“To Know Him Is to Love Him”
Listen to this chapter, “Trip to Pine Cove.”
In the weeks that followed, Ella and Cynthia weren’t very happy about what had happened between them and the boys. However, Cynthia showed it more than Ella did. Steve had been going with Carolyn lately, mostly because Cynthia would have been hot on his trail if he didn’t appear to have a girlfriend. Cynthia knew enough to know that meant “hands off.”
On the weekend that started Christmas vacation, the Riverdale Youth Club sponsored an outing. It was to be a weekend in the mountains at the Riverdale Youth Camp, which was located a half mile north of Pine Cove Village on Pine Cove Hill, about 24 miles east of Riverdale.
The snow had been falling every night since Wednesday, and on Friday morning it was about two feet deep. Ken took Sandra, Steve and Carolyn, and Julie and Eddy with him in his dad’s car. It took them about 40 minutes to arrive at the RYC Camp. After they had located their cabins, they all met back at the lodge and took a walk in the new-fallen snow.
It was a perfectly beautiful day in the mountains. Around the lodge, the tall stately pines stood out like pretty candles on a frosted birthday cake. The swimming pool, so actively in use during the summer months, was now drained and covered. Here and there a gray squirrel chattered saucily and scampered up a nearby tree. Across the wooden bridge that spanned the frozen creek almost right for ice skating, the pathway led through Hickman’s Forest. Here, as far as the eye could see, over hill and dale, the snow lay like a frosty carpet.
As the six of them wandered among the trees, some without leaves and some evergreen, they came upon a pond where the icicles dangled their stiff fingers in weird patterns. Here they each plucked a natural “popsicle” to suck on. Beyond a nearby hill, they could see the top of an old, deserted cabin. The snow lay on the roof like a blanket and icicles hung over the edge like the fringe of a giant bedspread.
Before returning to the camp, the teenagers hiked to the top of the highest hill called Pintail Peak. From here they could view the entire valley. The air was chilly and crisp, and their cheeks were turning rosy from the walk up the hill. There were a few silent moments as the group stood on top of the hill and viewed the scene below. When one is alone or with a loved one in a time and place like his, one is filled with a new awe and reverence for the Creator of this magnificent beauty.
All too soon they had to start back to the camp for the Campfire Program at sundown. In the winter, the program was held around the big open fireplace in the lodge. Ever since Ken had broken up with Ella, Eddy had become quite fascinated with Ken’s new “heart throb” as he called it. And ever since he had started going with Julie, he had not been so quiet and conservative as before. Ken, who was a wolf, had become Eddy’s teenage idol. Everything Ken did, Eddy tried to copy.
On his way to the lodge from the cabins earlier in the day, Eddy thought he heard Ken say something “suggestive” about Sandra to Steve, and he had exaggerated upon it in his own mind. Now, as they sat watching a moving picture, Eddy thought he had to do everything Ken did. And he was getting a little too fresh with Julie for his own good.
When the picture was over, some kids took a moonlight stroll before turning in. The full moon, new-fallen snow, and young lovers made quite a combination. Pine Cove Village was close to the camp, and before long they had wandered into Pine Cove. So why not have a hot chocolate or something before starting back out into the freezing winter night?
After a half-hour at the Pine Cove Sundae Shoppe, the kids decided that had better start back. Or before they knew it their moonlight stroll would turn into a midnight stroll. On the return trip, the couples walked four abreast along the deserted road. Some fellows, like Ken, thought it necessary to help keep the girls warm. Sandra and Julie were not ordinarily the girls who let boys put their arms around them every day. But tonight was an exceptionally frosty night.
Sandra and Ken and Eddy and Julie were walking together, the girls on the outside, when Eddy started whispering to Ken. “Why don’t you kiss her?” it sounded like to Sandra. Julie thought he said, “I’ll kiss Julie if you’ll kiss Sandra.”
