TLMITW, Tendo and the Bois, "I made some coffee, and no offense, but you look like you need it."
"I made some coffee, and no offense, but, you look like you need it."
Tendo stares blearily at the cup of coffee being proffered. He takes it and starts drinking. It's hot, and black, and makes him want to gag when it hits the back of his throat. But he needs it. Son he chokes it down. Beside him, Raleigh does the same.
By the time they're done, Newt's already piling things into the ice box.
"Ok, sun's coming up in an hour, which means we've got an hour to get down and get all set up!" Newt says.
"Is he always like this?" Tendo mumbles.
"On camping trips? Yup." Raleigh looks like he's doing a bit better. Typical military guy.
"Brother, I'm going back to bed."
Raleigh flings an arm around Tendo's shoulders and half drags him towards the ice box.
"You know how I used to get myself up in the mornings?" He asks.
"How?"
Raleigh scoops up a cupful of ice and water and, before Tendo's tired brain can register what's about to happen, dumps it on his head. Tendo's shout, and the ensuing laughter from the others, rings through the cool, dark woods.
This, Tendo promises himself, taking the towel Newt offers and snapping Raleigh with it, is the last time I go camping with them.
(But an hour later, he's watching the sun come up over the lake, and Newt is stiller and quieter than he's ever been before, and Raleigh is dead asleep in his chair, and the smell of coffee wafts through the air, and somehow he's not craving a smoke, and, and, and- It might just be the most perfect morning he's had since childhood. Maybe camping trips are in his future after all.)
