Gap Year Project

by Kim O'Cain

  Wow. How did my life change so much in just a few weeks? I’m really on my own. This launching into an adult thing is so not what I expected. Maybe I don’t have the choice to ditch this place, but at least I can do it my way while I’m here. So, Waters, what do you want and what are you going to do about it?

  “Waters, come on. We need help standing the logs. Grab that log next to Matt and stand it upright about four feet from him. Yeah, just like that. They’ll stand on their own now. Saleem, grab that rope at the top and tighten it. Trish and Matt, start opening the emergency blankets and hand them to Ashlyn and Saleem. I’ll start cutting the branches to fit around the outside, then bring in the brush for the ground cover. Great job, everyone, let’s keep it up,” said Blake with renewed eagerness.

  They kept working in comfortable silence and looked up only when Kate’s group came running and yelling on their way to the stage to place the first flag of the competition. The shelter group stopped momentarily to join in the celebration and then went back to work with even more determination.

  Just minutes later another unit’s flag was cheerfully placed next to Birch’s on stage quickly followed by two more. That last flag was placed by none other than Campbell. Oak had two flags on stage. Sycamore had one and Birch had one. The race was really on now.

  Ashlyn could see Campbell nonchalantly strolling back to his team making the number one sign then fist pumping his teammates when he reached his group, in the midst of making their shelter. There was no way Ashlyn was going to let him beat her. She began to focus even harder on her task.

  Kate’s group ran back to help the shelter team just as Birch’s banner group placed their flag on stage. Now two Birch flags stood on stage. But within seconds, Oak had their third flag on stage. It wasn’t looking good for Birch, but it didn’t stop the unit from pulling together.

  With half the Birch unit helping the shelter group, things went even faster. There was no sign of the mascot being found by any of the units. So, there was still some hope.

  “Ashlyn, get ready to sprint with that flag. We’ve just got to finish the brush mat on the floor and attach the door and we’re done,” yelled Blake.

  Ashlyn got the flag and on Blake’s command ran with all her might toward the stage. She could see another girl running from the opposite side with a flag in hand. Birch still had only two flags on stage while Oak and Sycamore had three. It seemed like a lost cause, but Ashlyn was not giving up, not one single inch. She was going to beat that girl no matter what. She still had about ten yards when out of nowhere a guy sprinted past her like he was taking a stroll—not even out of breath and made it to the stage placing another flag in what should have been her spot. She was pissed but gave it her last push. She made it just seconds before the girl got her flag into the post.

  There was cheering as Ashlyn bent over with her hands on her knees looking at the ground trying to catch her breath. She knew they lost, but she felt good. She had taken control of her emotions and her actions. She did her best, and that’s all she could have ever done.

  Ashlyn stood up to face her team and saw them running towards her yelling, clapping and jumping. Wow, she thought. That’s an odd reaction to losing. I guess they saw that I gave it my best. That’s really nice of them. Maybe I do fit in after all.

  But then she saw them holding their pointer finger as if they were saying we’re number one. Ashlyn was dumbfounded. She looked at her unit, then turned to look back at the stage and glimpsed four Birch flags in a row before she was lifted off her feet and swung around.

  Then it hit her. That guy that passed her was on her team. They won. Holy heck! They won.

  “Waters, you did it! You brought home the gold. Nice job. I never doubted you for a minute,” said Blake, as he winked at Ashlyn while holding her on his shoulder.

  “We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one!” was all she could hear from her perch above the crowd. Ashlyn was smiling so hard that her cheeks began to hurt. Had it been that long since she had smiled?

  “Congratulations, Birch! You’ve earned the bragging rights as this year’s Gathering Champions. You can start enjoying your win right now as we serve you the most delectable chocolate cake ever made. For the rest of our competitors, congratulations too for a race well fought. For your reward, you too get to enjoy this mouthwatering cake baked with love by your teammates, or at least what’s left of it. No, seriously, you’ve proven once again that GYP makes us stronger, makes us wiser, makes us team players. U.S.A!” said the announcer. And a chorus of “U.S.A” was echoed back with force.

