Chapter 6 S'mores

Chapter 6   S'mores    

“Good Morning Josh, are you hungry,” Says Maggie, “I’m making pancakes.”

“I can eat, if you have enough, hi Charlie.”

“Hey Josh, if we don’t have enough we can make some more, how do you like the presidential suite?”

“It’s ok, sure a lot more room than I have at home, I slept really well, I guess I was tired.”

“This place does that to you.”

“Do you have any plans for today?” asks Maggie, “we could drive around and check out the island, drive up to the top of Mt Constitution or something.

“Not really, except Sammie asked me to a beach fire.”

“When?” asks Maggie.

“I don’t know, I’ll ask her.”

Text message: I had fun yesterday, when do you want to do the fire.

Text from Sammie:  “Me too, I have to help Sandy today, sorry.”

Josh’s text reply: “Maybe later.”

“Well, I guess the beach fire is off, she has to help Sandy, so I’m ready whenever you want to go.”

“How about around lunchtime, I’ll make sandwiches and we can eat when we are hungry.”

     

Riding three across in the rattling old pickup, is no fun.  Maybe if they were his mother and father and he was ten years younger, it would be fun, but uncle Chuck and aunt Maggie filled the bench seat leaving little left over.  Luckily, he got shotgun and hung out the window.  The grand tour as Charley called it went pretty well and was mildly entertaining, but mostly he listened to Charley talk about when he and his dad were kids growing up.  He found out that Pearson Lodge is owned by his dad and Charley equally, which means, in a way it is half his.  Charley and Maggie are supposed to keep the place up and pay a small rent to his dad in exchange for living there. The house is ok, but everything else is falling apart.

The afternoon went by fast.  He didn’t think much about home, or his mom and dad.   Sammie was another thing, he thought about her a lot and how he almost kissed her on top of Rock Island.  He was making plans, hoping to have an evening campfire and hang with her.

“Can we stop by the store; I want to buy some marshmallows.” Says Josh, when they circle back through town.

“Of course,” says Maggie, “I think we have some at the house, but they are probably hard and stuck together.”

When they get home, Charlie spots the delivery on the porch right away. It’s hard not to recognize the distinctive shapes from across the yard.

“What the heck, someone left some oars by the door.” Prompting everyone to look towards the house.

“I saw the Anacortes delivery van on the road, he must have just dropped them off.” Says Maggie.

Josh is first to pick up one of the new oars.

“These are nice, feel how light and strong this is,” handing it to Charlie.

“Your right, the shipping label says Pearson boys, Pearson Cove, Orcas Island.”

“This one says the same thing,” adds Maggie. “I wonder where they came from.”

“Well they came from the Anacortes Chandlery, it’s their sticker, and it was their van we passed.

“I mean who sent them?”

“It was dad,” says Josh, “I texted him from Rock Island yesterday and mentioned I broke an oar, he must have ordered them.”

“That’s amazing,” says Charley, “there’s half a day’s time difference, it must have been the middle of the night when he got your text, and then he got a hold of the boat store when they opened this morning our time, in order to get them here now.”

“I didn’t think about the time, I probably woke him up.”

“I glued that broken oar last night,” says Charlie.  “Boy this baby is strong, you’re not going to break one of these Josh; the skiffs oar lock will break off first.”

“What time do you think it is over there where my dad is?” says Josh after he types out—“Thanks dad, the oars are perfect.”

“Oh, I suppose about midnight or so.” Says Charlie.

Josh pushes send, sorry dad, get used to it, you’re all I’ve got.  Next he types into his phone Sam, and Sammie appears before he gets the m entered, in the message area he enters, “What’s up, I got some marshmallows,” and pushes send.

Sammie texts back twenty seconds later, “I’ve got a fire pit, come over in about an hour.”

He enters, “Ok.” and hits send.  Oh my gosh, she’s inviting me over, I wonder if her mom and dad will be there, I better dress nice.  I wish she would’ve said let’s meet at the cove or out on the water.  I’ll wear long pants and shoes, but first get a shower.  I wonder why she said about an hour.

“I just told Josh Pearson to come over in an hour,” Sammie says to Sandy, “were going to burn marshmallows over the fire pit if that’s ok with you.”

“That’s fine, I want to meet him, there’s some guests coming in sometime later this afternoon, so they may join you around the fire.”

“Ok, but don’t interrogate him, he’s really nervous, I don’t want you to scare him away, there’s no one around here my age.”

“I don’t interrogate, why’s he so nervous?”

“See!” says Sammie, “he’s shy, just don’t ask him any questions.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll try to behave, but your dad should be back by then, he may ask him something, you know, like, how’s your day going Josh.”

“That’s ok, just don’t ask about his mother or dad or something nosey.”

“You like him don’t you,” says Sandy. “That’s why you want to protect him from the evil stepmom.”

“NO, I just don’t see any reason to be mean to him.  Yes, I do like him, I guess, or his marshmallows.

“What did you say.”

Laughing, “I told you, were roasting marshmallows and he’s bringing them, what did you think?”

