Our Hope

2 - Cole

Two Years Earlier

"HURRY! WE CANNOT MISS ANYTHING!" his best friend Hope yelled over the murmur in the arena. She held his hand, leading him through a packed crowd in the theatre entrance. She wore khaki shorts and a midnight blue t-shirt with stars. Her hands were sweating and lost her grip momentarily. Hope paused, recovered, and they continued up the aisle. Cole wore dusty jean shorts and a black t-shirt with a spaceship.

They were smaller and quicker than the adults in their way, so they slipped past them. Hope found four aisle-seats third row from the back. They sat down and used the paper programs to save seats for Cole's parents, who were close behind. They arrived a few seconds later. His father had short brown hair, wore jeans, a dress shirt, and a strong cologne that irritated his nose. His mom had long blonde hair and hazel eyes and wore a pink sundress. They arrived and took the seats at the end of the row.

"Did you ask your parents if you can go to Bettencourt's Space Camp?" Cole asked.

"Yes. They said they can't afford it because they have to pay for the Kennedy Tech classes. We start in September."

A man seated behind them said, "I hope you read..."

"Name Jinx!" Cole shouted.

He reached up and pinched the sensitive skin on the under part of Hope's arm.

"Ouch!" She massaged that spot. "I'll get you later."

Cole enjoyed winning but felt guilty causing her pain. Something Hope disregarded whenever she won.

"Don't be surprised if my mom pays for the camp for your birthday or something," he said.

Hope did not respond. She had become oblivious to everything except seeing Dr. Bettencourt.

This theatre was cold. Outside, it was hot and sunny, which was why he wore shorts. Yet this room was freezing. The air vent on the ceiling blew cold air on him. Hope rubbed her goose-bumped legs. He noticed she was wearing her new midnight blue shoes with stars and white socks. There were about two hundred people in the full amphitheater. Black vinyl seats lined the rows, with a wooden stage at the front. A podium was in the center of the platform, and a movie screen covered the back wall.

She had begged Cole's parents to let her join when she found out Dr. Bettencourt had sent them a personal invitation to attend his speech. He entitled it Our Planet's Future. Well, she never begged his parents for anything. His parents were best friends with her parents, neighbors, and they had betrothed them. Although he was not sure what they meant the first time they said, "betrothed."

They had been on their yearly camping trip to the secluded forest preserve. It was night with crickets chirping and tall trees surrounded them. The four adults sat around a warm campfire. They had made their fire pit under an opening in the forest canopy to see the black sky filled with stars that were not visible at home. The sound of wood cracking and the smell of smoke filled the air. Hope was helping him catch lightning bugs. Their parents were drunk like usual.

His dad slurred, "You think that's bad? I spent my entire Thanksgiving next to brothers' wife." He got out of his chair, paced, and continued, "She complained about everything. 'It was too cold in the house. The chairs were uncomfortable. There were smudge marks on the glasses. The turkey was too dry.' On and on and on. I wanted to shoot myself." He mimed placing a gun to his head, pulled the trigger, and fell back into his chair.

Hope's dad said, "Yeah. I wish we could choose our in-laws. Since we have to spend the rest of our lives with 'em, we should have a say in it."

Hope's mom interrupted, "This time we will."

She spun around in her folding chair, almost losing her balance, to where she thought Cole and Hope were playing. They were on the other side. She raised her wineglass in the air and shouted, "Hope and Cole, we betroth you."