  The Birch Unit was served first. Everyone gulped down the cake. The joy continued. Everyone was smiling and fist pumping one another and clapping each other on the back. It was truly a cause for celebration.

  Ashlyn was congratulated by everyone, and she felt like a million bucks to have her own feelings of achievement reflected back to her.

  “Hey, you. I thought you were from another unit. Did you run cross country? You weren’t even out of breath. But you made me run faster, so thanks,” said Ashlyn, as she extended her arm in a handshake.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Gavin. Gavin Miller. Glad I got you moving. Yep, I ran cross country all through high school. I loved it. Still do. I’d really like to run professionally, you know like IRONMAN races, triathlons, marathons—all that,” replied Gavin with a huge smile.

  Ashlyn responded, “At least we know who to bring in for the next race. Really, thanks. You were awesome!”

  Gavin blushed at this. But the sun had set and only a few lights were on along the perimeter, so Ashlyn didn’t see it.

  “Okay, Birchers, it’s time to call it a night. We’ve got another day of fun and adventures ahead. You all did an amazing job of pulling together, playing to your strengths, and winning this for the team. Congrats, you each deserve this,” said Blake, holding up his empty water glass.

  The team got up taking their trash and packs with them. The shelters would remain in place the entire year as a symbol of team work and competition.

  Trish and Ashlyn walked back together, straggling the group. Ashlyn could see Kate and Blake walking closely together, deep in conversation. She felt a pang of jealousy towards Kate. She quickly tried to brush it off. She had never felt that way towards anyone, and it was an awful feeling that she didn’t want to have again.

  “Dude, you can run. You showed those guys that you mean business. After you fell on your butt, I wasn’t so sure you could pull it off. But you surprised me. That doesn’t happen too often,” said Trish as they walked to their yurt.

  Out of nowhere Ashlyn was scooped up and put over a man’s shoulder. She thought at first it was one of her teammates, and she was slightly annoyed. But when this guy smacked her on her butt and said, “Nice job, Ashlyn. You always were a fast runner,” Ashlyn began to hit him with all her strength.

  “Put me down right now, Campbell! You jerk! Put me down!” she yelled angrily.

  “Hey, put her down. Now!” barked Blake and grabbed Campbell’s arm. Campbell dropped her, making her lose her balance. Blake was quick to grab her arm before she fell.

  “Okay. Okay. No harm meant. Just congratulating a friend. Ashlyn, you’re okay. Right?” asked Campbell, playing innocent.

  “Leave me alone, Campbell. Don’t ever do that again. Go back to your own team!” screamed Ashlyn, getting the attention of everyone around.

  Campbell gave her a salute, then slowly turned and nonchalantly walked back to his yurt.

  “Who was that?” asked Trish, raising her eyebrows.

  “Some guy I’ve known since kindergarten. Campbell Williams. His mom is my mom’s best friend. I can’t stand him. He gives me the creeps. Anyway, I don’t want him to ruin my night. Let’s go,” said Ashlyn, trying to put the scene out of her mind. She knew it wasn’t the last of it.

  Blake opened the door for Kate and then held it open for the rest of the unit. Ashlyn was the last to enter.


  “Waters, I’m sorry about what I said, too. Thanks for the re-do. I’ll watch out for that guy. See you tomorrow,” said Blake softly.

  “Yeah, see ya,” replied Ashlyn just as softly.

  Well, maybe he’s not a complete jerk. That might have earned him some points. But he’s obviously into Kate. And who wouldn’t be? She’s like the perfect girl for every guy who volunteered for nature jail. She’s beautiful, smart, and knows how to survive the wilderness. She probably could have built that shelter by herself in thirty minutes, then decorated it with built-in shelves and a hammock made from vines she found in the woods.

  Ashlyn was looking forward to a hot shower and bed. Yes, hot water. It was a very short hot water shower, but it felt so good to cleanse nature from her hair and body. She had brought her favorite all-natural body wash that had a hint of citrus. She’d never taken a five-minute shower before, so a little conditioner was still in her hair. Another thing to adjust to—timed, shorter showers.

  Lights were out, but most everyone had their phones out checking email or reading, or at least trying to, since the Wi-Fi and cell reception was horrible in the boonies.

