Solomon's Private File #8
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 11 in this story, in the Summer of 2037.
Solomon's Private File #8 "Camp Activities"
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There are a lot of activities here at camp. We've got the beach and
ocean on one side, and the forest on the other sides, and trails all
over. There are animals. We have dogs, cats, goats, and horses to play
with. There are the usual wild animals, too, such as squirrels, birds,
and insects. And life in the ocean. It's a big bay, actually. Two
animals nobody human likes are mosquitos and jellyfish. You can't get
away from the skeeters, but you can try to avoid the jellyfish, if
you're very careful, but who can be careful about getting dunked in the
water? I discovered I'm popular with the animals. Actively popular.
They love me. Awkward. The bigger dogs are so friendly, they knock me
over! Until I tell them to stop. They actually do what I say, if it's
something simple, even if I don't say it out loud. Not so the skeeters.
I tried different mental commands in a partition to run continuously,
and finally found one that keeps them away. I told Ed what I did, and
he said, "You aren't fully psionic. You're not supposed to be able to
do that." I poked him, and said with a grin, "Good thing I didn't know
that." He was annoyed it didn't work for him. I said "Use your 4th
shield, then." He said, "How do you know about that?" I said, "Parents.
I'm sorry, but I've got them, and they are the absolute most in Adepts.
They have a lot of Adept friends, too, who visit. They talk, and I can
hear everything in the house." He said, "Oh, I see. Right. Hard to keep
a secret from you." I said, "I like hard." He laughed, and we hugged.
We have arts and crafts at the very basic level, and sports, and
social things, like the pool parties which really aren't, dances,
movies, camp fires, and we put on plays, too. Ed told them I can play
the piano, and I was drafted to provide the music for them. I didn't
want to do any acting, so that was fine with me. Until one counselor
asked me to sing. I said, "I don't like to sing." He said, "Why?" I
said, "Makes me liked too much." He looked confused, and said, "Why is
that bad?" I said, "Embarrassing! Girls want to be all over me. Serious
tent making." He laughed hard. I said "It's not funny to me." He tried
to stop, and only almost strangled. I walked out, and went to another
activity.
Jeremy asked to see me. He said "What you did with that bully was
amazing!" I said "Thanks. I just did what I thought I should do." He
said "That's just what your father said about those things in both
lives he was here." I said "Contagious! With complications! Help! How
do I get it off me!" I was rubbing myself all over. He laughed really
hard. He said, when he could, "No matter what anybody says, you are not
your father. Different, but just as good, though. I have to say,
funnier when you want to be. Singing. Only embarrassment?" I said,
"Security. I sound like him at this age. Looks, too. If I make too much
of a commotion here, the kids and staff will talk, and news people who
are looking for me will make very unfortunate connections. It's known
he went here. Camp might even have to close down. That's why I'm not
offering to do dog shows. Yes, I discovered I can talk to the animals
like Dad can. Not as well, though." He said, "Unfortunately, I agree
with your reasoning. I'll tell that counselor. But, after camp is over,
I really want to hear you sing. Please." I said, "Sure."
The boy who was bullying the younger boy was waiting for me when I
left the main building. We walked together. He said, "I heard you were
sent to the office. In trouble?" I said, "No. A counselor wanted me to
sing. I didn't want to. Director heard about it and is going to tell
him to lay off me." He nodded, and said, "Good. Got time for a talk?" I
said, "Sure. Find a place to park." He smiled, and said, "You have a
good way with words." I said "Thanks. I try. Convenient activity.
Doesn't require extra equipment." He gave me a big grin, and said,
"Right." We sat on the hill. He said, "What you said to me made me
think. Oh, I know. Another convenient activity." I said, "Smart. I like
that." He felt really complemented. He said, "Do you ever stop
thinking?" I said, "Nope. Not even when I'm sleeping." He said, "I know
what you mean. I haven't stopped thinking since the er, trouble." I
said very seriously to him, "Do you want to?" He said, "I don't know. I
know it's changed me." I said, "Yes. Better." He said, "I think so.
There is a lot of thought behind everything you say. I was the
opposite. I hardly ever thought about what I said and did. I was
stupid." I said, "Not stupid. Most accurately, thoughtless. Cured by
thinking. Can become habit forming. Not a bad thing at all." He said,
"I see that. You show it."
I said, "Ready to tell me why you were like you were?" He nodded and
said, "I was frustrated with who I thought I was, and my life. I didn't
know I was being really selfish. I picked on people to make me feel big
and powerful. It worked a little, but stopped after what you told me."
I said, "Only child?" He said, "Yes, how do you know?" I said, "If you
had a brother or sister, you would have behaved differently. Yes, I
have a younger sister. Learn protectiveness and closeness that way." He
said, "But it doesn't have to be a relative. I feel that way now for
all the younger kids. And something else." I nodded, and said, "Love."
He said, "You do know. That's why you were so brave to me. You didn't
just care for him, you cared for me, too." I nodded, and said, "I like
that about me. You?" He said, "I know what you mean. I like myself
more. I'm happier than I've been in a long time." I looked up at him,
and said with a grin, "There is a lot of long to you." He laughed.
He said, "I want to apologize to that boy." I stood, and said, "Let's
walk." He stood, and we walked. He said, "You know where he is?" I
said, "Nope. We will when we should." He looked at me strangely. We
walked some more. I said, "Hug him. One of the best feelings in the
world, to hug a kid. You don't want to miss it." He looked thoughtful.
I said, "Let's stop here." We did, and the boy we were looking for,
came into view around the corner of a cabin. I motioned him to join us.
My companion said to me, "How?" I said, "When you know who you are, and
fully trust yourself, so does fate." He looked really surprised, and in
awe. I said, "You aren't the only one who was changed by what happened.
Yes, me, too." He nodded acceptance. I introduced them to each other.
The taller one said, "I'm sorry for what I said to you. It was stupid
of me. Will you accept my apology?" The smaller one looked at me, and I
nodded, and motioned. They hugged. The taller one was surprised at how
he felt about that. I smiled and nodded when he looked at me. Then I
wandered off in my own thoughts.
Ed caught up with me. He said, "I think you know I was watching you."
I said, "Sure. No problem. Saves repeating myself. Saves repeating
really didn't know where he was?" I said, "I don't know if I can lie,
but I'm not going try to find out by testing. Ever. I said the truth."
He gulped, and said, "Right." We walked a while in silence. I knew what
he wanted to say. That I was enlightened. I didn't want to have to live
up to that, and I know I have a long way to go before I really get
there, if ever.
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Grant
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