Day 2: "You told your parents?"

Shakespearean

If Elton was a wayward sailor adrift at sea, clinging to a rotten piece of plywood from his capsized boat, then Milka was the mermaid guiding him home, her hands soft as fleece and her smile as pure as a pearl.

He was the luckiest boy in Whispering Rock. To think, someone like him could get a girlfriend as radical as Milka. She was strong, contending with the likes of Kitty and Franke. She even stood up to Bobby and Benny, frightening them with a trick that he never would've considered to assist the fish. They were as grateful to Milka as he loved her, and his adoration was as vast as the ocean depths.

He was lost, and she had rescued him. She had brought him to the light. If he had the chance, he wanted to write soliloquy after soliloquy about Milka. And sitting in his bunk, pencil in hand and crumpled sheets of construction paper around him, he understood why Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.

But, soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

That short passage stuck with him from his required summer reading assignment. He had left the book at home and wracked his brain trying to recall the other words Romeo breathed out as he gazed upon Juliet's beauty. He tapped his eraser on the page, tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth. Only those two critical lines stayed in his brain, leaving Elton to giggle to himself as he imagined Milka by a window, the sunlight playing in her hair and casting a glow across his face.

As he imagined, an idea hit him. He broke into a grin. He quickly wrote, his thoughts racing across the page. And when he finished, he neatly creased it in the middle and stuck it underneath his pillow. Making plans to procure an envelope and hand it to the mailman when he arrived tomorrow, Elton slept with thoughts of Milka in his head.

Elton was particularly giddy today.

It wasn't often that the dimples on his cheeks lingered so persistently. They appeared after they kissed, but this time, they stayed for several long minutes. Milka had realized she had seen his dimples for a full half hour while they waited in the parking lot. She continued staring at his face, thankful no one had bothered them. (Even if they had, Milka wasn't in the mood for outsiders like those hoes. She had already drafted plans to take care of them if they bothered him again for their homework.)

But they weren't important. Right now, Elton's smiling face captivated her. As they stood by the coach's jeep, which provided a cool shade from the overbearing sun, Elton watched the gates. He leaned from left to right, as if searching for movement like she'd have done when alone in the off-limit woods.

Elton checked his wristwatch and puffed out his cheeks. "Aw, man. I hope he isn't later than usual. It'd be awful to miss him today."

"Who're we waiting for?" she asked, gently squeezing his hand.

He flashed a perfect smile at her, dimples and all. "It's a surprise. I hope you like it."

Her heart fluttered. Gifts were a rarity. Her mother gave her a present for her birthday each year, even if there wasn't a grand party to accompany it. This year had been another subdued event. She was given a new, if cheap, plastic camera and a store-bought pack of vanilla cupcakes decorated with pink buttercream and bland, pastel sprinkles. Invisible in the apartment, Milka celebrated silently, sitting by her mother, eating cupcakes while they watched television, and when she was outside, she took as many photographs of her cat as her camera could hold.

But there hadn't been anything like a surprise. The birthday routine was expected. Her mother wasn't obligated to buy her a present, but she did, even if there were moments when she flinched upon seeing Milka's face.

Elton instilled a spark in her heart. Butterflies tickled her stomach, not an unpleasant feeling, but one that made the corners of her mouth lift. She rubbed her thumb along his knuckle, swaying with him, as they waited for the mailman.

"I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be great," she said, and he charmed her again with another winning smile.

Idle time drifted by as they looked into each other's eyes and kissed. It was her favorite pastime, though she enjoyed spending any time with Elton. Kissing was just the best part. The warmth in her face spread throughout her body when their lips met. And when he grinned at her, she knew the feeling was mutual.

Eventually, the mail van arrived. It strolled through the gates and parked near the campers. Elton sprung into action, hurrying over to the driver's door with Milka in tow. He bounced on his heels, his sailor's hat slipping off until Milka quietly caught it and set it in place.

The mailman noticed them with a half-smile. "Oh, it's you again," he remarked, stepping out. He was a tall, stout man with a shock of dark hair, violet skin, and a beige uniform. He held a stack of envelopes under his arm and a small box in the other. "Elton, right? You gave me that letter last week, I think."

He nodded. "Y-yes, sir! Uh, um, that box! Is it for me?"

When Elton pointed at it, the mailman handed it over. "No need to sign for anything. Have a good day, kids."

Elton thanked him, and the mailman went on his way toward the campgrounds. He shook the box to his ear. They listened to its contents wobbling against the paperboard. Elton quickly tugged through the tape, frowning as it crumpled, but he was able to tear open the box, Milka observing all the while.

Reaching inside, Elton removed a letter and a book. Milka tilted her head, lacing her arms behind her back. His eyes darted as he read, his jubilation contagious. She peered over him, trying to follow along, but Elton spun around and shouted so hard his voice cracked.

"My mom likes you already!" he exclaimed, hugging the letter to his chest. "She said she'll try to visit for the parent-counselor conference day to meet you next weekend!"

Milka stood, stupefied. She stared at the box, catching Elton's address in the upper left corner. The package dropped to the pavement as Elton cradled both letter and book, still rocking on his heels as Milka came to terms with the implication.

"You told your mom about me?" she slowly asked.

He paused, expression immediately falling. "W-was I - was I not supposed to? Oh, man, I'm sorry, Milka. I should've asked first. I know we're not a secret at camp, but home's a different story."

"No, no, it's okay. I'm just-" She rubbed her hands and grinned. "-I wasn't expecting you to tell her already, but I'm happy you did. Your mom sounds like a nice person. I can't wait to meet her."

Dimples returning, Elton nodded so hard that his hat did fall off. Milka was swift to snatch it and place it on his head like a crown. Butterflies still tickling her, she kissed him again, smoothing over her apprehension. (His mother, from what Elton had said, was a kind woman who worked and lived in a special hotel for ladies. Milka wasn't a fool. She knew the insinuations. Elton was too sweet to realize where he resided, and she respected his mother more for it.)

Elton raised the book to her eye level. Romeo and Juliet, the title read. Two lovers dressed in fine, colorful silks gazed into each other's eyes with a violet, cloudy skyline overhead. "I asked my mom to send over my summer reading, but more importantly, it reminds me of us! You're amazing like Juliet!" He scratched behind his ear. "Um, I haven't finished it, but maybe we can read it together. I think you'd like it, too."

"Yeah. If you like it, I'm sure I will, too," she said, taking his shoulders and leaning in for another kiss.

(Later, when they reached the final page, they decided the star-crossed lovers' romance was not like them in the slightest, and Milka chuckled as Elton wrote a scathing book report.)