-- CAMPGROUND PARKING LOT --
While wheeling my mom's suitcase on the dirt path, I see two women and a man standing next to a sedan. They look to be gathering their luggage and suddenly I hear my mom.
"Oh my god, Felicia!" She exclaims as she runs past me. The two embrace and I see a blonde who's probably in her 40's. She's also wearing a sundress like mom's. No floral pattern though, just yellow with some buttons running down the top.
"Lydia, it's been too long." she replies back.
"Ana! Chris!" My mom goes to hug who I'm assuming are this woman's... children? My mom breaks and says, "You have to meet my son, Vincent, the one I told you was in the army?"
I put on my best warm smile and say, "Nice to meet you ma'am."
"Pleasure is all mine. You're much more handsome than your mom described."
"You sure? My mom likes to exaggerate." I smirked back at her.
My mom interjects, "And this is Mara! She's my other daughter I told you about. She's finally able to join us."
Felicia goes to the other two, "These are my kids, Chris and Ana."
"Hi" they both say simultaneously. They look to be around my age, both with dirty blonde hair and sunglasses on. I shook both their hands and Mara just raised her hand matching their shy energy.
"Hey again" Kerry popped up from behind me and embraced all three of them. I guess they're pretty fond of her. Our group began walking when my mom and Felicia started towards the campgrounds. I could see what looked to be a main picnic area and several log cabins dotted up the hill.
Kerry starts, "So are you guys as miserable as I am in corporate life?"
They both chuckle, Chris replies "It's work, luckily it's quiet in accounting."
"How's HR?" Ana chimed in.
"Eh, I'm just getting the hang of talking to big groups, plus you get to hear all the gossip from the older folks about everyone's relationships and fuck-ups." Kerry said smiling.
She noticed me looking back and says, "Vincent, Chris and Ana are twins!"
"Cap, you two don't look alike." Mara said incredulously.
"They're fraternal" replied Kerry. "Sorry, didn't mean to speak for y'all."
"That's the way we like it" said Ana with a soft smile.
-- MAIN CAMPGROUND --
We arrived at what looks like a main gathering area, I see several other families. My mom and Kerry run in seeing old friends and embracing them. Mara and I stick close to one another, and I ask her if she knows any of them.
She replies, "No, they don't really talk about this place. Well, not mom. Kerry's told me a bit."
"Oh, so what are we gonna be doing here? Just like camping or activities n shit?" I ask.
"Activities, but I can't tell you what they are, there's a surprise." She said, looking up at me.
"Oh..kay." I squint my eyes and she squints right back at me.
Suddenly I hear a woman's booming voice from the direction of an extinguished bonfire.
"Welcome! Welcome back, and welcome to the new ones. How are you all feeling?"
Whoops were heard all around, even mom and Kerry yelled while they made their way back to Mara and me.
"Good! I see some new faces! My name is Meira and I hope your time here is as transformative as it has been for the rest of your family. Please, make some room."
She gestures to the area around her. The people closest to her stepped back almost in unison.
"Now, can the new ones please step forward?"
I look to my mom and Kerry; they both just smile and tell me it's okay. They walk me to the front, Mara seemed to somehow already know to walk up. I guess Kerry told her a lot more about what's going on here than I thought. I notice the diversity of families, almost looks like a model UN of different races, and oddly enough not many older men.
The woman's voice interrupts, "Please, partake in this ceremonial tea as we embark on this weekend of discovery and familial bonding."
I see people who look like hired help hand mom and Kerry some small cups. They grab one for themselves and special cups for Mara and me. We take them and my mom leans in, "I'm so glad you both are here with us, Kerry and I have been waiting for this for a while."
I look around and see the other families begin downing their cups. Kerry looks to us and says, "Cheers!" We raise the glasses and toast to the moment. I hesitantly down it, and the staff in black and white waiting outfits come back to collect the empty cups.