By The Campfire

1

Malcolm Farharrow sighed. "Malcolm, I think it would be good for you!" His mother implied. Malcolm frowned. "I don't want to go to a stupid 'All Boys Summer Camp!'" He retorted. Wendy Farharrow sighed. "You're not sitting inside all day ." She told her son. Malcolm rolled his eyes "Yeah, yeah, woman." He thought. "You're leaving tomorrow, Malcolm," she exclaimed. Malcolm scoffed. "Pack your bags, Mal." Malcolm stomped his foot. "How long am I going for?" He asked. "The whole summer."

                                                                                                  ****

"MAL! YOUR GOING TO MISS THE BUS!" Wendy shouted up the stairs. Malcolm groaned. He slipped his blue polo t-shirt over his head and changed into his denim shorts. "Coming, Ma!" He yelled. He grabbed his duffel bag and book and ran down the stairs. Wendy over dramatically wiped her tears away, as she looked at her ready-to-go son. "Okay, Malcolm, I'll see you in a few months." She said pulling her 14 year old son into a hug. "Okay, okay," said Malcolm pulling away. "See you in a few, Ma!" He ran out the door clenching his duffel bag.  A bus waited for him outside. It looked like one of those "Hippy Buses" from the movies but it was somehow more civilized. "Welcome Aboard, Mr. Farharrow!" The bus drive chirped. "Oh-um..hi." Said Malcolm making his way to the back of the bus. A ginger boy indicated Malcom to sit down beside him and he obliged. As Malcolm buckled his seat belt he could feel the ginger's eyes on him. The red haired boy smiled in a goofy manner. "Hi." said Malcolm, trying to break the silence. "Hello O'l chappy!" He said in a strange put-on accent. "I'm Malcolm." he said trying to  ignore the boy's impression. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Young Malcolm," He said shaking the boys hand very aggressively. "It is I, Johnathon Sainsbury!" Malcolm chuckled. "Pleasure to meet you, kind sir." said Malcolm, trying to do the same impression as John. John giggled. "Your butchering my impression!" He said in his normal American accent. Malcolm rolled his eyes.

                                                                                   ****

Malcolm looked around the bus. There was about 10 other boys on the bus at least. They were laughing, reading and sharing their Walkman Personal Stereos. Malcolm decided to pull out his Walkman. He popped in his favorite Mixtape and stared out of the window. They were leaving the town now. Malcolm looked at the market as they drove past. Happy locals were contemplating what fruit and veg to buy, teenage girls were thrifting outfits from the little stalls. Malcolm wouldn't see the city for a while, so he decided to take it all in. He looked over at John who was chatting happily to some boys in the seat behind them. The bus crossed over the bridge and Malcolm looked out at the glistening river. They were entering the Countryside now.

                                               By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising

He looked at the wildflowers dotted across the field.  The sun beamed down at them and reflected onto Malcolm's window.

                                              She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door

John elbowed him. "You alright there, bud?" Malcolm sighed. "Yeah," He mumbled. "Just nervous." John smiled and looked out the window. "I know, pal," He said. "Sometimes you don't know what the world's gonna throw at ya!" He sighed. "You just gotta cross your fingers and hope for the best!" He whistled.

                                               She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'

Malcolm giggled. He liked having positive income. "Thanks, Johnny." he chuckled. Johnny patted him on the head. "You're most welcome, kind sir!" he exclaimed.

                                                       'Cause I've left that girl so many times before

It was getting dark. The long country roads ceased to amaze him. Malcolm looked across from him. There was a short, curly haired boy drawing in a cute, brown, leather notebook.He wore a beige button up shirt and b As the sunlight hit the boy, Malcolm could see the boy's freckles dance across his face. Malcolm peered into the boy's sketchbook. There were sketches of wildflowers and a boy. The boy was looking out the window and listening to music. wait a minute. I'm the boy. Malcolm thought. the boy caught Malcolm's eyes and his cheeks flushed. He slammed the notebook shut. "H-hey!" the boy said. His voice was soft and squeaky, rather like a thirteen year old girl. Malcolm Froze.

                                               By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working

The boy beside him looked over at Malcolm. He had bags under his eyes and had almost no emotion on his face. He had a chain with a cross around his pale neck. "Calm down, Jules." He said to the flustered boy. "But he was looking in my sketchbook!" The small boy, who was apparently named Jules, exclaimed. The other boy looked over at Malcolm and sighed. "So what, J," He retorted. "It's not the end of the world."  Jules huffed. "He shouldlearn to mind his own business, Finch." he said. Malcolm finally spoke up. "Mind my own business? You're the one who drew me!" he said. He regretted what he said after he saw the upset, taken aback look on Jules face. Jules face turned the colour of a tomato. "Whatever." He said turning around to talk to his friend, Finch.

 She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call

But she'll here that phone keep on ringing

  off the wall that's all

Malcolm gave a sad look. "Hah," Johnny nudged him. "Good one, Malcolm." Malcolm blushed as he caught Jule's muddy brown eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He sighed

                                            By the time I make she'll be sleepin'
                            She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
                                 And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
                                            Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
 

 Malcolm was half asleep when the bus came to a jolt. everything seemed to be in slow motion after that. Malcolm and Johnny were flung from the bus, flying into the ditch. Other boys were flung too. Malcolm's temple gushed with blood. He looked up at the bus which was now on fire. There were unconscious bodies scattered across the country rode. What the hell just happened?

                                              She just didn't know I would really go