We went down the ocean side of the rock to where some trees were growing. A bald eagle swooped and glided on the wind currents and then landed on one of the top branches of a tree.
“Isn’t that beautiful,” I said to Jesse, as I took a picture of it with my cell phone.
The eagle majestically sat as the branch swayed in the wind.
Back on the highway Bill turned to go to Grice Bay. We swayed back and forth in the back seat as he sped along the winding road to the bay. At the small parking lot there were two cars. A couple was kayaking and a woman sat on a rock reading a book.
We walked to the ocean’s edge. The water was so much calmer than on the other side of the land. I dipped my hand and was surprised that it was also warmer. We stripped down to our swimsuits. I offered the sunscreen. Maurie accepted and we applied some before wading out into the water to join the boys. We all felt the tranquility of the secluded spot for we didn’t yell, or splash, or otherwise disturb the peace and quiet. Bill and Maurie swam further out than Jesse and I did.
“This is so relaxing,” I whispered to Jesse, as we floated on our backs.
Jesse reached out and touched my hand. I felt a tingle.
Bill and Maurie came back and climbed out.
“Let’s go,” Bill called, the first loud noise since we’d come.
Jesse stood up and the water droplets glistened on his skin. It was clear that when he filled out as a man, he would be a hunk.
Jesse and I walked out of the water and dried off. I pulled on my t-shirt but not my shorts. I didn’t need to look like I had wet my pants. I saw the others had done the same. We all sat on our towels in the car.
“Anyone want to see some Cold War history?” Bill asked.
I’d heard of the Cold War that started a couple of years after the Second World War. It seemed that there wasn’t really a war just a lot of tensions between the US and its NATO allies and the Soviet Union, known as the USSR, and its allies. My grandmother told me that as a child in Edmonton there was a tower in their neighbourhood that had a siren. If the siren went off, it meant that a war had started.
“I do,” Jesse said.
Bill pulled off the highway to go to Radar Hill and the Kap’yong Monument. We followed the curving road uphill.
“Does every road curve here on the island?” I asked Jesse.
“Just about.”
At the large parking lot there was a paved trail to the top of Radar Hill. Maurie and Bill walked ahead of us, Bill’s arm around her shoulder. I don’t know if that gave Jesse the idea but he took my hand. This was so much better than when we’d held hands on the beach. Then, I think he held out his hand for me to use like a safety line against the wind; now his hand was holding mine for no other reason than because he wanted to.
Part way up was a wooden platform and a view out over the water. Past that we reached another platform. From here a trail led into the bush or there was a shortcut of steps. We followed the path around and came to a third platform and a lookout. However, there were lots of trees that blocked most of a view of the ocean. I was disappointed.
Bill and Maurie took the shortcut down. Jesse and I descended slowly. We went around a curve and saw Maurie standing by herself at the bottom. She looked uneasy.
“I wonder if something has happened to Bill,” Jesse said.
“Maybe he fell,” I said.
We picked up our pace keeping our eyes on her. She kept looking to the side and I thought maybe Bill was lying just out of our sight.
“Arghh.” Bill sprang out from behind a rock, waving his arms and yelling.
I screamed as my stomach clenched in fear. I felt Jesse’s grip tighten on my hand.
“Geeze, Bill,” Jesse cried. “What did you do that for? You scared us.”
“Well, that was the whole idea, Dummy,” Bill laughed. He grabbed Maurie and they walked towards the car.
Jesse had his hand on his chest while I was willing my heart to slow down. We both leaned against the wall.
“That was an awful thing to do,” Jesse gasped.
“Yes, it was,” I agreed.
“To think I was worried that he had hurt himself.” Jesse’s voice was calmer. “And then he does that.”
We made our way back to the car where Bill and Maurie were kissing by the driver’s door. They stopped and Bill looked at us.
“Did you get over your scare little brother?” Bill asked.
Jesse ignored him and we climbed in the back seat. Bill’s joke had spoiled the visit to the hill for me and I think for Jesse also.
Just after getting back on the highway, we left the Pacific Rim National Park and passed all sorts of resorts, lodges, bed and breakfast places, and inns. It wasn’t hard to tell that the area was directed towards tourists.
“Anyone want to visit the Tofino Botanical Gardens?” Bill asked.
We shook our heads and he drove past. We were on the main street of Tofino.
“I’m hungry. You guys interested in something to eat?” He looked at us in the rear view mirror.
“I am,” Jesse said.
“Me, too,” I said. It was late afternoon and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Bill found a parking spot and we wandered by restaurants and cafes looking for one that suited us. Finally, we picked a small cafe and sat outside overlooking the ocean. I tried a seafood platter while the others had hamburgers and fries.
“Mine’s so good,” Maurie said chewing on her burger.
“My platter is too,” I agreed. I looked at Jesse. “What about yours?”
He gave me a thumbs up sign since his mouth was full.
“I could almost have another one,” Bill said.
After our meal we went back to walking the main street past surfing and scuba diving schools, businesses such as whale and bear watching, and water tours. We entered the galleries, shops, and studios to see what was offered to the tourists.
