CHAPTER TWO
(chapter title – Yankee Springs)
"Ow! Dad make him stop!"
"She started it!"
"I did not!"
"Did too!"
"Not!"
"DID TOO!"
"OKAY, STOP IT!" Roger yelled, startling his wife, kids and two dogs. It was silent after that.
"Not." Benjamin whispered, poking his sister.
"BENJAMIN DAVID DAVIS – KNOCK IT OFF!" Makaylah yelled at her brother. Ariel squeezed Roger's hand as he drove to the campsite where the others would be meeting them.
"Finally peace and quiet." Roger announced once the kids put their iPods back on. Ariel kissed her husband's cheek and took a look in the rearview mirror – the dogs – 3-year-old Husky/Irish Setter mix Hannah and 4-year-old Airedale/Great Dane Montana – were sleeping peacefully. Ariel had rescued both girls from a shelter and since Roger was a dog nut, he had said 'yes' to both dogs.
Two and a half hours later, the Davis family arrived at their destination – Yankee Springs. They signed in and instantly received their chore lists – Roger had Friday night dinner and Sunday breakfast; Ariel had Saturday lunch and Saturday clean-up; Benjamin had Sunday lunch dishes and Monday breakfast. Makaylah had Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner. After getting their chore lists, they checked into Cabin 14, which was near the beach.
"Ugh – I hate mosquitoes!" Makaylah complained, slapping one as it landed on her arm. Ariel took in a breath of air and exhaled deeply.
"I love wilderness!" Ariel announced as the family climbed back into the car to drive it to the cabin so that they could unpack and change. Makaylah rolled her eyes and put her iPod back on.
"Hey dad, can I go swimming?" Benjamin asked as he unrolled his sleeping bag.
"Not tonight – it's almost dark and I think dinner should be ready soon." Roger told his son, also unrolling his sleeping bag. Their cabin was small – just a bunk bed, a single bed and a double bed. Makaylah had already called the bunk bed, while Roger and Ariel claimed the double bed. Benjamin had the single bed, which was okay with him. Both dogs were with Makaylah and Ariel – they had gone down to the beach.
"I'm gonna drive the car back up. Wanna come with me?" Roger asked. Benjamin shrugged his shoulders and went to the lodge – the large cabin near the front of Yankee Springs.
Stepping inside, Benjamin saw the long tables filled with people and instantly recognized three other families – the Coffins, the Johnson-Jefferson's and the Cohen's. They were all playing a game – Taboo.
"This is something that you use on a daily basis-"
"TOOTHBRUSH!"
"HAIRBRUSH!"
"Napkin!"
"It helps you um – can't say that word – um – help." Maureen looked to her partner for help.
"Hi Benjamin – want to play with us?" Joanne asked, getting up and hugged Benjamin close.
"No, thanks Aunt Joanne." He then turned to Benny – "Do you want me to watch Sara?"
"Alison actually took her to the beach, but thanks for asking." Benny told the boy, smiling. Benjamin went to an empty table and picked up his book – Angels and Demons and began reading when Maureen and Joanne's twin daughters Rosemary and Donna sat down across from him. Benjamin rolled his eyes and put his book away.
"We're going down to the beach – wanna come?" Donna asked.
"I can't – my dad said I have to stay here." Benjamin told her, picking his book back up.
"So, what cabin are you in?" Rosemary asked.
"14 – you?"
"16. Mark and Amber are in cabin 15 – we're neighbors."
"What about Benny, Alison, Michael, Sara and Owen?"
"They're in cabin 17 – right near the beach."
"Cool."
They talked for a little while longer before groups of people were headed down to the beach. Benjamin decided to walk with his fellow teenagers – Makaylah and Michael, along with some of the other teenagers that came along.
After dinner, people lounged by the fire. Roger picked at his guitar while Ariel sprayed bug repellent on him. Roger kissed the end of her nose as she sat down next to him.
"Are you gonna play something?" someone spoke up.
"Yeah, I just gotta figure out what I'm going to play." Roger answered, strumming his guitar.
"How about two songs then you can hear more tomorrow." Roger told the small crowd. They nodded and listened intently as he played.
"This first one is called Blue Boat Home and the second is called Swimming to the Other Side." Roger announced. Taking a deep breath and swatting the buzzing mosquito away from his ear, he began playing.
"Though below me I feel no motion
Standing on these mountains and plains
Far away from the rolling ocean
Still my dry land heart can say
I've been sailing all my life now
Never harbor nor port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the Earth is my blue boat home.
Sun my sail and moon my rudder
As I ply the starry sea
Leaning over the edge in wonder
Casting questions into the deep
Drifting here with my ship's companions
All we kindred pilgrim souls
Making our way by the lights of the heavens
In our beautiful blue boat home
I give thanks to the waves upholding me
Hail the great winds urging me on
Greet the infinite sea before me
Sing the sky my sailor's song
I was born upon the fathoms
Never harbor or port have I known
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the Earth is my blue boat home
The wide universe is the ocean I travel
And the Earth is my blue boat home." Roger crooned. The small group of people crowded around the fire lightly applauded while Roger took some time to tune his guitar and talk some about the next song he was going to sing.
"We are living 'neath the great Big Dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side
I am alone and I am searching We are living 'neath the great Big Dipper On this journey through thoughts and feelings We are living 'neath the great Big Dipper When we get there we'll discover
Hungering for answers in my time
I am balanced at the brink of wisdom
I'm impatient to receive a sign
I move forward with my senses open
Imperfection it be my crime
In humility I will listen
We're all swimming to the other side
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side
Binding intuition, my head, my heart
I am gathering the tools together
I'm preparing to do my part
All of those who have come before me
Band together and be my guide
Loving lessons I will follow
We're all swimming to the other side
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side
All of the gifts we've been given to share
Have been with us since life's beginning
And we never noticed they were there
We can balance at the brink of wisdom
Never recognizing that we've arrived
Loving spirits will live together
We're all swimming to the other side
We are living 'neath the great Big Dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side." Roger crooned and again, the same group of people applauded lightly. He just smiled and made his way back to the cabin. He remembered his flashlight and turned it on so that he could find his way to cabin 14 without hurting himself.
By the time he entered the cabin, Makaylah, Benjamin, Hannah, Montana and Ariel were all fast asleep. Roger quietly climbed in next to Ariel and gathered her in his arms as if he would never let her go.