A Test of Faith [bxb]

1. I Am a Child of God

"Luke! Over here!"

My eyes flittered across the campsite and fell on a lanky, redheaded figure, enthusiastically tossing his arms above his head. I smiled, shielding my eyes and waving back at the boy who bounded towards me.

This year's Boy Scout outing took place in a cozy campground a short drive up the Rocky Mountains. The air was light and the sun had almost peaked in the sky, enveloping the recreational field in a warmth that drenched my clothes and flooded my pale skin. I needed to put on sunscreen or find some shade, or the remainder of the week would be a pain.

"Hi, Brother Wilson," my best friend beamed as he approached the parked vehicle, reaching out to shake my dad's hand. My dad emerged from the trunk of the SUV, his arms heavy with a tote of camping supplies and far too many snacks. He nodded back with a grin and wrinkles around his eyes.

"Hey there, bud! Don't think I can get a free hand for you, Alex. Why don't you tell Luke that his old man shouldn't be breaking his back carrying his son's own tote?" Both of them eyed me, and I guiltlessly shrugged.

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to help. I could've carpooled with Alex, but you were begging to help your youngest on his last outing," I joked, knowing full well that my mom was the one who had forced my dad to join. We hated the unnecessary tradition. My dad had reluctantly driven me and my brothers to every Boy Scout event for years, trips that took place across Tennessee. Thankfully for us both, this was the final one. After senior year, I would be on a mission — hopefully somewhere populated and air conditioned — rather than bearing the summer heat of the annual camping trip.

My dad rolled his eyes and dropped the tote into my outstretched arms, a weight that almost toppled me headfirst. My muscles strained to find balance as I shifted it in my hands until I was able to rest my chin on its lid. Alex fumbled in the trunk of the minivan, emerging with a tent bag under his arm and a sleeping bag on his opposite shoulder.

"I've got the rest of his stuff, Brother Wilson. You've better escape while you still can." Alex bobbed his curly head of hair towards the line of vehicles forming around the campsite, cars spilling over with tired fathers, sweaty teenage boys, and camping supplies. A thick line of trees shaded the gravel road, teasing towering mountains above the treetops.

The campsite was feeling more crowded by the minute, the field in front of the mess hall filling up with boy scouts from around the stake. I recognized a decent amount of them, from either casual encounters at stake meetings or budding friendships from youth conferences and scout outings. The relationships developed within the realms of these events always were put on pause until the next occasion, since everyone was too busy — or no one cared enough — to talk in the meantime. It was an unspoken rule; the boys kept within their own ward for the majority of the year.

My dad left after ensuring the car was emptied, groaning that he had to make the two hour round trip again in less than a week. Alex and I waved him off, both of our arms straining with the weight of supplies, until he disappeared. Turning towards the field, we sauntered towards a pair of familiar faces.

Our friends were huddled together, pushing one another and laughing loudly. One of the boys snorted, driving the other to clutch his stomach in a fit of laughter. As we approached, they turned towards us with gleaming smiles.

"Guys! How long've you been here?" Manny asked as he stepped towards us, taking my tent out of Alex's arms and tossing it into the pile of their own supplies. I followed suit, carefully tottering over to the pile and squatting down to drop the tote.

Alex pulled Manny into a side hug, his arm snaked around the larger boy's back. "Luke pulled up, like, five minutes ago. I've been here since last night 'cause my dad had to set up in the first aid cabin yesterday," he chirped, pointing to one of the smaller wooden buildings beside the mess hall, partially hidden by pine trees and skewered by sunlight.