“Nothing.” Says Sandy

“I’ll tell dad what you were thinking.”

“Go ahead, and I’ll tell Josh what you said, and he can talk to your dad about it, and then your dad will chase him away.”

“Ok, you win.  I’m going to go find the roasting forks and get them cleaned up.”

“Clean up all of them sweetie, if it’s not too much trouble, would you please.”

“Sure that’s what I’m here for.”

Josh stands in front of Maggie and Charlie. “Well, what do you think?”

“Wow you cleaned up really well, Sammie won’t recognize you,” says Maggie.

“You look good Josh, but what’s the occasion?” asks Charlie.

“No real occasion, were just going to sit around a fire and eat marshmallows, and I thought I should clean up.  What’s Sammie’s stepmom like?”

“Oh--now the truth comes out, you’re cleaning up because you’re meeting her parents. Don’t worry, they don’t bite, you will do just fine.”

 “Just be yourself, but don’t spit or swear.” Adds Charlie.

“Ok, I’ll try to remember, don’t spit or swear—thanks see ya later.”

“Have fun Josh,” says Charlie, “hey, why don’t you take a flashlight from the drawer by the fridge, that woods trail can get dark after sunset.”

Josh picks out a working led flashlight and goes out the side door.  He could take the gravel path straight ahead that disappears into the woods; instead, he turns down the flagstone path toward the dock and makes his way along the shore toward the Islander Resort.  Following the shoreline is longer, harder and uses up more time.  A glimmer of red in a flotsam pile catches his eye, so he stops to investigate and pulls out a perfectly good crabbing float, its tether still attached. The next pile offers up a perfectly good stick, so he ties the float on to it. In spite of dragging his feet, he ends up at Sammie’s.  Dawdling is not tiring but he takes a deep breath for courage, and then trudges forward.

Unlike Pearson Lodge, the Islander Resort is modern and much newer, not much over fifty if it’s a day.  Sammie’s stepmom Sandy runs the struggling business, employing locals to help with endless chores.  The open beamed main building has soaring two story, tinted windows facing the ocean. Overnight guests are treated to stunning views while protected from the bite of stormy weather.  The lodge sits on a craggy outcrop jutting out from the mostly flat shore.  The low-lying point interrupts flowing currents, forcing tidal waters into dangerous tiderips, and confused back eddies that push winter driftwood high onto the rocky shore.  Sandy’s oversized bed and breakfast is complete with paved parking areas, and small sleeping cabins dotting spacious manicured grounds. Guests enjoy upscale barbecue’s, buffet meals and rustic beach fires. 

He makes his way down the beach and scrambles over a big driftwood log below the lodge.   Sammie is on the upper terrace organizing the brick fire pit.

“Hey Sammie, I made it.”

“Hey Josh, I’m glad you thought of a marshmallow roast.”

“The fire was your idea, I just got the marshmallows.”

“I’ve got hot dog forks, firewood, matches, what else?”

“Can we have a fire down on the beach; we can sit on that log?”

“Sure, why don’t you drag some rocks into a circle, I’ll bring down the kindling.”

Josh quickly arranges a small circle of ten-inch round rocks and then picks out a scrappy looking piece of dry driftwood.  He opens up his pocketknife and using the blade sideways scrapes off a softball size pile of fuzz.  Sammie sets down an armload of kindling and then while holding some newspaper watches the knife flash in Josh’s hand.  In moments he hands her a healthy handful of dry tinder.  Next he picks a small piece of kindling the size of a hammer and sniffing the straight grain pronounces it to be cedar, he then slices long thin shavings around the stick until the entire end looks like a bristly scrub brush. He does the bristle brush treatment to several kindling pieces. 

“I’ve got some paper and matches to get it started.” Says Sammie being helpful.

“Oh good, I can use them; you can help me down here.” He crouches down next to the rock ring and places three pieces of wood next to a rock where it’s shielded from the slight breeze.

“Ok, put the ball of shavings on top of those pieces and squish it down with some of those sliced up sticks, leaving them on top.”

“Like this?” asks Sammie.

“That’s great, now move back a little and don’t freak on me,  it’s gonna be bright.”

Next, Josh scrapes the back of his knife blade along the length of a three-inch flint. The single strike creates an eruption of fiery sparks; in one smooth practiced motion, he flicks the fire starter sparks into the ball of tinder igniting it, in short order the cedar is in flames, and Josh is carefully arranging some larger pieces of wood to grow the fire.  Until now, he has concentrated on doing the fire, and has not looked at Sammie, but he senses she is staring him and not the fire.

“You’re staring at me, I can tell.”

“No I’m not, you’re paranoid.”

“Now you’re the one lying.” Josh looks her in the face confidently for the first time since they have met. Sammie can’t hold herself, she breaks into her mile wide grin returning his look.  She is excited, she is seeing him in a new light.

“I’ll take that paper now,” extending his hand. He lays half the paper on the ground and kneels on it protecting his clean pants, with the other half he fans the flames, supercharging them into an inferno.

“That’s why you needed the paper, to kneel on it?”

