Arrival
It’s barely six a.m. when Remus is woken by the sound of a particularly stubborn whippoorwill. Faint sunlight is streaming in from the patchwork curtains and the air already feels heavy and warm. Arthur and Peter are gone from their bunks and the smell of microwave oatmeal is wafting in from the main room.
Remus pulls his favorite Bowie shirt and a well-worn pair of jean shorts from under his bunk and stumbles into the shared bathroom. He cranks the hot water with the understanding that this will be his last chance for a long, hot shower all summer. He’ll soon be scrambling for even five minutes alone in the shower house. After standing under the water for a little too long Remus towels off and pulls on his clothes. A shriek from Lily can be heard from the next room and signals the arrival of Dorcas and Poppy. Remus steels himself to face a day full of change and heads out to greet his old friends.
“Remus,” Poppy smiles warmly when Remus enters the room. She pulls him into a hug that makes him feel like a kid, despite the six or so inches of height he has on her. Dorcas, who has never been much of a hugger, cuffs him gently over the head and offers a mischievous grin.
“Ten bucks that we’ll hear a complaint about the bugs within, oh say ten minutes?” Dorcas muses.
“I think five,” Remus laughs. He’s glad to have someone around who isn’t painfully optimistic about the incoming staff.
“I think the humidity will get them first,” Peter counters.
“Oh give them a break,” Lily sighs.
“Anyone know their ETA?” Molly ambles into the kitchen rubbing sleep from her eyes. She wanders over to Arthur and presses a kiss the the side of his head.
Arthur glances at his watch, which is ridiculously patterned with waves and rubber ducks. “Twenty minutes or less.”
“So early?” Poppy wonders. “I should have made more muffins,” she frowns at her bag.
“Muffins?” Pete asks, hopefully. Poppy smiles.
“You’re holding out on us!” Remus grins. He leaps from the couch and pushes Pete aside as they make a break for Poppy’s bag.
Remus has just settled into a muffin and a cup of coffee when he hears the camp van rumbling up the gravel driveway. Lily and Molly rush to the front door and out into the early morning sun, Pete and Arthur close on their heels. Remus looks mournfully at his muffin and sets down his coffee
.
“Stop moping,” Dorcas tosses Remus’s shoes at him.
“I am not moping,” Remus grumbles.
“You totally are,” Dorcas shoots back.
“If I’m moping then you’re moping.”
“Oh shut up.”
Remus reluctantly laces up his sneakers and follows Dorcas out the door. A gentle breeze is blowing off the lake and ruffling his hair. He settles in next to Lily, who is nearly jumping out of her skin.
It feels like forever until the old Volkswagen van is parked in front of them. The peeling paint and rusty mirror do nothing to take away from its charm. Minnie steps out first, clothed in a vintage camp shirt. She gives them all a knowing smile and yanks the passenger doors open. Four young people tumble out of the ancient van, all looking very out of place. Two men, two women. Remus can practically feel the privilege emanating from them. Thankfully Lily saves the group from any awkward silences by quickly launching into introductions.
The first of the four is Mary. She’s quiet but there’s an air of confidence about her as she offers her name. She dressed as though she just stepped out of a J. Crew advertisement. Her dark skin and curly hair are perfectly groomed.
Next, a man, named James. He’s nearly as tall as Remus and his unruly dark brown hair falls into his eyes which are covered by large round glasses. He is grinning from ear to ear as he makes a point to shake everyone’s hands. Remus thinks he might be trying a little too hard.
Third is a woman with shaggy blonde hair and a shit-eating grin. She introduces herself as Marlene. Her raggedy jean shorts and badly cropped shirt are offset by her posh accent and perfect posture.
“I’m Sirius,” the last man grins. His accent is somewhere between French and English. He is wearing a heavy leather jacket and Remus can just make out tattoos creeping over his collar. His black hair is gathered at the nape of his neck in a haphazard bun. He holds himself with a cocky sort of confidence that makes Remus want to strangle him. His eyes pause on Remus for a moment, and the urge grows stronger, thankfully, Remus is distracted by an exclamation from James.
“Oi! These bugs are killer!”
Dorcas snorts and Remus dissolves into laughter.