As another summer started, the four of us sat around the bonfire at my house. This is what happened every summer since we started middle school. My house was the meet up, the halfway point from all of our houses. And, like all the summers before, I had my pen and paper out, ready to start the summer with our tradition. We all had to come up with five things that we wanted to do this summer. This list would then be completed by the time the school year started. Everyone would have their summer bucket lists completed with the help of their best friends. Some of the items on the list were silly, others were more work. Last year, Cassie had decided that she wanted to take the ACT again and wanted to be prepared. So we all spent time over the course of the summer to study and get ready for the ACT that would take place the week before school started. Ryan had decided that he wanted to make the best potato salad there ever was. So the group had looked up different recipes and tried them all that summer. That was the best thing about our friendship. We all worked together to help each other reach our goals.
This summer was different though. This was the last summer before we went to college. I am scared that this was going to be the worst summer ever. I don’t think I could handle saying goodbye to the only friends I really have. At least Will and I were both going to the same school in the fall, but that meant that they were leaving behind two of their best friends. Ryan was going an hour away to study photography and Cassie was going to be an hour in the other direction studying to be a teacher. This summer was really important because this would be the last time all of them would be together. We really had to make it count. So, as they made their list, they chose carefully what to put on their combined summer bucket list.
As always, we had sort of had an order we went in to talk about their lists. Cassie always volunteered to go first. I smiled as Cassie’s eyes got big as Ryan asked who would go first, even though we all knew who it would be.
“Okay! So my list is to go swimming in Lily or Will’s pool pretty much every day. I mean that’s a pretty obvious choice for summer, but it has to be done. Next is to volunteer at this day camp in town that is 2 weeks in July. It’s working with 3-5th graders and we are in charge of arts and crafts. I also want to build a huge blanket fort somewhere which leads to the next one- having a Disney marathon. And lastly, I want to document the summer by taking lots of pictures--- Ryan can help with that--- and then I will make everyone a scrapbook to take to college this fall.” I smiled. These were all things that Cassie liked to do, so it was no surprise that these were the things she wanted to do before going to college. Every year she had the blanket fort on her list. That was one of the things we started when we were seven. There was probably a solid 2 months that no matter whose house we were at, the first thing we did was build a fort. Sometimes we even teamed up and had a war where we threw balled up socks at each other.
Ryan always went after Cassie. He always had more of the adventurous type list. Not surprising considering his parents loved to travel and he was always going somewhere new for vacation. “Alrighty. My list consists of a few things that will make all of our lives better,” He said with a smile. “Number one. Take a road trip that is at least a week to somewhere we have never been. We will drive there and camp along the way. Seeing as some of you have never really camped,”- he said looking straight at me- “I will take you on a trip you will never forget. Number two. Epic water balloon fight. I think that one is pretty self-explanatory… Three. Play messy twister. We play twister, but put paint on the different spots. Fourth, an epic scavenger hunt. And lastly, I want to take more pictures. Cass, I will definitely help you with your scrapbook. I just want to be ready for college. So let’s get on that!”
Will was next. He was the most relaxed of everyone here. His lists were a little more unpredictable. He had such a variety of interests that we never knew what he would have us do during the summer. “Okay so to start off my list I want to go to an amusement park. I don’t care which one, as long as you all go on the rides with me.” He kinda looked at Ryan and Cassie at this point. They always chickened out at the last minute when we went on rides. Apparently the adventure in Ryan didn’t include going on roller coasters. “I also want to go to the beach. You know, summer stuff. One night, I want to sleep under the stars. We won’t be able to do this while we are at college. I want to go see that new Spider-Man movie.” Every one groaned, but smiled. Will was obsessed with superhero movies. But in particular, he loved Spider-man. “Hey! No one else got hate! This is my list! And the last one is to go to the fair. I know we end up going every year, but this is the last one before college.” I secretly love going to the fair. Cassie didn’t. She hated walking around, all the food and the rides. These were all the things I loved. It was the one time a year that the people of our small town came out and just hung out talking, picnicking, and eat fair food.
Everyone looked at me. I was always the last. I was looked at as sort of the mother of the group. I was the one everyone came to when they needed advice. I planned out almost every trip. Made sure everyone packed what they needed. So, as everyone looked at me, I started tearing up. They all looked alarmed. I wasn’t the one who got emotional- that was Cassie. It was my job to keep everything in order. “Lily, what’s wrong?” asked Ryan. I could see in his face that he really did care for me. All of them did. That was what made this so hard. It was the last time.
“You guys! This is our last summer! How can you not be sad? Don’t you realize this really has to be the best summer ever? It has to be something we always will remember. After this summer, we will go on to do different things. Of course we will still be friends, but it won’t be quite the same without Cassie three doors down from me when I have an outfit crisis or Ryan across the street when I need to think of something to get my brother for Christmas.” They all then got up and surrounded me in a hug.
Will then says something “Lil, everything will turn out great. Every summer before this was great, and this summer will be no different. We will make this the best summer ever.” This brings a smile to my face. He sounds so sure, that I have to believe him. How did Will always know what to say?
“Alright. These are the last five things on the summer bucket list. One. Every week we will have a barbeque. I don’t care who you bring. What we eat. Inside or outside. We will have a dinner at someone’s house and all bring something to share. Attendance each week is mandatory. Second, we go to a We the Kings concert. We have been talking forever about going to one and we need to make it happen. Third, we make cookies. Specifically, chocolate chip cookies! Fourth, we tie dye shirts. These will remind us of what we have back home waiting for us. Another goofball with a tie dye shirt. And the last thing- we make this the best summer ever. Okay so these are the things on our list. It is now the last week of May and we have until the last week of August, when Ryan and Cassie go away to school, leaving me and Will here for a week before we go back. You know the rules. Everyone must help complete every item on the list!”
After this, we all just talked and sat around until the fire went out. Everyone went home and as I turned off my light to go to sleep, I just kept thinking about how this summer was going to be the best yet.
