The call of the wild

Finn stood back and admired his handiwork. Whilst he’d never actually put up a tent before, he’d been around people long enough to know the basics.  The pegs were in at the right angle, he was far enough away from a tree so that should the worst happen and it got struck by lightning it wouldn’t fall on the tent!  The camping stove sat ready for their meal later, and close by, defrosting in a saucepan was the bolognaise that had been grabbed from the freezer earlier. There was also a small firepit which would be lit later for warmth and marshmallows.

‘Finn , I’ve got snacks!’

Kitty had arrived carrying a large bag. It looked heavy and Finn could see she was struggling so he went to help her. Kitty loved Finn unreservedly. Petite, with masses of red curls and green eyes Kitty was a typical Irish beauty without the accent. That was pure scouse which she got from her mother Maggie. Her father was absent from her life, but she had never missed him. Her mother had done an admirable job of bringing her up as a single parent until two years ago when she had finally met her soul mate. It hadn’t mattered to Kitty that her mother’s soul mate was another woman. As long as her mother was happy Kitty was happy, and anyway she loved  Mary. The minute she had met her she knew that she was always going to be in their lives.

‘I  hope you remembered the marshmallows.’ Finn said, breaking her daydream. He was looking into the bag and only seeing crisps and cans.

‘Of course I did’ Kitty replied rather indignantly ‘Thankfully, I also remembered the skewers at the last minute or we wouldn’t be able have them ‘. She held the wooden skewers aloft and waved them triumphantly.

‘What do you think of the tent? I think it’s safe enough there don’t you?’

Kitty put the bag down,  walked over to the tent and bending down wiggled one of the pegs. It came clean out of the ground.

Finn was disappointed – he thought he would at least get that right. Picking up the mallet he handed it to Kitty and stood back while she hammered the peg back into the ground. She then checked all the other pegs  “just in case” .

A sudden breeze made them both shiver .

‘Get the fire lit Kitty, it’s getting dark and cold. Also, I’m getting hungry so I’ll warm up the bolognaise. ‘ Finn said rubbing his arms up and down his body as if proving it was chilly.

Kitty agreed and grabbing the matches from her fleece pocket she bent down and lit one holding the flame to the firelighter. As soon as that had taken she arranged the pre collected twigs and prayed they were dry enough to burn. She need not have worried as they caught instantly and soon the fire was ablaze.

In the meantime Finn had lit the gas stove and was busy stirring the bolognaise, pushing down the bits that were still frozen and silently praying that he wasn’t going to give them both food poisoning.

He was a shy creature and was always counting his lucky stars that  Kitty had come into his life when she did. He had been having a hard time when he met her and instantly he knew they would be friends forever. Another child brought up by a single mother, he had not known his father either, so they had plenty of life experiences to share.

‘ Is dinner ready yet Finn ?’ Kitty’s voice broke through his thoughts.

Looking in the saucepan he replied by saying it was indeed ready and then dished it up declaring ‘ dinner is served’.

The bolognaise was good and just what was needed on a cold evening.  It was getting dark now and the fire that Kitty had lit earlier was ready for the marshmallows. These were toasted and devoured within minutes amid much laughter and talking.

By now it was totally dark and Finn announced he was going to bed. Kitty agreed and after extinguishing the fire with some water from her cup, they both got into the tent, their respective sleeping bags and fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

Meanwhile, back in the house Finns mother Mary was keeping an eye on proceedings from the kitchen window. She knew they would both be okay as they were safe in the garden, but even so it was cold, snow was forecast and she wasn’t sure how Finn would cope with the noises that the night could bring.

Sensing movement behind her Mary turned and smiled.

‘They’ll be alright you know’ Maggie said putting her arm around Mary’s waist.’ Kitty is only a couple of years older I know but there is a world of difference between a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl’.

As they watched, the first flakes of snow began to fall. Less than a minute later the tent flaps opened and two young figures ran up the garden, into the warmth of the kitchen and their respective mother’s arms.

‘I guess the call of the wild will have to wait a bit longer ‘ said Mary to Finn as she ruffled her son’s hair.

‘ Maybe later in the year’ said Kitty looking across at him and smiling ‘ when it’s warmer’.

‘ I’ll still want marshmallows though.’

‘Always’ said Kitty ‘ always’.