Chapter Four

About midway through the day, Kara shouted over to me that the water truck had arrived. I certainly didn't need to be told twice. My mouth was as dry as the Sahara. When we arrived from our holes, a muscular black guy with glasses gestured toward the front of the line.

"What gentlemen," Kara whispered sarcastically into my ear when she noticed a couple of them leaning to the side as we passed them. We figured they weren't trying to read the license plate on the water truck.

"Boys are all the same," I whispered back.

As the day went on, I got very tired, but knew I couldn't leave until I was done. When Kara got out and left, I still had about a foot straight downward left to go. A shadow fell across my vision of the setting sun. I put a hand over my eyes and saw one of the boys from D Tent sit down at the edge of my hole.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked him.

He pulled his hat off his head and said, "Just figured it kind of sucked being the last one out here."

I shrugged. "I guess so. What was your name again?"

"Squid. Well, that's what everyone calls me. My real name is Alan, but that makes me sound like such a farm boy."

I smirked, "So does your voice."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've just never heard a twang quite that strong before," I laughed.

"That's Texas for you. Where are you girls from?"

"Just outside of Chicago."

I sneezed. There was a lot of dust flying around. Squid handed me a rag from his pocket. I blew my nose and handed it back to him, thanking him. We talked for a while, until I noticed my hole had been done for about fifteen minutes. Being only five feet four inches myself, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get out.

"Could you help me up?" I asked him.

"Sure," he said, "but I don't think I'm going to get any leverage from up here. With all the loose dirt, I'll probably just slide right in the hole. Maybe if I try lifting you up."

He hopped into the hole next to me and put his hands together for me to step into. I put a hand onto his shoulder for balance, and couldn't help noticing how strong it was. I smiled as he scrambled up after me.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't know," I shrugged, "It was just really nice of you to stay here and then help me up."

He smiled back and picked up my shovel. I tried to say I could carry it for myself, but he insisted. As we walked back toward camp, I took the shovel from him and hung it up.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your tent?" he asked me. I figured I was pretty sure where it was, so I shook my head and we parted ways.

As I neared my tent, I saw silhouettes in the moonlight. When I got closer, I saw exactly who it was.

"Kara?" I questioned. She looked toward me and the boy with her backed away.

"I'd better be going," he said, looking back at Kara.

"Maggie, you know XRay, right?"

I smirked, "We've been introduced."

He walked away in the direction Squid had gone. I wiggled my eyebrows at Kara and she giggled.

"What was that about?"

Kara laughed, "He kisses pretty well. You weren't back yet and I was bored, so I beckoned him over on his way back."

I shook my head at her with a smile on my face and walked into the tent.