Bennett The Brave

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Dad met us at the shoreline with a wave, and a list of stuff for me to do before the rest of the guests started arriving. He gave me a quick "should I be worried about you two?" look, making my eyes widen involuntarily; he grinned proudly.

We set aside some small fireworks for later, sparklers for the kids and some bottle-rockets for the adults. While in the shed, Dad nudged me with his elbow.

"So Bennett, you and Lizzie makin' out on the island?" he asked, bluntly.

"DAD," I exclaimed, embarrassed, "No!"

"What were you doing then?"

"Just talking some, is all," I hissed.

"Are you sure," he chuckled, "because she's becoming quite the young woman, I wouldn't blame you for being interested."

"Dad..." I growled between my teeth.

"Nice little titties..." he teased.

"Dad STOP," I shouted, a small laugh betraying my attempt at sounding angry, "Oh My God!" I swung my fist and socked him good on his arm.

"Ow!" he half-howled, half-laughed, "take it easy on your old man, son!" I looked at him sheepishly over the rims of my glasses, a dorky grin on my face. Behind his good-natured banter, I knew, lay a serious intent.

"Dad," I said, "Lizzie and me are just friends, I don't think we're ever gonna do that kind of stuff."

"Even best friends end up doing stuff," he said quietly, "I just want you to be smart about things, is all." With that, he tapped the tattered visor of my ball cap and drew me in for a quick hug.

Having done most of the work in preparation for guests over the previous two-weeks, we completed our morning chores quickly. Without much else to do, I trotted down to join Garrett on his morning walk. I jogged up and fell into step with him. Without saying anything, Garrett smiled and swung his arm over my shoulders, and we walked in silence.

Garrett taught me many things, but the one that stays with me is how two guys can be perfectly fine with saying nary a word to one another. Girls are always nattering back and forth, expressing their feelings and opinions to one another. Two boys can do stuff like walking, fishing or just sitting, in complete silence, and be completely okay with it. In our quiet walk together, Garrett and I just kind of knew that we were both looking forward to the festivities of the Memorial Day weekend, the good food, a few fireworks, and general fun. I sensed that he also felt my hunger to see Neal again, that he understood that our walk together was a way to sublimate my anxious excitement for Neal's arrival.

Families started arriving shortly before noon, and of course, Neal's family took their time making the trip from Hartford. Mom made us some sandwiches, which I barely touched. I stationed myself, with an orange flag and a clipboard, at the stone pillars of the entrance gate, pointing arriving families to their assigned cabins. When Neal's family wagon crested the lake road, I couldn't help but start waving my flag wildly, and jumping up and down.

"HEY BENNETT!" Neal shouted, sticking his head out of the car window, waving his arms like a madman, as they pulled up. "Get in!" My appointed job now officially abandoned, I leaped into the car as Neal slid over to make room for me. We two were a couple of grinning fools as we sat hip-to-hip.

"No Mustang?" I asked.

"Nope," Neal's father answered, "had too much stuff to bring, we never could have fit it all and ourselves."

I helped Neal and his father to unload the car while his mother went off in search of my Mom to see if she could help with anything. As soon as his father excused us with a "job-well-done" and a pat on Neal's butt, we sprinted along the road to my little cabin.