Page 17 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure

Chapter Fourteen

M orning had broken at the Solma Vacaciones Camp Site, and as vacationers went about their early chores, there was no sign of life on pitch number thirteen. Winnie’s windows were closed, and the curtains were firmly shut.

Inside the camper, there was a lingering odour of the night before.

Ness opened one eye and sniffed. If the old dog could talk, she’d announce that the air smelt of stale alcohol – sour and unpleasant – and with each gentle snore from the lump on the bed, she knew that it was coming from Atticus.

Thrusting her nose forward and lifting a paw, Ness poked and prodded.

When Atticus sighed and appeared to be coming back from the dead, Ness jumped up and began to lick his face.

‘Aw…no! Leave off!’ Atticus groaned. He reached out to push the dog away, but Ness was relentless, and with no chance of turning over and returning to the deep sleep he’d been enjoying, Atticus sat up .

He noted that the duvet was tossed to one side and realised he was still fully clothed.

‘Eh? How did that happen?’ Atticus scratched his head and tried to think back to the night before.

He vaguely remembered linking arms with Cheryl and Ruby after the barbecue had ended as they walked him back to Winnie.

‘I must have fallen asleep,’ he muttered to himself, pulling back the curtains.

Light flooded into the camper, and Atticus squinted.

Ness was pawing at the door, and with a sigh, he knew it was time to get up.

Reaching for her lead as she raced out, Atticus picked up his hat and stumbled out of the camper.

‘Right, Ness, let’s get you walked,’ he said.

Yawning wide and shaking his shoulders to bring life to his bones, Atticus stepped away from his pitch and set off.

An hour or so later, Atticus was wide awake.

After two days on the road, the hot shower and shave in the shared amenities made him feel brand new.

Now, wearing clean clothes, he’d connected Winnie to all the services and was delighted to find that she had running water – properly draining away – and electricity from the on-site supply.

Taking a folding chair out of the storage space, Atticus sat in the sunshine and drank from a water bottle. He had an unusual thirst that morning as he ate the last of his bread, which he layered with the remains of the cheese, and wondered how much alcohol had been in the sangria.

He decided that he must send a text to Mary to let her know that all was well. Reaching for his phone, Atticus began to type.

All gud in suny Spain. Camp site neat. Hope u r ok.

Atticus didn’t like the informality of abbreviated messages but as Jake had insisted, to keep up with the kids, he needed to know their online language. Happy with his communication, he pressed send.

Ness had finished her doggie biscuits and Atticus tossed her a crust. ‘It’s time to get the awning sorted,’ he said as she gobbled it down. Placing the chair on one side, Atticus gathered a heavy canvas bag and deposited it beside a box of tools.

‘Need a hand?’ a man called out, and Atticus turned to see Erik stepping onto the pitch.

Wearing shorts, sliders, and a vest, Erik was a picture of vitality.

His dark skin glistened with a healthy sheen, accentuating the contours of his muscles and Atticus wondered how many hours a day Erik spent in a gym.

A body like that required hard work and dedication.

‘Aye, that would be great, if you don’t mind.’

‘This is a fine vintage camper,’ Erik said and poked his nose inside.

Atticus wished he’d made the bed and tidied it into a sofa, but Erik seemed unperturbed as he looked around.

‘A 1985 Westfalia, one point nine litre?’ Erik asked and flicked open Winnie’s bonnet to study inside. ‘A water-cooled, manual engine,’ he nodded. ‘Simple, reliable, and low maintenance. ’

‘Yes, she’s well-suited for leisurely travel.’

‘Have you had the vehicle from new?’

‘I certainly have,’ Atticus said, running his hand over the smooth yellow paintwork. He omitted to tell Erik that Winnie had stood neglected for so many years. ‘Do you have a caravan or motorhome?’ Atticus asked.

‘A motorhome,’ Erik answered. ‘Come and see it sometime. Pitch two hundred.’

The two men began to assemble Winnie’s awning over a metal frame, and in no time at all, additional accommodation was created.

Complete with flooring and windows, it had a zippered doorway with curtains that tied back.

Inside, two collapsible chairs, a picnic table, and space for Ness’s bed made the awning feel cosy.

‘That’s grand,’ Atticus said as Erik hammered the last peg and secured the guy rope to the ground.

‘Your Spanish home,’ Erik smiled. He ran his fingers over his smooth head and stood back with Atticus to admire their handiwork. The vintage awning, sourced on eBay, was colourful with yellow and red panels, and together with Winnie, it made for a bright and cheerful sight.

‘Can I offer you a drink?’ Atticus asked Erik. ‘I only have coffee or water. I need to go shopping for supplies.’

