As a White Knight on His Steed (CrissColfer)

"I Can't Wait for Next Summer!"

Chapter 2 – “I can’t wait for next summer!”

1998 - 1999

Chris discovered that he enjoyed having Darren as a pen pal.  Of course, it wasn’t the same as being together, but Chris found that he really liked writing to Darren, and he always looked forward to receiving Darren’s letters in return. 

All throughout third grade, the boys wrote to each other every week.  In his letters, Chris told Darren about things he didn’t feel like he could discuss with anyone else.  He wrote about his mixed feelings about his little sister Hannah – how much he loved her, how worried he was because she was sick, how jealous he sometimes felt about the way she took so much of his parents’ attention, and how guilty he felt about being jealous. 

Darren’s responses always made Chris feel better.  Somehow, Darren seemed to understand him and to believe that he was a good person, which helped Chris to believe it, too.

As summer drew near, the boys’ letters began to be filled with their hopes and dreams about camp.  The days seemed to drag by, but finally July arrived. 

This year, it was Chris’s mom who would be driving him to camp, and his dad who would be picking him up.  That Sunday morning, Chris woke up early, feeling like it was Christmas.  He tried to be patient, but by 9:00 he couldn’t help asking his mom, “Can we leave yet?”

“Chris, honey, the registration packet says you’re supposed to arrive between 3 and 4 o’clock.  It takes three hours to drive there, so if we leave right after lunch we’ll have plenty of time.”

“After lunch?!  Mom!  I’m already packed.  Can’t we just go now?”

“I know you’re excited, but you and Darren have been apart for almost a year.  Another couple of hours won’t kill you.”

“But Mom -”

“Christopher, I said we’re leaving after lunch.”

Chris could tell there was no point in arguing, so he changed tactics.  Although he usually ate at noon, by quarter to eleven he approached his mom with, “I’m starving.  What are we having for lunch?”

With a knowing look, his mom answered, “Well, if you’re that hungry, I guess we could have lunch a little early today.  How does tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich sound?”

“Great!  Thanks, Mom.”

When they finally reached Ride ‘Em Cowboy Ranch Camp (20 minutes before the registration tables were due to open) Chris was disappointed to see that there were no other cars in the visitors’ lot.  Noticing the look on his face, his mom said, “Honey, I told you we were going to be early.  The other campers will be arriving between 3 and 4 like they’re supposed to.”

At that moment, another car pulled into the lot.  Before the driver had even switched off the engine, a rear door opened and Darren flew out.