The Best Summer Yet (A story for Liam)

THE BEST SUMMER YET
BY: KAY OLDS
CHAPTER ONE
People say time flies when you’re having fun. I never really understood that until this summer. Looking back on it, I was torn between wishing it would never end and wanting it to rush by to find out what would happen next.
The last two weeks of school went by so quickly I barely realized that another school year would be ending for me and I would be a fifth grader. Would I miss school? Oh yeah! I love school. I would miss some of my school friends a lot because I would not see them at all during the summer. I felt like I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Boy! Was I ever wrong about that!
I was busy with studying for my final tests of my fourth grade year so I hardly went outdoors at all. Two things were taking place and I didn’t know about either of them. Since I didn’t know they were taking place and I didn’t know a thing about either one of them, I don’t know which one took place first. You may be tempted to ask me which one was the best and I would honestly have to say, one could not have been the same without the other.
　
While I was away at school, my Dad, my Poppa and my Paw Paw got together and built a fort for me in the back yard. It was the best fort any kid could ever have. I know what you’re thinking, but you are way wrong! It was not just a regular old fort. NO. They were thinking ahead. I have to thank my Paw Paw for that.
My Dad needed to borrow a tool from Paw Paw and he told him about the surprise fort they were going to build for me. He laughed and said, “Well, I hope you’re going to build it big enough for you and him!” It didn’t sink in at the time, but when Dad was on his way home he thought more and more about what he had said and it made sense. Usually a kid’s fort or tree house is kind of small and they outgrow it before they are teenagers. Paw Paw realized that I am already as big as most teenagers and he knew that I would not be able to fit in a regular old fort for very long.
What started out to be just a fort became an actual two story apartment of sorts. It was so cool!
To begin with, they were only going to dig holes for the posts and cement them in for strength.
They were going to build a platform on each end with a walkway between the two, and they figured on it taking up about 8 feet altogether, but when Dad told Poppa what Paw Paw had said, things changed.
Poppa had a friend who owed him a few favors so he called him and said he needed some dirt and some cement. It was delivered the next day.
A foundation was poured and they began building what turned out to be a 24 ft. by 30 ft. fort. Incredible! Instead of it being a fort to play in, it became a very nice apartment for me for when I was older.
They framed the windows so that I could lift them up for a breeze for keep them closed when it was too hot or too cold. The ceilings were 10 ft. high and they put in 2 ceiling fans. There was a bathroom with a shower stall. I didn’t know it at the time but the kitchen was all wired up to be a real kitchen later on.
There were 4 built-in bunk beds in one corner of the room in an L shape and my Mom and Grammy and MeMe made some cushions to go on the bottom ones so that we could also use them as sofas.
Paw Paw designed the stairs for me. They were built in 2 levels with a little deck in the center. He wanted me to have a flag pole so he and Poppa came up with the idea of having a fireman’s pole for us to slide down from the fort to the ground and on top of that pole, they erected a flag pole.
He also made a slide for us on one end of it. Jack used it to run up and down instead of using the stairs.
　
The entire slab underneath was very useful to all of us. A car or truck could be parked there. The riding lawn mower was parked under there and we stowed our bikes there. Later Dad closed that part in so we could have a shed to lock them up in.
We also had the barbecue pit and a place for cooking seafood there and they built 2 very nice picnic tables and benches for us. They installed 2 ceiling fans to help cool it, but the neatest thing of all was that they made some screens that could be rolled up or down by the touch of a button and it could become a screened in patio! There were lights out there but Mom and Dad hung some beautiful lanterns out there and it always looked so festive. It was all finished and ready for me two days before school ended but I didn’t even know it. Every day after school, my Mom took me somewhere so I wouldn’t know what was going on. I never suspected a thing!
On the day before school ended Mom told me that I could invite some kids over for a party at our house. I invited 8 boys. Two of them of course, were the twins, and Benny, from down the street.
The last day of school I said my goodbyes and my “see ya next year” to my buddies and I couldn’t wait to get home and have the party. It was set for 2:00 that afternoon.
