"Doesn't this bring back memories?" Bee said with a sigh as they got out of the van that the camp set for them.
"Wish I could run," lamented Eric.
"I wish we could run together," Bee put her hand one of Eric's that was holding him and his crutches up.
"We've decided to house you in the old guest suite," said the lady who picked them up, " Its old, but we did some repairs before you came. I'm sure you'd rather that than the alternative."
"Whats the alternative?" asked Bee.
"You'd have to take the extra bed in a conselor cabin."
Bee and Eric both knew what she was implying. The conselor cabins were all segregated by gender.
"Since you went to all that trouble for the repairs, why don't you show the way to the guest suite?" Eric decided.
She led the way.
Bee and Eric were treated low key by all the campers and staff. One of the college-aged staff members told them that the camp was told not to make a big deal out of them until they were settled in. They ate dinner quietly at a table in the corner of the cafeteria. At seven o'clock, they went into the cabin. Jet lag was really killing them.
They were scheduled to speak to the camp at dinner the next night.
"When I look at you," Bee began, "I remember how far I've come. Just five years ago, I was sitting in one of those benches looking at people talk about the future of soccer, and how us campers were it. Did I want to look that far ahead? Hell no! But here I am. Olympic gold medal in my possession, and happy as a clam. I love soccer. Thats why I play it. Not for the fame, not for the fortune, but for the love of the game. Never forget the love of the game."
Eric did a spiel too, "I know what you're thinking, 'What is he doing giving an inspirational speech about soccer? He broke his leg playing it'. It probably true, even though I'm out for the season I still love the game. Bee is right, you can't stop loving the game, or you're lost. Don't let the losses get you down either. You've just got to take it all in stride. You all are here, so thats a start. Just keep doing what you're doing."
During the rest of their stay, they toured the practice fields, and watched the teams practice. One coach let Bee kick the ball around with some girls. For the most part, their stay in Baja was very boring.
The fifth day of their stay was Saturday. That was the day that Bee was dreading. They were having dinner with his family.
"Bridget¿Cuanto tiempo hace que juegas al f?tbol?" asked Eric's mom, assuming she spoke Spanish.
"She wants to know how long you have been playing soccer," Eric supplied seeing Bee's blank look.
"Hace cinquenta anos que juego al f?tbol," Bridget replied from a few of the words she remembered from spanish class in high school.
Eric laughed as did all the other Spanish speakers in the room. Eric composed himself to tell Bee, "You said you'd been playing soccer for fifteen anuses."
Bee blushed.
The rest of the dinner was good and uneventful. Bee decided not to speak any more Spanish that evening.
Finally, they were really on vacation. Puerto Rico. Such a beautiful and romantic setting.
They made out. That was it. No funny business on this trip, they didn't want anything the tabloids could gobble up. Besides, there were too many fun things to do to just stay in their rooms and have sex. It just wasn't the time.
A week passed quickly. They took two different planes to two different places different places. Bee was away from Eric, and felt very empty.
