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one before.
Still, having something to focus on perked everyone right up. By the time they reached the ridge and stared down at the rising moon reflected in the lake below, people were singing along with Mel, who knew more funny ditties than anyone Matt had ever met. Half a dozen voices lifted in a rousing rendition of:
“On mules we find two legs behind
And two we find before;
We stand behind before we find
What the two behind be for.
“When we’re behind the two behind
We find what these be for;
So stand before the two behind
And behind the two before.”
The song seemed very apropos. Even Derek joined in. What the boy lacked in tune-carrying ability he more than made up for in volume.
“Where’d you learn all these songs?” Derek asked.
“I was a boys’ school guard.”
Translation: Peewee Prison.
Mel’s vocabulary suddenly made a lot more sense.
As they set up camp, Mel proved adept not only at amusing everyone but also at pitching a tent and starting a campfire. Gina slipped Derek an energy bar, which caused Derek to peer after her like a devoted pet. If the kid didn’t watch it Jase would want him dead, too.
Dinner consisted of premade foil-wrapped packets of beef, carrots, and potatoes stuck into the hot coals and left to bake for a half hour. Matt sighed remembering Fanny’s exquisite fare.
However, when he took a bite he was pleasantly surprised. Though the meal resembled regurgitated dog food combined with something Spike had dribbled on Matt’s shoes, it tasted amazing.
“Is that basil?” Melda asked around a mouthful.
“Cayenne, too,” Mel said, his mouth equally stuffed.
The As were busy picking out the vegetables and leaving the meat behind.
“Dead cow?” Ashleigh tossed a piece into the fire, where it hissed and sizzled and burned. “Seriously?”
“I’m seriously gonna break your fingers if you do that again,” Gina said.
Ashleigh’s eyes widened. “Do what?”
Gina reached for the thick, heavy stick Mel had used to poke up the fire. Her patience had finally snapped. Matt was surprised it had taken this long.
He laid a hand over hers, and she stilled. “Why don’t you give what you don’t care for to Derek?” he suggested.
The boy’s gaze was focused on the lumps of meat in the two girls’ laps. Or maybe on the impressive lumps of meat on the two girls’ chests; Matt couldn’t tell.
“Thanks!” Derek leaped to his feet and collected the unwanted food.
“Aw, sweetie.” Amberleigh patted Derek’s arm, causing him to blush so deeply it was even noticeable in the flickering firelight. “I could have thrown it out myself.”
Derek’s embarrassment turned to confusion. Gina sighed and drove the big stick deep into the coals. “Here.” She unearthed two more foil packets. “Take these.”
