Sunday Morning

Being jet lagged from yesterday's flight, made me drowsy. Thus, I didn't want to wake up to the new morning.

Nevertheless, I eventually had to get ready by 10 am or the bus would leave me behind. Furthermore, the alarm clock turned on by itself as if it were a crowing rooster who woke up a farmer to tend to his daily chores.

Ten more minutes please! I covered my face with the cozy blankets I brought from my dorm.

Ugh! I'm not a morning person.

Who set up the damn alarm clock? Must be my perky roomie. I swear this is her first move to annoy me.

"Good Morning! Sorry Marlene about setting up the clock last night to a specific time. Should let you know in advance next time."

Yes, Jen, you should have warned me.

"I'm a morning person and like to start up my day with a fresh start. You know there are many things to do, yet with a little amount of time."

I wanted to throw a pillow back at her, but luckily for her I was well- mannered. Was she like this every morning? If so, we have to make a compromise on this a.m. buzzer

But instead I controlled myself and said, "It is all right, Jen. However, we have to compromise on one thing."

"And what would that be, Marlene?"

I thought of a quirky answer just to get her energized for the joke of the day.

"If you would like to use the alarm, can you please put the snooze button in a lower volume? I actually thought somehow I was thrown in a barn, and woke up to the sound of a rooster before me."

And I was correct; it definitely made her laugh. Maybe being roomies with Jen for four more days wouldn't be so bad after all.

***************

And that was how I started my morning ... and as soon as I finished preparing all my daily routines like brushing my teeth; I decided to wear my first pair of sweats I could find in my suitcase and grabbed my maroon jacket.

Jennifer wore a long t-shirt that had the words 'California here I come' embroidered on it. For pants, she put on some dark leggings.

I guess she wanted to show off her admiration for this state. And I don't blame her, after all she was a cheerleader, so I wouldn't be shocked to see anything on her that would make a fashionable statement.

All of us students met in the lobby, while the coach bought us some breakfast. Apparently, this hotel only serves complimentary food on weekdays. I was quite disappointed with that, because I was hungry as a lion!

Since our instructor and an assistant didn't arrive back from his little outing, till half past 9; we ate on the bus to save us some time from being late for our rope course appointments. Apparently our breakfast consisted of donuts, and coffee from a local bakery shop.

How cheap Coach was! But I soon found out that the money used to purchase these items came from the leftover profit we made from our fundraisers, so I guess we shouldn't complain at all.

Each of the 20 students were divided into four teams known as teams A, B, C, and D. Therefore, each team had 5 players for both Sunday and Monday's activities; which was known as the "Low Ropes" section.

The Coach explained that whoever we would be working with today, would also be the same five people we would be working tomorrow. Each of us were also given hard helmets attached to rope in case we fell.

And I was thankful for that sense of security.

I was selected to be in team A and it just happened that Robin was also part of it; leaving a glum Owen working with Team B.

Owen and his group did an activity called the 'Trust Fall', where a person would stand on the ledge of a trunk of a tree and fall into the hands of their teammates. It was an exercise to demonstrate the importance of trusting one another.

I swear though if I were asked to that same task, I wouldn't pass at all. I don't trust strangers immediately.

Instead, my group had the activity called 'Log Walking' that improves posture and balance. We had to balance and walk across a log without falling down, just as if we were going to walk on a tight rope.

However, a log has a hard curvy, circular unsteady shape, so the person trying to balance upon it, would have to watch or sense where they would exactly put their feet. I assume that walking on a tight rope was the same thing as walking in a straight line and that seems so much easier.

But if we fell down in this course for some reason, we'd have to start all over again from the beginning.

Once it was my turn to walk on the log, my heart pounded. My hands became sweaty and fear came over me. I told myself that it was just a tree trunk that fell on the ground, not high up in the air! So there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Right?

Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad walking on this log. At least I had something to hold onto if I fell down - my classmates.

