Page 21 of The Weekend Crashers
“True survival skills mean relying on your own strength—mental and physical,” he says.
Aidan glances at Cole, who’s staring straight ahead. His expression is unreadable, and Aidan suspects his mind is somewhere else entirely.
“We don’t have technology in the wilderness, but we can have tools. Starting with something simple but possibly lifesaving: a reliable compass,” Barclay says, holding up an old-fashioned copper variety. “And, again—don’t let me hear you say you have an app on your phone for that. Phones run out of batteries. They can get ruined in water. Phones offer a false sense of security.”
Nearby, a stream rushes with a faint burble, and Aidan remembers taking Cole to find salamanders in the very spot as a child.
“A compass is not just about general directions—you can use the sun for that. A compass’s main value is helping you avoid lateral drift. Does anyone here know what lateral drift means?”
No one says anything. Without their phones to look up the phrase, Aidan suspects no one will. He’s pretty sure Cole knows the answer, but he’s staring off into the distance.
One of Scott’s fraternity brothers finally pipes up, explaining that it’s impossible to walk a straight line over a long distance without having an object in sight that you’re walking toward.
“You got that, Cole?” Barclay says, pointedly calling him out.
“Got it,” Cole says, expressionless. Detached.
What is going on with him? Since they work together, Aidan gets to spend more time with his adult son than most fathers. But he still has no clue what’s going on.
Aidan was pleasantly surprised two years ago when Cole informed him, after graduating cum laude from Villanova University, that he wanted to join him in Danby Markets. For a while, it seemed like Cole was going to pursue a law career. And sure, Aidan would have been proud to tell everyone his son was an attorney. But he was even more proud when Cole changed his mind and joined him in the grocery business. It was something he’d hoped for, but never pushed. Aidan believes it’s important to have a job you care about, one that gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. In the first few years after Nancy’s death, work was his lifeline. Sure, he had parenthood. But work gave him a sense of control.
Maybe Cole feels touchy this weekend because Scott and all his friends have white-collar jobs. But why would that bother him? The grocery business has been lucrative, and Cole had always been proud of his work. But something’s got him on edge. That’s evident.
Barclay passes out analog compasses.
“What we have here is an extensive trail system, including the Towpath Trail, which runs for miles along the river.”
By now, Scott’s wise-cracking fraternity brothers are paying close attention, and probably regretting the fourth and fifth beers at lunch.
What an odd meal. First, Cole and Scott snapping at each other. Then, that brunette barreling over to the table. Very attractive. But clearly neurotic as hell.
Maybe that’s why Cole is in a bad mood. Aidan is pretty sure Cole had a breakup a few months ago. Maybe he’d been looking forward to a guys’ weekend and there they were, surrounded by a bunch of women. Or, as Barclay put it after the lunchtime confrontation, “Harping women.”
Raising Cole alone, every weekend had been guys’ weekend. Aidan hasn’t had a significant woman in his life since hiswife died. Back when Cole was in high school, at the urging of his friends, he tried to date. At one point, he actually met someone he could see himself with long-term. But at the seven-month mark, the holidays rolled around and the thought of taking her to the Cavanaughs for Christmas made him shudder. It wasn’t the Cavanaughs’ fault—they only wanted him to be happy. He knew that. But he also felt that as a single father, he had to put family first. And a new woman would always be a piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit. It wouldn’t be fair to her. And maybe not fair to Cole. It just didn’t feel right.
“I think you’re punishing yourself,” said the overpriced therapist he’d reluctantly agreed to go see. That didn’t last long. And no, he didn’t feel guilty about Nancy’s death—he had nothing to do with the rare cancer that interrupted their lives so mercilessly. And he didn’t feel guilty about being alive while she was gone. It was more complicated than that.
“Grandson, is that a phone?” Barclay looks at Cole, who shoves something back into his jacket pocket.
Cole didn’t hand over his phone when they were collected?
“What’s going on?” Aidan whispers.
“It’s still a weekday,” Cole says.
Aidan wants to believe it’s just a strong work ethic making Cole violate the spirit of the afternoon. But he’s not so sure. He gives him a nudge, and Cole hands his phone over to Barclay.
“Our first exercise is collecting materials to build a lean-to shelter. We won’t have time today to build an entire structure, but the assignment is to gather material as if we must do so with a ticking clock—sunset’s in two and a half hours. So we’re splitting up into two groups that we’re gonna called Team Boone and Team Crockett—named of course for the two greatest outdoorsman that ever walked this fine earth. Now, fellas, choose your team partners wisely. Because to keepthings interesting, we’re awarding points for every activity this weekend, and the team with the most points on Sunday wins the weekend.”
There are hoots and hollers. And then Barclay opens one of his backpacks and hands out T-shirts that read, “Scott’s Bushcraft Bachelor Party” on the front and “Win the Weekend” on the back. Even though it’s chilly, everyone sheds their coats to change into their T-shirts. Cole is the only one who doesn’t, instead folding the shirt into his own knapsack.
Barclay goes on to explain the rules and points system, and Aidan’s brother-in-law, Ritchie, taps him on the shoulder. “Partners?” They fist bump. This is going to be fun.
“Your assignment, should you choose to accept,” Barclay says, a nod to Scott’s favorite movie franchise,Mission: Impossible. “Collect branches and twigs for a lean-to shelter. The team with the most viable materials wins.”
The group disbands as everyone heads off deeper into the woods.
“Dude, you can’t go one hour without your phone?” Scott says.
