Burp, Flap, Shelly, and Donna III (10)

Burp, Flap, Shelly, and Donna III (10)

   Outside of Cabin 3 Burp could hear Flap and Donna and Shelly laugh at something someone had just said. He made his way into the bedroom, where the bed was set up for the night, and went into his duffel bag, searching. For a moment he had a frightening thought that he'd left it at home and then his hand wrapped around the small box with its clasping lid. He pulled it out and looked inside at the golden band with the tiny diamonds inset. An engagement ring.

    Charlie Martin and Shelly Close had been boyfriend and girlfriend since sophomore year in high school. Since age 16 they'd been going steady. Four years. Her parents loved him and his parents adored her. She was his world and he didn't want to spend a moment without her.

    "You should do it somewhere nice," Flap had said the day that Burp showed him the engagement ring. "Hey, I got it! Why not make a week out of it? All four of us head somewhere in New England in September, when the leaves start going and you do it there?"

    Shelly and Donna thought this week was about drinking all they could and partying. How wrong they were. It was about so much more. It was about love eternal.

    "Come on, Poindexter!" Donna called from outside with a laugh. "We're making s'mores!"

    "Coming!" Burp shouted back through the open bedroom window. He put the engagement ring back into the bottom of the duffel bag and hurried back outside.

    "What were you doing in there?" Shelly asked, putting her arm into her boyfriend's.

    "I thought I forgot something back in Cleveland." Burp said, looking at Flap.

    "Did you?" Flap asked, giving Burp a worried look. Was this week going to just be about beer and partying? Not that he minded, but it would be nice to see his best friend pop the question.

    "Nah, I got it," Burp grinned.

    "Got what?" Shelly asked, laying her head on Burp's shoulder.

    "Probably a night light," Donna said. "Are the books too scary for little Charlie?" she asked in a baby voice.

    "No," Burp smiled. "It's actually a case of antibiotics. I was afraid spending seven days around you would give me some kind of disease, Donna."

Donna gave Burp the finger and everyone laughed.

    "No, seriously though," Burp said. "Just making sure I had packed my first aid kit. Can't be too careful out in the woods."

    "That's my boyfriend for you," Shelly said. "Looking out for everyone's safety." She leaned up and kissed Burp on the mouth.

    "You want a marshmallow?" Donna asked, holding out a metal skewer with a white puff on the end to Burp.

Burp took it and said, "Thanks, Donna." and set the marshmallow into the fire.

    "Watch it, dude," Flap said. "You're gonna burn it."

    "I know," Burp loved the black char skin of a burnt marshmallow. It had a campfire taste and a crispiness that was the best woodland treat, in his opinion. 

    The marshmallow caught on fire and the skin went from fluffy and white to crispy and black and Burp blew it out, taking the graham cracker and chocolate bar piece that Shelly held out to him. He put the three together and downed it in one bite.

    "Ah," he said as he swallowed. "Delicious. This is what good camping is all about, folks. Good friends and delicious food that, in excess, will leave you fat and with heart problems!"

    Everyone laughed and Flap said, "Speaking of good camping, who wants to tell some ghost stories?"