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“Yeah, wow.” June sniffed back her feelings. “But it’s fine. Really. We’ll head back down the mountain - I think kids had a great time this week? And we’ll go back to work. And I’ll work on cover letters. And we’ll figure it out.”
“Can I say something without you hitting me?” Kevin asked, pushing June away at arm’s length. She nodded, a skeptical look on her face. “You don’t want the ‘we’ to mean you and me. You want it to mean you and Colin.” June opened her mouth to protest, pulled her hand back to push him, but he caught her hand and hugged her again. “It’s okay to feel things. It means you care.”
“Ugh,” June said. “I need more coffee and less of this convo.”
“I’m here when you need me.”
“I know, I know.” Breakfast went by in a blur and Kevin, knowing that something was off with June, took lead on making sure all the students had their luggage and were loaded onto the bus for camp. June, having successfully avoided logistics again, forced herself to mingle through the students, the vast majority of whom were excitedly talking about their week, the inside jokes they had made, and the things they would be telling their parents.
June saw Tasha bragging to her group of friends about the number of animals she had seen this week and how she was going to be a wildlife biologist when she grew up (“Did you know you can study animals as a job?”). Evan and Xavier were practicing a handshake they made up, pulled away from the group so that no one else could learn the secrets (“Dude, no one can see it because it’s ours!”). Even Victoria and Maria were back to being friends, taking final pictures with their “vintage” disposable camera (“Ohmigod! So Y2K!”) Even though June was more confused than ever, it seemed that the students had a wonderful time, so that was one victory for this week.
All the students gathered next to their luggage and waited for the bus to arrive. June quickly checked her phone and saw a text that the driver had gotten stuck waiting for the Eisenhower Tunnel to clear and the bus would be late. June scrambled to find something to do, looked at Kevin and had a silent conversation to figure out who would take the lead on a game. June had just rolled her eyes and made a move to step on a stump and begin a game when she heard an all-too-familiar voice ring out over the crowd of students.
“This is a repeat after me song!” Colin yelled to the students.
“This is a repeat after me song!” The vast majority of the students shouted back, having learned the traditions and routines of camp. Colin led the students in a ridiculous song about a moose who drank too much juice who eventually was on the loose, causing them all to laugh and make ridiculous faces at each other. He then took a moment, stood up on a picnic table.
“I have had so much fun with all of you this week at camp,” Colin said, looking out over the group of students, but June knew that his words were directed at her. “All of us here will miss you so much, but remember that you can always come back to camp - either in your memories or by visiting during the summer!” June felt Kevin’s eyes on her and avoided Colin’s gaze focused on her through the crowd. “I have one last song to sing with you all, but it’s a bit slower - is that okay?” The kids murmured some kind of approval, and Colin soldiered on. “It’s a bit cheesy, but it makes me happy.”
Hmmm, I want to linger.
Hmmm, A little longer.
Hmmm, A little longer,
Here with you.
Hmmm, It's such a perfect night.
Hmmm, It doesn't seem quite right.
Hmmm, That this should be,
My last with you.
Hmmm, And come September,
Hmmm, I will remember,
Hmmm, Our camping days,
Of friendships true.
Hmmm, And as the years go by,
Hmmm, I'll think of you and sigh.
Hmmm, This is good night
And not goodbye.
Hmmm I want to linger.
Hmmm A little longer.
Hmmm A little longer,
Here with you.
