Summertime Magic

By Kelly Papyrus

Julia is over it. Over the stress of her city job, over being ignored by the men in the office, over playing games when it comes to her love life. But when she helps her friend Noelle prepare for the opening of her new adult summer camp, stress and games find her... in the form of a budding new romance, some miscommunication, and a rival ex-lover.

Beau is over it, too. He's not happy with the direction the summer camp is heading and he doesn't particularly care for city girls. Well, except THIS city girl. He cares for Julia a lot.

Will Beau be able to show Julia how he feels about her before it's too late? Or will these star-crossed lovers go their separate ways?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Shorts
• Release date: Sep 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094422282

Kelly Papyrus

Kelly Papyrus is a writer whose stories feature diverse characters and people of color. She loves learning about new cultures and writing about them. She lives in Florida and loves dogs.

Book preview

Chapter One

As long as I’ve been friends with Noelle, she’s been a little woo woo. Kind of out there. A free spirit, I guess you could say. But even after years of knowing what she’s like, I couldn’t guess what we were in for the night when her and Nick invited us all to come to her apartment for a surprise.

Do you think she’s moving away? Sherry asked as I pulled out of her office and pointed us in the direction of the place she and Noelle shared. Carpooling made sense since we both worked downtown, and I liked having the time to chat with my friend after a long day of locking horns with men at the office.

I really hope not. But yeah, I could see that being the big announcement, I replied. It was only logical. They’d been dating for a while and she was spending all her vacation time from work to go spend time at his place in Wisconsin.

We’d visit, and she’d have to come back for holidays and stuff, she said.

It wouldn’t be the same, I said, and seeing the look on her face, I hustled to say something else to make it better. But of course, we’d get through it together. You wouldn’t be on your own.

I’m just going to hope it’s something else, she said, looking out the windshield at the mid-afternoon I-4 traffic. We barely see her anymore. Things are changing and I don’t like it.

I know, I said, slowing the car to a stop. I wormed my way out of my suit jacket, feeling a rush of relief as I freed my arms from the sleeves. Early summer in Orlando meant it was sweltering every time I got in the car, but freezing in my air conditioned office, so I spent half the day putting my jacket on and taking it off. Have you talked to her about it?

No, you know I like Nick. They’re a good match, Sherry said, and I automatically nodded. Noelle had been going through a hard patch when she met Nick, freshly unemployed and trying to help a friend get through a family wedding. They seemed to ground each other, and though Noelle still followed her heart, Nick brought a Midwestern sensibility that influenced her.

Sherry flipped on the radio and The Weeknd came on, singing something melancholy about love and drugs and loneliness. I would never admit it out loud to my girls, but I had been feeling lonely and purposeless lately, despite having good friends and a great job. No one wants to hear that a woman with a Masters degree and a six-figure corporate job is feeling unfulfilled, but it’s possible. More than possible, it’s my reality. That’s why no matter what Noelle and Nick had planned to tell us that night, and whether or not it upset our girl squad routine, I wouldn’t stand in the way of her being happy just because I was jealous.

Section Break

Thanks for coming, y’all, Noelle said, depositing a stack of paper plates next to a charcuterie board and flopping down on the couch next to us. Nick and Noelle’s friend Gus sat in the armchairs positioned across from us. Nick’s knee bobbed up and down as he tapped his foot, looking around at each of us before taking a deep breath.

I—well, we have some big news to share, Nick said. You want to start, Babe?

Sherry’s hand landed in my lap and I squished her fingers with mine, trying to remind myself to breathe. If your friend is moving in with her boyfriend and starting a new life, you have to be happy for her. Just say congratulations. Don’t focus on how long it’s been since you even had a date.

Well, Nick recently lost his great uncle, who left him some land in rural Wisconsin, she said.

Oh, Nick, I’m so sorry, I said and he nodded.

Thanks Jules, but I really didn’t know him. I think he only left it to me because he had no kids of his own, he said. Anyways, it’s a large property with a few buildings on it, and the structures haven’t been maintained, so they’re pretty rundown. But it’s mine free and clear, in a beautiful part of the state, and some of it borders the water.

