Val offered, "How would you like some hot tea?"
"That would be delightful, but how will you make it?"
"At my place. Trust me, staff cabins are so much nicer than camper cabins."
"Oh Okay."
Val knew that the pair of them would not be able to sleep after such a thrilling moment. Her heart was still pumping as she descended down the intact ladder from Kaden's cabin.
Kaden asked her, "Are you all right Val?"
"Yeah, I'm fine Kaden."
"Are you sure?," Unlike Val, Kaden could pick up on a hint usually. She added, "Is it me?"
Once both girls were down from the ladder, Val placed her hands on Kaden's small hips.
"Listen to me Kaden. I haven't told anyone this and I'm trusting you with this information. Okay?"
Kaden bobbed her head.
Val proceeded, "I haven't dated anyone for nearly two years."
Kaden responded, "Well, you don't have to feel bad or embarrassed about that. I don't think anything bad of it."
"Well, that's one of the reasons I don't share this tidbit with just anyone, because it is embarrassing. But Kaden, there's more that fits the puzzle." Val looked to Kaden to see her reaction. Kaden just looked at Val with her bright green eyes patiently. She didn't have anything to say.
Silence rang between the two until Val opened her mouth and managed to say, "Geez, Kaden, I don't know how to tell you this. I don't know even if you want to hear it. I mean, to put it frankly Kaden, it's emotional baggage."
Val's eyes interlocked with Kaden's eyes. Val tried to look away, but Kaden's hand was too quick for Val; she had stopped walking and managed to bring Val's face back to her own. "Val, I don't expect the universe from you." Val's face scrunched up with confusion. Kaden stated, "I don't expect perfection from you. Humans are naturally imperfect. In fact, I personally think flaws can be beautiful and sometimes incredibly sexy. Like the way you eat your food silly." Val's sad face broke into a smile. Kaden pecked her on the lips.
"Thank you beautiful," Val whispered to Kaden in her ear as they both embraced each other. Then, they finished the trip to Kaden's cabin in a matter of minutes. The staff cabins were not far from Oakies Heights. While most first year staff lived in cabins together, Val had the blessing of living in the cabins that resembled apartments. She purposefully chose an apartment on "Level 7" because she could get more exercise during the day by taking more stairs (an elevator wasn't built). Val told Kaden this after she remarked about how high up she was.
Then Kaden asked, "Do you have a co-worker who lives with you?"
Val responded, "Well, technically I'm supposed to, because there are so many staff you know. I am on a ten-year contract which gives me seniority. At the beginning of the year, I was assigned a girl mate, and she showed up for the first month. She was a real slob. She got caught with marijuana; so she was fired. Her loss, my gain," Val laughed as she said this.
"Good," Kaden replied.
At one time, Val yearned for a roommate – anyone who was genuinely nice and respectful to make the time go by. Now, she was thankful no such roommate existed. She had much more privacy to herself and – well Kaden – if they needed it. Val reached in her back pocket for the old rusted key. How long had it been since Camp Radman replaced their keys? She opened the door slowly and let Kaden enter first. Val followed her as she flipped on some lights.
Val's dormitory was made of all wood similar to the Radman Lodge. The wood was from a darker tree. Val didn't know what kind of tree for sure, but she loved it nonetheless.
Inside, her dormitory almost seemed like a wooden cabin; though it looked like an apartment from the outside. Val's full bed stood in the darkest corner of the room. Near the window, a standardized desk was piled with her various papers, envelopes, and books. Across from Val's bed, was a small utility kitchen equipped with a stove, microwave, a small refrigerator, a sink, and a couple of cabinets. In between her kitchen and bed, stood a small table with enough for two people to eat comfortably. Val's bathroom was located to the right of her desk. Her favorite part of the room was next to her bed. A small authentic fireplace was installed near her bed. She placed a soft flannel sleeping bag in front of the welcoming fireplace. This was her favorite place to read at night; it was her escape from reality. Val explained this to Kaden when she inquired about all the books piled against up the wall.
Val said, "Yeah, I've read all of those books. I mean when you live here for a year, its nothing like living in the city. You get an appreciation for the small things. I just prefer reading, because the escape is so much more real than it would be if I had a computer or T.V. I know it sounds weird, but if you lived here for a year Kaden, it would make sense."
Kaden kneeled down and placed herself on the soft flannel sleeping bag. "So, Val, pal," she laughed at the rhyme she created and added, "If you make the tea, I'll start the fire." Val smiled and agreed. She gave Kaden some matches and said, "Be careful. If you need help, ask." Val went into her small cramped kitchen, turned on the burner, filled the teapot, and placed it on the burner. Then she returned to her room to watch Kaden struggle to light match after match. "There goes my paycheck Kaden." Val laughed after she said this.
Kaden's eyes got big, "Oh I'm so sorry." "I'm kidding Kaden. I make more than that, but not much. Trust me, it was my decision to live this way. And I honestly love it." Val kneeled down on the floor behind Kaden.
Kaden responded, "I'm glad you took this path in your life too. Or else I would have never met you."
Val smiled hugely, "So true. Now, Kaden, focus on the object at hand. Here let me help you." Val snugged her body up behind Kaden, placed her arms beyond Kaden, and her hands on Kaden's itty bitty hands. "Your hands are so little Kaden. So cute." Kaden blushed at Val's reaction to her hands. She couldn't think of anything to say to this, but she loved the way Val handled her so fragilely. Val interrupted Kaden's thoughts, "Okay, you novice. Try not to let your brain speak over your instincts. Because I know you have that old pioneer locked up inside you. You just have to relax and let it happen. Got it?"
"Yea," Kaden said softly. She was definitely relaxing now.
"Okay, good," Val continued, "If it takes more than three strikes, you're not relaxing. You're pushing too hard. I know lighters are easier to get going, but I seem to always burn my thumb when I use them. Don't ask. Now, relax, listen, feel, and watch." With that, Val 's right hand guided Kaden's right hand lightly to the match box which Kaden held in her left hand. Val's left hand touched Kaden's left hand and urged her on just a bit faster. "That's it Kaden. We're just like two old pioneers." With that, the match hit the match box on the indicated strip and as both hands guided the match at the perfect speed, the match ignited a small flame.
