Work Text:
Long after their final summer at Hackett’s Quarry, as counselors, Chris stayed in touch with the kids. Well, they weren’t really kids anymore, he usually had to remind himself of that. He would send post cards, sometimes while on vacation, sometimes at home. Regardless, the retired Hacketteers could expect at least one postcard or two a year.
Kaylee and Caleb were about the same age as the 2021 Hacketteers. He had had plenty of summers at camp after that, but that group of kids- er adults, held a special place in his heart.
Jacob and Kaitlyn had gotten married a few years ago. Kaitlyn insisted it was out of pity, but it’s clear that time had drawn them closer, close enough to get married at least. Nothing crazy, no white dress and no fancy cake, just the two of them and some old friends while on vacation. Chris had been invited and enjoyed seeing them as adults. He was sort of surprised to be considered special enough to be included on their special day. Especially since there were less than 30 people that day.
Kaitlyn had gone to school for psychology, she had a doctoral degree and held onto her sturdy personality after all this time. Jacob was a personal trainer for a few years before getting a degree in human nutrition. He was a certified dietician and the two of them spent lots of their time checking in on old friends to see if they were doing alright. They even opened a wellness clinic in rural New York.
Emma continued her influencer lifestyle, took up some modeling in New York City. She had done a few tv shows, a few commercials, and a few things on stage. Recently, she decided to buy and run a green house, despite having little to no experience in that field of work. She told Chris she was doing well, Abi and her lived close enough to see each other sort of regularly and she was truly fulfilled with her work.
Abi had continued drawing and had a few different galleries ask to hold an art show for her and some other local artists. As satisfying as it was to do this, she felt it wasn’t practical long term to rely on this for income. Therefore she recently started working for Emma, and the two of them agreed in a few years they wanted to open a coffee bar together. You would be able to buy local art, locally grown produce, along with ethically sourced coffee beans. It was a dream Abi had not originally expected to have, but that’s how life goes.
Nick traveled back from The States to Australia on a regular basis. He got a masters degree in Anthropology and is currently going back to school in Madrid for a degree in Catalonian. He hadn’t seen the group much in recent years, but did attend Kaitlyn and Jacobs eloping ceremony. Nick insisted he was going to move back to New York once he’s got the Catalonian degree. He wanted to become an alternatively certified educator and teach high schoolers, despite being educated enough to teach college students.
Laura got a degree in Zoology, went to Veterinarian school, and eventually decided to do some volunteer work on top of working in an animal clinic. Her and Max decided not to get married, as they ‘don’t exactly believe in the constitution of a marriage’ , whatever that meant, Chris would never understand kids these days. Max very recently decided to go to school and get a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He wasn’t crazy about the idea, but he worked for their city. Being that it’s an easily scrutinized position, they insisted the education would guarantee Max have this position for the rest of his life and they agreed to pay for most of it. Admittedly, he wasn’t hating it so far, but that’s probably because someone else is paying for it.
So really, they weren’t kids anymore.
He finished the last of his postcards and sighed slowly. He garnished each postcard with a stamp and turned out the light at his desk. Kids were coming bright and early tomorrow, he was going to need his sleep.
———
“Hey babe, I’m home! Mr.H wrote us a letter! I haven’t read it yet, come check it out.” Dylan kicked off his shoes and undid a button on his shirt. He stretched his hand out to his partner once he was close enough.
“He did? Also you don’t have to call him Mr.H anymore. It’s been years. I think it’s alright if you call him Chris.”
He shrugged and Ryan took the envelope.
“How was work?”
“Oh you know. Just another day of disappointing high schoolers and distressing them with free falling, inertia, velocity, mass, gravity. You know. Typical physics stuff.”
Ryan smiled, “that’s nice.”
“How about you?” Dylan began to walk towards the kitchen to wash his hands.
“Ugh, my rendering program crashed twice again today, I’m behind on my portion of the project and I’m worried I’ll have to start working overnight to make up for lost time.”
Dylan frowned at the other, “I’m sorry, dear. I promise we will get you a new computer soon. I feel bad now for getting a new car.”
Ryan shook his head, “it’s okay, it’s not your fault. You needed a new car.”
Dylan smiled sheepishly and dried his hands. “Okay, let’s look at this letter?”
Ryan nodded and the two walked back out to the living room. Ryan pulled open the envelope and began to read the letter written in Chris’s hand.
“Howdy boys. I wanted to write to you rather than text or call, because this feels more personal to me. I know, I’m old.
I want you guys to come visit sometime. I’m getting old and sentimental. I was happy to see you guys at the Custos’ wedding, but you guys need to come see The Quarry. Ryan, you’ve always been like a son to me and I miss you like crazy.
Speaking of being sentimental, and missing people like crazy, I went through some of Amelia’s old stuff recently. Kaylee is getting married and we were looking for anything from when her mother and I got married. I found an old journal of hers and thought you two would like to know what it said,
‘Saturday June 18th 2011
This summer has proved to be quite a trial for Chris and I. Camp-wise. Not relationship wise.
We’ve had some campers go home already. After one week. Some kids get too creeped out by the scary stories, have separation anxiety, or injur themselves badly enough that we have to call mom and dad. We do our best to take care of the kids, but accidents happen and some things are just out of our control. Hopefully, these kids can come back when they’re older and enjoy the experience once it is able to actually be fun for them. So many people love their youthful years at camp and I regret not being able to protect the kids from missing out on that.’
Ryan flipped the page over and continued the letter on the back.
‘However, it’s not all bad. There is good that comes with the bad. We had a young boy get hurt the other day on a hike. His name is Ryan. He is one of Chris’s favorites. He has such a mature and dry sense of humor.
He apparently was being picked on by a group of kids, we had to call some parents after hearing the things these kids said, but after being pushed around another boy stood up for him! Obviously I’m not happy about Ryan being bullied, but I’m happy one of his peers was there to stand up for him at the time. This other boy, who Constance says loves the radio hut, told the kids if they wanted to hurt Ryan they’d have to hurt him too. A counselor notice the squabble by then, thank God… I hated The Lord of the Flies. Anyways, I’m glad it ended without anyone really getting hurt, and that that boy had courage. I’ll have to ask Constance what his name is.’
Love you kids. Hope to see you soon. -Mr.H “
Ryan looked up at Dylan, a look of shock on his face. His eyes met Dylan’s, who appeared amazed.
“Do you remember that?” Ryan asked.
“Uh, yeah. Of course. I didn’t know that was you though.”
“Me either. I remember that happening, but I had no idea that it was you who stood up for me.”
Dylan shrugged, still stunned. “So do you think that was the first time we met?”
Ryan shrugged back, “Yeah, I mean, I guess so…” He started to laugh.
Dylan leaned in towards his partner with a good natured grin, “what? Why are you laughing?”
“Do you know how many more brownie points you would have gotten, when we first started dating, had I known that that was you? My grandparents and Sarah would have loved you from the start.”
The taller man’s face was illuminated at the thought of their beginning. “Yeah, but imagine all the flirting you would have missed out on? Besides, everyone needs to work to get their in-laws to like them. It builds character.”
Ryan rolled his eyes with a chuckle and leaned on Dylan. “We should really go see Mr.Hackett.”
Dylan smirked, “you know you can call him Chris, right?”