Escaping Nowhere: Chapter 5
At the crack of dawn, Jenny woke up to find the other side of the bed empty. She was about to knock on their bathroom door, thinking Goneril was taking another bubble bath, until she heard the banging of pans in the kitchen.
She made her way out and caught sight of Goneril mixing some ingredients. “Morning, Gon. What’s cooking this fine morning?”
“Just a special pancake recipe the family chef taught me when I was still in school.”
Jenny stared at the swirling vortex that was pancake batter. “Wow, with work and the kids, I never really got the chance to learn how to make a proper meal. How Johnny and Jill are still healthy and thriving, I’ll never know.”
Goneril chuckled as she placed some of the pancake batter in the pan. “I’m quite good with pasta and breakfast food, if I say so myself. Otherwise I vastly prefer the eating part to the cooking part.”
“Can’t say I blame you.”
A few minutes later, the pancakes were done and they all sat down for a leisurely breakfast before the long day ahead of them. Jenny had a few plans up her sleeve which she couldn’t wait to share with them.
“Mmm, these are really delicious. Compliments to the chef.” Mary-Sue said.
“Yeah, Gon. These are great.”
“Thank you.” Goneril mouthed to them.
The rest of the meal was filled with light chatter punctuated with bouts of comfortable silence.
Once everyone finished their meal and everyone has settled, it was time for Jenny to disclose the itinerary for the day. “We’re going to the campgrounds today. Who’s excited?”
She was met with silence.
To lessen the tension in the air, Jenny pumped herself up and stretched her hands out as if picturing a panorama of the view. “Imagine seeing the great outdoors, being one with Mother Nature, appreciating her gifts...”
Mary-Sue shrugged. “I don’t know, Jenny. I don’t mind going down for a visit, but actually camping out?”
Meanwhile, Goneril was a little less diplomatic. “Why can’t we just admire nature from the comfort of the cabin? We certainly don’t need to sleep on dirt to experience the mountains.”
Jenny’s heart sank with the reception she received. “I don’t even know what I expected.”
“It will be fun. I promise.”
Axe Wood Campgrounds, Three Lakes
Looking for a real down-to-earth nature experience? Stay in an outdoor tent to feel like you got the most out of your forest foray.
“Looks like we’re here!”, Jenny said, marveling at the scenery. “Mother Nature as she comes in.”
“Jenny, do we really have to do this? I want out.” Goneril complained.
Mary-Sue attempted to reassure her. “Easy, Gon. It’s just one night, then we’re gonna be back to the cabin the rest of the trip.”
“Just shut it.”
The rest of the day was spent exploring the trails and diving the depths of the giant lake in the middle, where one could just take a plunge and pretend they were one with the fish. “Or maybe dolphins, just like how Jill always does it.”
Though more competitive types preferred to test their strength in an axe-throwing match. One activity Jenny thought Johnny would enjoy.
And others preferred relaxing with a good book on a hammock. Seeing the hammocks scattered around the area made Jenny remember PT’s constant requests to install one at home. “Mental note to buy one before going home.”
Much as she loved the scenery and tried to enjoy herself, Jenny wistfully thought about the people back home. How she wished that they were there too. It had been a while since they’d taken a trip out, and Johnny was about to head to college...
Her thoughts were cut short when a more upbeat Goneril called her over. “Hey Jenny, You want to catch some fish for a bit? This lake is teeming with them.”
Jenny relented. She could use the distraction. “Sure. Let me get the fishing rods.”
Not long after they started, the night fell and Mary-Sue lighted the fire on the other corner of the lot.
“Fire’s ready!”, she called to them.
The three of them circled around the warm glow of the fire the rest of the night.
Of course, Mary-Sue dominated most of the conversation. “So I watched this documentary about the different types of pottery that existed in Takemizu Village - it’s amazing how different regions have different designs, and each design has a story behind it.”
Goneril grinned as Mary-Sue brought up pottery for the third time that night. She was an excellent conversationalist who could talk about many things, but when it came to that specific topic she just seemed to light up. She was really in her element.
Meanwhile, the conversations appeared to be flying over Jenny's head, almost as if she was mentally somewhere else entirely. Goneril called her on it, gently as she could. “Jenny? You’ve been distracted ever since we arrived in Three Lakes.”
“Huh? Just thinking about the kids, that’s all. I love being here, but I miss home. Pascal just gave birth to his son and I can’t wait to see him when I get back.”
Goneril’s eyes widened at the mention of Pascal. “Pascal as in Pascal Curious? We used to be in the same classes back at the academy. Nerdy kid who topped science class all the time and always talked about alien conspiracies. Sounds like he was right about that.”
“Whoa, the world is much smaller than I thought. Now that I think about it, I think I used to be in the same class with a Capp...Cordelia?”
“Yes, Delia was my older sister. Unfortunately she was killed in a rather vicious gang war back home a while back and her kids are now living with Father. Of course it’s a foregone conclusion that the Montys had something to do with it, as usual.”
Question marks flew over Jenny’s head. “Montys?”
“...Listen, you don’t even want to know how things were outside the Academy. All I’ll tell you is that I would take the shenanigans I’m hearing about in Strangetown over what's happening back home any day.”
Jenny’s face fell. “That bad?”
“Is the prep school circle really that tight-knit?”, Mary-Sue inquired. “I barely even knew who my lab partner was. I wonder if Cass knew any Capps.”
Goneril answered her question. “I’m assuming you mean Cassandra Goth. It’s a name I usually hear from Regan, but they’re in totally different social circles, as far as I know.”
She then turned her attention back to Jenny. “Oh, and Jenny, may I ask you something a bit personal?”
“Sure, I guess?”
A quick pause commenced before Goneril asked, “How are you doing?”
Jenny rambled, as if on autopilot. “Oh, I’m excited to tell Jill about the lake and maybe buy PT a hammock. Oh, maybe I’ll show Johnny some--”
Goneril repeated her question without breaking eye contact. “No, Jenny, I said what I meant. How are you doing?”
When Jenny finally understood what Goneril meant, an uneasy feeling in her stomach set in. It had been a long time since someone actually asked her how she was, and actually meant it. Her had life revolved around her family and taking care of them for so long, that she’d neglected to take care of herself the same way.
“I’m...actually a bit overwhelmed and could maybe use a break.”, Jenny admitted.
Goneril nodded, taking in what Jenny just told her. “I have an idea: Why not focus on actually giving yourself a break this trip?”
The question made Jenny flinch in response. “But how do I do that? What if they need me and I’m not there?”
Mary-Sue supported Goneril’s idea. “They’ll be fine, Jenn. Giving to others is a wonderful thing, but you need to make some time for yourself too. ”
Jenny sighed. “I guess you’re both right. Anyway, shall we go to the tents? It’s getting late.”
As soon as they got up, however, the rain suddenly started to pour.
Jenny sighed in exasperation. “There go our camping plans. Back to the cabin?”
“Yes, please. Have I ever told you how much I love the rain?” Goneril cheered, before getting up and walking ahead to the car on the way back.