The Summer of 1974

chapter 5~Forgotten letters

6 days into boy scout camp

"Wake up Rob its letter day we get our letters today!" Leo shouted as he shook Robert's bed.

"Go away and let me sleep." Robert mumbled into his pillow.

"Oh, I hope my mom sent me a letter I really miss her; this is the longest I've been without her." Owen said walking around the small cabin anxiously.

"I hope my mom didn't send me a letter."

"Shut up john."

The two were about to start arguing when a knock on the door sounded causing Owen to rush over to it and let their scoutmaster inside.

"I have letters boys!"

"Ok pass them out." Owen said impatiently.

"Alright I got one for Leonardo, Robert, John, Samual, and Michael." The scoutmaster said as he handed out the letters.

"What about me?" Owen questioned looking slightly scared.

"Sorry kid but I don't have one with your name." He looked down at Owen remorsefully.

"Oh."

"Hey, you can have mine." John held out his letter for Owen with complete seriousness.

"No its fine." Owen said before walking out of the cabin with his head down.

John stared at the door of the cabin for a couple seconds before setting down his letter and following after Owen.

Robert eventually climbed down from the top of his bunk and opened his letter that was waiting idle for him.

The paper in the envelope was folded in half, and on one of the folded sided was his mom's neat cursive sprawled out in fancy writing.

Dear Robby,

Hey honey, it's your momma. The camp said we could write letters to our kids, so I thought I'd write one to you to let you know I'm thinking of you. Your probably not going to get this till later, but if you do get it before the 4th I want to give you a heads up that I'll be heading down to camp. Again, the camp said we could come down for a 4th of July celebration with our kids. Your daddy said he couldn't come cause he's caught up with stuff at the bar, and your brother hasn't really given me an answer on whether or not he's coming so don't get your hopes up to much. Anyway, I was thinking of bringing some food that you could share with your friends, you know something simple. Now I think I'm going to end this here cause I'm gonna see you soon.

Love you lots, mama

Robert stared at his moms handwriting for a couple more seconds before folding the paper up putting it on his bed.

He could admit that he missed his mom. Especially since he's never been away from her for this long. He almost felt lost without her constantly hovering over his shoulder and making sure he didn't hurt himself.

"What'd your mama say?" Leo's head popped up in front of Robert.

"How'd you know my ma sent it?"

"It said her name on the paper." Leo pointed to the piece of paper on Robert's mattress.

Robert quickly shoved the envelope under his pillow, "Well its none of your business what she said, but if you must know, she said she's coming to camp for the fourth of July."

Leo's entire face lit up, "Does that mean she's bringing pigs in a blanket? Oh please tell me she's bringin it."

"I dunno what she's bringin, she didn't say. Now move, I need to get down so we're not late to breakfast."

Leo moved over and let Robert climb down the ladder of the bunk bed. And once all the boys were properly dressed, they walked as a group to the mess hall taking the main path.

____

"Did you get a letter today?" Oriana and Robert were laying on their backs in the soft grass like they had been doing every night.

"My mom sent me a letter." Rob replied while looking at the fireflies hovering over his head.

"How sweet. What did she say?"

"She's coming here for the fourth of July."

"Oh really? That's exciting." Oriana turned so she was lying on her side as she responded. Robert hummed as a response, and they sat in silence for a little while.

"Hey Robert."

"Yeah?"

"So you know how you've been having problems with ricky?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well he's goin to be leaving at the end of the week."

"And how do you know this?" Robert asked confused.

"My dad told me. Apparently he and a couple other boys only planned on stayin a week."

"Well that good. Got anymore exciting news to share?" He asked jokingly.

"Well, I know it's kind of late to tell you this, but tomorrow my mom's coming up here to spend the day with us, but then I'm going to go back home with her." Oriana said nervously. 

"I thought you said your mom was in Italy with your grandma?"

"Well she was, but she usually comes back here to spend the day with me and my dad and then I go home with her for a couple days. After that, she goes back to Italy."

"Oh. Well how long will you be gone?"

"Only for a couple days, then I'll be back. Just try not to miss me too much." She teased.

"I'll try, but 'I'll be lonely without you here."

Comfortable silence washed between the two, nothing but crickets and boys who were night hiking could be heard.

Until Robert broke it, "So do you come up here with your dad every summer?"

"Yep, I do." she smiled.

"Really? Every year?"

"Every year." 

~~~~

I first started writing this story around this time last year during my 6th bell geometry class.

I just wanted to remind you that my life=lacking.

P.S. Also if you've read For Rachel then you'll understand the last part but if not then you should totally go read it while I'm still updating this story ;)