A local club had let the Sunshine Centre use their camping grounds, and Spencer was over the moon to have all the facilities they needed at hand.
The tents needed to go up first, and Will was teaching the boys what to do while Spencer continued to unload the centre’s minibus.
He glanced at the sky. Weather was due to stay mild and dry, which was a blessing. He could just imagine waking in the night to find their tents washed away. At least the children would find it funny.
‘Can we fry some bacon yet?’ asked Leo.
Ryan frowned at him. ‘Why bacon?’
Leo shrugged. ‘Isn’t that what campers do?’
‘I think they eat beans,’ said Jax, picking up a tent pole to hand to Will, who was doing most of the work.
‘I’d rather have a bacon sandwich,’ said Leo.
Will laughed. ‘And I’d rather you lot mucked in. Come on.’
The boys started to help build the three tents the centre had provided.
‘How many badges will we earn this weekend?’ asked Leo, perusing the ones stitched to his lanyard.
Spencer glanced up, frowning, while making a start on the firepit. ‘One. A camping badge.’
Ryan chuckled as Leo scoffed.
‘What?’ asked Spencer.
Leo pointed at the dugout. ‘One for lighting a fire without matches.’ He turned to Jax. ‘I’ve seen it done on the telly.’ He looked over at Will. ‘Rock climbing tomorrow.’
Will held up his thumb.
‘Anything else?’ asked Spencer, trying not to laugh.
Leo’s gaze fell to his friends as though asking for help.
‘Cooking,’ said Ryan. ‘Bacon, of course.’ He nudged Leo’s arm.
‘Ghost stories,’ said Jax.
Will hammered a tent peg. ‘Ooh, I love a good spooky tale.’
Leo huffed. ‘Not too scary.’
‘Think of the badge, Leo,’ said Jax.
Spencer stood to help Ryan, who had got himself in a tangle with some rope. ‘In that case, it had better be a good ghost story.’
‘Does it have to be about ghosts?’ Leo asked Jax.
Jax nodded. ‘It’s campfire law. My dad said.’
Spencer looked at Will and shared a grin.
It wasn’t long before they were set up and looking mighty pleased with their efforts, even the grown-ups, and Spencer had them all trying to create a spark, blowing gently into tinder. Squeals of excitement erupted as small flames appeared, then Will added some fire-starter cubes to keep the fire alight, swiftly followed by a small log.
The boys ran off to find long sticks they could use to toast marshmallows, and Spencer went over to the kitchen area they’d set up, lighting a camping stove, ready to cook some bacon and make hot chocolate. His mind drifted to Beth and Archie, wondering what they were up to. It was his first night away from his son since meeting him.
‘This is a good little camp we’ve got here,’ said Will, washing his hands with a bottle of water over a plastic bowl. ‘And good reception too.’
