A Golden Summer

    "'Camp Timberwood, two miles'!"     I ignore him and continue to stare out the car window, watching the trees go by. The oldies station plays one of my favorite songs, but I'm too lost in my own thoughts to notice. As we get closer to the camp, my anxiety goes through the roof.     My dad can sense something is wrong.     "What's up, bud?" he asks, turning down the radio.     s**t, I really didn't want him to notice. Then again, I'm terrible at hiding my emotions, always wearing my heart on my sleeve. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out something's wrong.     I sigh, not knowing where to start. "I don't know..." is all I can manage.     "Are you not excited for camp?" he asks.     "It's not that," I start. It really wasn't, I loved going to camp. I spent most of my summers there, and they were some of the best times in my short life so far. But, I was always a camper never a counselor.      "You nervous about being a counselor this time?" I swore he could read my mind sometimes. Sometimes it'd be annoying, but other times it would be nice and helpful; the less I'd have to explain to him. This was one of the helpful times.     "Yeah, a little," I admit. 'A little' was an understatement. I was TERRIFIED. "It's not too late to turn back and go home?" I'm only half joking.     "Come on, don't be like that. It's okay to be nervous, new things can be scary. But don't give up before you've even tried it," he tells me. It's not a lecture, but a lesson he's trying to teach me. I like that about my dad, he's never stern or mean when it comes to the tough stuff. He's always caring and understanding.     "Okay. I'll try," I tell him with a smile.     "Good, because we're here."     He turns off the highway and onto a dirt road. We drive past a giant log sign with 'CAMP TIMBERWOOD' carved into it. Upon seeing the familiar sign I immediately begin to feel nostalgic and hopeful.     We drive down the bumpy dirt road for half a mile or so. Tall pine trees line the road, and I look up, trying to see the tops of them. It's no use, they're way too tall.     We drive by the residential cabin, where my uncle lives. It's a blue A-frame cabin with a bright red door. His golden retriever lies across the porch, bathing in the warm sun. I stick my head out the window and call out "Finn!" His head shoots up immediately. He hops off the porch and runs alongside our car, barking as his tail wags a mile a minute.      We pass the rec field and approach the main lodge. My dad parks the car and Finn attacks me as I step out of the car. "I missed you too!" I tell him as he licks my face. My dad gives him a few scratches on his head.     "I see you've already met our welcoming committee."      I look up to see my uncle Owen approach us from the main lodge. At first glance you wouldn't think he was my uncle. For one, he was fiery red hair that glows in the sunlight, and freckles that cover his entire face. Why he decided to take over my grandfather's summer camp is beyond me, he turns into a lobster after a minute in the sun.      My dad tries to shake his brother's hand, but is pulled into a hug instead. They have always been so different to the point where they joke about Owen being adopted, which wouldn't be a stretch.     "How was the drive up?" Owen asks.     "Good, no traffic at all," my dad replies.      "And how's my favorite niece?"     "You're only niece," I correct him. I give Finn one last rub behind his ears and stand up. Owen also pulls me into a hug. We're pretty close, so I don't mind hugging him, unlike some of my other relatives. He's more like a second dad to me. He doesn't have any kids of his own, and after my mom died he stepped in to help my dad out. We've been close ever since.     "Yes yes, how could I forgot with you constantly reminding me," Owen jokes.     It's at this moment when I realize how empty the camp is. Usually it's always bustling with people getting the camp ready for tomorrow when the campers arrive. As far as I can tell, we're the only ones here. Something's up.     "Where is everyone?" I ask.     "I'm glad you asked. They won't be here until tomorrow."     "What!?" my dad and I say together.      "I thought we could have a nice little family camping night," Owen explains.      I look over at my dad. This was definitely not part of the plan. "Owen, I have work tomorrow morning," my dad says. This appears to be news to my uncle.     "Oh. Well this is awkward then," he says.     This isn't surprising of my uncle, he's always been spontaneous and never thinks things completely through. I feel bad at his attempt to surprise us.     "I'll still be here," I tell him.     He smiles. "Right. I have some fun things planned for the three of us."     "No, I can't stay,' my dad tells him. "I have work, remember?"     "I know. I'm not talking about you."     "Then who--"     Before my dad can finish his sentence, he's interrupted by the booming sound of rock music. We all turn to see a beat up car speeding down the dirt road. It makes a sharp turn and parks right next to my dad's car. I've seen this car before.     My cousin, Charlie, steps out of the car smoking a cigarette. He takes one last puff and tosses it to the ground.     "Hey now, make sure it's out. The last thing I need is a forest fire," Owen scolds.     Charlie rolls his eyes and steps on the cigarette, twisting his foot hard into the ground.      "Did you know Charlie was going to be here?" I ask my dad. He shakes his head, he had no idea. Neither did I. I haven't seen my cousin in a few years. We grew up together, and at one point I'd even consider him more of my brother, but over the last few years we grew apart. And he started getting into the wrong crowd. He stopped speaking to us and the rest of our family. So this should be fun.     "'Sup. Where is everyone?" Charlie asks. He takes off his ridiculous shades and looks around.     "We're having a family fun night tonight. Surprise!" Owen informs.     Charlie puts his shades back on and heads back to his car. "Screw this." I don't blame him.     Owen races after him and brings him back to our little circle. He whispers something into Charlie's ear that seems to work.      "I have to head back now, bud." My dad pulls me into a tight hug. "Have fun. And you can always call me if anything happens or you need to talk, okay?" I nod. "See you in August."     I wave goodbye as he drives down the dirt road and disappears behind the trees.      Owen claps his hands together. "All right, who's ready for some fun?"     It turns out 'family fun night' was just code for chores. Knowing Charlie and I know the camp inside out, Owen had tasked us with cleaning up and some maintenance before staff members arrive tomorrow. And our payment? S'mores. I don't even like marshmallows and chocolate.       It was a quiet and awkward afternoon as Charlie and I hardly spoke a word to each other as we worked together. I wished more than ever that I had just stayed home to play video games all summer like I planned.     After a long day of labor, the three of us ate dinner in silence at the mess hall. After dinner Owen brought me to his office to sign some official papers.     "I'm sorry about today," he says as he digs through his desk. I immediately feel guilty, he was trying his best.     "Don't be sorry, I had fun." It was a lie, but I felt it was okay in this situation. I didn't want him feeling bad.     He smiles at me. "Thanks." He finds the file and hands me a contract to sign. "Just for formalities, so you can get paid and what not," he explains. I skim through the contract and sign at the bottom.     "Awesome, now the fun stuff. I put you in Goldenrod for the summer, that was your favorite cabin, right?"     Goldenrod was not only my favorite cabin, but my first. As a small, shy and awkward second grader, Goldenrod was truly my first home away from home. It always held a special place in my heart, and most of my favorite camp memories were attached to that cabin. I was ecstatic, to say the least.     He can tell just from my huge smile that he did something right.     "She's all yours for tonight. Your co-counselor will bunk with you tomorrow." He hands me the keys to the cabin. I can't believe I'm holding them.     "Thank you, uncle Owen."     I give him a big hug and head back down to the mess hall, grabbing my bags and bedding, before I head to my home for the summer. As I get closer to the cabin, I can feel my excitement bubble within me. For the first time today I feel excited, rather than nervous or anxious. Maybe this summer won't be so bad after all?     As soon as I unlock and open the door, the nostalgic musty smell of wood and dust pulls me in. Every memory of every summer I spent here flashes before my eyes, and I can't help the goofy smile that spreads across my face. For once in my life I have the first pick of the bunks. I scan my options, even though I already know which one has my name on it. In each cabin there's one bed that's bigger than the rest, but it's reserved for the counselor. And this time that's me.     I toss my bedding on the large bunk and drop my bags onto the floor. I make my bed and change into my pajamas before heading to the girl's washroom to brush my teeth. It's an eerie and weird feeling having the entire camp to myself, but it's also refreshing.      I wake up to the sound of singing birds and a warm beam of sunlight on my face. It takes me a moment to realize where I am. I get up and get dressed for the day, humming and dancing to myself as I make my bed. The door is open, allowing sunshine and fresh air into the cabin. Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it.     "Nice dance moves."     I jump at the unfamiliar voice and turn around, my heart dropping instantly. The most beautiful girl I have ever seen stands in the doorway, holding a blanket and pillows in her arms.      Holy f**k.