Page 310 of Mr. Persistent
“I thought you told me rules are meant to be broken.” She pops her hip, all attitude.
“Excuse me?” Maddie lifts a brow.
“Shhh.” I put a finger over my mouth. “Your mother hates breaking the rules.”
“Moooom. I’ll be eight in like so soon. Please, please, please, can I sleep at camp with Valentina and Harry?”
It’s taken us years to finally come around to reopening the camp, but once our daughters, nieces, and nephews started getting older, we knew it needed to be done.
They needed to experience the childhood we had.
The youth group has a shorter camp period, but they can start sleep-away camp at eight. The only ones old enough are Valentina and Harry.
“Mari, if we let you, then it wouldn’t be fair to all the other kids who aren’t eight yet.”
“But you own the camp.”
Maddie sets the little ones on the ground, then kneels to be down on Marisol’s level. “What have I told you before? Our privilege in life has been because we work hard for it, we don’t take it for granted, and we don’t abuse the power.”
“But—” I cover her mouth with my hand, scared of what’s going to come out next.
Maddie is still a rule follower, and I might be more relaxed with the girls. I don’t need her tattling on us.
“Everyone, go find Harry; he’s disappeared somewhere,” I tell them, just as an announcement comes over the loudspeaker.
“Campers, please gather around.” Lucy Meyers, the daughter of Ms. Meyers, our old camp director, announces.
She’s a teacher during the year and was thrilled to follow in her mother’s footsteps at summer camp.
We couldn’t have brought it more full circle if we tried.
She stands at the top of the beach area, right below the food fall, while the parents and other kids run around on the sand.
I stand behind Maddie and put my arms around her shoulders and rest my chin on top of her head. “Everything’s worked out.”
She glances around at the newly built but very familiar-looking campground. “It really feels like yesterday.”
I lean down and put my lips to Maddie’s ear. Goose bumps scatter up her arms and over her neck.
I love how I still affect her.
“Look at me, Mads,” I demand, lowering my voice. She turns her head slowly, her beautiful emerald eyes catching mine. I pop my favorite cherry lollipop in my mouth, causing her lips to tilt. “You have five minutes to sneak off and to meet me in our meadow.”
The End.
