Page 7 of Class Clown

Gosh, I loved him.

Cole had mentioned that about seventy percent of the staff came back year-to-year, with some leaving as they got more permanent jobs, and new ones replacing them. But there was community here, and I was a woman who loved community.

I popped open the hatchback of my car and gathered up of my bags, which consisted of a first aid kit packed into a backpack, and a couple of duffel bags with my clothing and supplies. I lugged them up the two steps to the back porch and then pushed open the back door by lifting one leg into the air and using my toe to press down on the handle. Thank goodness it wasn’t a round knob or I’d have had to set something down, and I was a big believer in one trip when possible. Sometimes even when it shouldn’t have been possible.

The cabin was painted a dark brown color on the outside, and the inside matched, which made it hard to see much when I first entered. The overall vibe was ‘forest bummer’, but I had a few things in my bags that would brighten that. This true romantic had seen enough love on the prairie TV specials to know a cabin could be transformed, and I’d packed accordingly.

The darkness didn’t affect my sense of smell, though, and boy did it stink of chemicals.Home sweet cancer-causing home. I found a light switch on my left and used my elbow to flip it. The single 60-watt bulb in the center of a dark log cabin wasn’t like the brightness of the sun, but it made things more manageable.

I was grateful to see that the insect people had cleaned everything after the , so at least there weren’t, like, termite carcasses or something lying around, which was a point in favor of staying. It wouldn’t pass my mom’s cleanliness test, but I could overlook the dustiness because nature was dirty, and I was living in nature now.

To my left was a small kitchen area with a stove top, a sink, and a dorm-size fridge. There was a tiny bit of counter space and a few cupboards, but Cole had told me we’d mostly be eating with the campers at the lodge. I usually cooked at home due to budget constraints, and the thought of having the majority of my meals provided for me had made this woman feel like a princess.

Across from the kitchen, to my right, were two sets of bunk beds. Each set was pushed up against the wall, leaving space for two slim dressers to sit side-by-side at the head of each bunk. A door to a small bathroom was near the foot of one of the bunks, and I peeked in the open door to see a stand-up shower, a pedestal sink, and a toilet. I could work with that. Especially only sharing with Cole, who wasn’t someone who primped.

Sadly, there were exactly two windows in the place. One next to the front door, and one next to the back door, under which sat a small, two-seater, café style table.

Choosing the bunk that didn’t share a wall with the bathroom, I set my bags on the bottom bed and staked my claim. If I had to share with my brother, I was going to reward myself by not sharing a wall with the plumbing. There was no way this cabin didn’t have groaning pipes.

I opened my first bag, which was mostly medical books and supplies, along with a few romance novels I’d shoved in at the last minute. Cole had warned me that there was no cell service and very limited WiFi, so I’d brought a few medical things with me as reference, along with some swoon-worthy reading material. It had been a long time since poison ivy, or poison mushrooms, or animal bites had been an issue for me and I wanted to have information on hand if needed. Bloody noses, vomit, bruises? Those were daily occurrences in a school setting and I could treat them with my eyes closed.

The front door knob jiggled a little as I moved to put the medical books on the small kitchen table. I watched as someone pushed on it until it opened with a bang, and I startled at the loud sound, even though I should have known it was coming, causing me to drop a couple of text books. Coleappeared in the open doorway across the cabin from me with one duffel, one backpack, and a big grin.

“Whoa, lady! That door sticks.”

I laughed as I bent to retrieve my books. “Maybe we use the back door to avoid scaring each other all day long?”

He agreed, using his heel to push it closed and then shove it tightly into place. “I’m thinking that hasn’t been opened for a few years.” He looked around, nodded, and smiled. “This will do just fine. It’ll be cozy, but not unmanageable.”

“We’ve had tighter quarters,” I replied, thinking of the camp trailer we’d spent time in as kids when I’d been allowed to join the boys.

In case you’re wondering about that statement – my mom hated camping, and she loved ‘appropriate feminine pursuits’, so I spent way more time at home with her than going out with my dad and brothers. When I’d been old enough to argue for the benefits of a well-rounded life, I’d started joining them more often, and I’d loved it.

I set my stack of books on the tiny kitchen table and moved to the bunk area to start unpacking my things. He followed, popping his head into the bathroom and making a happy sound.

“That bathroom is practically a palace,” he called. “I’m really moving up in the world.”

“A true prince,” I replied.

“It’s kind of dark though,” he glanced around.

I pointed at his shirt. “I think if we point a flashlight at that, it’ll light the place up.”

He playfully frowned. “This is my lucky shirt.”

“No. Just, no. Find another.”

We bantered back and forth as we unpacked our bags, each of us claiming a dresser. Cole, being the tornado he was, finished long before me. He threw a sleeping bag and pillow on the top bunk and shut the drawers of his dresser before clapping his hands together. I doubted he’d even remember which drawer had what clothing items in it.

“You’re sleeping in a bag all summer? On the top bunk?” I asked.

He nodded. “I like the top. And a sleeping bag is as good as anything else.”

“It’s going to be harder to wash.”

“Washing is for wimps.” He pulled a funny face at my groan. “I’m off. There’s a ton to do, and people needing direction. When you’re finished unpacking, come find me at Bearadise and I’ll show you the health center so you can start getting things organized.”

“I can’t believe the guy in a sleeping bag is in charge of this place,” I teased.

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