　
Mom took me out to eat and then we had to go shopping! Shopping! On my first day of freedom! The woman! What was she thinking! Torture for me!
Around 1:30 I reminded her that we were supposed to be having a party at 2:00 and she looked at me like I had just landed here from another planet!
“Party? What party?!” she said, and claimed that she didn’t recall saying that I could have a party. She almost convinced me of that until we got home. She asked me to go let Jack out the back door and there was my whole class and most of their families and brothers and sisters, both sets of my grandparents, the Grahams from next door, the twins and their parents and Benny and his parents. Everyone yelled, “Surprise, Mac!”
Time seemed to freeze me to the spot! I was in shock seeing all of those people and it took a few minutes before I looked up and saw the fort!
Hanging from the edge of the roof was a big banner with the words “MAC’S FORT”. I was stunned! A sea of faces came at me and I could hear words being said but my brain turned it all to mush and I heard it like I was under water! I recognized no one and every one!
The crowd parted and there were Paw Paw, Poppa and my Dad, grinning from ear to ear! I looked at them and said, “What the….?”
Dad said, “It’s for you Mac. This is your fort!”
My life seemed to flash before me and I said. “My fort? This is my fort. “THIS IS MY FORT???” Then I started running to the stairs and yelling “COME ON!” Jack and I ran up first then all of the kids followed. There was my parrain waiting on me, and he started snapping pictures.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The bunk beds were awesome! There was a hammock on the opposite wall. A very nice table and 4 chairs in the kitchen area and there were shelves and drawers with games, cards, camping equipment, books and puzzles. I opened a door and there was a bathroom. I said “Excuse me please.” I shut the door and “christened” the bathroom. I flushed then washed my hands and I could hear a roar of laughter.
There was an air conditioner and a heater, a TV. and game systems, a stereo, and a vcr/dvd player. There was a small fridge with some cold drinks in it and a few snacks, and a pantry with some food and drinks.
I walked to the stairs, saw the pole and immediately slid down. All the kids followed me. We ran and played for hours.
My Dad and grandpas were grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. There was a huge cake decorated with a fort. Cute. Cup cakes, Chips and dips, cookies, ice cream, and all sorts of drinks were available for anyone who wanted it.
Some of the people brought gifts for the new fort. My Grammy brought materials for me to design my own flag to hang under the American flag that she and Paw Paw gave me. She also made a new pillow for Jack with his name on it.
My MeMe made matching afghans for Jack and me. Nanny Kristin gave me a beautiful photo album and some picture frames for the pictures taken on that day. My Aunt Jan and Uncle Chris gave me a new sleeping bag with my name on it and one made especially for Jack with his name on it, and two really cool lanterns.
Mrs. Graham made the twins and me laugh when she presented me with a cookie jar shaped like a bear and the bear was holding a pot of honey! Inside was filled with honey graham crackers. She got a huge hug for that. My Mom then explained to everyone why that was so funny. The twins and their Mom and Dad gave me a very nice ice chest with a chair on each side and we put that out on the porch.
My parrain and Electa gave me a really cool swing and they installed it on my porch. It swiveled, so I could face any direction.
I received quite a few other useful things. Benny gave me a sign to hang saying Fort Sweet Fort. I got a nice collection of flashlights and batteries and a canteen with a set of dishes and flatware, and some blankets and a nice quilt which we hung on the wall.
It was done in shades of reds, white and blues, and the design of it was log cabin, whatever that is. I loved it because it brightened up the room.
A neon sign saying “MAC and JACK” which hung on the wall in the kitchen area above the microwave, was given to me by my cousins, Christopher and Chase. I loved it.
My teacher gave me a stainless steel whistle on a sturdy chain. Some of my classmates had the same idea and gave me cases of microwave popcorn!!
The party lasted until about 9:30 that night. Everyone had so much fun no one really wanted to leave. It was truly a special day and I know I will never forget it.
Too excited to sleep, my Mom and Dad and I decided we would spend the night in the fort. We stayed up most of the night but when sleep came, they grabbed a bunk and I slept in my hammock while Jack snoozed on his new pillow. Life was good!