Are we forgetting anything? (Sean)

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh wasn't necessarily fond of nature beyond observing from a safe distance. However, he was very fond of spending time with the people he cared about.

The camping trip Greg had proposed was full of people he cared about.

Of course, it helped that his college friend was charismatic. It also helped that the attorney was (though he would deny it) easily persuaded.

And so he found himself preparing for a weekend trip into the woods. He had decided not to focus on the woods part of this equation, instead concentrating on sharing a tent with Sean and drinking with friends.

"Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars. Do we need to bring skewers?"

He personally would have found sticks acceptable but some of their friends could be a tad bit particular about cleanliness.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

They had needed to purchase a tent, but that had been on their to-do list for a while, ever since Sean had returned from chaperoning the annual autumn camping trip for Hammel. Of course, camping had never been high on the telepath’s list of interests, since he wasn’t the type of hippie that communed with nature. However, he was easy-going enough, and Greg had wanted to go camping.

It was relatively easy, after that point, to coordinate. Sean was organized, he knew everyone in their group, and he was able to spread the word and help to find an appropriate camping area. Since it was almost summer, the last of the snow had left Vermont, allowing them their few months of warmth and sun.

“I bought skewers as a favor to James,” the telepath remarked, as he did an inventory of their gear. Their friend’s OCD would not allow for him to use a stick, and Sean would prefer, all factors equal, to limit the chance of encountering ticks.

While Josh went through their food supplies, the telepath had chosen to review some of the other staples: the first aid kit, their hygiene products, bug spray and sunscreen. “I want to make some trail mix before we leave, too.”

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Ah. Where can I find them?" Josh asked,leaving aside the food to search for the skewers. He hadn't seen them in the flatware, but he also hasn't been looking, and so he easily could have missed them.

However, the promise of trail mix distracted him from his search. "D'you want to package it individually? I can get out ziplock bags..."

He privately thought only James would want separate containers, but even one person was enough to make individual packaged worthwhile. Finding the snacks that comprised the trail mix wouldn't be too difficult, either; the Neville-Bernstein house was always well stocked.

"And what about beer? Is alcohol allowed?"


They were, after all, camping in a park rather than in one of their backyards and so there were sure to be rules. He hoped alcohol was legal, though; he'd already begun fantasizing about beer with his s'mores.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean overheard his partner’s thought and gestured with one hand in the direction of the pantry. “The skewers are longer than for grilling kebabs; you’ll find them when you see them.” They were too long to fit in a drawer, which also made them too long to miss during a search.

At the question, the telepath nodded, looking up from his inventory of the first aid kit. One of the benefits of being practical and organized was that he typically replaced items as he used them, and thus the kit was usually complete at any given time. It certainly came in handy. “I think individual packages is a good idea,” he agreed. Not only would James appreciate that, but it would allow everyone to hike at his own pace without worrying about taking too much from the communal stock.

Returning his attention to counting ointments, he remarked, “I didn’t see a rule explicitly prohibiting it in the camping grounds, so I assume it’s allowed. I hope it is.”

Half the men in their group were teetotalers, but the other half of them drank, some of whom enjoyed doing so more than others. Sean would enjoy being able to have a drink or two, although the other men might not appreciate the effect that alcohol had on him when he and Josh were together.

Then again, it was a vacation.

[Joshua Bernstein]

At the directions given Josh turned on his heel, heading toward the pantry. Sean was correct that they were easy to spot, lying idly between the package of napkins and box of plastic straws. He decided to grab some of both those as well, just in case; after all, they would certainly need to eat more than just s'mores and trail mix.

"If it isn't banned then we should be fine." He decided, placing his items on the counter next to the s'mores ingredients before returning to the pantry for cheerio's and raisins and ziplock bags. "Chocolate chips, m&ms or both?" He called over his shoulders as he took stock of the pantry'scontentd contents.