  Ashlyn tried meditating. She had started in middle school when her mom brought her to a weekend mindfulness retreat for tweens. At the beginning, it was so hard to sit still and let her thoughts flow without engaging them. But with lots of practice and help from her mom, she finally could easily go to a peaceful and quiet place in her mind. But tonight, it felt as if she was a beginner. So many thoughts rushing through her mind that she finally gave up and just gave thanks for an amazing and utterly crazy day.

  Chapter 9. The Oaks

  Ashlyn was startled awake by a trumpet. Or was it a bugle? It was way too early to think, let alone figure out, what the heck that horrible noise was. Ashlyn had slept without moving the whole night, and her left arm was asleep and stiff.

  She was not the morning person that her mother was. Up at 5:30, ready to go by 6:30, all made up and cheery, and singing or humming as she made coffee. It irritated Ashlyn that anyone could be that happy first thing in the morning. Her family knew not to talk to her until she spoke first, which was at least thirty minutes after getting out of bed.

  “Rise and Shine, Birchers!” came a booming voice over a loud speaker.

  “No. Please make it stop,” said Ashlyn, covering her face with her pillow.

  There were girls already up, dressed, and making their beds. Trish and Ashlyn were the last to get out of bed. They had minutes to dress and prepare for morning inspection. They both looked like they had gotten no sleep and were slouched over with drooping eyelids.

  “Waters, Nash, your beds need to be remade. Now!” said Jefferies with a clenched jaw. “Everyone else can go to breakfast.”

  It made no difference to Ashlyn. She was still in a morning fog and turned obligingly to remake her bed. She took her time and tried to really wake up. Jefferies gave a nod of approval and she walked to breakfast alone. Trish hadn’t even used the restroom yet and said she’d meet her in the cafeteria.

  As she left the yurt, Kate and Blake were looking over the orders for the day and making plans. Both seemed chipper and eager to start. They both stopped to wish her a good morning. Ashlyn could only muster a nod as she shuffled past.

  Coffee. Please have coffee. She smelled it wafting several yards before she reached the cafeteria. She went straight for the coffee line. It was terrible but hot. She chugged it down and got another cup before getting breakfast.

  The cafeteria was packed and there were only a few seats left. None of which were near any Birchers. She took the closest empty seat and hoped that she would be left alone. She really couldn’t handle much this morning, especially not another run-in with Campbell.

  “Congratulations. You slayed it. You must be very proud,” said a dark-haired guy to her right.

  “Yeah, thanks,” replied Ashlyn with a mouth full of biscuit without looking up from her plate.

  “Oh my god, this is the best biscuit I’ve ever had in my life. Have you tried this? They should sell these to restaurants. They would make a killing. No, really, you have to try this.”

  “Yes, they are really good. I’ve got my own,” he replied, pushing away a half-eaten biscuit in Ashlyn’s extended hand.

  “Sorry, but these are amazing. I hope they have them every day,” she said.

  He laughed and said, “By the way, I’m Derek. I’m in Oak.”

  “Oh hey, I’m Ashlyn. I’m in Birch. You guys almost won. That was a tough race. Where are you from?” she asked, perking up after the coffee and biscuit gave her a boost of energy. Ashlyn looked at him as she ate the remainder of her biscuit.

  “Boston. I was drafted. Certainly, didn’t expect to be spending my freshmen year here. I should be in Amsterdam with my friends right now before starting Harvard. But alas, I’m sharing breakfast with a beautiful enemy in a cafeteria in the middle of freaking nowhere,” replied Derek.

  “Me too. I was drafted. I should be in Cala Luna with my friends right now. I’m going to Blythe, or at least will be, when this is all over. I’m from Manhattan,” replied Ashlyn, feeling as if she’d already made a friend.

  Derek stared at Ashlyn for a minute, and then a slow smile crossed his face.

  “Ashlyn Waters?” asked Derek.

  “Do I know you?” she asked, curiously in reply.

  “I can’t believe it’s you. You don’t remember me? From Camp Hilldale? Seventh grade—sleep away camp? I made your canoe tip over at the final race of the season. Yep, that’s you. Same pissed off look,” replied Derek.

