Desperate Measures

“So my mom is making me go with that new dork in town to summer camp. She even set us up as bunkmates and everything. I don’t get why she likes him so much Beck, like seriously, he annoys the crap out of me, not even kidding,” I spat in the phone, still furious at my mother for ruining the first two weeks of my summer.1

“I know eh? This is ridiculous, I’ll be surprised if he’s still alive by the time the week is up.” Beck giggled at her own joke. I, for some reason, didn’t find it too funny.2

“More like two weeks, she signed us up for double time. You know one of these times I’m going to blow up on her because she’s always trying to pick my dates. It’s not like she’d be the one dating them..so it should be my choice, right?” I was going to have to end the conversation soon, before I became enraged enough to start beating inanimate objects..not good. 3

“You’re right about that one,” she quietly spoke with a tinge of uneasiness lodged in her throat. Pausing, I wondered if she actually believed the words that just came out. Maybe I was wrong this time.4

“So when do you leave than?” she asked, disrupting the awkward silence and along with it my thoughts.5

“Tomorrow,” I replied glumly. I really didn’t want to go. “Guess I better pack than eh? I’ll see you later Beck.”6

Setting the phone down lightly, I sighed knowing the next two weeks were going to suck big time.7

Morning came all too quickly. Deciding I’d rather walk than see my mom right now, I set out on my long voyage seeking the bus station of doom. The crisp morning air smelled so nice, I slowed my pace to counteract my racing mind. If I missed the bus, I doubt I’d be too devastated.8

Than I heard his voice. That nasally voice that had only taken me a day to despise passionately with every cell in my body. Calling out my name. He was running towards me, his smile even more nauseating than I recalled. 9

Before I knew it, he had pulled out his laptop and was attempting to offer me a free video game. Preoccupying myself, looking around, just pretending I wasn’t with him didn’t help my situation all that much. His voice was so loud, it rose above those of the townspeople, much like a lion’s would at a zoo..only with a lisp. It was too late, everyone had silenced and were now focusing on nerdo 4000 and I, his glasses reflecting sunlight into people’s eyes. I had to do something. 10

Think, think, think I told myself, paying close attention to every surrounding detail but him. Than the most spectacular words emerged from his metal jaws.11

“Which bus are we on, Karen?”12

This was my golden opportunity. Shifting my eyes to the left, a devious idea arose. 13

“That one!” I pointed out to him, adding that I desperately needed to visit the ladies room and would find him on the bus. 14

He fell for it! Questioning the decency of my eyesight, I smiled as he darted through the crowd and hopped aboard the bus. The bus with the sign atop it clearly stating it was heading to Maple, a small town six hours in the opposite direction of camp. 15

The next two weeks were a blast. Feeling a little guilty, I stared into the empty flame of the campfire each night, predicting all the consequences my charming mother would come up with upon my arrival at home. As guilty as I felt, I couldn’t have dealt with it a better way.16

The End17