replied.
He extended his hand and I shook it, sealing the pact.
Within the next few weeks, we planned a camping trip with roughly 12 people, choosing an isolated spot in the rugged Angeles National Forest, away from any public campground. Or rather, Jacob planned it and I gave my consent, and between the two of us we would finance the entire excursion. He posted the idea on Facebook, mentioning that the first ten “friends” who responded would get a free mountain camping trip. He explained that the point was to have a “roughing it” experience in the wild without any help from electronic gadgets. He stated on his Facebook post, “Don’t bother to apply if you are not willing to camp in the true pioneer spirit. Sneaking in any kind of 21st century electronic devices, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, Nintendo DS’s, electronic games and anything else along that line, will get you kicked out.”
Working as manager at Jock Master Sporting Goods, my pal was able to rent tents and other equipment at a ridiculously low price. We picked the first week in April to execute our bet, which gave us two months to get organized and provide our “guests” with ample time to prepare for the trip.
CHAPTER 2
I was awake long before the alarm clock went off on Monday, April 1, the day of our departure. The date marked the 10th anniversary of my mother’s passing and - - as with every 1st of April in the last decade - - evoked guilt, regret, and most of all anger in me. If I hadn’t taken a wrong turn and lost my sense of direction that night on the drive to UCLA Medical Center, I’d have arrived at her deathbed in time and been given a chance to reconcile. As it stood, she died with a lot of hostility between us.
I glanced over at Tala, still sound asleep, with appreciation. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Beautiful, caring, down-to-earth, and wise beyond words. My only unfulfilled wish was to start a family. We had not been ready to have kids for a long time after we were married, and only began considering the idea a couple of years ago. And now it wasn’t happening. There was still plenty of time before Tala’s biological clock would give out, so I tried not to be concerned.
The alarm sounded and Tala stirred, murmuring “You didn’t sleep well?”
“It’s the 1st of April.”
“I see.”
“I know you think I’m being ridiculous.”
Wide awake now, she switched on the nightstand lamp, sat straight up in bed, and looking me in the eye, stated, “Let it go! You’ve tortured yourself long enough. So your mother died before you could make peace. It’s a fact of life and fretting over it is not going to change anything. And who would have expected her to die of complications from pneumonia in the first place? I never understood why you were only notified after her condition worsened and she was placed in ICU.”
Not missing a beat, she continued, “Another thing you don’t seem to be aware of, what makes you so sure that she would have acknowledged your attempt at reconciliation?”
“Oh, I’m positive she’d have accepted my apology.”
“Apology for what, James? Could you possibly apologize for having a different view from hers on just about everything, starting with personal ethics all the way to politics?”
She did not wait for an answer and went on, “And what about the main issue? Her biggest gripe was with me. She didn’t approve of me, having set higher aspirations for her son than marrying a mere Filipina nurse. She despised me from day one. After all, I was to blame for your breaking off the engagement with the woman she favored. The fact that I’m Catholic didn’t help either. Face it, James, she was a rich bitch, believing that she could change your mind by cutting you out of her will.”
I did not comment, knowing deep down that she was right.
Tala suddenly leaned toward me, and offering a kiss, said, “I’m sorry about your mom, but this guilt obsession of yours seems to get worse as time passes. You have no cause to feel guilty. Get it out of your system.”
She kissed me again and said, “Cheer up, already.”
I gave her a halfhearted grin.
Then, straightening and getting out of bed she stated, “Now, let’s get ready for that big camping adventure of yours!” She added, “Wear my favorite blue polo shirt, the one that brings out the deep blue of your eyes.”
I perked up and said, “I’m so glad you’re able to take the week off and decided to come.”
“Well, I’m counting on a relaxing time to focus on our efforts in the baby-making department!”
CHAPTER 3
We met in the Jock Master Sporting Goods parking lot in the San Fernando Valley on that mild and sunny spring morning. Jacob had an agreement with the store owners to leaving the group’s individual cars parked on their lot for the week. The idea was that we would all drive up in Jacob’s van and my SUV. He had hooked up an enclosed small cargo trailer to his van, loaded with food and water, as well as tents and other camping gear. Air mattresses and sleeping bags were stored on his roof luggage carrier.
We got there early and found Jacob already waiting for us. He greeted Tala with, “Great to have you along. I couldn’t persuade Holly to join us; she’s a high maintenance sort of woman.” He chuckled, “Her words: ‘I’ll take sleeping in a comfortable bed, hot showers, and microwaving my food any day over your nature hunt!’”
The rest of our campers arrived in pairs or alone, and Jacob checked them off his attendance list. I had not met any of these people before and I don’t think that even Jacob knew our guests well. There was a blue-collar guy in his early thirties by the name of Todd; Marcelo, a kid of twenty-one; The Kim family - Yon and Min with their six-year-old little boy Mikey; a lesbian couple Hannah and London; and brothers Derek and Curtis, a pair of rednecks in their mid-twenties.
Jacob was pissed when the Kims showed up with a young child. He whispered to me, “I had no idea. I hope they don’t expect us to play little kids games.”
We had loaded everyone’s backpack and the booster car seat for Mikey into our respective vehicles, and people were ready to step into the cars when Jacob said, “Candie Valentina and her friend Nicklaus aren’t here yet.”
I said, “You’re kidding. The Candie Valentina. As in Hollywood?”
“Yep, her.”
As the group was getting antsy, Jacob said, “Dammit. Marcelo took the train and a bus, and managed to get here on time, so why can’t Candie and her friend?” Checking his watch, he continued, “I give them five more minutes and if they don’t show, we’ll leave without them.”
We already had our motors running when a late-model Mercedes-Benz tore into the parking lot at high speed. Candie leaned out the driver’s side window, hollering, “Looks like I’ve made it just in time. I’ll follow you!”
Jacob turned off the engine, got out of the car and said, “As agreed, we’re only taking the van and the SUV. So park your car and hop in.”
She argued, “No offense, but I refuse to leave my car in this lot for a week. Besides, I’m sure there isn’t room in your vehicles for my two suitcases and a
