Chapter 22

Part II

The next morning they all wake up to the bright sunshine and the sound of birds.

Miss Peregrine turns around in her bed to look at Ethan.

"I don't want to get up," she whines but is laughing at the same time.

"Then stay here," Ethan says. "We're on holiday, so you can do whatever you want."

Miss Peregrine turns back into her pillow and contemplates the idea.

"Yesterday was a bit too much for you, was it?" Ethan asks while getting dressed in their little dormitory. It's big enough to stand upright and provides enough space for their bed and their suitcases, though.

"I'm still a bit exhausted," Miss Peregrine admits and looks back up.

"I'm sorry," Ethan apologizes. "As I was planning it, the distance seemed manageable but with what I know now, I probably would have chosen a camping site that's a bit closer."

"Nah, it's alright," Miss Peregrine answers. "I'm good, just a bit tired but it'll pass."

"Ok, then stay in bed a bit longer, I'm going to prepare breakfast," Ethan suggests and makes his way out of their 'room' and then out of the whole tent. On his way he passes the sleeping area of the little ones but they seem to be still asleep.

But soon all the children climb out of the tents and join Ethan outside. They are all having sore muscles from yesterday but it doesn't stop them from being excited about the day and exploring the camping site.

While they are all eating the pancakes or scrambled eggs that Ethan has cooked, Claire keeps scratching her legs and arms.

"What's with your leg?" Miss Peregrine asks.

"Nothing," Claire answers quickly and keeps eating her food. "Why are you scratching then?" Miss Peregrine keeps asking.

As Claire still shrugs, she walks over to her girl to inspect her skin.

"Mosquito bites? Claire, haven't I told you to close the tent before going to bed?" Miss Peregrine asks.

"Yes Miss P., but there must have been one inside already," Claire justifies and rubs another bite on her arm.

"They are everywhere," Miss Peregrine sighs and shakes her head. Then she looks at the twins to see if they have them too. But luckily they shake their heads and Miss Peregrine knows that their bodies have been covered the whole night.

"Ok, Claire," she says then, her voice now softer.

"I don't want you to keep scratching. It's not helping but makes everything worse. I think Ethan has brought some soothing gel. We will apply it on the bites after breakfast, than you won't feel them anymore, alright?"

Claire nods gratefully.

After they have finished eating and Miss Peregrine has taken care of Claire, the younger ones beg to go to the playground. Ethan decides to take a bike to drive to the next bigger village to buy some food for the next days. They have brought a few things but all the fresh groceries they wanted to buy on the spot.

Therefore Miss Peregrine offers to keep the children company and have an eye on them while they are playing and climbing around on the playground. In the trees next to it are a few hammocks, where Miss Peregrine and the teenagers make themselves comfortable in. They are reading their books or just relax, while the others climb around in a big net, swing or play with a ball.

By now Claire has forgotten about her mosquito bites and plays with Bronwyn on the seesaw.

"Hey, be careful! You're ruining my shirt," Horace shouts all of a sudden. He has played with Millard and Hugh, throwing the ball as high as possible while still being able to catch it. But as it has gotten higher and higher, they only looked up into the sky. And that's when Hugh accidently stumbles backwards and pushes Horace into a few thorny bushes.

Miss Peregrine looks up from her book to see what's happening. As she sees that all the children are fine, she lies back down and rolls her eyes.

After living together for so long all of them know each other's quirks and the children have long learned to settle these little arguments on their own, without her interference.

After Ethan returns from his little shopping trip and Miss Peregrine has relaxed enough they both go for a little walk through the adjoining forest. Hand in hand they wander along the path and admire the nature around them.

Very soon a few birds come by and fly over their heads, sitting down on little branches next to their heads and chirping at them.

"Do you think they can feel a connection with you?" Ethan asks curiously at seeing the birds looking at Alma.

"I don't know," she laughs. "But it's possible. I've never really thought about it before but it's right, birds always behave less shy around me compared to others."

Joyfully they keep walking around, enjoying only the silence and their company, before returning to the others. They are now playing hide and seek all together.

"Millard, you're cheating again. Go and put your clothes back on," Emma shouts from the crown of a tree.

"Only if you put your shoes back on," Millard shouts back.

Laughing, Ethan and Alma sit down on their chairs in front of the tent.

"Can we go swimming now?" Claire asks while running towards them. She wants to jump on Miss Peregrine's lap but is stopped by Ethan.

"Careful, careful, Claire," he warns smiling at her. "You wouldn't want to hurt the baby or even all three of you if the camping chair collapses."

