To take a trip

Bonnie had no problem pinpointing the very day spring turned to summer. It was made easy as Abigail marked the day the day on their puppy calendar with a little red tent. Usually with a comment of ‘how the wind is just the right type of warm’.  Or her other favorite ‘I hear the mountains calling’. Bonnie thought it was so weird that Abigail seemed to have those small smiles just for thoughts about camping. It was little things like that made Bonnie always consider her person who was a little different.

 They were classmates for all four years of high school but were barely in each other orbit. That pull continued so the two ended up at the same college and when Bonnie was ready to find a roommate for her own place Abigail was the perfect fit. During all that time besides knowing she was a decent person the one thing Bonnie knew for sure was that Abigail loved camping.

             Now that they have been roommates for two years Bonnie has noticed it even more. The way Abigail seems to brighten up as the months warms up. The calls between family members on when is the best time to go, who will bring what, and other details. No matter how long they were or the amount of notes she took down Abigail always seemed to be smiling. But it was a differ this year. The summer started with the same amount of anticipation marking of the calendar, and the calls. Soon there were fewer calls and no notes of camping trips being posted.

             Bonnie decided to step in when 4^th of July rolled around to see was happening. Bonnie’s first hook being surprising successful as Abigail accepted her invitation to go out with some friends. Mentally she took note of how readily Abigail replied as if she had no other plans. When the time to party came no matter how much food or people weaved through Bonnie found herself surprised to see how many people Abigail found to talk with. They were finally able to talk just as fireworks were getting ready to fly. Bonnie asked why her summer was so different this year and Abigail admitted how her family had different plans. The look on Abigail’s face pushed the thought that had been simmering there ‘Why don’t we go instead’? The surprised smile that Bonnie got return seemed a lot brighter than any of the fireworks that came later.

             Bonnie decided to be stubborn on one thing which was to stay in a tent. She would not be coddled and wanted to get the full experience Abigail was used to. When she said the less embarrassing version of that to Abigail she laughed and said she would make it newbie friendly as possible. Soon it was time to pack the car and drive. There was some unexpected tension of who’s music to listen to first, but they soon found a truce. Soon as they were pulling up the park and their camping spot it started drizzling. Bonnie fought a groan as Abigail hoped out the car and started pulling out bags. ‘That is why the tent bag has to be near the top’ Abigail said with certainty as she started pulling out polls. With some pointed and clear directions, the tent was up, and they were rushing to get the rest of their stuff inside as drizzle turned into a downpour.

             Abigail noticed how tense Bonnie had gotten since the rain had gotten heavier, but she did not comment on it. The first few minutes of unpacking were quiet except for the sounds of the rain on the plastic tent. The tent was same one her family would usually use so it was big enough that they could be on either end with a three other people could fit between them.

             The silence was broken by Bonnie turning one of her bags searching through the spilled items. By some sixth sense Abigail reaches into one of her bags and pulls out batteries. Bonnie accepted it with muted surprise and worked on using it to pump up her air bed. Abigail worked on making her sleeping bag listening into the rain. ‘ I was going to go for a walk but feel free to stay if you like’ Abigail said as she was edging towards the exit at the middle of the tent.

Bonnie blinked a few times ‘ In this weather you want to go out now’?

‘Yup’ Abigail says as she starts dragging out a raincoat and umbrella.

‘I can’t believe you are enjoying this’ Bonnie says holding the hood of the raincoat closer to her face.

‘It’s refreshing.’ Abigail says happily.

‘ I would hope so because all I see is you getting bunch of water blasted in your face’

‘ You should be watching your feet’ Abigail says with a bit of concern

‘ Why? You said this was a little walk in the picnic field what am I going to trip on grass’. Only to trip and fall over a in hole in the ground the next moment.

The next moment Abigail was on the ground with her carefully flipping her over to face up and looking for cuts. As she pulled a kit out of her pocket she apologized to Bonnie. How she was sorry to drag her out her for a trip when she should have delt with her feeling like an actual adult. Bonnie stayed silent as Abigail explained how distant she had started feeling from her family recently. As her younger siblings started to do other things with friends and her parents started to close off more time to themselves. She felt that she was going to know less and less about people that meant the whole world to her for so long. That it was one the reasons she was always so excited about camping that no matter how big they had gotten or how tiring the day they would all stay in one tent together.

After getting her right ankle treated Bonnie found herself being carried piggyback with a surprising amount of strength back to their campsite. Her one job was to carry the umbrella she looked down at Abigail and sighed starting her own story. Bonnie knew she was always going to be weird about rain. It was gave her fist scar after all. She was six and a simple trip on a deep puddle and she was soaked with a gash on her leg and a cold. It was the week in a bed barely seeing her always busy parents that left the real ache in her heart. When it continued to rain for the whole week every patter reminding her how silly it was that anything she did was going to get her attention she hated it.

Soon they were back at their tent Abigail somehow finding the strength to keep Bonnie on her back as she opened the tent and bended down to get in the opening. When she was ready to place Bonnie on her airbed she found herself being pulled down to lay next to Bonnie.

‘Hey we can both be each other’s company. Family even.’ Bonnie said with smile already sleepy pulling up the blankets over them. ‘Our version of family does not recognize sleeping bags no matter how warm you think they are’.

Abigail could not argue as she found herself being warmer than if she out in the summer sun.