Then, after a moment, he added worriedly, "you do think Bailey will be all right over the weekend?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean’s thoughts were similar. As long as alcohol wasn’t prohibited, then anyone who wished to imbibe could do so without reproach. Well, Cobalt might make a remark, but that was neither here nor there.

“Both!” The telepath called out in response. They had miniature chocolate chips that would go well, and the hard shells on the M&Ms would stay firm even in the sunlight. They had raisins and granola and nuts, which would be more than enough to use as a base mix.

“I’m sure she will be,” Sean said. He looked up, glancing over at the pantry with an expression of reassurance. “Ryan and Shiya agreed to keep an eye on her, and despite some of their extracurricular activities, they are both responsible young adults.”

The telepath had complete confidence in his nephew’s ability to watch a twelve-year-old over the course of the weekend. Both Ryan and Shiya could cook, and neither of them was averse to doctors or housework. They would have cell phone reception in case of emergency, and, even without it, they could keep in touch. “Ryan even said that he’d bring his console and some video games that she might enjoy, and those will be a treat.”

Since neither Sean nor Josh played video games, they did not own a system.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh hauled both bags of candy to the counter at Sean's answer. He certainly wasn't going to complain about extra chocolate In his trail mix.

"I suppose you're right," he agreed reluctantly. He was very fond of Sean's nephew and his girlfriend, but he couldn't help but worry. After all, this would be their first time leaving Bailey for more than an evening and while she was old enough to do some babysitting herself, this was a whole weekend away.

"They're at least as responsible as we were at that age."

Come to think of it, he wasn't sure if that was much of an endorsement given that he had come dangerously close to failing several classes due to Sean being more interesting than study.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean finished with the first aid kit mere moments later and snapped it shut. With that inventoried, he walked past his partner, pulling down a bowl from the cupboard. “Can you get me the peanut can and a bag of pretzel Goldfish?” He asked, since those combined with the other ingredients would round out the mix fairly well.

“It’s natural to worry,” the telepath said, remarking on what he sensed from Josh but the younger man had left unspoken. They were Bailey’s legal guardians, and she was young, still naïve, and they had never left her alone for so long before. Of course they would worry. That was inherent in caring about a child.

However, Sean was also confident that Bailey would be fine. Ryan and Shiya would take good care of her, and she might find it a treat to be with younger people – people who could run with her and who were closer to her experiences.

“We should pack some meat in the cooler,” he said after a moment. Hotdogs would be easiest to cook on an open flame, although they could use smaller pieces of chicken breast or beef on skewers as well. It was doubtful that there would be fish, given what the camping areas were zoned for.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Josh nodded in acquiescence and returned to tote pantry, rummaging about until he found peanuts and pretzel goldfish.

"What sort of meat are you thinking? Does the camping area have grills we can use?" If not then he had the same thought as Sean; hotdogs were the obvious choice to skewer over the campfire. If there was a grill, however, he would also suggest hamburger patties. Of course, that would require they bring toppings and buns, but he was sure they had room.

"Does anyone have any dietary restrictions?"

If anyone knew the answer to that it would be Sean.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean took the other food packages with a nod of appreciation, before he began to pour the items into a bowl. The raisins, the peanuts, the pretzels...making trail mix was one of the easiest tasks involved in camping.

“I don’t know if they have grills; I wouldn’t rely on the assumption that they do, so I was thinking hotdogs.” Of course, he knew that Josh’s thoughts had been the same, which meant that they were in agreement.

“Danny keeps partially Kosher,” the telepath remarked. Their younger fan ate foods that weren’t certified Kosher, but he still abided by the larger dietary restrictions; he didn’t eat pork or shellfish, and he didn’t mix meat and dairy. “Riley has some allergies that he can manage for himself, and Chase is a very picky eater. However, James has that mostly under control.” Which was to say that it wasn’t within Sean’s purview as a friend or as a psychiatrist to make sure that Chase ate his vegetables.

