Scandal of Grace

23

“A bad day camping is still better than a good day working.”
–Unknown

*

Once we hit the road, the camp worker assigned to this bus, Pastor Josh spoke up from the back seat. We all turned our attention on him. “I’ll go ahead and give each of you your room and bed number. Make sure you keep it safe or you will be punished for it. The tags are also your tickets to enter into the hostels.  Is that okay?” I heard this every year for four years now.

“Yes, Pastor Joshua.” We all chorused and he shared the number tags. He started with the girls and moved on to the boys afterwards. In the end, I got to be in room 30, bed number 5 and Claudia had room 31, bed number 1.

Each room had five beds and a bathroom with toilet which meant I got the last bed in my room and Claudia got thrown off to a different room. I was not happy with the turn out which was happening for the first time because we always got the same room but i didn’t show it and except we found someone to exchange with, there was nothing we could do.

Claudia on the other hand was pissed and it’s written all over her face. She dropped her headset to her neck and faced me.

“What are we going to do?”

I shrugged. “Have fun missing me.”

She jerked back into her seat and folded her arms in pure anger. “I can’t believe you said that when you’re the one who’s going to miss me more. Now where’s the fun in that?”

That earned her a chuckle from me. “Let’s see.”

She said with a grunt. “I don’t like this.” And I was too experienced about my friend to know she’s talking about my bluntness.

I turned to the girls behind us who got my room. “Hello.” I said, trying to get their attention.

“Hi Grace.” They sure knew my name while I had no idea what their names were. I might as well just ask.

“Can you tell me your names and bed numbers? It seems we are in the same room.” I requested, looking in between them.

The one by the window spoke up first. “I’m Olive. I have bed number 4.” Ah. Beside me. She looked somehow unkempt with faded black top and shabby skin, and appeared to be younger.  Even when she smiled, it seemed to be worn out.

“I’m Acacia’, nice name ‘and mine is 3.” The other girl said who seemed to also be younger but more kempt. 

I nodded at them and smiled genuinely before turning away.

We’d been on the road for almost an hour now and the bus joggled along the bumpy road as I stared out the window. By the roadside, an elderly couple ambled along, her arm in his. I thought that was so cute.

Again, I was left pondering on if Gladness was really who I thought he was and why he felt so familiar around me. I shut my eyes briefly trying in futile attempts to place his face on the half-remembered little Gladness I had known. They just didn’t fit. I mumbled to myself out of frustration.

And for the first time in eight years, I regretted running away without pictures or any other related document. This was so down-pressing, seeing someone that reminded you of your hazy past and you still had no clue whether they were the ones or not and the suspicions kept building! My life was so disgusting.

I needed to stop overthinking before I lost it.

I looked over at my best friend for a distraction from my thoughts. Considering how much Claudia had left me to my peace since our last conversation, she should be compensated. She had been bobbing her head, and humming to the rhythm of what flowed into her ears from the headset she had on.