Higher Power
“It’s a great learning experience, Rory.” Mom ushers me out the door to the overpriced sardine can with both our luggage in hand.
“And going halfway across the world isn’t?” Mom pauses at the trunk and furrows her brows.
“Maybe learning about the environment you live in would be more helpful than seeing how many grocery stores in other countries have an ‘American Section’ and what they carry.” she huffs.
It’s all strange, really. I’m a good kid, all A’s and B’s, next year’s debate captain, and the dorm prefect at the academy. But it just so happens that mother dearest and Rob believe spending the summer covered in bug bites and rashes would do me good. It’s not like they would willingly go either.
“So is this your excuse to rid yourselves of me? I’m hurt.” I offer a faux offended look in mom’s general direction while she herds me into the passenger seat. “Wouldn’t it be easier to buy me a ticket to California so I can spend the summer with dad instead? I rarely see either of you.”
She sighs while slumping in the driver’s seat. “Maybe it would, but we both agreed that you doing something other than partying with your ‘friends’ or throwing my favorite vases into windows would be a nice change of pace.”
“Or,” I pause, contemplating on whether or not I should finally say it. “He wants to focus on starting another family with his fiancé. They already have a kid I’ve never met.” I grumble to myself.
“Rory!” her voice raises an octave.” I know that moving this far would be hard, but don’t shift the blame onto anyone.”
“I’m not! It’s just,” I exhale. “I’m sick of being pushed to the side.”
“We’re not pushing you to the side, there’s just some unresolved conflicts.”
I reach over before another word could be said and connect to the car’s Bluetooth. Luckily, we listen without breaking the silence throughout the ride. We reach Morgan’s grounds in no time where teenagers alike stand under the shade of pine trees. Some look happier than others while I cart my possessions to a stand with a bright yellow banner reading ‘registration’ in an even bolder comic sans.
“Hi, I’m Charlie Callison.” Mom puts on her caring and motherly side as a front. “This is Rory and we’re wondering where to send him.” She nags the poor guy with a tag pinned to his shirt while I wander off, exploring the camp grounds. That’s the moment I see him.
Alex Chavez, the bane of my feeble existence since first grade. Whether it’s stealing my awesome pens in second grade or arguing with me about school festivities when I went to public school, he’s always there to bother me. It was almost a blessing when I moved across state lines. Too bad I slightly missed him. But now he stands in the flesh barely ten feet away. The shit eating grin he makes when he spots me only adds to the list of reasons I know god hates me.
“Well if it isn’t the academic prodigy in my presence, I’m honored.” He struts the ten feet between us like he belonged in a Rupaul’s drag race episode and stops mere inches away while looking down.
“I thought mom and pops would be taking you on a cruise, not dumping you in the middle of nowhere with a bar of reception.” He slightly leans forward so he’s a breath away. I feel my face heat in the shade. Out of spite, of course.
“And to think yours would pay so much to bus you off so far from home.” I snap back.
Alex shrugs it off. “Not that I would judge them if they did, which they didn’t.” he smiles but it never reaches his eyes, making me feel a twinge in my gut. Before I can even mutter another word, he turns to find the sign in bold yellow and even bolder text. I walk in the opposite direction before looking back towards Alex.
It’s been two hours and mom finally left to pick Rob up from his place to fly to France. Most parents have left and counselors start leading the horde of hormones to a dining and wreck hall. They talk about rules and expectations, my forte, housing, and other events I could care less about as I stare off into the distance, or you could say a drug awareness poster. I don’t notice Alex sitting in the front, nor do I notice him walking up to the podium.
“Thanks Will, for a refresher on the rules. Only God knows I need them.” I snap my head forward as a few girls giggle. With his stupidly annoying smirk, he continues.
“I’m Alex and I have a few announcements to make. Within the next week, we’ll be having our quick start activity. Now, what is a quick start? Great question! Quick start is a program that helps you connect with your peers and build a relationship with your counselors. But for now you will be sorted into cabins and be bonding with your teammates for the day.” He brushes his hair back and grins. I almost feel compelled to run up to him and smack it off.
He saunters off stage and steers for me. I close my eyes and pray to something for mercy, which is neglected. He picks the seat to my left and watches me.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” I grunt as I tear my gaze from my phone.
“No thanks, if i’m going to sit next to you for the next few weeks, I might as well enjoy the view.” A faint dusting of pink and sudden downturn of my lips makes Alex giggle. Giggle. Before he could get another word out and embarrass me any further, the same soul that my mother almost sucked out hands a spreadsheet with names and cabin numbers on them.
Mortified, I stare at the one person I’ll be bunking with for the next montn. I’m not one to believe in a higher power or anything, but at the moment, all I can think is what I’ve done to deserve pain and suffering. There may be no hell in life, but only a place called Morgan’s Grounds.
