Page 68 of Mr. B

“Oh, right. That would be…your parents’ time?”

“More like my grandparents'.”

The boy shrugged. “Will you sing it?”

Wes took the guitar. “One song.” He adjusted the tuning, then began playing the Don McLean classic.

After a few more songs by some of the campers, Wes ended the evening and sent everyone to their cabins. When Lester offered to put the fire out, Wes shook his head.

“I got it.”

“Okay, you two have a good night.”

Wes glanced at Cassandra. “Do you mind spending a few more minutes out here?”

“Not at all.”

He picked up a stick and poked the fire, which had burned down to mostly coals. “Lester thinks I’m clueless. Or I guess he used the word, dense.”

Cassandra laughed. “About what?”

“Women.”

She turned to him. “And what do you think?”

“I think…” He glanced toward the cabins, then took her hand. “I’m done running.”

“Meaning?”

“You know what I mean.”

“So…”

He sighed. “So…once we get back, maybe you’d go out to dinner with me.”

“Dinner? Like a date?”

“Yeah. Like a date.”

“I’d like that.”

“Okay. Good.” He let go of her hand and turned back to the fire. “So would I.”

“I think I’d like to go on the overnight camping trip with you.”

“I’ll let May and June know to pack food for fourteen.”

They stayed by the fire for another thirty minutes. When only a bed of coals remained, Wes poured water over them, then covered them with dirt. “That should do it.”

They walked side by side on the way to the cabin, not holding hands, but close enough that their fingers brushed several times. When they reached the cabin door, Wes smiled. “I feel like I’m in high school again.”

“Would you have taken a girl into your cabin for the night in high school?”

“No. I was never that confident.”

“So, you wanted to?”

“No. But if I had, I wouldn’t have had the guts to ask.” He opened the door and followed her inside.