The bowling tournament was next.The palms of my hands were sweaty.I couldn’t stop thinking about Darren.We lay in the grass and shot gunned a ton of water until we felt hydrated under the beating sun.I began to not feel so well.Every time I looked at Darren my heartbeat quickened.I didn’t know what to do.Why did he have to look so good?Before I could think, my family was encouraging me to get in line for the Peach Bowl.
“You got this, Copper!”Darren said.
I waited stiffly on the hard ground for my attempt.The Peach Bowl had the same rules as bowling, except there were only five rounds instead of ten.The lane was constructed out of a smooth tarp and glass soda bottles.The judge ensured there were no rocks to disrupt the flow of the peaches.
I stepped forward, got into position, moved my arms back, and let go at the right time.Four out of ten pins fell to the ground.In my peripheral vision, I could see Darren jumping up and down.
“Yes!”
Four pins were great for a single roll.Peaches do not weigh much, so knocking down glass bottles with the sweet fruit was challenging.However, when I made eye contact with Darren, I lost all concentration I came to the competition with.My legs were weak, and I couldn’t breathe.It was like he was undressing me with his eyes.I bowled my second try and missed all the remaining pins.I sulked to the back of the line.
Darren waved at me and mouthed, “You got this.Shake it off.”I couldn’t shake it off.I did not know what I was doing.How could I be sure of myself if I was in denial about liking my best friend?Each turn got worse and worse.Darren and my family kept shaking their heads in frustration.I was ruining their chance of winning the pedal boat.I detested letting them down, but how could I focus when all I wanted was to squeeze Darren’s shoulders again or kiss his soft looking lips?
I was not surprised when, at the end of the final round, they announced that one of Darren’s sisters had won.I was dazed and confused.
“Penny, I think you have heat stroke.You do not look too great.Darren, sweetie, could you take her somewhere to cool off?Make sure she drinks lots of fluids,” my mom said with a concerned look.
“No, Momma, I will stay to watch James compete.Then I will go.I promise.”
My mom grudgingly nodded as she led James to the Peach Tree Saw contest.The sawing contest was the simplest one.Whoever cut through a peach tree trunk the fastest won.It was an easy task for James, so I wasn’t worried.Darren and I watched from a distance as the whistle shrieked.
James moved the saw back and forth as if his life depended on it.Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his motion slowed.The ridges on the saw stopped cutting through the wood.His cheeks sparkled, and for a moment, the sweat resembled tears.
Darren’s dad, Gabriel, was catching up to him.
“How is my dad—” Gabriel’s log broke into two pieces with a loud clunk!
“Darren, I think your dad just won,” I said, astonished.Gabriel had scrawny arms that fit into suits for preaching, not cutting logs.The Hartleys and the Lawrences tied for the 1975 Peach Play Games.The judge and our parents formed an intimate circle.We watched in uncertainty as they talked in hushed tones.
“Okay, we have reached an agreement!The Hartleys will take the new pedal boat, and the Lawrences will receive free ice cream for the rest of the summer!What an amazing compromise, folks!Thank you to everyone for coming out.Supporting this town helps us grow,” the judge said.
Darren and I gazed at each other.We held back until the crowd became less dense.“Let’s get you back to the cabin, Copper.You need to rest.I have never seen you mess up bowling so bad.Ice cream is on me the rest of the summer.”
He pretended to help me walk to the truck like I was severely injured.He acted like nothing had changed between us, but I was an awkward mess.
My momma and stepdad were seated in the front and were unaware we were at the back of the tailgate.
“I am tired of this.I wanted to win those stupid games for my family, but I failed.I failed at my day job!I need to do something else,” we overheard James say.
“It was just a silly competition, and we won the boat you wanted.Isn’t that enough?”my mom asked.
“Do you know why I slowed down?I slowed down because I thought of my dad and how he was the glue of my family.Without my dad, my mom has gone crazy.We just ignore her hoarding problem.She guilts me every time we stay here.She reminds me I will never live up to him, and staying in that room drives me insane,” he sputtered.
“I am sorry.I did not know this was on your mind.We can’t leave yet.Penny would be upset.We can head home sometime after her birthday.”
Darren knew I could not take listening to their private conversation anymore.He loudly hit the tailgate and jumped in the back.“Hey!Everyone did great today!Why don’t we take Penny back to the cabin?I think we all could use some rest.”
“I agree, Darren.Thank you for joining our team.You are a peach,” my mom said, concurring with him as the truck rumbled up the gravel path.
****
When I got home, thephone rang.I took it off the wall and answered.“Hartley’s residence.Penelope speaking.Who am I talking to?”
“Penny!First off, I am so sorry I went to camp.My parents forced me to go, and although I miss you like crazy, you won’t believe what has happened,” Betsy screeched.
“Hey, Betsy!It’s okay.I miss you too.How’s camp?”
“Camp has been ...interesting.I sort of am now dating Thomas,” Betsy said.
