Sunday August 11th, 2018
On a warm summer day, a year and a half before Andrew's accident, May, Sarah and Andrew and his family arrive at Montalivet-les-Bains, a small village on the southwestern side of France. The salty ocean air fills their noses when they step out of the camper.
Andrew's mother was born and raised in Montalivet, before moving to England with her father at the age of eleven. For a week, Ben, Gabrielle, Connor, Andrew, May and Sarah will stay in their camper at a small resort named Guerignac. Melissa wanted to stay at home, and they would only meet Keil and Lin the next year.
May takes a deep breath. "The air is great here!" She says, as she steps out of the camper.
"Indeed." Andrew responds. "I've been here a few times before, and the air is still of the same quality."
"Quality air indeed." Ben says. "Dear, we should go shopping because the local market is closing soon. I don't want to drive any more for today."
"Great idea,. You can go with us, Connor, and decide on dinner for tonight."
Connor excitedly goes with them, and before they go Ben turns around.
"Can you three set up the table? It's perfect weather to have dinner outside!" Ben says.
Andrew's parents and Connor leave, and they start setting up the dinner table. It's already 7 p.m., but the sun is still up, and it's filling the sky with a spectacular orange and red hue.
After the table is set up, the three of them settle down on the foldable chairs.
"Getting to walk around after a long trip feels great." Andrew says. "Being able to stretch your legs and stuff."
"Yeah." May responds, as she stretches her arms. "Well, I'd say it was worth it." She falls onto Andrew's shoulder. Sarah is on the opposite side, having a drink.
"We should go to the pool tomorrow." May suggests. "I saw it on our way in, the slide looked really tall, so that'll be fun."
"Good idea." Andrew complies. "Do you have a problem with the pool, Sarah?"
Sarah looks at him and shakes her head.
"Good. I didn't know if you were fine with it, cause some people aren't."
"It's fine." Sarah responds. May jumps up and looks at Sarah, as if she had never noticed her presence before.
"Woah, what is it?" Andrew says. Sarah gives May a confused look.
"Huh? Oh, I… well… hadn't heard your voice before… or in a long time." May responds frantically. "Sorry." She says after calmed down a little. "That was a bit rude to say. You've definitely chatted with me before, but it's just been so long ago." May sits back down on her chair, and starts staring into the distance.
"It's fine." Sarah says.
May nods. "It's a shame you don't talk often, really." She says. Sarah looks at her, surprised. "Your voice is beautiful."
Sarah blushes and quickly looks away. May cheerfully giggles at her response, and looks at Andrew again. He is smiling softly.
Connor and Andrew's parents arrive at the camper again, just as Andrew, May and Sarah are laying the table. Ben is carrying two heavy looking fabric shopping bags, while Connor and Gabrielle are carrying large bottles of water.
"We're having tomato soup tonight! Mom didn't want me to choose fries." Connor says.
"We'll have fries soon enough." Andrew responds. He takes two large water containers from his mother's hands, and carries them inside.
"Are you two fine with that?" Gabrielle says. "I didn't want to spend much time cooking on the first day."
Sarah and May both nod. "I'll help you with dinner, if I may." May says.
"Thank you, and no need to be so formal." Gabrielle responds.
Andrew and Sarah unpack the groceries, while May and Gabrielle start making the soup. Connor is outside playing games on his phone, and Ben is setting up the rooms for their stay.
The camper is larger than average. It has a fully-fletched kitchen with an oven and a sink. The sink and the toilet use a minimal amount of water to perform their tasks, and the waste is collected in a container, which can be detached from the camper and emptied somewhere else. There are two bunk beds, and the couch can also be transformed into a bed. Between the bunk beds, Ben lays down an air mattress because the camper doesn't offer enough beds for all six of them. The beds are set up, the groceries are stored, and the food is almost done.
"Mmm, that smells great!" Ben says as he walks towards the kitchen. "It will most likely taste as good as it smells too, I'm sure of it."
"Well, thank you dear." Gabrielle says. "May here did most of the work, she's such a good chef!"
"No, not really. I just like cooking a lot, so I practiced a lot too." May responds.
"Well, you'll be a great wife then, right Andrew?" Ben says to the door opening.
"Don't be so old fashioned, dad. She has many more qualities than just that." Andrew responds, with his voice coming through the window.
"I know, I know, 't was just a joke. I'm not like gramps."
"That's debatable." Andrew says jokingly.
"Hey!"
"Sorry dear, but I have to agree with him on that one." Gabrielle says with a slight giggle.
"Not you too!" Ben responds, with a tone of betrayal in his voice.
Gabrielle giggles, and Andrew can be heard laughing from outside.
"The soup is ready!" May says. Andrew, Connor and Sarah go inside the camper. Ben takes six bowls from the cupboard and places them on the counter. One by one, Gabrielle fills the bowls with hot tomato soup. May cuts two baguettes into even pieces and puts them in a large plastic bowl. They carry their bowls and the bread-filled bowl to the table outside, and sit down again.
"Bon appétit! As they say it in French." Ben says, and he starts on his soup.
"Indeed, enjoy your soup everyone!" Gabrielle says. Everyone thanks them, and they start drinking their soup too. They eat up and talk about different things, and after they're done, the sky had already turned slightly orange. Around half past nine, they go inside and decide on where everyone is going to sleep.
"I want to sleep on the couch!" Connor exclaims.
"Are you sure? You can sleep in a bunkbed too if you want." Gabrielle responds.
"No. I don't like sleeping under someone, or high up. I don't like air mattresses either."
"If your fine with it, go ahead."
Andrew and Ben fold open the couch, which causes it to transform into a good but small bed. Connor rushes over to put his stuff on it.
"Wait a sec, Connor, we gotta do the sheets first." Ben says. Ben and Gabrielle proceed to pull a sheet over the bed and make the pillow and the cover ready.
"I'll sleep on the air mattress." Andrew says. "Before you ask, dad, I don't mind it."
"I was just about to ask." Ben responds. "But if you insist, go ahead. We'll take the left bunkbed then, and the girls can take the right one. Everyone fine with that?"
They all agree on Ben's proposal, and they start to make their beds. Sarah taps on May's shoulder.
"Hmm? What is it?" May says.
"Can… can I… sleep below?" Sarah asks. She has trouble getting the question out.
"Oh, sure!" May responds. "I don't mind sleeping on top. I get where you're coming from, though. Sleeping high up can be chilling."
"Thanks." Sarah responds. Everyone continues making their beds, and after they're done they turn off the lights shortly after. They are all tired of the two-day trip, and decided to go to bed early. While the others are trying to sleep, Andrew has his eyes still open.
[The trip went great, everyone is tired, but also happy. May and Sarah are here too, and we're going to the pool tomorrow. This vacation is going to be great, I can feel it.]
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