Green Eyes and Freckles

There had been a time when life had been simpler. Perhaps it still was , but somehow in adulthood people made it difficult and complicated. These were the Lisa's thoughts as she drove back home from the office.

It hadn't been that long since she had started her journey in the workforce, and yet, everyday she wondered if she had let go of her childhood to fast. Of course, she counted herself lucky. Too many people had to grow up too fast, faced real hardships that made them mature quicker than many of their classmates. This hadn't been her case.

There was a lull in traffic, and as she sat in her car she thought back to a time, that was "simpler".

It was early in the summer after her eight grade graduation, she had won a camping trip as part of an essay contest, a small opportunity to inner city kids that allowed to them to experience the great outdoors, something that otherwise, they might not get to do.

Off to Montana she went with 35 or so other children from different parts of the city. Lisa never really thought that this was the moment she would be making friends for life. No way, the only thing she thought was, she would get to see the outdoors, she would get to camp in a real tent and well, she wasn't really sure what else this trip would have awaiting for her .

Upon arrival at the camps everything had surpassed her wildest dreams. The campground were massive, they were made up of six wood cabins, three for boys and three for girls, each named after a Native American tribe. The common hall, were everyone had breakfast, lunch and dinner, was large enough for presentations and even a dance. The cathedral ceilings and large windows made it seem like the perfect vacation destination. One could sit anywhere in that hall and see mountains from almost every angle.

Lisa had a lot of new experiences at this camp. Riding a bike, and horse. Being away from home for the first time. Camping in a tent in the wilderness for days at a time in multiple occasions.

She had been very naive (perhaps still was), and she had to learn many things the hard way from her more experienced counterparts. Things like, keeping crushes a secret, specially when it was the older counselors; keeping strong opinions to a minimum. Adults are not equipped to handle the truth let alone young teens. She couldn't have been an easy pill to swallow for many of her cabin mates.

Lucky for her, she never really thought too much about what others might think of her, and she always just lived.

Lisa smiled a bit. She missed a lot of her old bravado and self assuredness. Traffic moved a little.

During her four weeks at camp, she had learn to work with others. Her sense of responsibility only grew. Her love for nature intensified. The only thing that was a problem, and was even so now as an adult, was her ability to connect with others. However, there was one person that completely took her by surprise that summer.

On the 4th of July, not but a week before she was due back home children from the nearby town were allowed to socialize with the rest of the camp. And that's where she met him. Cody.

Lisa played some pool , well at least pretended to play because she had no idea what the rules were, only that you hit the balls and they went into the pockets at the table.

So there she was standing around, looking as the game unfolded when Cody and his younger brother came into the game room. Cowboy boots, checkered button up, and jeans.

All the girls swooned.

Lisa stood were she was. She wasn't beyond liking boys and having crushes, but she had never been of the mind that summer loves were a thing of existence.

Cody mingled for a bit before he made his way to the pool table. His eyes settled on Lisa as she took her turn. He observed for a few minutes before he uttered any words. Then:

“You guys mind if I play?”

Everyone shook their head. Lisa handed him her cue stick. He took a shot. After a while, he was giving her a few pointers and how to play best. And then he was showing her how to improve her posture. 

"Its easier if you hold it like this," he said as he showed her.

"Thanks," she said as she took her stick back and took a practice shot.

"More comfortable, right?"

"Yeah," Lisa said as she smiled.

After a while, she let someone else play, and Cody and her spoke for some time. Lisa shared some things with Cody about her life in the city. How she had ended up at camp. How she was doing getting along with her camp mates. In turn Cody told her about his life in Montana, not surprising it was a lot of farm work, but he seemed to enjoy it. They never really left the game room at all. And Lisa felt like she had been talking to a longtime friend the whole chat.

The sun made its journey down the horizon. And as Lisa spoke with Cody she couldn't help but notice the light illuminating Cody's deep green eyes. His freckles strewn randomly on his pink nose and cheeks, small and brown and eclectic. It was funny, she had really noticed his eyes when he had first come in. As the daylight vanished Cody looked out to the hills. He sighed as he stood.

"Well, I guess I should be heading out."

He turned his head looking for his little brother and after he located him the other boy made his way to the door and waited.

“Lisa, I want to say that you’re a wonderful person, and you shouldn’t try to grow up too fast. " He looked at her and smiled. “Don’t worry about anything else.”

Lisa nodded a bit confused. Grow up too fast? They were about the same age. Her eyes followed the two boys as they left the camp grounds. The pool's light slowly changed from bright blue, to deep indigo.

The sun started to set, and as she looked at the sea of cars, once again moving, she couldn’t help but wonder whatever had happened to that wise kid. But mostly she hoped that he also hadn’t grown up too fast.