The Summer of 1974

Chapter 7~ Costly Ice cream

July 11th, 1974, 14 days into boy scout camp

It's been two weeks since Robert first stepped foot in camp. And as much he wanted to say that he was miserable and wished his mom had never made him go, he couldn't.

To Robert, Oriana had become his best friend that he never knew he needed. And Leo; well he was still Leo, but somehow less annoying than he used to be.

And as much as he hated the thirty-minute morning lineup/ uniform check/ flag ceremony that they did every day outside the mess hall, it was starting to become a little more bearable.

Hell, he was even starting to become friends with the guys in his cabin.

Like just the other day Robert had a 20-minute conversation with john.

Although it was about all the different famous violinist of this century and john might have been the one doing all the talking. And Robert might have been semi asleep...

But that's not the point.

Since he has completed almost every merit badge he didn't already have, thanks to Leo, he's had a lot more free time. Most of his afternoons consisted of lying in the sun out on the grass in front of the cabin.

Oriana finally came back and has basically become one with the group, going wherever they go. Robert felt a little bad for her since there were no other girls at the camp that she could hang out with, but at the same time he didn't. Because if there was another girl then she'd probably hang out with her, and Oriana had become one of Robert's closest friends in the short time that they've known each other.

It was especially nice now that Ricky was gone, Robert no longer had to be weary of where he walked.

"Robert... Rob? You in there?" A pair a fingers snapped in front of his face.

He looked over at Oriana sitting next to him, "Sorry did you say something."

Leo looked over at them from where he was crouched by an ant hill and rolled his eyes, "She's been saying something for ten minutes now."

Robert gave her a sheepish smile, "Sorry, I don't know where my mind has been lately. I think I just want to go home already."

Oriana gasped dramatically, "You want to leave me?" She put a hand over her heart, "I see how it is." she said, fainting on the grass.

Leo rushed over to her and through his body over hers pretending to listen for a heartbeat, "How could you do this to us Rob? You've gone and killed the poor girl." He started fake sobbing dramatically until the two couldn't remain serious and burst out in giggles.

"You guys are so ridiculous," Robert rolled his eyes, "we literally live in the same neighborhood. We're going to see each other after camp."

Leo's face split into a grin, "Are you admitting that you like me Rob? And that you want to hang out with me?" He started fake crying again, "This is the happiest day of my life."

But his crying was cut short by a ball being thrown at his head.

"Ow," he rubbed his head, "Now who did that?"

"See I told you guys that sitting in the field during the day was going to be a bad idea. Look at you. You're a mess." She rolled her eyes pulling Leo up.

Just as Robert stood up to definitely go and help, a boy came running over to them.

"Hey man sorry about that. I wasn't aiming for your head."

Leo pursed his lips, "Does that mean you meant to hit another part of me?"

The boy picked up the ball and started slowly walking away, "Nah nah man. I swear I didn't mean it." was the last thing he said before running off to the group of guys he was playing with.