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Soon, every moment they had was spent together.They’d spend their days at the beach with the other summer kids, playing volleyball or swimming and splashing in the lake.When they wanted to be alone, they’d go for a picnic or hike to one of the natural hot pools higher in the mountains.
Their evenings were spent at bonfires, or walking hand in hand down the beach.Adam had taken her for dinner a few times at the local restaurants, but her favorite nights were spent on the dock on the edge of town that was partly hidden by the trees and far enough away from the lights that when they laid down on the blanket and looked up, the stars were dazzling overhead.She’d lay in his arms, her head on his chest, and count the shooting stars, making wishes on all of them in between kisses until she was dizzy from their love.
Now, with the news he’d just given her, Maureen was dizzy for a totally different reason.
Just as she had every time she met Adam, Maureen ran down to the dock, anticipating yet another kiss.
Instead, when she’d arrived, Adam was pacing on the long, wooden dock.When he saw her, his face lit up.He grabbed her hands and started talking so fast, she could hardly keep up.
“Wait.”She shook her head after a few moments and forced herself to look away because she knew without a doubt that she’d agree to anything as long as those sparkling eyes were fixed on her.“You’re going where?”
“Africa.Isn’t it incredible?”
“Africa?”
“Yes!”He vibrated with excitement.“Well, no.”
“No?”
“Maybe.”He shook his head, and Maureen worked to keep up.“Nothing is for sure yet, but I’ve made it to the next round of applicants.”
She only had a vague idea of Africa from the little bit she’d learned in school.From what she knew, it was a wild land full of wild animals and wild people, not at all like the safe, suburban world she knew and understood.The concept of Africa at all was so foreign, Maureen couldn’t really wrap her mind around it.
“There’s such a demand for quality health care there.”Adam’s voice deepened.He paced to the far end of the dock and shook his head.“It’s awful, Maureen.There are so many people, and in so many of the villages, they don’t even have the basics, like fresh running water.Can you imagine?”
She couldn’t.
“And there’s almost no such thing as health care at all.Can you believe it?There are millions of people who don’t have any access to the things that we take for granted.”
Guilt flared low in her gut.Before meeting Adam earlier in the summer at the solstice dance, her biggest worries had been about frivolous things: a new dress for the dance, the grades on her final exams, and what college courses to sign up for in the fall.
She’d never once thought about having access to running water, or having a roof over her head.She’d certainly never considered the idea of not having access to health care if she needed it.
Adam made her think of serious things.Real things.He was older than her by seven years, but he was also the smartest, kindest man she’d ever met, and he wanted to make a difference in the world.Even if at eighteen she could hardly understand it, she was very quickly falling in love with his ideals.And him.
“I can’t imagine,” she admitted after a moment.“It’s like a whole other world.”
“Exactly.”Adam moved so quickly toward her, the dock swayed under their feet.“Itisa whole other world.Think of the difference I could make there.”
She nodded numbly as she tried to process what he was telling her.There was no doubt he could make a huge difference to the people of Africa.Ifhe could get accepted into the program.She had no doubt that he would.Adam was perfect for such a thing.But where did that leave her?
She forced herself to swallow back her selfishness.“I didn’t know you were considering something like that.”
For the first time since she’d arrived on the dock, the smile slipped from his boyish face.“I didn’t want to say anything at first,” he said.“It was a long shot, and we’d only just met.I guess I was hoping…well, I don’t know what I was hoping.But I didn’t really think anything would come of the opportunity.”
“But it has.”
He nodded solemnly.“Itmaybehas.”
Maureen turned away and walked to the edge of the dock.She stared into the cold, blue lake.
Were there blue lakes like this in Africa?
The thought sprang into her mind so unexpectedly, she started to giggle.
Her giggles very quickly turned into full-blown laughter and then, to her horror, sobs.
“Don’t cry, Maureen.”Adam slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest.“Please don’t cry.Nothing is for sure yet.There’s still a lot of hoops to jump through, and I haven’t made any decisions yet.”
