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“All that college and I could be bested by a mosquito net,” I muttered to myself as I slipped inside and sat on the bed with my phone and the banana.
It was eerily quiet. I had previously heard my fellow intern candidates moving around in their rooms nearby, but now they were silent. They had likely gone to bed or went in search of some food.
Being alone and in my thoughts meant the loneliness hit me pretty quickly. I was so far away from everyone I knew.
I sent the pictures I’d taken earlier to Grace and waited for a response before checking the time.
Oh, it’s one pm there, I realized. Grace would be at work still.
I sent the same picture to Emily, saying, “I’m here!”
She was on her honeymoon in Cabo, though, so I didn’t expect to get a response.
I laid back on the bed and opened Facebook, unable to sleep even though I was tired. My mind was racing. I was thankful for Wi-Fi even in the middle of nowhere.
Emily had posted some photos from her honeymoon. She was in a pink bikini posing proudly, her baby bump visible and obvious to anyone who knew what they were looking at.
Grace had posted some photos of the twins a few hours earlier, including a drawing Madeline had made at preschool that showed her family. I was off to the side beside what I only assumed was a giraffe since it had a very long neck. I smiled, but my heart literally ached.
I missed them already.
I had just arrived, and I missed them like crazy.
I loved being able to drop in and see my nieces and nephews anytime I wanted. I loved being able to go shopping with Emily or grab lunch with Grace. I could only imagine how much fun shopping for Emily’s little bundle of joy would be, and the baby shower would be epic. All things I would miss if I got this job.
Feeling sadder and more torn by the minute, I decided I needed to talk to someone from back home.
I hesitated to reach out to Levi because of the complicated feelings between us. He made me want to throw all this way, though it wasn’t just him. I missed him too. So much so, I sent him the photos of the elephants and went back to Facebook, assuming he was at work or too busy to respond in the middle of the day.
A second later, there was a buzz and a message from him.
Wow, that is amazing! Thanks for letting me know you arrived safely. It was followed by a heart emoji. He sent a second message, a picture of the baby goats I’d helped deliver. I smiled remembering my part in their birth.
He texted, They may not be elephants but they’re getting big.
They really are, I responded. I followed it up with a question, just to keep the conversation going. I didn’t want the conversation to end. Did you finally decide on names for them yet?
No clue. Do you have any suggestions?
Their parents were Ginger and Gilbert, which surprised me at first since they seemed like normal names and not silly puns, but Levi had told me they were short for Ginger Baaaahgers and Gilbert Goatfried.
I smiled and tried to think of something, anything. But I wasn’t as funny as Levi. I’m really not great with puns
His response was quick. They don’t have to be puns. I was thinking Goaty McGoatface for the boy.
I burst out laughing. See? That’s why you’re in charge of naming all the critters, not me.
Come on, you helped bring them into the world, at least help name the girl? It doesn’t have to be punny or funny, just whatever name speaks to you.
I thought long and hard and chuckled as I finally managed a pun that would surely impress the likes of Levi.
What about Baaaabara Streisand?
I nibbled my lip and thought about the cute little goat, which I could see being called Barbara. Levi responded and included a photo of the little goat.
Perfect. I love it.
He followed it up with another text. Sorry, have to go. A meeting with my brothers about a job. Talk later?
