Camping with Nessie

Going on an adventure

 The day after, Ann had definitely finished to pack her backpack and her overnight bag. Everything was in it, she just had to put everything in the van and go to Roger's place. She took her two bags and ran down the stairs, heading for the kitchen. She opened her fridge and took out the beers and the sandwiches she prepared earlier. She put them in a plastic bag and went outside to put them in the van with her bags that were becoming a bit too heavy for her back. She went back in and grabbed her UK map with her keys, two novels, a book with Scottish legends, and her mobile turntable. She did not take her makeup or anything; they were going to camp in the wild, why bringing it? She had only taken her three round and colourful sunglasses and her big purple floppy hat. She already put it on with her blue sunglasses and made sure she had not forgotten anything. Once it was done, she slammed the door behind her and locked the house. With her hands on her hips, she looked at her house with pride.

“See you later, housey!”

And she ran to her van, opened the door and sat on the driver's seat. She started up the car and disappeared from the street. Next step: Roger Daltrey's house. While on the way, she turned on the radio and tried to receive the best station. The only one whose sound was correct was a pirate radio, but she could not care less: pirate radios broadcast way more rock'n'roll than usual and public ones. She heard the end of a song by the Troggs, and after a short speech of the DJ, she heard the intro of a song that she knew only too well. Magic Bus by the Who. Her face lit up with a smile as she then heard Roger's voice. She opened the window of her car and removed her hat. She wanted to feel the wind blowing in her hair. She did not really know why she was that excited for the trip. Was it more because she would find out about Nessie – at last – or more because she could spend time only with Roger? She could have written an essay about it. Anyway, she threw her hat on the backseat and sang along to the song, happily shaking her head in rhythm.

“Too much Magic Bus!”

When the song ended, she sighed and laughed. She felt incredibly good. She had this impression that she went back in time and was a child again. Everything she could see looked wonderful to her, even the details she usually hated. For instance, she hated that chipped off paint on her side of the door, but now she liked it. It made her feel peaceful in a certain way. Then, she heard Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones. She screamed in her van, raising a fist through the window; all the people that were going by turned their heads quizzically. Another crazy young woman!

She arrived in Roger's street and parked in front of his house. She saw him wearing an unbuttoned shirt, showing his – wonderful – chest, tight jeans and boots. He had placed a hand on his hip and was gracefully smoking a cigarette. Ann almost did not want to stop the car and get out: she wanted to stay inside and look at him smoke like that all day long. But they had a long trip and they could not waste time. She closed the door behind her and ran to Roger. She jumped into his arms after he threw his cigarette and crashed it with the tip of his boot. He gently squeezed her against him and kissed her forehead.

“Well, well, well!” he laughed. “Someone's ready to go on an adventure am I right?”

“You have no idea! I took beers and sandwiches.”

“What did you put in the sandwiches?”

“Your favourite things, chicken, salad, tomatoes and mayonnaise.”

“Er, love, these aren't my favourite things at all.”

Her eyes suddenly became as round as cricket balls, and she blanched.

“W-what? Did I make any mistake?”

“I'm only kidding!” he said, bursting out into laughter. “Of course these are my favourite things.”