“I only buy beef hotdogs as it is,” the telepath remarked, going back to Danny’s dietary restrictions for a moment. Those tasted better to him and were subject to fewer recalls as some of the mixed meat hotdogs were.

[Joshua Bernstein]

"Then hotdogs are fine with me."

If they met all dietary restrictions and there was only an uncertain chance of having a grill then hotdogs were the safest choice. S'mores, hotdogs and beer...those were the only camp requirements he could think of, but that only covered one meal.

"Perhaps we should bring deli meat and cheese for sandwiches?" He suggested. "Perhaps some strawberries too."

That would cover lunch, and he could just bring bagels for breakfast. One couldn't go wrong with bagels. Of course, how he would acquire his morning coffee was a mystery but surely there was some secret camping coffee making tip.

Maybe Sean would know; they taught that sort of thing in Boy Scouts, right?

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Next, Sean poured in the Cheerios, followed quickly by both types of chocolate. It was unfortunate that they didn’t have any other dried fruit, but since it was summer, Sean eschewed preserved fruit for fresh. With melons, berries, and stone fruit available in their freshest forms, and not in the habit of wilderness activities, he had no reason to look for dried varieties in the warmer months.

Until now.

They would simply have to do without.

At least they would have plenty of other food. He and Josh had reached a consensus about the hotdogs, which was one decision already made. “The sandwich filler is a good idea,” he agreed. “We should bring peanut butter and jelly as well.” Grape jelly and strawberry jam both proved popular and satisfying, and those would also qualify for the lunch menu.

Sandwiches, hotdogs, trail mix and skewer meat would take care of the basics. “We’ll need a lot of Ziploc bags of different sizes.”

Although the telepath didn’t camp, he knew the rules about packing out what they packed in. There would be more than enough trash between a dozen fully-grown men that they needed to be prepared.

He then overheard the younger man’s thought, and assured him, “It’s possible to cook coffee over an open fire.” He counted that ability among his many skills.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Peanut butter was yanked from the pantry, followed by jelly from the fridge. Then out came the deli meats and cheeses and mayonnaise and mustard. He hovered in front of the open door, cataloging the rest of the contents, then grabbed a bag of lettuce, a jar of pickles, and a cucumber.

"Should we just bring the boxes?" He questioned as he began hunting down the bags, placing them on the floor beside the cooler. The response to his unspoken question about coffee elicited a smile. "Excellent!"

That meant he had to fetch some heat resistant mugs and the can of coffee.

"What about plates, plastic ware, napkins...?"

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“We should,” Sean agreed. Bringing the boxes of the Ziploc bags would prove easier than stuffing handfuls of them into assorted pouches and pockets.

After adding the last ingredients to his trail mix, he stirred up the bowl to even out the assortment. From there, it would be a matter of portioning out the food until they had run out.

“I already packed a lighter and a couple of books of matches, just in case it rains and one or the other stops working. I’ll need a tin pot for the coffee, one with a fairly long handle.” Fortunately, they had a full set of cookware, and thus that would be easy to find and take with them.

The telepath shook his head a single time, denying the need for them to pack any form of dishes or cutlery. “I promise you that James and Chase will have those under control. James is extremely organized and particular about how he’ll eat, and so we shouldn’t have to worry about those.” However, some paper products would prove handy, and so he added, “We should pack some extra toilet paper.”

A dozen adult-sized men alone in the woods for a weekend would require a fair amount of that provision.

[Joshua Bernstein]

Once the food was packed Josh surveyed the kitchen with pride. It wasn't often he was able to claim he had genuinely helped with meals, but he thought he could this time. Granted, there had been zero cooking involved, but once they got to the camping site he could make a mean sandwich. He could even experiment and see about crafting a grilled cheese over the campfire.

Now onto the other items they might need. "Should we bring flashlights? Extra pillows?"

Every trip needed extra pillows.