Day Four, Five and Six

A "Cape Summerland" story

By Thelma Mary Caroline

I thought a lot about how the stuff Dan and Casey shot would be presented on T V, and how everything would be edited.  But I guess no one else did.

Days three, four and five, everything seemed to go downhill.  Everyone was all screaming at each other all the time.  Just like at work, I noted wryly.  They fought and complained.

Clothes were strewn everywhere in the bunk houses, beds unmade.  Breakfast was ultimately a fend for yourself deal, though Sam and Archana worked hard.  The eggs were overcooked, and the biscuits burnt. 

It didn't matter, though.  A lot of the town was in the barn anyway, playing with the goats.  Except for the people that were supposed to be in the barn.  Only me, Ham, and Megan were there.  Megan was really great, the best team player I've ever known. 

She and I collected eggs from the chickens, and that was the most fun I'd ever had.

I carried them carefully to the kitchen.  Since all my stuff was done, I was allowed to do whatever I wanted.

"You guys all need any help?"  I asked Sam.

"Yeah, we gotta get all this garbage cleaned up.  We'll bury it somewhere.  It's too bad there isn't a local garbage company.  But you don't have to help.  Go do something fun."

"I'll wash the dishes while you're gone," I said.  "I like washing dishes."

Archana stared at me.  "Okay, psycho.  You wash the dishes, me and Sam will deal with the garbage.  Where is the rest of our team?"

"In the barn with the goats," I said, rolling my eyes.

So I scrubbed the dishes clean, dried them and put them away.  When I finished, I wandered outside to where Leah was doing laundry.  Leah was part of the "Kleaning Krew," as they called themselves.  (I think the name was Zach's idea.)

"Here, let me help," I said.  She was rubbing the clothes against the washrack while Leah rested.  "Thanks," she said, and I went my own way.

Sam was right, I should enjoy my free time.  I walked away from the town, exploring.  Elle Jae had said that the original settlers had burned anything that was poisonous within five miles so there would be no mistakes.  I ate some berries and fruit to go with my burnt breakfast.

But then I went and grabbed a water bucket.  We had to get water from a nearby river (Thorncreek River, it was called, though only God knows why) and boil it to be sure it was safe.  The water was a translucient pink color because of the berries that grew in it.

I filled the water bucket with glittering berries.  They tasted the best, in my opinon.  Everyone would be pretty excited.  Okay, so they looked weird, little things, as big as a pinky's finger nail.  They really did glitter, literally.  I wondered what they were called.

"Hey," Elle Jae said, coming up to me.  "Them berries are good."

I looked up, and she shrugged.  "Just sayin'."