A morning surprise

This is written in third person as it jumps around.

Jon is pounding on the door to the camp. There are no cars by the cabin and the cells don't work. Amber had to get back and so did Karen and Bobby. It rained real hard just before sun up. Kevin had to lead Amber's car out so it could be pulled if it got stuck in the mud. The road was muddy enough that Kevin and Bobby had to wash the car so Amber could sell her story of being at Karen's friend Mary's house. Bobby had to get to town to work his 10:00 shift at the only fast food place in town. Kevin left a note that he would be back. While he was gone a stretch of the road (really more like glorified animal path) to the camp washed out. He back tracked and found that a tree fell across an alternate road. He was three miles from camp and had to walk it. He got back to the camp and found his friends frantic and hungry.

They hadn't seen the note Kevin left. Kevin explained about washout and the tree. They could walk to the wash out (about two miles) and he could meet them. They could walk the three miles with him to the van and he could return to town from there. He isn't sure he can get all the way to camp on the alternate route if he cuts up the tree. He will return with some diesel fuel to fire up the small bulldozer that Deputy Brown has there and fix the bad stretch of road. As the van only has four seats, Joe volunteers to stay behind and Kevin will bring some food back with the fuel.

Jon and the girls are very cross when they get to the van. Kevin brought an empty fuel can and a chain saw. When they reach blacktop they get cell service again. They find a gas station and diner after about ten more miles. Jon and Ashley and Erica all have credit cards and have called Bill Smith to come get them. Jon buys gas for Kevin's van and diesel for the bulldozer. Ashley buys some ice, soda, hot dogs, buns, and other food for back at camp. She even buys a big chocolate cake as she knows that is Joe's favorite. Erica buys lunch for the three. They all thank Kevin as camp didn't get them in trouble. Bill wouldn't give details but bad shit happened at the cottage to all who stayed there. Bill took a boat across the lake to his grandfather's cottage and he and a few select guests hid out until daylight. Kevin accepts the groceries, loads them and other needed supplies in the van and rushes back to his friend.

He calls Deputy Brown and tells him about the road. Brown can talk freely as he is off duty driving his personnel vehicle. He would help Kevin but he is just about home and going to bed after a long, hard shift. He tells Kevin not to worry too much about the road, don't do it if it might be dangerous. The camp will be ATV accessible only, one of these years. He knows that Bobby and Kevin are basically good kids and is real glad that everyone at camp is alright or home. He tells Kevin to read the paper tomorrow and assume bad ass kids missing from class tomorrow are locked up from their activities at the cottage. He repeats to be careful working the road but have fun and bill him for the costs as it is his road and camp. Kevin says don't worry, all costs and work will be considered a payback for the good times he and Bobby have had there.

Kevin and Joe eat as soon as Kevin gets back. Joe walked to the washout and met Kevin there. Kevin, with Joe's help, fires up the bulldozer. It burns about an gallon of fuel an hour. Kevin took his time getting to the site of the washout, fixing bad spots on the way. It takes him an hour to get there. He spent an hour and a half fixing the washed out stretch. When he is done it is better than it has been in forty years, He speeds up the road past his van and makes one pass down the alternate road pushing the downed tree aside using the bulldozer's blade, after he cut it in a few spots with the chainsaw to make the job easier. He siphons out the almost gallon of fuel left in the bulldozer after he parks it. This goes in the generator.

Joe has driven the van up and down the fixed road a few times to break it in. Kevin and Joe cook supper, clean up the camp and restock the woodpiles. They rake and clean the yard and take down the ribbons and clean up the tent site. Joe helps Kevin pack the tent and garbage and everything they brought to the camp in the back of the van. They get home after dark. Joe calls Ashley as soon as he has phone service. Kevin calls Karen after he gets home.