Which way, Peanut?
I turn and scrape my hair out of my eyes with my fist and with the other I hold up my sucker. My hair blows back, sticking to my sticky face. I have a root beer-flavoured sucker. The very best. Along with the radio playing loudly from the open doors of the camper this is a good day.
I turn in the other direction and whatever hair isn't stuck flies straight back. I point out straight with my sticky-sucker hand. That way!
What direction is that?
Left! I yell. I'm so good at this.
North or South?
Um. How do I tell again?
Use the compass.
I take the compass but I can't open it. It's now sticky like everything. Lochlan comes over and takes it from me, opening it. He frowns at my sucker and asks why I haven't finished it yet, why I need to wave it around as if I'm a little Napoleon ordering my army over the hill into Moscow.
It takes me longer. I need to find out now who Napoleon is and how I can get my own army to order around. I would order it to answer all of Lochlan's questions.
Look, here. See the needle? It points north. So we turn until we face north and now tell me which way the wind is blowing.
Ummmm. I squint at the face of the compass. Then I look back toward the woods. South.
Good! You need to know orienteering.
Why?
So you'll always know where you are.
Where am I now? I don't get it.
If you always carry a compass, you can find you way anywhere.
That seems fake.
You mean vague.
Right. Vake.
I'll teach you more with a map once we get set up. Why don't you go find a hose and clean your hands a bit.
There's no soap.
Use a tiny bit of the dirt here. Scrub your hands with it and then when you go rinse them the stickiness will be on the dirt and it will run right off.
How come you know everything?
I don't know. I guess I was meant to teach you.
I want to teach you something!
Okay. Can I pick?
Of course. Unless I don't know it.
I wouldn't pick something you don't know.
What if you suspeck I know something but I really don't and I've been fooling you all along.
Suspect. With a t at the end. I don't think that's possible though. Why don't you tell me how you know the words to every single song on the radio.
I listen very hard and I learn them. It's a hobby.
Can you teach me?
Sure. Do I have to learn more orange...orangineering?
Orienteering. Yes. These are life skills.
So are song lyrics.
Do you think song lyrics are going to save your life someday?
Definitely.