Frutta e Fiori

Chapter 5: melted lemonade

At the crack of dawn, the counsellors were up and preparing to wake the children for their first real day of camp.

The sun skittering pink clouds across the sky, and the ocean as flat as glass, the world outside looked like strawberry milk, and Nana stood a minute longer at the window before tearing herself away, and ringing the tinkling string of bells next to the door.

-

Everyone was up and on the beach, maye some less enthusiastically than others, bed head and tired eyes aplenty.

The blue began to peek through the strawberry, and the mountains behind them began to glow with the coming of the sun.

"Good morning!" Mr. Fiore called out over the sea of less- than-enthusiastic faces.

There was a disgruntled, semi-collected call back.

Dean and Hyde came walking down, pulling two wagon's filled with kick-boards, the foam kind you use in swimming class at the local pool. Silas was in the water, dragging a long rope of floating plastic buoys behind him, making a long rippling V shape in the still water.

"There's nothing more invigorating than a dip in the ocean first thing in the morning. Did you know the sea is cleansing? That it's holy?" Mr. Fiore continued trying to convince dozens of dubious faces that the sea wouldn't freeze them where they stood.

"You can get a kickboard from Dean and Hyde, or if you feel confident enough, you can swim without one. All you have to do is swim out to where Si is, around him, give him a high five while you're out there why don't ya? And then swim back!"

The kids started tentatively feeling the water, the cold waking them up, splashes and shrieks echoing around. Soon enough they were all paddling in to the distance, Silas cheering them on.

Dean walked up behind Nana, almost startling her as she stared out at the rhythmic waves. "On the schedule it has us as breakfast servers. Should we prepare it?"

It felt like the first time he'd spoken, much less so many words at once.

Dean intimidated her slightly, with his skinhead hair, and unusually serious face.

"Oh, sure." She said, turning from the ocean and following him up the sand.

The mess hall was a long old building, the kind where the wood speaks aloud if the wind is too strong, or you step on particular plank.

Dean picked up the clipboard sitting in the little kitchen.

"It says oatmeal and fruit. All we have to do is cut fruit, looks like Mrs. Fiore cooked the oats already" he motioned to a steaming pot on the large fire stove.

Nana nodded, reaching for the fridge handle.

She felt too quiet, but hopeless to alleviate the tender silence.

Dean grabbed knives and giant silver bowls from cupboards, and the tinny clangs rang.

He awkwardly cleared his throat, struggling to swallow his shyness.

"So. Did you grow up here?"

Nana fought her own shy nature.

"Yeah actually. My sister and I both."

"Have you ever left the islands?"

"We've been on vacations, but you can never really leave the islands for good." She laughed nervously.

He laughed back.

"I hope so. I don't think I've ever been so content somewhere. Tell me, is there something in the Hawaiian water?"

They laughed again, the tension lifting slightly.

"Si might love the snow, but I crave heat. It completes me, I think."

Nana glanced up at him, pulling her steady gaze from the mango in her hand.

She noticed a scar in the short hair, deep and twisted. It would have hurt immensely.

He caught her staring and went pink.

"I'm sorry" she rushed out.

"Don't worry! It looks bad, but it's just from an car incident. Glass to the head, but good as new." He said, knocking his skull with the butt of his knife, proving it's hardiness. "Glass to the head?" she said, wide eyed.

"College." He shrugged. "I'm an advocate for seatbelts these days." He chuckled.

-

After the kids had finished breakfast, they scattered to go play some game that had been made up for them, and Lena was left behind with Hyde to clean the aftermath. Piles of bowls sat in a long sink, and Hyde slid plastic gloves on, while Lena grabbed a rag and bottled simply labelled "surface cleaner"

"Well Hyde. What do you think so far?" Lena yelled over the din of dishes being washed.

He paused a moment and thought. "Enlightening." He said after a minute.

Lena burst in to laughter. "I mean it's definitely an experience, but I wouldn't know if I'd say enlightening." He laughed with her. "Well you know, it's fresh to see the world from the perspective of kids. They're constantly learning things, in their own way. It's nice to see things without bias."

Lena thought about this and smacked her rag down. "You're right."

She sighed and stared out the window. You could hear kids laughing in the distance.

-

The day passed. The children grew tired, tucked themselves in, and dreamt of ocean waves and coconut trees.

The counsellors stayed behind in the mess hall, stirring lemonade that the ice had long since melted in.

Bay had produced a pack of cards, and they were chatting excitedly, even Nana, sitting Between Lena and Dean, feeling more comfortable outside her comfort zone.

Dean's shoulder bumped hers occasionally, and she felt something in the pit of her stomach that hadn't been there until it seemingly bloomed this morning.

Hyde smacked a card down, triumphantly yelling "LAST CARD"

Bay huffed and chucked his hefty hand of cards down.

He threw down the end of his drink and walked to the table where the trusty yellow radio sat, and cranked the dial.

Be My Baby by The Ronettes echoed through the hall.

Bay shuffle-danced to where Silas sat.

"Be my, be my baby" he sang out in parody.

Silas grabbed his hand and twirled, eliciting explosive laughter.

Lena jumped up and grabbed Nana by the waist.

"Wait, no-" but it was too late.

She laughed in spite of herself, twisting and weaving in and out of Silas and Bay, holding to Lena's hand as she lead the way.

"Since the day I saw you, I have been waiting for you!"

It might have been her imagination, but Nana could swear she saw Lena and Silas trade looks as the lyrics played out.

She laughed even more. Summer romance writes itself. Glancing at the table, she saw Dean's eyes were firmly fixed on her, that serious face tinged with pink, before he looked away and started to shuffle the cards.

She caught her breath as the song trailed off. "Summer romance writes itself" she thought again.