But halfway through the exercise, it felt more like walking on an uneven tight rope and felt nervous as I moved forward. I was almost to the end of the log, when I heard this obnoxious scream from the back. I didn't want to lose my footing, so I ignored the noise. But as I was reaching the end, my right foot went over the tree stump and almost fell if my thoughtful friend didn't save me.

I looked back to see where the sound was coming from. It came from Owen's team, and believed he was the one who screamed so loud in order to make me fall!

Was it on purpose? I believe so.
Fell into his trap once again as I'm sure he wanted my attention!

The Rope Course Instructor told us that once our exercise was done, we had to switch with the next team and do their course.

Just my luck! The 'Trust Fall' course was something I felt awkward about, because if I were to fall into the hands of all my classmates, it would make me embarrassed.

It actually had to deal with my weight. I didn't want anyone to know how heavy I was.

Team A consisted of Robinaire, Tammie, Rebbecca, Vincent and of course, myself.

Tammie was a thin girl who was an aspiring model. She was a blonde and very petite. I wonder what she ever ate. Poor girl, she was probably bulimic. How could she ever catch me with my weight?

Compared to a thin Tammie, Rebbecca was a chubby girl who probably was fit for this game. Reba as they called her, would eat so much food that I wish she would learn how to watch her weight. People would make fun of her, but I was never part of that crowd. Reba was not a close friend of mine, but I liked her attitude, since she didn't listen to the nasty rumors about her.

Then we have Vincent. In elementary school, I fell for him, but he played me for a fool. He made me a laughing stock in front of the entire school after I tried to kiss him. From that day forward I never wanted to see or talk to him again. But my luck soon faded away when he became my classmate in P.E. Would he let bygones be bygones and just play along with the team?

Lastly, we have Robin, the friend I could only trust on this voyage, but I soon had my doubts.

Sometimes, I even wanted to ask Paige why her sibling wasn't the same person I once knew as we were growing up anymore.

***************

Here, goes nothing!

I climbed the short ladder that lead to the small wooden plank. My hands became sticky as I walked upon the plank as if a pirate demanded me to leave his ship. I took deep breaths, closed my eyes and out of nowhere I just leaped to the ground.

In a split second, I was flying in mid-air without a care in the world. It was exhilarating! But I knew it had to end soon. And as I opened my eyes, the hands of my four classmates carried me ... no questions asked.

I was quite relieved when they let me down.

I don't know why I was so scared in the first place. Constant jitters, perhaps?

If I never took this risk, I would have missed out on this.

I suppose I am too hard on myself. Who cares what my teammates think about me? Jen was right, I needed to let go and have fun.

***************

After Sunday's activities came to a halt; all of us students boarded the bus to go back to the hotel. Each of us were given free water bottles and cookies; so I didn't waste any time eating. I was tired after each exercise.

I also found out that the Coach apparently paired up Owen and Robinaire as roommates; which was kind of odd. I tried to imagine how the two have been able to get along with each other since the flight.

The two have been fighting endlessly like a bulldog and a plain old mutt.

But they were baseball teammates after all. They must have learned how to work together prior to this exercise. So, they must know that they cannot always control the unexpected. Whatever the Coach wanted them to do, just happened the way it was meant to be.

***************

The next morning, Jennifer and I woke up to the bright light that beamed through the windows.

Yawning, I looked at the alarm clock that sat on the desk next to me. It read 6:30 am and remembered that the hotel staff offered a free breakfast meal downstairs from 7-8 am. Thus, if I did not want to miss out on this opportunity, I had to get ready.

As I got out of bed, I was surprised to see that Jennifer was already awake. She sat behind a desk, writing a letter. She was still in her pink pajamas and matching slippers, so I guess I'm not the only one who brings her own personal items from home.

I decided to greet her, since she didn't seem to take notice of my watchful eye.

"Good Morning Jen! How did you sleep?"

She turned around to see my face.

"Good Morning Marlene! Sorry if I woke you up."

"Oh, you didn't. I was awakened by the glare of the sun."

