Summer. That could only mean one thing for my long lost friend Karin. Camping! It's an annual thing for her family and this other family which are friends of theirs. Karin was born in Victoria, and then moved out to Edmonton for a while and we became best friends, but unfortunately her fathers job caused them to move back to Victoria, which happened two years ago. She had purchased a 2 way plane ticket to Victoria for me to visit her. We still keep in touch, so we weren't that long lost.
"Last call for those boarding flight 327 to Victoria," called the intercom.
"Well I guess I'd better go," I said.
"Have fun Mel," said my parents.
I gave them a hug goodbye, and told them not to worry about me and that I'd be fine. When I finally got on the plane, I checked my ticket on where I was supposed to sit. I still couldn't believe she had gotten me a first class ticket. I found my seat, sat down, looked around at my surroundings, and see if I knew anyone, or if there were any hot guys and BINGO! Two beside me and two infront, but since it is rude to stare, I just minded my own bees wax. I figured I'd ready myself for takeoff. Once we were in the air I decided to get my discman out, and listen to some music, so I put in my Moffatts CD. Five minutes later... "Oh great my batteries are dead," I muttered to myself.
The guy beside me heard my dilemma. "If you want, I have some extra batteries you can use."
"If it's not a bother, then sure."
He dug into his backpack and got the extra batteries for me.
"Thanks man."
"It's Dave."
"I'm Melissa."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You too." We shook hands.
"I couldn't help but overlook the fact that you were listening to the Moffatts."
"Yeah, they're my favourite band. Do you like them too?" I asked.
"Yeah, you could say that their my favourite band too. I really like their music."
"No way! That's so cool!" At that point he took off his baseball cap and looked my way. "Oh. My. Laundry. You're Dave Moffatt."
He started cracking up laughing. "Where d'you get ‘oh, my laundry' from?"
"You know how people say, ‘oh my god?' Well, oh my laundry is a nicer version of it. My friend made it up. My other friend Karin is going to kill me though. She was the one who bought me this plane ticket, and when I tell her the Moffatts were sitting beside me, she's going to freak."
After that Dave introduced me to his brothers. Very nice guys. We got to talking about things when Dave, out of the blue, asked, "so which one of us does Karin like the best."
"I bet you it's me," said Scott.
"Yeah right Scott. It's me and you know it," answered Clint.
"Shut up!" said Bob, "let her answer."
"She always insists that she only likes the music, and that she likes all of you equally, but deep down, I think she likes you, Bob, the best."
Bob sat up and gave Dave a high five. "I knew it all along." They must have had an inside joke going on. "So is Karin picking you up from the airport?" asked Bob, "maybe I can charm her with my looks," he added, but talking more directly to Scott, yet another inside joke probably.
"She told me she'd probably be a half an hour late," I informed them.
"And shucks were leaving as soon as we get there," said Scott sarcastically.
"Well maybe the plane left Edmonton late," answered Bob.
"Sorry Bob, the plane left right on time," said Clint sympathetically. He must have been on Bobs side in the middle of this big inside joke.
"Darn, she probably would have really liked to meet you guys," I said rather disappointed.
"I would have really liked to meet her too!" agreed Bob.
We talked the rest of the way to Victoria. When we got off the plane, I asked if I could get my picture taken with them and they agreed. We said goodbye and went our separate ways. As I waited for Karin to show up, I couldn't help but daydream about the Moffatts. In no time at all she arrived.
"Melissa, it's so good to see you again!" she exclaimed running over to me to give me a hug.
"I know, it's been two years!" I said excitedly.
"So how have you been?" asked Karin.
"Pretty good, and you?"
"I'm good too. So how was your plane ride?"
"It was fantastic! You'll never guess who I sat beside and talked to the whole time!"
"Who?"
"The Moffatts."
"No way! You're lying!"
"I'm not, I even got a picture of them and me together."
"Okay, I might start to believe you now."
"Well you better! I can't thank you enough for that plane ticket. First class, WOW!"
"What can I say, what are friends for. We'd better get going now. So tell me about the Moffatts...."
~*~*~
We spent the rest of that day talking and catching back up with each other. The next morning we packed everything we needed into the trailer and were off on a short journey to Long Beach where we were camping. When we got there the other family hadn't arrived yet. "So who is this other family we are camping with?" I asked.
"Oh, just some friends of ours. They have two boys Tim's age and a girl our age. They won't be here for an hour or so. Do you want to go for a bike ride, and check out the campground?" she asked.
Karin's family had brought bikes for everyone. Karin, the other girl, and I were also going to share a tent, instead of sleeping in the trailer.
A truck and trailer drove by. "Why don't we set up the tent now?" I asked.
"We can do that later, besides it might get in the way of our friends' roadway to park the trailer,"she added sounding a little irritated.
"I guess you're right."
We got on our bikes, and toured the campground. Karin showed me where the showers were how to get to the beach, where the fire wood was kept, and some nifty trails. We got back about a half hour later, only to find out that the new family had already moved in. When they came to say hi to Karin and me, I recognized the 4 faces immediately. It was the Moffatts!