I felt I owed Bill and Jesse for showing me around today. “Anyone want an ice cream cone?” I asked, spying an ice cream shop. “I’m buying.”
“Me.”
“I do.”
“Me, too.”
We walked into the shop and each chose the flavour we wanted. Maurie picked mint chocolate chip, Bill had cookies and cream and Jesse, rocky road. I decided to be adventurous and ordered cookie dough.
We found a little park overlooking the water and ate our cones while watching boats sail in and out of the harbour.
Chapter Fifteen
When we got back to the campground we found everyone, including Jesse and Bill’s parents, gathered at Carol and Alan’s campsite. There were wieners and smokies and garlic sausage on the picnic table to be roasted over the fire and some salads. Carol also had provided something different. She had boiled perogies, tossed them in a bit of oil so they wouldn’t stick and then let them cool. There was also fried bacon and onions, and sour cream.
The adults were in the midst of eating. I stared at the perogies wondering what to do with them.
“Put them on a wiener stick and heat them up over the fire,” Mom explained. “You can let them get as browned and crisp as you like.”
I looked at Jesse.
“I like perogies,” Jesse said. “I’ve never tried them this way, though.”
We each got a wiener stick and stuck two on the prongs. I won’t say that it was easy to go to the fire but it was easier than when I’d roasted the marshmallows. I guessed that I probably would have a bit of apprehension for a long time but I now knew that I had conquered most of my fear of fire.
Jesse and I kept turning the perogies until they were lightly browned.
“I think that is good enough for me,” I said. I had done well, but needed to get away from the flames.
“I’m letting mine get a little darker.”
I went to the table and pushed them onto a plate. I added bacon and sour cream. I seldom use a fork to eat perogies so I picked one up in my fingers, dipped it in the sour cream
and rolled it in the bacon. It actually tasted really good.
Jesse came over with his which were almost burnt. He did the same but added onions and used a fork to eat with.
“I’m going to have more,” he said.
“I have to do my cats. I’ll be back.”
Mom or Dad had shut off the air conditioning and opened the windows and vents. The girls were staring out the screen door. Purple meowed at me.
“I know. I know,” I answered. “I’m not a very good mom.” I had been calling myself their mom ever since the vet used that term to describe their patients’ owners. I guess that made my parents their grandparents.
Since they were all at the screen, I went in the passenger door. They watched me as I retrieved the can from the fridge and divided the food. Daisy was on the step, Red at the bedroom doorway, Saltry on the bench seat and Purple against the wall on my bed. I set the plates in front of each of them and got out the insulin and needle. As usual Saltry stood still to let me give it to her. I left a light on when I headed back to the group.
Jesse came to meet me. “Let’s not go back yet,” he said.
We continued past the party and down the road. He took my hand and we walked in silence for a while. I guessed he had something on his mind. I wondered if I should say something or wait for him. I waited.
“It’s not going to last, you know,” he blurted out.
I was surprised. Was he breaking up with me before we’d even had a date? That would be a first, guy breaks up with girl before she’s old enough to date him.
“What’s not?” I impressed myself by keeping my voice level.
“Dad not drinking.”
That certainly wasn’t what I expected. “Why do you think that?”
“Because he has tried so many times before and failed.”
“He seems to be doing okay tonight.”
“And that’s the way it goes. He’s antsy and moody for the first couple of days and just when Mom thinks he is actually going to keep his word, he starts drinking again. She falls for it every time.”
I could think of nothing to say to this. The usual, ‘it will work out’ or ‘maybe this time will be different’ were meaningless. I knew so little about him, about his parents and I didn’t know any of the circumstances surrounding his father’s drinking.
I squeezed Jesse’s hand. “I wish there was something I could do to help you.”
Jesse squeezed back. “There isn’t. This is something my family and I have to work out. But I do like that I can talk with you about it.”
“You know you can anytime.”
Once I had come to terms with Dad’s disease, I had sent a text to Brenda and Olivia. Olivia invited Brenda and me over to her place. We spent the afternoon and evening talking and eating pizza in her bedroom. It felt so good to be able to get all my fears and anger out. After that they listened anytime I wanted to talk about it.
“I sometimes think his drinking is my fault,” Jesse said, hesitantly.
“Your fault? Why?”
“I think he’s disappointed because I’m not the type of son he wants.”
“You’re not?” I couldn’t understand that. Jesse had a sense of humour, was compassionate and polite. He was good at volleyball. And he liked cats. “What type does he want?”
“More like Bill.”
“What’s Bill like?” I hadn’t seen much difference between the two.
Jesse shrugged. “He’s been on good behavior on this camping trip, but he’s more like Dad, belligerent and bossy. He has an explosive temper and has been in a couple of fights in bars since he’s been old enough to drink legally.”
“But Maurie wants to marry him,” I blurted out.
Jesse nodded. “I don’t understand why.”
“So your Dad wants his sons to be macho men.”
“I guess so. And I’m not and don’t want to be. Plus, I’m darker than he and Bill are. I think that bothers him.”
“You think it bothers him that he has a Metis son who looks Metis?”
Jesse nodded.
“Well, he can’t be prejudiced because he married your beautiful mother.”
“Yes, but he can divorce her. He’ll always be stuck with me.”
