The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander

heart, and when Sophie started to get up, Rachel put a hand on her arm. “Let me go talk to her, okay?”
    Sophie sat back down and eyed Rachel curiously as she got up and walked over to Faith. “You’re…um…upsetting your niece by not joining us.”
    After all the soul searching that Faith had been doing, she couldn’t make herself be the bigger woman. “Is that the excuse you’re using to invite me over?”
    Rachel folded her arms. “Yeah, it’s all I got.”
    “I’m sorry, but that’s just not sweet enough. Try saying please.”
    “I don’t want to do this anymore,” Rachel said wearily. “I wasn’t blowing smoke up your ass…assets earlier. As much as I used to enjoy it, it’s not fun to put hot sauce in your coffee anymore. I’m tired, Faith. I’m tired of the shitake.” She dropped her arms at her side. “I’m already tired of making up words to use in place of the profanity we both know and love.”
    Faith sighed. “Yeah, that royally suckles.”
    “We don’t have to kiss and hug, shed a few tears. Let’s just pick up from right here like we never knew each other because we really are strangers in a way. I’m Rachel Chauvin, disliked lesbian among chaperones.” She put out her hand. “And you are?”
    “Faith the flippant, nice to meet you.” Faith took Rachel’s hand and shook it, then allowed Rachel to pull her to her feet. “I’m gonna throw some zingers at you because it’s what I do. Please don’t take them as insulting or an act of aggression. Feel free to do the same.”
    “I’ll take you up on that. Care to join us at the craft table? We’re making necklaces with beads that look like bugs.”
    “I have plenty of those in my cabin. I’ll string a few up for you if that’s the fashion you’re going for,” Faith said as she walked lazily alongside Rachel.
    “That’s funny because I found myself with quite a few just this morning. Please don’t go to any trouble on my account.”
    “Does your mattress feel like dozens of balled fists, too?”
    Rachel laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t warn you about that, either. I smuggled in an egg crate. It’s big enough that I could cut it in half and share with you. Don’t tell anyone else, though. I kind of like knowing the snobby biddies are uncomfortable.”
    “You have my word then,” Faith said with a smile.
    *******

    “Momma! I made you a necklace with beetles on it. And I’ve been swimming in the lake. And I played softball. And Aunt Faith got called into the principal’s office for fighting.” Sophie turned away when Faith grabbed for the phone. “She pushed Ms. Rachel into the lake and made her mad.”
    “She pushed me! Where did you get that version of the story?” Faith grabbed for the phone again, and Sophie deftly spun, keeping it out of reach. “I have to go. We’re gonna roast marshmallows now…Momma, I gotta go. Okay, love you, too.” Sophie handed the phone to Faith and took off running.
    Faith put the phone to her ear. “She’s got her facts jacked. Rachel shoved me in the lake.”
    Patty snorted, then tried to rein her laughter in. “You got put in timeout on your first day there?”
    “Second, and no, it was just an ass chewing courtesy of the camp director. Chauvin and I have…called a truce.” Faith grimaced. It was hard to admit that even to Patty.
    “Well, it’s about damn time. You are after all staring at the ugly underbelly of thirty-nine. You’re finally growing up, sis.”
    Faith sighed. “I feel patronized. I have to go now.”
    “Good, my work is done. Say you love me.”
    “Yes, you love me.” Faith laughed. “I do, even though you’re an ass.”
    “I love you, too. Now go play nice with Rachel. No kissing, though.”
    “ Ew !”

Chapter Fourteen

    “So they really don’t like us, or is it just you?” Faith regarded the adult group on the other side of the campfire. When she and Rachel had arrived, they noticed that someone put two chairs close