She smiled at me, and went back to writing her letter.

I wondered why she woke up so early, so I inquired about it.

"So, can I ask why you are such 'an early bird' today?"

Without looking back at me, she replied to my question.

"I am writing to my boyfriend about this trip".

"I see. Does he go to our college?"

Jen shook her head no.

"Unfortunately, not. He is older than me by three years and works as an IT technician nearby our college."

I didn't need to know all that information, but I let her finish the sentence.

"He graduated community college already with a Computer Information Systems degree. He has a sister that's our age and ..."

I stopped her in the middle of her sentence because my stomach was gurgling for food.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you Jen. I'll now leave you alone and finish your letter, since my stomach is gurgling. I hope you don't mind, but I will be using the bathroom now, since I want to get ready for the free complimentary breakfast."

She nodded her head signaling to me that she understood.

Hmm ... somehow this quiet side of Jennifer was nothing I knew about.

I got ready to go downstairs after seeing that Jen already took advantage of getting food in the hotel's breakfast nook. She was eating some pancakes and had some fruit on the table.

"I see you went downstairs to get some food."

Jen nodded yes, since she had a stuffed mouth.

"Well, I'll be on my way downstairs now. I'll see you later Jen!"

I picked up one of the extra key cards and headed out the door.

She waved back at me as I left.

I snickered once I got out of our room, since she did not even have the decency to get me anything. If Paige was my roommate, she would have at least brought me some pancakes.

As I got out of the elevator, I headed toward the breakfast nook. There were still a few guests left eating away on the tables, but the lines were getting shorter. The hotel servers provided pancakes, hash browns, oatmeal and fruit for guests. To drink, we had the choices between milk, coffee, orange or apple juice.

I decided on placing some pancakes on my plate, along with some hash browns. As I was waiting in line for my turn in using the syrup, a hand tapped my shoulder.

Why does that hand seem so familiar?

I put my plate down and looked behind me.

"Good morning Marlene! How did you sleep? Moreover, did you miss me?"

It was Owen, who automatically knew how to make my face red.

"I've slept well. And no, I did not miss you."

He laughed.

"Your face says otherwise."

He noticed that I was going to reach for the syrup, but beat me to it.

"Would you like some syrup Mae?

"Yes, Owen. Now would you mind pouring some?"

"What's the magic word Mae?"

Um, what the heck? Magic word my butt, he just wants my attention, again. I'll show him!

"Owe, you're holding up the line. I just need the syrup!"

Grinning he pointed out that there wasn't any line behind him.

"What line Mae? As you can see we are the only two here now. Everyone else is either eating on a table or outdoors. So again what is the magic word?"

Hmm...he's getting on my nerves now. I tried grabbing for the bottle, but to no avail.

Finally, I just gave up and angrily exclaimed, "Look Owen you are now pressing my luck; so please can I have the syrup!"

He gave in and handed it to me, but knew there was more to this incident that he wanted.

"Come sit next to me Mae, before my roomie comes down." He put my plate down and pulled me towards him causing my cheeks to turn red.

Somehow, he always liked to turn my face as bright as a tomato.

I took my food and sat on a corner table nearby.

"Can you please just let me eat in peace Owen?"

But he didn't follow orders.

Instead, he took another chair from another table and sat down next to me.

"I will, Mae; but it's just not fair that I can't spend time with you. I'm here only because of your presence. Besides none of the other girls on this trip are fun; you are the only one!"

So that was what this was all about! He wanted to have 'fun' with girls!

I was about to take a bite out of my pancake, but his response made me drop it on the table. I wanted to retaliate, but just as I was going to get up from my chair to slap him, I fell down on my buttocks.

Worst of all most of my classmates saw me and that was another reason why I got the nickname "flat as a pancake."

Out of generosity, Owen helped me up, but slapped him right in the face anyhow.

I ran right back upstairs to my room without my plate.

Needless to say, I hardly got to eat any breakfast at all!