‘No, my friend. I’m fine, but thank you. On Saturday mornings, most of us go to the market, where we shop and socialise.’ Erik glanced at a watch on his wrist. ‘I’m going to cycle there, so I may see you later.’

Atticus watched Erik walk away. He was sure his timepiece was a Rolex, studded with gemstones and glinting like gold. Despite Erik’s casual appearance, Atticus knew that the jewelled item was probably worth a fortune.

Gathering his tools, Atticus was preoccupied when a vehicle drew up alongside his pitch and a voice called out, ‘Cooee, cowboy!’ Spinning around, Atticus saw Cheryl leaning out of the window of a brand-new, bright red Fiat 500.

With Ruby at the convertible’s wheel, the two women were beaming from ear to ear.

‘Saddle up!’ Cheryl said. ‘We’re taking you to the market!’

Remembering that Erik had mentioned the Saturday custom, Atticus replied, ‘Okay, let me get my hat.’

‘Bring Ness too,’ Cheryl added as Ruby revved the engine.

Minutes later, Atticus squeezed into the rear of the Fiat with Ness sitting alongside. As they pulled away from his pitch, Ruby admired the awning. ‘It’s like a Punch and Judy portable theatre,’ she laughed. ‘I hope you’ll be giving us a show later.’

As they drove through the campsite, Cheryl, keen for Atticus to get his bearings, gave a running commentary. ‘On the right are the outdoor pools,’ she began. ‘The water isn’t heated, but on a hot day, it’s refreshing. Further along, you’ll see the gym, spa, and heated indoor pool.’

Atticus was impressed when Cheryl pointed out a supermarket, a hair salon, and a children’s play area.

‘Sometimes, on weekends and holidays, the site fills with Spanish families who hire the chalets. The kids run wild and are up all night,’ Cheryl explained, as Atticus noted swings, slides, and a large trampoline.

‘Do you play tennis?’ Ruby asked and pointed to courts alongside the outdoor gym equipment, as well as a putting green and bowling area.

‘No, I’m afraid not.’

‘You’ll have to sort yourself out with a bike,’ Cheryl said. ‘It’s the only way to get around if you haven’t a car and don’t want to disassemble Winnie.’

Atticus thought Cheryl made a good point and noted a sign that read ‘Bikes for Hire’ on a shop near the reception.

Circling the site again, Ruby slowed as they kerb-crawled past a sizeable open-air bar with a stage. ‘There’s nightly entertainment here,’ she said, ‘and you’ll also find another bar, café, and restaurant.’

Atticus was staggered as he took it all in. He knew that the site had decent facilities from the website, but what he now saw was beyond his expectations. Remembering to keep Jake and Arthur up to date, he reached for his phone and began to take photos.

‘Selfies?’ Cheryl asked.

‘I’m taking pictures for my grandson,’ Atticus said. ‘I promised to send them to him, as he wants to keep a record of my holiday.’

‘Sensible grandson,’ Cheryl said. ‘But let’s give him a true flavour of life at Solma Vacaciones.’ She reached for Atticus’s phone, checked his number, and then stored it on her own phone.

Taking it back, Atticus felt his mobile vibrate.

His eyes widened as Cheryl AirDropped images from the night before. Atticus appeared to be at the heart of the party, and, with his cheeks flushed with pleasure, he pressed ‘Save’. Then, adding hashtags as Jake had instructed, he began to upload them to Instagram for Jake and Arthur.

‘I trust they like the photos,’ Atticus muttered as he pressed ‘Share’, hoping he wasn’t boring his grandson and best friend.

Pulling away from the campsite, Ruby reached the junction that had confused Atticus the day before. She pointed out a long building set back from the road.

‘That’s Nancy’s, and there’s always a warm welcome if you call in,’ Ruby called out. ‘Especially for cowboys,’ she added, watching Atticus in the rear-view mirror.

Atticus thought the building looked like a motel and wondered if Nancy was a friend of Ruby and Cheryl’s.

Suddenly, Ruby put her foot down, and as the pedal hit the metal, a rush of wind from all directions hit Atticus, perched in the back.

The little Fiat picked up speed as it careered around corners, and its tyres screeched on the road.

Ruby’s wild ride was terrifying, and Atticus closed his eyes.

Ness, sitting beside him, held her head high, her ears flapping in the breeze, and Atticus hoped she wouldn’t be blown off the seat.

He visualised a slower mode of transport and, circling an arm around his dog, remembered the bike hire shop at the campsite.

He wondered if he could hire an extension trailer for Ness.

‘It’s the first thing I’ll do when we get back,’ Atticus said anxiously under his breath.