Chapter Three: If a Bear Paints In The Woods... [Summer 2014]

Music:

My Dearest Phillip,

We lost our old camping site due to some upgrades they are doing to the park, but I like the new one. It is a little more secluded and there is even a cabin. The best part about the cabin is it has full facilities, water, power and pluming. The girls (Linda and Tammy) have claimed the cabin, but most of us do not seem to mind much.

Once more each of us have our own tents, except for Uwain who plans on sleeping outdoors. To be young again. He loves this place and is glad we invited him along. I and of few of the rest of us are glad to as one of the first things he did after helping us set up was throw on just a pair of small shorts. Ken almost walked into the fire after he came out in those.

Everyone is here so my last years worries about this being the last camping trip were unfounded. Even Taye made it, it seems the Acting Troupe likes to rotate who are the leads each summer.

Arthur brought along his paints this time. He liked doing the landscape of the house and wants to paint the lake. He is happy that he can see our normal spot so that will be the focus.

I know you are planning something for breakfast tomorrow again, though some of us are worried, I am at least looking forward to it.

We also picked up an extra camper, Nancy will be joining us tomorrow. Linda seems exited, but I am not sure Tammy is. After all she is sort of in competition for Linda's affection.

Your Loving, Douglas

Instead of a run Phillip went for a long swim. It actually felt good to his knees. Afterward he met up with Ken to make breakfast. After a talk they found they liked cooking over the fire together. Once again they used the giant griddle.

When everyone got up the two of them were sharing coffee over steak and eggs. For Taye and Uwain they had replaced the steaks with mushrooms. As usual the coffee was hot and a little on the strong side.

After breakfast everyone just lounged around mostly. There was the usual swimming and games, but everyone seemed to be enjoying being in the woods. Arthur stayed out of the games as he sat and sketched out the lake on his canvas. Even Linda seemed to have a lower energy level for once.

It was about lunch time when Nancy showed up. Linda was the first to greet her and then Feebi and Phillip. She did seem a little distracted, but in the same way Phillip was.

After a lunch of just grilled cheese and potato salad, things picked up a little. There was an impromptu Water Polo game and volleyball game. Then it was a canoe trip around the lake.

Dinner was also simple and basic, just burgers and baked potatoes with a fruit salad on the side. After dinner it was S'more and story time. The only thing missing was Phillip and Nancy who had gone over to the rock pier to talk.

"So I hear you went to see mom and dad." Nancy said looking over the water.

"Ye-up" Phillip said with a nod. "When I saw her she looked good, but seemed a little tired."

"That is good to hear." Nancy paused for a moment. "And dad?"

"Being the man of the house as normal." Phillip looked at Nancy with a half smile. "I could see he was hurting inside, but he refused to talk about it, like when Grandpa died."

Nancy looked back at Phillip. "Yes I was only 6, but I remember dad being the...strong father type and not showing any signs of grief. I was home after they got back from Steve's funeral and he locked himself up in the den and cried for hours."

"I think we all did something like that." Phillip said as his smile got bigger. "I still miss him a lot, but I am no longer is the sorrow I was in, now I just sometimes get sad...so why the visit?"

Nancy looked at Phillip and then back at the water. "I just needed to see how things are going. Mom called me...she wants to make sure her will is in order just in case."

"Well mom was always the smart one." Phillip looked over at Doug who was laughing at some story that Arthur was telling. "Apparently Paulie had put his all together for years and then would just make minor changes when her needed to. I have put mine together a long time ago and I am happy I did. I take it she is doing the take advantage of 'Our kid is a Lawyer so I can get free legal stuff'."

Nancy just looked at Phillip with a grin. "Ye-up"

Then next morning it was more of the same. Ken and Phillip made eggs, fried potatoes and pancakes. Since they had them for the weekend it was a canoe trip around the lake again and then just relaxing before it was time for lunch.

As lunch approached Phillip headed over to Arthur to see how his painting was going.