It’s a real opportunity, and you know how I feel about the universe presenting an opportunity, Noelle said. So I’ve put in notice at my job and I’m headed up to Wisconsin.

Sherry’s fingers were trembling, I tried to steady them, but mine were shaky too. Just say congratulations. Just say congratulations. This isn’t about you.

You’re moving? Sherry asked, her voice fainter than usual.

What? No, I’m just going up for a couple of months. Nick and I are opening a summer camp exclusively for adults, Noelle said triumphantly. No one said anything. I looked over at Gus, who raised his eyebrows and narrowed his mouth to a little o shape.

Congratulations? I said, the confusion making it come out more like a question than anything.

What’s an adult summer camp? Sherry asked, I could hear the tone in her voice. Distracted from the idea of Noelle moving and breaking up our girl gang, I could tell Sherry couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make fun.

Sounds like a location for a porno, I said, and we both snickered.

Are you done? Noelle asked, resisting the urge to laugh. The twitching corner of her mouth gave away that she wanted to. Let me show you the website while I explain. She turned her iPad around to face us and I saw glossy photos of a campfire, the yellow flames rising up in the midst of tall green trees. A yoga class with a bunch of young people laughing. A DJ playing an exclusive set in front of a small crowd, the night sky bright with stars above them. It looked like fun, honestly.

Adult summer camps are totally a thing on the west coast. People need a place to decompress from the pressure of their stressful jobs and be kids again. Imagine if all you have to do for a weekend or even a week is choose which activities to go to, read some books, and eat the meals that are already prepped for you, she continued. Sounds heavenly, like being a teenager again. She clicked on a new tab and pictures came up of a chic, cozy-looking cabin with sunny yellow flower pots on the front porch and what looked like fresh herbs spilling out of the top and over the sides. The next picture showed the interior, with clean white walls and lush hand-woven rugs on the wood floors. With white linen drapes around each set of bunk beds and lush full pillows on each one, it was a far cry from any summer camp I’d ever seen.

We’re going to have nice, clean cabins that people can stay in alone or with a friend. Solo campers can bunk dorm style in the main sleeping area and make new friends over the course of their stay, she said.

There will be relaxing activities, like hiking, kayaking, yoga, and meditation. We’ll have retro movies at night under the stars with popcorn and smores, a camper talent show at the end of the week, all that stuff, Nick said. I’m talking to some friends from the local reservation and hoping they can come out and lead some traditionally indigenous activities, educate people about their culture.

Kayaking. I’d love to go back to summer camp and go kayaking. I hadn’t had much time for it since college, but just the mention of the word brought back the hazy image of summer days on the water, the sharp sting of bicep muscles sore from paddling, the wonder of seeing a manatee up close.

I’m working on a yoga certification so I can teach, but we’ll bring people in at first, Noelle added. There could be painting, pottery, music. All kinds of stuff. What do you think?

I glanced over at Sherry. Neither of us had reacted yet, but I already knew what to expect. The three of us girls always gave each other a hard time, roasting each other, never really taking anything seriously. But I couldn’t help it, my authentic reaction was that it was a really great idea. I could see why people might need this. Shit, I needed it. Being one of the only women of color in my office meant I felt constant pressure to be on, check and re-check figures, prepare for even the most casual meetings. Sitting across from us, Gus was the first to react.

It sounds like so much fun, but do either of y’all know how to run a summer camp? He asked, his tone gentle.

No, but Nick knows how to renovate the cabins and things, and I’ll figure the rest out somehow, Noelle said. Her smile wobbled a little but didn’t falter.

We’ll help you, I said, and out of the corner of my eye I could see Sherry’s head whip toward me. I think it’s a great idea and I need a break from my job anyways. I’ll come up and help you get things ready.

Okay, why not. Me too, Sherry said, and my mouth dropped open as Noelle got up and ran over to embrace us.

Ahhh, it’s going to be so much fun! We’re going to have the best summer, she said. I could tell she meant it, and not just because she believed so much in the power of positive thinking. Noelle had found a real relationship and new adventure on her last trip up to Wisconsin. Maybe I could do the same.

Chapter Two

Sherry and I walked out the front door of the airport and I looked around for any sign of