for another five minutes. Finally, Julie told him the name of the motel, got in her car, and we waved as she drove off.

“Holy Christmas!” Brian shouted.

“You know I can cover for you,” I repeated. “All of us will.”

“As I said – maybe tomorrow. Let’s see how long she’s staying. “

We were soon in the car and driving back. But once in the bunk, Brian didn’t know what to do.

“Pack? Swim? I can’t even think.”

“Skip dinner.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I left now, I’d probably wreck my car – racing to Norwich.”

“You’d probably get there ahead of her.”

“I’d probably do a lot of things ahead of her,” he said, laughing. Then he clapped his hand over his mouth. “Forget I said that.”

“You need a swim.”

“I need a beer.”

“You have to drive.”

“I need a swim.”

And we were at the waterfront, and he swam halfway across the lake before he was calm enough to seem like Brian.