  “OMG! That was so long ago. I can’t believe you remember me. I loved that camp—but you. You were such a jerk,” replied Ashlyn, rolling her eyes and smiling at the same time.

  “It was only because I liked you, and you wouldn’t give me the time of day. You were into Michael Bettelo with his bleached blond hair and California tan. Remember him?”

  “I can’t believe this. I haven’t thought of him in years. I wonder what he’s doing now. How are you? What have you been doing since seventh grade?” asked Ashlyn with genuine interest.

  She remembered Derek as an impulsive but very fun kid that wasn’t afraid of anything and loved to make people laugh. He still looked the same with dark brown hair and bangs that kept falling into his hazel eyes. He was stocky and muscular and maybe three or four inches taller than Ashlyn.

  “Wow. I can’t believe this either. I’d love to hang out and catch up. I’m still not sure how this whole thing works, but if we have free time, let’s hook up. I could really use a friend. This place is so not the right fit for me. Believe me, I tried to get out of it, but it’s the one thing that’s not for sale in the USA,” he said and winked at Ashlyn.

  Ashlyn felt a little uncomfortable that he would say that out loud in front of other people that he hardly knew. It was inappropriate to flaunt your influence, let alone talk about a bribe in public. She decided to ignore that comment. It would be nice to have someone that understood her.

  She quickly responded, “I would love to hang out and catch up. Really, I’m so happy to see you again. Can you believe we ended up here together?”

  People around them started getting up and dumping their trays. They quickly finished their breakfast in silence and filed out onto the parade grounds for their day’s assignment.

  It was another hike and an assessment of Fire Canyon, a very popular hiking trail in the Northeast corner of the park. They piled into two vans and took the ten-mile bumpy and somewhat nauseating drive to the trail entrance. Fire Canyon was part of the old growth forest. Redwoods and Douglas Fir peppered the hills and a deep valley with ferns lined Walton Creek.

  Fire Canyon got its name from a devastating fire in 1928 that destroyed the whole town (all twenty homes and three businesses) including a major logging company’s headquarters. The fire tore through the valley after a long drought, followed by a raging thunderstorm. The trees and shrubs were so dry that they
quickly went up in flames. You could see the damage today with huge redwood trees, charred and hollowed out, but miraculously still living and thriving.

  After that fire, the federal government bought 134,000 acres and made it into a national park. The loggers moved east. Crews from the Civilian Conservation Corp helped build the park as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to employ out-of-work men to restore soil and plant trees after World War II.

  “Redwoods are amazing ancient trees. We could learn a lot from them. They are evolution revolutionaries. See that bulge growing on the side of that redwood? What do you think it is?” asked Chuck.

  “It’s a spot where it got infected, and the bark grew around it,” replied Matt.

  “Good guess, but no. Any other guesses?” asked Chuck. “None. Well, it’s actually a burl and inside is a bunch of smaller clone trees waiting to sprout.”

  “Are you serious? They can clone themselves?” asked Sally.

  “Yep, and see that ring of trees that are about the same size? Those are clones, too. That’s called a fairy ring. The mother tree died and out of its own cones and nutrients, these babies grew. Amazing, right?”

  Ashlyn was surprisingly interested. Trees that clone themselves. What the? That’s pretty cool, she thought. Everyone else looked just as impressed. Kate was nodding and smiling. She was bursting at the seams to share her knowledge.

  “Kate, is there anything else you’d like to add about the redwoods?” asked Chuck approvingly.

  “Yes, I mean these trees are so cool. They communicate with each other. They send out signals if they need a certain nutrient or more water, and then the mother tree supplies it, but not just to her babies. She’ll provide whatever another tree needs.” Kate was psyched to share her passion with her new friends.

  “And they have shallow roots, like twelve inches or so. It’s crazy, right? A three-hundred-foot tree with roots that only go down a foot? But they extend out and intertwine with the roots from other trees. It’s like they are all holding each other’s hands, and that’s how they stay upright. And when one tree is ready to die, it starts to let go and the other trees let go of its roots. It’s really like a family saying goodbye and letting go. So amazing!”