“Has he ever said that?”
“No. But it’s true.”
There was no way I could comment on what his father might be thinking. I decided to go in a different direction. “You told me alcoholism is a disease, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, my Dad had cancer. I never felt it was my fault that he had the disease. I thought Al-Anon family taught you that it’s not your fault your Dad has his disease.”
Jesse stopped and looked down at me. “Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that.”
My heart quivered as he leaned forward. We had kissed before but only in a joking way. This was more serious. This time it lasted longer and was more intense. He slid his arms around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck. I’m not sure how long we would have stood there if it hadn’t been for a car coming down the road.
We parted quickly as if we’d been doing something naughty. We waited until the car had driven by and then laughed at our nervousness. Jesse grabbed my hand and we walked back to the party.
Everyone had placed their chairs in a circle around the fire. The night before most of the adults had been drinking and were a lot louder. Tonight, maybe out of respect for Stuart, there were no liquor bottles or beer cans sitting on the table. Many of the men and some of the women were drinking pop from cans or plastic bottles. Occasionally one would stand and leave the campsite, returning a few minutes later.
The chatter was stilted until those trips away began to have an effect. Then the restraints were loosened. Jokes were told and stores related. I glanced over at Stuart. He seemed nervous. He kept rubbing his hands on his shorts, shifting in his seat, and looking around. I still didn’t like the man because of what he had said about Saltry, but I did feel sorry for him. He was trying to fit in but it obviously was hard on him not to have a drink in his hand.
Curfew arrived and the party broke up. Stuart almost bolted out of the campsite. I said good night to Jesse and walked to our motorhome.
Daisy is my most playful cat. If she is on a desk or a dresser or nightstand and sees a pen or elastic or paperclip, she will bat it around until it falls onto the floor. She then jumps down and paws at it or carries it away. Tonight she tried playing with a blind cord. She lay on the top of the cat house and rolled around batting at the cord and biting it. But being confined to such a small area didn’t give her the competition she liked and she soon tired of it.
There was a full moon, so we had lots of light during the night. Purple went from window to window banging at the blinds to move them. I finally got up and lifted one blind so she could see out. I don’t know why she didn’t go to the front to look out the windshield.
* * *
Mom, Dad and I went through our usual routine the next morning. This motorhome sleeps six which means six people can camp in it. I don’t think I would like to have to work around five other people. Waiting for my parents to get ready and leave was bad enough.
Once my parents were outside, Red began to sharpen her claws on the side of the bench seat. I picked her up and moved her then hung two of my shirts over the ends of the benches. I sprinkled catnip on the scratching post and made scratching noises on it with my fingernails. The girls looked at me like I was crazy. I sighed and gave up.
Daisy and Purple watched out a window and saw a squirrel in a tree. A second squirrel came along and the girls were riveted. The squirrels started fighting for territory and chased each other through the branches. Daisy and Purple’s heads moved up and down and side to side as they followed the squirrels’ movements. Daisy’s tail twitched and every once in a while, one of them made a growling noise. It sounded like they were having a discussion. Probably deciding who got which squirrel.
Mom and Dad and Carol an
d Alan left to visit Tofino. “We’ll probably have lunch there so you are on your own,” Mom said. “We’ll be back for supper.”
I went outside to read in the shade of the awning. It was going to be a hot day.
Jesse came over. “Mom and Dad are using the car today. They are going to Ucluelet and said we could come with them, if we want.”
That was the last thing I wanted but how to say so politely. “I think I should spend the day with my cats. I’ve been neglecting them a lot.”
“Okay, I will stay, too,” Jesse said. “I’ll go let my parents know.”
I smiled happily. At least I would have someone to do something with while stuck here. Camping was okay but I think only for two or three days. I liked seeing what Mother Nature offered but I really wasn’t into sitting around and talking for hours at a time. Maybe when I got as old as my parents.
Since we had our own site and it was much quieter than it had been at Mel and Robin’s I thought I would let my cats out again. While waiting for Jesse to return I went back in the motorhome to see how warm it was. The trees were supplying a bit if shade so it was still cool enough for them. I would have to turn on the air conditioning later.
Daisy began meowing. Saltry was on a swivel chair and Purple on the small table beside the chair. All three stared at me. I got the treat container and shook it. Their eyes lit up and I gave each some. I looked in my parent’s bedroom; Red was asleep between their pillows. I left her and went back outside.
When Jesse came back I asked him if he wanted to help me take the girls out.
“Sure,” he grinned.
Purple was closest to the door. We harnessed and leashed her up then did Saltry. We took them both out. I carried Purple over to a weedy area and she ate some grass. Saltry sat where Jesse had set her and looked around. She walked to the edge of the site and relaxed on the soft dirt.
But Purple wasn’t happy. She headed back to the motorhome. Daisy was at the door watching.
“Hey, you are the one who is looking for a way out,” I said to Purple. I picked her up and walked to the other side of the picnic table. She sniffed at the table leg then leaped up on the seat. She walked along it to the end and jumped down. Satisfied, she headed back to the motorhome.
Crazy Cat Kid (Crazy Cat Kids Book 1) Page 15