We should have brought our car.
This thought continued running through my mind all the way. We wouldn't have been walking for so long if we had brought our car.
My son, Liam and I were going camping near a lake. Liam was so excited about this trip. And I didn't want to disappoint him. This trip would be our last before he went off to college. Liam always went camping with his father. But two years ago, we lost Liam's father to an accident. We had no one else we could fall upon. So when Liam asked for this trip, I couldn't say no.
This lake was in the next town. I had booked a bus that would drop us near the lake. But we'd have to walk a little to get to the bus. We are a fit mother-son pair so walking a little wasn't a big deal for either of us. When the day came, we packed everything required and left our house to go to the bus stand.
Halfway to the bus stand, Liam realized he had left the snacks on the kitchen counter. I had given him the packets to keep in his bag. I had kept the tent and other items, so I didn't have much space in my bag. But we couldn't go on a 3-day camping trip without any snacks on us. So we had no other option but to walk back to our home.
We jogged back to our house, took the packets off the counter, and ran back to the stand. But unfortunately, the bus had left. Sun was already over our heads. If we didn't leave for the lake just then, we wouldn't make it before the dark. It was a rocky-mountainous region, and walking through the night wouldn't be a safe choice. We had to leave right then.
Liam suggested we could take the local bus from the next stand. It would be a bit crowded, but we didn't have many options. So we started walking towards the next bus stand. After walking for 15--20 minutes, we learned it was pretty far away, and we hadn't reached half the way there. The roads were laid with stones, and it wasn't easy walking.
I had worn my sneakers, and Liam had his shoes on. I had a knee-length flared dress. It was knee length, so it didn't move too much with the wind. But it wasn't suitable for a windy day - like today. But in my defense, I had thought we were to ride on a bus and reach the camp comfortably. None of this was in my plan.
Liam had worn his t-shirt and pajamas. Both were thin and light. But Liam always prioritized comfort over style, so it was quite his way.
We somehow kept on. Liam had started dragging a bit too, and we were both tired even before we had officially started the journey. This part was supposed to be easy.
The stand was still nowhere in sight. We thought we could book a cab to get there. A cab to the next town would be crazy expensive, but one to the next stand could be affordable. Liam had brought his phone with him. He checked the cab options but couldn't find any near the area. So, we had to drop the idea of a cab. We then chatted about asking for a lift. I was a little unsure of it. But then went with the idea thinking the stand would be near.
A few cars passed, and we tried to stop them and ask for a lift, but none stopped. We had almost given up this idea, too, but finally, a car stopped.
It was a small car, and a man and woman were sitting in the front. The man sitting in the driver's seat stopped in front of us and asked what we wanted. Liam explained that we needed to reach the nearby bus stand. The man asked what our final destination was. Before I could stop Liam from revealing our locations, he ratted off about the camping and the lake. The two looked at each other and told us they were going near the lake too and could drop us there. They then pointed to us that they were a couple and were headed to the cabin to spend a few months in the woods.
Even though I was suspicious at the start, the couple looked genuine. My feet were happy we didn't have to walk anymore.
The couple was equally excited to drop us off. Liam and I were thankful for the lift, but the only problem was the lack of space in the car.
The car wasn't massive, and there wasn't a lot of space for anyone. And the backseat of the vehicle was filled with too many boxes. In no way could the seat hold two people. I realized we would have to pass on this offer.
I expressed my concern to the couple, and they felt helpless too. But the woman told us that that was our only chance if we wanted to reach the lake. She then explained that the local bus must have left an hour before, and in no way could we catch it.
Liam and I looked at each other, mentally cursing. We didn't know what to do about the whole situation now. As we were thinking and trying to make a decision, the couple got out of the car.
Both of them opened the back doors and started rearranging the boxes. We tried objecting, but they continued trying to make space for us. They shoved a few boxes behind the seat and under them. A large box was occupying the maximum area in the center. They hoisted it together and held it against the back of their front seats, but it fell over the back seat. Then the woman opened another box and took out two little pieces of rope, and they tied the large box to a handle near the front seat and hoisted it up.
I tried talking them out of it as I was embarrassed to be of such great inconvenience to strangers. But the couple was very persistent. They tied it up, and this time it stayed. They had put the box in such a way that it had created a wall, and it would be impossible for the people in the front and back seats to see each other.
They adjusted a few more boxes on the seat. When we saw it wasn't possible to move the boxes anymore, we scanned the center. It still didn't have enough space for Liam and me. It could hold only one person, and we couldn't leave without the other. I felt terrible for the couple as they had tried too hard for this, but it wasn't helpful.
We were going to pass on the offer, but the woman beat us to it. She suggested one of us could sit on the other's lap, and that way, both could fit on the seat.
Now that was a good idea. I could sit on the seat and have Liam on my lap. Liam was only 20, and he couldn't be too heavy for me. We could reach the lake early enough to camp there tonight.
I sat on the tiny space in the back seat and then asked Liam to come to sit on my lap. I asked Liam if he was okay with sitting on my lap, and he didn't look much at ease but still agreed. I had to take off my bag to adjust to the seat, and Liam had to do the same.
As soon as Liam sat on my lap, I realized he was too heavy for my legs. In a few seconds, my legs had started aching, so I asked him to get down, and he did.
"Mom, maybe I could be under you. It would be easier to ride that way", Liam suggested.
Okay, that sounded a bit weird coming from my son's mouth. But I didn't react. I simply got down and let Liam climb into the car first. Then, I went into and sat on his lap. As I sat, my dress rose a little at the back with my bare thighs rubbing against his pajamas. I was worried I was too heavy for him, but Liam said this position was much better. I asked if I was too much for him, but he declined and said he could bear it for the rest of the journey.
The couple was pleased that everything had worked out for the better. They gave us our bags and took their seats in the front.
I took our bags, kept one near my leg, and kept the one with snacks on my lap. I didn't want it to get stepped on by Liam or me. Also, I had noticed that my dress had ridden a little at the front, so keeping the bag there felt like a good decision.
The man asked us if we were comfortable and told us that it would take almost two hours to reach the lake and they wouldn't stop for any breaks. But if we wanted something, we could tell them. They also informed us that due to the box between the seats and the noisy wind, they wouldn't be able to see or hear us. If we needed something, we'd have to shout it to them. We said we would.
He then started the car, and we finally started our journey.