"Of course not," Claire giggles at the idea of them lying on the ground. Then she carefully climbs on Miss Peregrine's lap and strokes the baby bump.

"I would never hurt you," she says before turning around again. "What about the swimming now?" she repeats her question.

"We're going swimming soon enough, Claire," Miss Peregrine answers. "But let's wait until the afternoon, ok?"

"Ok," Claire pouts, so Miss Peregrine gives her a kiss on the forehead to cheer her up again.

Soon the other children join them as well and they start preparing some sandwiches for lunch. While they are eating, Miss Peregrine makes the children drink lots of water as it is so hot and she knows that the children always forget to drink enough when they are playing.

Afterwards, Claire finally gets her will and they pack some things before going over to the big bathing lake. After they cross the wooden bridge, there's a free area with grass and a few trees. They place a few blankets and their stuff under a big tree before going down to the beach. It's a beautiful little area with sand and some shallow water. Immediately the children start undressing and run into the water with their bathing clothes. Miss Peregrine and Ethan stay behind for now and sit down in the sand, just watching the children go crazy in the water.

"Don't you want to swim, too?" Ethan asks after some minutes.

"Sure, but not yet," Miss Peregrine answers. "I'm pretty happy where I am right now," she laughs and leans into Ethan's arms even more. Happily Ethan embraces her and they just enjoy each other's company and the sight of their happy children.

Enoch and Jake are just having a swimming competition further away from the beach while the other boys have started playing with a ball again. The girls are diving and doing tricks under the water. Emma and Olive are showing Bronwyn, Claire and Fiona how to do a handstand or backflip under the water.

"Ugh! Miss P! There was a fish in my face!" Bronwyn exclaims and comes running out of the water towards the two adults, who have to laugh.

"Come here," Miss Peregrine says lovingly and wipes Bronwyn's face with her hands.

"Better now?" she asks and her girl nods but doesn't seem to want to go back to the others.

"Don't worry, Bronwyn, the fish won't hurt you," Miss Peregrine tries to assure her.

"I bet he was even more scared than you," Ethan adds.

"Exactly, I'm sure he's long gone and hiding somewhere else," Miss Peregrine says.

Unsure, Bronwyn nods again and looks over her shoulder to the others, who are still having fun in the water.

"Ok," she says finally. "But don't you want to come into the water, too?"

"Ok, ok," Miss Peregrine says and stands up. "If you both want me to go swimming I can't say no any longer, can I?" she jokes and takes off her dress that she was wearing over her bikini. Also Ethan takes off his shirt and together they follow Bronwyn down into the water. Excitedly, all the children look at them. It's always a lot of fun when they are all playing something together. They may even stare a bit too long at Miss Peregrine's body, but they don't often see her so revealing. Besides, just wearing the bikini, emphasizes her baby bump even more, until now they have never seen it like this. Quickly they run towards their ymbryne and Ethan and start splashing water at them until they are completely wet and want to take revenge by hunting them all down and starting a tickling attack on the little ones.

During the next hours they have a lot of fun in and out of the water. As they've got enough of dabbling in the water, some of them go sun bathing or play in the sand. Claire, Bronwyn and Fiona build a huge sand castles with little rivers all around it. Then Ethan takes the boys to a pier a few meters away and shows them how to fish.

Miss Peregrine, Olive and Emma have taken their little boat and are floating on the lake, watching the others.

A few times they earn annoyed shouts from the boys as they come too close to their fishing spot, scaring the fish away.

At the end of the day, the boys have caught enough fish for their dinner. Happy as well as a bit exhausted they all pack up their things and walk back to their tents. While they change their clothes and Miss Peregrine tidies up a bit, Ethan starts another campfire and they start roasting the fish. It's a very hot evening with lots of mosquitoes. Luckily the fire helps a little bit with the latter but Miss Peregrine still gets the mosquito spray out of her suitcase and makes the children use it.

As they go to bed most of them have troubles falling asleep because of the heat. The children as well as Ethan and Alma keep tossing and turning for a few hours.

Luckily for some of them it starts raining during the night, which cools down the air enormously, but especially the younger ones are afraid as a real thunderstorm starts. Ethan has to get up again, checks the tents and all attachments to prevent anything from flying off. Meanwhile Bronwyn who's the only one that's scared in the bigger tent joins Claire and the twins in their sleeping room to be closer to their ymbryne as well.

It takes some more hours but finally the weather calms down again and they all fall asleep.