[The Morenos] Teacher Files #3: Camping Trip Part1

 “Someone, please kill me, please do me the favor of ending my miserable life.”

               Mineko Kono walked along the path that led to the campsite. She ran a hand through her ponytailed hair as she could hear her students chatting in excitement about having an all night camping trip. Why did she have to fall asleep during the staff meeting when teachers were volunteering for the annual senior camping trip? That’s right she had stayed up half the night before playing a new game she had gotten from the store earlier that day.

               Not only that but she decided to wear a white and cream striped shirt with a purple button down mini skirt. Of course, this trip wasn’t going to be anywhere near modernized luxuries. She really screwed herself over with this one. She could’ve sworn she saw a building where there were shower stalls and stalls for toilets but not anywhere she could be pampered. Damn her stupidity, damn her luck and most of all damn Liam for allowing the seniors to keep this camping trips tradition alive.

               “Miss Mineko, this is going to be exciting isn’t it?” asked a student. “Spending the whole weekend in the wilderness.”

               “Yeah it’s great,” Mineko mumbled as she held her backpack strap tighter. She really hated the idea of being outdoors but moreso she didn’t want to disappoint her students. Of course, the only good thing was that she had her cell phone which was a direct line to Thomas if she got too overwhelmed during this trip.

               “Miss Kono are you alright?”

               Mineko turned and came face to face with the second teacher that had been suckered into going on the trip. Not that she cared really since he was the only other person that would probably do more of the “wilderness” stuff than she could. Jason Kotter was the school’s newest staff member and one of the most athletic men that Mineko had ever laid her eyes on. Of course, he wasn’t her type since she went for men that had a little more experience under their belts. One of the reasons why Mineko was so attracted to Thomas.

               “I’m fine, I just don’t do wilderness,” Mineko admitted nervously. “Give me a beach resort with a spa nearby and I’m set.”

               “The wilderness doesn’t have to be a death sentence,” Jason jogged ahead of the group and laughed as he jumped onto a large rock. “It can be an experience!”

               “An experience?”

               “Yes, we’re going to setup camp right here!” Jason smiled brightly. “All students please ensure that you and your buddies have everything needed to set up your tents. If you need help don’t hesitate to ask me or Miss Kono for help.”

               “But not me personally!” Mineko called out nervously. “Unless you want to sleep under the stars! I am pretty bad at putting up tents!”

               The students all laughed as they began setting up their tents while others were playing around instead of setting up.

               “Kids will be kids huh Miss Kono?” Jason glanced at Mineko. “It’s pretty nice that we’re here to give them guidance right?”

               Mineko glanced at Jason. “Yeah..so err Jason right? What made you want to come to teach at Central Arts anyway?”

               “Well I am a former student, and I do want to give back to the place that helped me learn that there was more to life than being a troublemaker,” Jason got a far off look in his eyes before glancing at Mineko. “and I heard there was a beautiful blonde that is popular with students too.”

               “What?” Mineko stared at Jason as she laughed nervously pointing at herself. “Me beautiful? You’re just messing with me aren’t you?”

               “No, I mean it Mineko,” Jason place a hand on her cheek and smiled softly at her. “You’re really beautiful, I have a thing for blondes.”

               “Uh…listen, Jason, you should find someone else,” Mineko said backing away from him. “I am in a relationship, I cannot go against everything that it stands for.”

               “I see, so it’s true I am too late.” Jason moved his hand away and looked into her eyes. “I should’ve known that you’d be taken…but tell me what is he like? Does he treat you well?”

               Mineko smiled softly. “Of course, I love him with all my heart, he’s the one person in this whole world that sees me for me…he doesn’t think I’m some dizzy blonde.” She placed her hands on her cheeks that were now a soft hue of red. “I don’t know what I’d do without him…he believes in me like I believe in him.”

               “Sounds like you found your soulmate,” Jason smiled softly. “I hope you two will always be happy…though I have to ask…why didn’t you ask him to come with you?”

               “He has a cold,” Mineko said softly. “I couldn’t very well let him get sicker if we’re out here in the wilderness, if he got sicker I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself for it.”

               “If you get too worried about him, I’m sure I can cover for you to go home,” Jason said kindly. “I’m sure you’d worry about him the whole time you’re here.”

               “No no, I don’t want to leave you to do all the work,” Mineko said simply. “He’ll be fine without me, I hope…besides, I’m sure he’ll call me if he needs me….but I’ll go make sure he’s ok.” She walked over to a nearby tree and went behind it as she pulled out her phone and began calling home.

               “Minnie, what’s wrong?” Thomas sat up in bed as he held the phone tightly in his hand. “Do you need me to come out there?”

               “No, Tommy, I was calling home,” Mineko said with a giggle. “Are you ok? Are you taking your medicine? Did you already heat up the soup I left for you on the stove?”

               “I’m fine,” Thomas said coughing lightly. “I was taking a nap when you called me, I assumed something was wrong.”

               “I’m fine, it’s just a lot of trees…wood paths….and I think I saw a deer or two but nothing too dangerous,” Mineko held back a giggle. “And if anything happens I’m sure that Jason will scare them away.”

               “Jason? Who’s Jason?” Thomas asked as he became more alert. “Mineko is that one of your students?”

               “No, he’s one of the other teachers on this trip,” Mineko said. “He’s really charming and knows what he’s doing…well he knows what he’s going in terms of handling the wilderness.”

               “I see…” Thomas went silent before he began getting out of bed. “I guess that’s fine but…what campgrounds are you at?”

               “Um…the….give me a minute…” Mineko called out to Jason for the name of the campgrounds before nodding. “It’s the ones on Staten Island…why?”

               “No reason,”  Thomas said quietly. “You have fun and I’ll see you soon.”

               “See me soon?” Mineko giggled softly. “Tommy, I’ll see you on Sunday morning, I love you.”

               “I love you too Minnie.”

               Once the call ended Thomas began getting dressed, he looked over at his and Mineko’s wedding picture. He wasn’t going to let some young upstart take his wife from him. He was going to show that Mineko was his and his alone. He trusted Mineko with all his heart but he didn’t trust the younger teachers at Central Arts. After all most of them had gotten small crushes on the young blonde and it was enough to make any man feel the need to assert his dominance.

               Cold or not…he was going to be with Mineko so to “protect” her from Jason.