Several heads bobbed, a few faces turning solemn. “Would anyone be willing to share?”
A younger boy lifted a trembling hand, his fingers pale against his notepad. Nate’s expression softened. “Go ahead, Caleb. We’d love to hear what you wrote.”
Caleb swallowed, his voice wavering. “Everyone feels sorry for Colin, and I do too. But … I feel sorrier for Josh. He looked so sad when he found out Colin was hurt. It must be awful to see someone you love get hurt. I hope he feels better soon.”
A quiet understanding seemed to ripple through the group, and Nate placed a gentle hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “That’s beautifully said, Caleb. And I felt the exact same way.” His gaze moved across the circle, his smile warm and reassuring.
“And now,” he continued, his voice gaining an excited edge, “I have a very special surprise for all of you. Trent and Jeff have asked us to help write part of their wedding ceremony. How does that sound?”
The students’ eyes widened, as excitement battled nervousness. A few glanced apprehensively at each other, shifting in their seats.
“I know it’s a big moment,” Nate acknowledged, “and it might feel a little scary. But I’ll help you, every step of the way. And together, I know we’ll create something wonderful—something Trent and Jeff will always remember.”
Hope sparked in their eyes, replacing fear with anticipation, and Nate’s chest swelled with pride. He could already see the words taking shape, the magic of their young voices weaving together to create something beautiful.
“After breakfast we’ll meet at our writing pavilion and talk about how to begin. We’ll set work on our play aside for today and focus on Trent and Jeff’s wedding instead.”
Across from Nate’swriting group, Jeff gathered his terrarium class around him. “After breakfast, we’ll hike into the woods and see if we can identify the plants, roots, stones, and mosses on our flash cards. We’re not allowed topickany of the flowers or disturb any of the other plants and mosses. Your leather folders have a section reserved for the card of any plant you identify. Please don’t be afraid to help each other out. If you see a plant, flower, or moss you know or find in your cards, shout it out so everyone can see it. This isn’t a contest; it’s a journey of discovery. We’re getting to know the environment we live in. We’re getting acquainted with the plants, stones, mosses and trees with whom we share our world. They give us so much. They give us beauty, wonderful smells; they fill our lungs with oxygen, and some provide medicine that heals us when we’re ill. We’re here to make friends with these living beings, to appreciate theirbeauty and value their gifts. Together, let’s learn to see them not just as plants but as partners in our world.”
Later that day,Joshua wandered into the dining hall, surrounded by the group of campers from his counseling session. They were all laughing, giggling, snickering, playfully shoving each other, poking Joshua’s arm, and whispering teasing comments to each other that had them all in stitches. Clearly, his counseling session had gone well.
Colin watched them, a puzzled look on his handsome face. “What the hell, bud?” he asked as Joshua moved to join him. “What kind of counseling were you doing anyway? I’ve never seen teenage boys be quite so giggly. What kind of psychology were you spouting today?”
“The SEX kind!” Joshua said with a snicker of his own.
“What?Really?” Colin said, grinning as he sat down beside his husband.
“Well, I said they could ask about anything and …” He cocked an eyebrow and shrugged.
“Well, no wonder they’re all so happy. They’ve got raging hard-ons!”
Joshua burst into laughter.
“You can’t talk to teenage boys about sex without giving them hard-ons.”
“Oh hell, you can’t talk to teenage boys aboutbroccoliwithout giving them hard-ons,” Joshua replied. He shoved a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. “They wanted to know howbigyou were.”
“What? Thefuck, Josh!”
“Well … they wanted to know if it hurt!”
“Anal sex?”
“Yeah. Well, they called it ‘butt sex’ but … yeah.”
Colin put a hand over his mouth to keep from spewing eggs all over the table. “Butt sex, huh,” he said once he got control of himself. “Romantically put.” He leaned closer to his husband. “And just what did youtellthese teenage sex fiends about your husband’sdick?”
Joshua covered his face with both hands, laughing too hard to speak.
“C’mon, Josh.” Colin urged, poking his arm. “Fess up.”
“I told them …” Joshua began, then once again collapsed onto the table in hysterics.
Colin tapped him on the shoulder. Joshua peeked up at him. Colin didn’t speak; he merely raised his eyebrows in question.
“I told them,” Joshua squeaked out, then giggled again, “I told them you were …well-endowed.”
“Oh, fuck me,” Colin moaned. He stared at his husband, who was still laughing hysterically. “Thanks ever so much, Josh! Do you have any idea how much fun the rest of this week is going to be for me? Especially once your little group of sex-crazed adolescents starts spreading it all over camp, howwell-endowedI am?”
