Page 25 of Hit the Ground
“Yep. Always. Hit me.”
I pictured him sitting with his feet up on the coffee table, my mom either tucked up beside him or close by. They didn’t stray far from each other. Never had.
“The librarian, Alice Clark, gave Jesse information about a summer camp in Laramie. It’s three weeks long, and he’d stay in a dorm. Jesse wants to do it, but—”
“Three weeks is too long for you?”
“Way too long.” Him gone a week at a time was my limit. I couldn’t even wrap my head around more than that.
“What kind of camp is it?”
“STEM, focusing on robotics.” I explained everything I’d read about the camp—the experts who’d be teaching, the activities, what the schedule would be like, what Jesse would learn.
He sucked in air through his teeth. “Ah. No wonder Jesse wants to go. Sounds like his idea of heaven.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah,” he echoed. “Your hesitation is it’s too long to be away from home?”
“That, and the idea came from nowhere. The librarian found this camp for him. She contacted the guy who runs it to secure Jess a slot and told Jess about it. I may not have reacted well.”
My dad went quiet for a beat. “Don’t tell me you were a dick to her.”
“I won’t say it, but…yeah.”
He hissed again. “Caleb Kelly, I don’t like hearing that. That’s not the man I know you to be.”
It wasn’t often I was scolded by my dad. Not when I was younger, and especially not now. When it happened, I felt it deep in my gut.
I stared at the paperwork spread across my kitchen table. “I know. I know I messed it up. But I can’t get behind him going away for that long.”
“What if you’re stopping him from having the best time of his life? What if he comes home more confident, more curious, more himself than he’s ever been?”
“That’s what Alice said.”
“She’s a smart woman.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Listen, Cay. I get it. You’re his dad. You don’t want to let go. But part of raising a kid to become an independent adult is letting him learn hecanbe away from you and still be okay.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, close to admitting defeat. “I know you’re right. I do. I…just…he’s my boy.”
“Do you think he’ll ever stop being your boy? Look at you, calling your dad for advice at your ripe old age.” He chuckled. “Think about it this way: if you say no, will it be for him…or for you?”
That landed deep in my chest, heavy as a rock.
“For me,” I choked out, hating the taste of it.
“Then you know what you need to do.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “I do.”
I’d put some thought into it, and no matter what, three weeks was a long time to be away. I couldn’t agree without discussing it with Shelby and thorough research.
“Good man,” he said. “Apologize to Alice as soon as you can. And don’t forget to tell Jesse you’re proud of him.”
He was right on all counts. First, I’d make things right with Jesse, then I’d get to work on smoothing things over with Alice. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Anytime. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