“Well sure, and to fan the flames, what did you think I was going to do, read it?”

“You’re funny.” Says Sammie, and she kneels on the paper next to him, their knees touching, their arms and shoulders touching.  Josh smells her perfume it’s the same as she had on yesterday.

“You have the same perfume on.” Notice her perfume, that’s good.

“I know, I put it on every day. I like it, don’t you?”

“It’s ok I guess.”  I guess, oh jeez. “No, I mean I like it, it makes you smell good.  No wait, I didn’t mean that, I mean it makes you smell better.  I’m sorry, you don’t smell bad.”

“It’s ok Josh, I know what you mean.” She nudges his shoulder. “It looks like you are going to meet my parents.”

He looks up from the fire, a little relieved he won’t be botching another quick witted compliment, instead, maybe he can insult her mother and father.

 Sammie looks up too, Sam and Sandy have been watching quietly from the top of the stairs,  being acknowledged is an invitation to join in.

“Hey, that was quite a trick,” says Sandy, I’ve never seen anyone light a fire that way except on TV.   Sam heads down the steps followed by Sandy. Josh is very aware that he and Sammie are touching shoulders, or even leaning against one another.  He thinks he may be too near Sam’s daughter, so he suddenly stands causing Sammie to lose her balance almost falling over.  

“Oops, I’m sorry.” He moves towards her hand outstretched but then backs away and waits for her father.

“You must be Josh, this is Sandy and I’m Sammie’s dad, Sam. That was an impressive piece of fire building; it looks like you’ve done that before.”

Sadie charges down the steps barking and greets Josh by jumping on him leaving sand on his pants, and then she tears across the beach and back before sitting when Sammie tells her to sit.

Josh  faces the approaching parents, Sandy extends her hand first.

“Thank you,” says Josh, but it was Sammie that got together the dry cedar kindling. All I did was scrape up a little tinder.”

“Your being modest Josh, I saw how you threw the spark, the first time, that wasn’t beginners luck.”

”Well thanks; you noticed I threw it, most people don’t realize you can throw the spark right into the tinder, it’s about the only way to light a fire in the wind.” He hands the fire starter to Sam.

“This is magnesium,” says Sam hefting the fire starter and examining its mahogany trimmed edge, “and well used, you’ve done this a bunch, but you used shavings just now instead of magnesium scrapings, how come?”  Sam, turns the flint block over several times and reads the inscription on the side.  For my Eagle – Mom

“I don’t like dulling my knife shaving the magnesium, it’s super hot, but burns up in a hurry.  If it’s wet, sometimes you have no choice.  Mostly, all those cut marks are from when people borrow it for practice.  I don’t mind if they use their own knife.  I mostly just use the flint.”

“You’re a scout?” Josh looks at Sammie like his darkest secret was just discovered, and he is waiting for her reaction.

“Hi Dad—over here.”  She waves four fingers in the air getting his attention.”

“Hi Honey,” says Sam, “thanks Josh.” Sam turns giving Sammie his full attention, she is nearly as tall as her dad, when they embrace, she throws her arms around his neck and hangs from him like a little girl.  She leans her head on his shoulder, and lowers her long eyelashes after making sure Sandy is watching. 

“I brought the forks you set out on the table Sammie.” Says Sandy. “It’s nice to meet you Josh, please say hello to Maggie and Charlie.  Come on Sam, you can throw sparks some other time, and there’s only enough roasting forks for the two of them.”

Sammie hangs on about three seconds beyond comfortable, and then pecks her dad on the cheek before letting go. She takes the roasting forks from Sandy with a minimal thank you, and hands one to Josh.  Sam and Sandy crunch across the gravel beach and retreat back up the stairs, leaving the kids alone with their campfire and Sadie.

The two of them sit on the big log, it blocks the wind and makes a place to set things and sit.

“You dad seems nice,” says Josh, “too bad he couldn’t stay; he acted like he wanted to hang-out.”

“He’s just a big older kid, you impressed him lighting the fire, and you impressed me.”  Sammie stares at the fire, Josh is staring at Sammie, both are silent for a moment and a little uncomfortable in their mutual admiration.  Sammie breaks the spell, and looks at Josh, for a few moments their eyes meet, but his confidence wanes and he looks away at the fire.

“Lighting a fire is easy,” he says, “but only if you have the right materials, and don’t rush the steps.  I try to test myself and not use paper so I stay in practice. You never know when it may come in handy, plus it’s a way to show off and impress people.” He sneaks a peek at her.

“Well it worked.”

Josh rearranges the fire exposing cooking coals for the marshmallows.  Sammie pokes at the fire with her fork causing more sparks to erupt.

“Do you like smores?” says, Sammie.

“Who doesn’t like chocolate and graham crackers?” Finally something right, and perfect timing too. He hands her the paper bag he has been lugging around.  “Maggie sent this for you.”

Sammie unfolds the crisply folded sack and looks inside. 

“Oh, I don’t believe it, smores, she is so sweet.”

 Chapter Seven - Pepper