Flashback Friday: Band Camp:)

June 1982:  Band camp arrived, and with it, the normal romances soon sprung up.  I was still grieving my relationship with K, but soon I only missed him during our two hour free time and at meals.  It didn't help that we made friends with some woodwinds who, it turned out, were in the same tent with K, and they sat at the next table in the cafeteria.

On day #2, my BF J announced she was 'in love' with a certain tuba player.  And at breakfast the next day, he joined us.  Later that day, J came in, upset because D was refusing to attend the traditional 'gong show' that evening, and would I please talk to him?  I agreed, and went to find him.

While he and I were talking, K walked by.  Without thinking, I expressed my own disappointment that my plans had changed.  D told me, 'It could still happen' and wiggled his eyebrows.  Shocked that he'd insinuate such an idea, I shot him down, then proceeded to encourage him to talk to J.  He ended up attending the 'Gong Show', but made it clear he thought the entire thing was hokey.  (Duh, that was the POINT!)

After the show, I was getting ready to settle in for the night, when a male voice outside our door asked for me. It was one of the saxaphone players, who asked if I'd take a short walk with him.  We still had an hour until curfew, so I went outside with him.  He then told me he was fed up with the way K was talking smack about me, and wanted to get him back.  He told me his plan, and I agreed to go along with it.

The next day, I met R at the boat dock, and we paddled out a ways, with my back to the beach.  Suddenly R said, "Here he comes."  He then leaned forward, smoothed my hair behind my ear, and said, "I've been wanting to do this all day."  He kissed me; we heard a splash, along with a snort.

"Disgusting, J---!"

We drew apart and I turned around to see K, paddling furiously away!  R and I high-fived each other, then stayed out in the boat a little longer.  For dinner that evening, fish was served.  I can't stand seafood, so needless to say, I was starving by 9pm.   I knew my mother had a jar of peanut butter, so I walked up to the infirmary, only to be told she'd loaned it to a group of boys.  Even though it was against the rules, she gave me permission to go get it.  Turned out R and his friends had the jar, and K was nowhere to be found, so I fixed myself two sandwiches and chatted with the guys as I ate.  One of R's tentmates was embarrassed by my presence in their messy domain, so he scurried around, collecting dirty clothes and straightening everything up.  An hour later, my hunger sated and my ears full of gossip about K and the rest of the tentmates, I returned to my dormitory.  R escorted me back to the 'neutral zone', since it was, after all, 'after hours'.

R continued to seek me out, sitting at our table during meals, and taking me out in the boat during our free period.  And on the final day, BFF J's boyfriend pulled me aside, after I informed him what bus we were all on (at J's request).

"You know, I've had my eye on you for quite  a while."


"You have?"  My mouth dropped open; nobody had ever expressed interest in me, of all people.

"Yeah.  I thought you were a senior."


"No, I'm a junior."


"I know that now.  Listen, if things don't work out between J and I, you're next in line."

I was too shocked to believe what I was hearing, and too stunned to slap him across the face.

"Just do me a favor and keep this between us, okay?"  He winked and walked off.

I debated whether or not to tell J, but she was so happy, I decided to keep things to myself; surely D would show his true colors before long!

And during the ride home, I was telling J and R about the strange dream I'd had the night before.  When J was engrossed in another conversation, D had the audacity to lean over and whisper, "Were you dreaming about me?"

"Hell no!"  And I ignored him the rest of the trip, plus avoided him the rest of the month during practice.

Next Month:  World's Fair!

Present Day:
Happy one week birthday, Miss Alexandria:)