When they reached the outskirts of the camp, lights were on in only two cabins. One was that of the camp director and his wife; the other was the cabin of Ella and Cynthia. All the others had either turned in early or had gone on the moonlight walk. There was a twelve o’clock curfew, and now the young people had exactly 13 minutes to midnight, at which time the camp director checked each cabin to make sure the lights were out and the occupants were sleeping. If anyone was missing, the Pine Cove police were ready to aid. However, Mr. Marcos, the Camp Director for the past three years, usually gave five or ten minutes’ grace. But if you were careless and stayed out too long, he could cause a raucous.
When Eddy and Julie and Sandra and Ken came to the gate of the camp, they paused for a moment under the star-filled sky and let the others go on ahead. Sandra and Julie looked at each other, wondering what the boys had up their sleeves now. Ken looked at Sandra as if to say, “This wasn’t my idea; it’s all Eddy’s planning.” Just then Eddy broke the silence.
“Well,” he said, giving Julie a wolfish look and then glancing toward Ken, “how about it? It’s nice and dark over behind the craft building.”
“Eddy!” Julie spoke in a tone of reproof and broke away from him.
“Aw, doll,” he tried to argue, “just this once. They won’t see us. Nobody will ever know.”
“Listen, Eddy, you’re a real swell kid. I like you a lot; at least, I thought I did. But there is a limit. If you want to make out, that’s your business, but not with me. As much as I like you, I mean what I say.”
“Aw, baby, please,” he pleaded, “just one itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny little kiss.”
“No!” persisted Julie. “N-O, no!”
But Eddy refused to take a hint. “But you’ve done it before,” he kept on. “I’ve heard all about that graduation night.”
At that remark, a strange look came into Julie’s eyes. “Please, let’s not talk about graduation night,” she said, her voice sounding as if she were almost ready to cry. With that, she turned and ran toward her cabin.
Bewildered, Eddy looked helplessly at Ken for a second. Then he ran after Julie. But she had slammed the door and locked it before he could reach her. Giving Ken and Sandra one last glance, Eddy slowly started toward his own cabin.
Now, in the starlight, Ken gazed at Sandra’s lovely face. “Sandra,” he began softly, “there’s something I want you to know. When I first started dating you, my sole purpose was to just make Ella jealous. But she started getting too high-toned, thought she was just too good for me. Anyway, I’ve found out she isn’t my type. Maybe you didn’t know it, but Ella and I had only been going together for about four months, not nearly as long as Steve and Cynthia had been together. Since Ella is her best friend and Steve is mine, we four always palled around together. But,” he paused, “let’s talk about ‘us’.”
Sandra smiled, half in amusement and half in contentment. When she said nothing, Ken went on.
“Since I’ve been going with you,” he said, “I’ve discovered you’re the girl of my dreams. Tell me,” and he winked, “where have you been all my life?”
Sandra only smiled and blushed. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence on Sandra’s part, for she was very ill at ease, not knowing what to say or do. For Ken, it was a moment of decision. He sighed then said, “Sandra, all those things I said to you the night of the banquet and every Saturday night since then, well, most of the stuff was just mechanical, but—but, Sandra, what I’m saying to you tonight, I really mean it.”
She looked up into his face. He was serious. She could tell by his expression. He had never been like this before. His deep blue eyes seemed to tell her that he, Ken Nelson, belonged to her if she would only take him.
“Sandra,” he said, “will you…will you go steady with me?”
Sandra was speechless. “I—I don’t know,” she stammered. “Please give me some time to think about it.”
“All right,” he smiled, “but please accept this token of our friendship.” And from his pocket he brought forth a sterling silver chain to which a silver heart was attached. As he held out the gift before her, it glistened in the light of the now-descending moon. It seemed to compel her to reach out and take it. With a nervous hand, she touched it lightly. The words, “Love, Ken,” were inscribed on its face. It was so beautiful in its simplicity, so significant of love, “…of our friendship,” Ken had said.
She smiled tenderly and nodded slightly.
That was what Ken had been waiting for. He fastened the chain around her neck, and they started strolling away. This time, her arm also was around him. They stopped in front of the door of her cabin and reluctantly said goodnight.
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