"It looks real good Art." said Phillip looking over Arthur's shoulder.

"Thanks, I am finding it fun too." Arthur said with a smile. "I forgot how much I liked doing landscapes. I had not done many since I left school."

Phillip nodded. "How did you like school?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "It was fun, I even had fun when we went to that thing for Jason and Becky, I did sort of miss the place."

Phillip let out a grin. "How would you like to spend more time there?"

Arthur looked at Phillip with a raised eyebrow. "What you talking about Phillip?" then let out a smirk.

Phillip rolled his eyes. "Nice TV reference, but you remember Mr. Stabler."

Arthur looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yes, he was the 'Introduction To Oil Painting Class', that guy still works there?"

"Not as of this last semester." Phillip said with a growing grin. "I met him at his retirement party."

"So how is the old man?" Arthur asked with a big smile.

"Real good for an 85 year old man." Phillip snickered. "Still sharp as ever. When I got the chance to talk to him he even remembers you."

Arthur seemed pleased to be remembered. "So what did he have to say about me?"

"You were a good and smart student who could change the art world if you really wanted to." Phillip said putting his arm around Arthur's shoulder. "He even wanted me to ask you something."

"What would that be..." Arthur noticed Phillip's arm around him, one of the tells that Phillip was up to something. "What is it, I told you no more choppers."

"I need to get new moves." Phillip chuckled. "No he wondered if you would be interested in taking over his class."

Arthur looked at Phillip. "I can't teach Art Classes."

"Sure you can." Phillip looked over at Feebi who was sitting and drawing in her latest art book. "Look what a job you did with her."

Arthur looked at Feebi. "That is different she was just a little kid and all I did was show her a few thing here and there."

Phillip nodded "And look at her work now. She has been asked if she wants to do some work for the school paper next year. She is thinking of drawing a comic and it not bad."

"Of course she is good." Arthur said putting his arm abound Phillip. "You have to say that you are her papa, it is required to by law."

Phillip snicked. "True, but even her art teaches says she is almost way to advanced for Grade school."

"Well look who was teach...ing her." Arthur rubbed the top of Phillip's head with his knuckles. "Good play there coach, you got me. I will look into it. Quick question, what is the comic about."

Phillip let out another chuckle. "The Adventures of Mr. Floppy, Mr. Ducky and Mr. Stripes."

Arthur looked at Phillip. "Well you draw what you love."

Phillip nodded. "I is very much in the nature of Calvin and Hobbes mixed with Whinny the Poo."

"I have got to see these." Arthur said with a smile.

"And all of us are in it." Phillip chucked.

"We are, how about me?" Arthur asked.

"Yes you are, you are the great artist Arty and John is your partner Mr. Grumpy Bookstore.'' Phillip said with a chuckle.

Arthur let our a giggle. "Who else, I got to know."

Phillip let out another chuckle. "Well you got Doogy the Actor and his Teddy Bear...Teddy. Then there is Mr. Speedy and his partner Mic, I still don't get that one. Ace and Becker's who run the pancake house. Miss bouncy the teacher. Of course there Doug and Pappy the little girl's who has the trio's parents."

"It sounds cute." Arthur said looking at Feebi with a smile. "I have got to see these."

"Well other than myself no one else has seen them." Phillip let out a snicker. "I wonder where she picked that up from?"

Arthur pointed at the lake quickly. "Look a bird."

My Dearest Phillip,

Well this was a nice trip. Not the most fun, but I would call it the most enjoyable, because mostly I don't need a vacation to recover from this vacation.

I hope you and Nancy had a good talk. We did talk about setting up your mother's will. I know she is doing the right thing.

Arthur talked to me about you getting him a teaching job. I don't know how this came about, but he is thinking about it.

The Nancy, Linda, Tammy triangle looks to become...well in am not sure what. Tammy does seem to be a little jealous, but then was ok after Nancy left.

Feebi showed me her comics when we got home tonight. Why am I blue again?

Your Loving, Douglas