We cut the fish into tiny pieces and distributed them among all of us.James knew I was starting to get lonely.My older sister had her own group of friends she wandered off with every night, and I was always left alone, without any place to go.
That day our group’s bond formed.By the end of the evening, Betsy and I had already scheduled our first sleepover, and we all planned to go swimming together the next day.I wouldn’t have to stay with my grandma and do chores for her anymore.Betsy, Thomas, Zach, and Darren weren’t flawless friends, but they gave me a life outside my family, and James was the one who encouraged me from the sidelines.
Part Two
Chapter Ten
Jesse Young
Song: Fox On the Run—Sweet
June 26th, 1975
After dropping off my book into the return slot at the library, I sat beside Darren on the wooden picnic table under the gazebo.I held Fawn's leash tightly around my wrist.She was lying on the turf, staring at us.
There was tension in the air, and nothing could help us because our relationship had changed, and I would probably have to leave Moose Creek in less than a week.I tried to think of all the different ways to start a conversation about what happened.My brain remained empty, and my mouth couldn’t form any new words.
Fawn stirred like someone was behind us.
Before I could whip my head around, hands covered my eyes, and a squeaky girl’s voice said, “Surprise!”
Betsy removed her hands, and my eyes adjusted to the light.Betsy stood before me.She was tall and had auburn pin-straight hair cut to her chin.
Following close behind her was Thomas.Thomas looked like he could be one of the Beach Boys.Most boys grow out of their blond hair after puberty, but Thomas was still blond as ever.
They sat on the opposite side of the table from us.
I was relieved by their presence.Every previous summer, they were there to even out the playing field.Instead of a duo, we were a group.
"Thomas and I decided to come home from camp for the week to visit you!Zach stayed at camp.He told me to tell you to party on,” Betsy said.
“So, how is it going steady?”I asked.
Thomas started to speak, and Betsy shook her head at him.“We have been amazing.I like being with Thomas,” she said with a smirk.
We chatted about how they got together, and my stomach felt like a spinning record.According to Betsy, Thomas helped her build a birdhouse at camp, and while they glued the sides together, their hands touched, forming a deep and sensual bond.I prayed to any God that would listen that we would not talk about Darren and me.I was not ready to figure everything out, let alone gloat about it.
