CHAPTER 6
The three months before climbing camp started seemed like the longest three months of Amir’s life. But he stayed pretty busy, keeping all the promises he’d made to his mom.
He earned some money by running errands for other families in his building after school and on weekends. Sometimes he had to go to the grocery store for them, or pick up laundry at the laundromat.
He did his homework every night after dinner. In fact, his grades even improved. And he kept his room clean most of the time.
William was going to camp too. He and Amir kept in touch online. They made plans to ride to the store together every day for camp, and talked about all the things they’d learn.
Amir had never been so excited. He couldn’t wait for climbing camp.
About a month before camp started, Amir ran into Officer Roberts outside his apartment building.
“Hi, Amir. Well, I guess you heard the bad news about William,” Officer Roberts said.
“What do you mean?” Amir asked.
“Oh, I thought he told you,” Officer Roberts said. “William is not going to be able to go to climbing camp with you.”
Amir was shocked. “I just got a text message from him yesterday!” he said. “He didn’t tell me anything was wrong.”
“Well, it seems like William is doing some dangerous climbing, just like you used to,” the officer said. “He got caught trying to free climb some big rock out by his house. He fell and almost broke his neck. He’s fine, but his parents grounded him for six months. Including climbing camp.”
Widowmaker, Amir thought. His heart sank.
Amir sent William a text message on his way home, but William didn’t respond.
Three weeks went by, and Amir didn’t hear anything from his friend. Finally, the night before the first day of camp, Amir got a text message.
“Have fun,” was all it said.
Amir replied, but William didn’t say anything else.
* * *
Camp was amazing.
Every day, Officer Roberts or Amir’s mom drove him to the outdoor store. There, Amir and ten other guys his age learned everything there was to learn about rock climbing.
By the end of the first day, Amir had reached the top of the rock wall and rung the bell.
On the last day of camp, the instructors brought all the students to a real climbing cliff an hour out of town. Real climbers regularly climbed the cliff, so there were climbing bolts already in place.
Climbing the cliff was one of the scariest times of Amir’s life, but when he reached the top, he felt great.
The class had a picnic on the top of the giant rock. Then they rappelled down the cliff and headed home.
Amir didn’t hear from William until summer was almost over. Then, one afternoon, they were both online at the same time. Amir sent William an instant message.
AMIRCLIMBER: Long time no talk!
ROCKWALLWILLIAM: Yeah, busy.
AMIRCLIMBER: Too bad you couldn’t come to camp. It was so cool. Plus now I have my own rock-climbing gear!
ROCKWALLWILLIAM: Big deal. Free climbing is better.
AMIRCLIMBER: With this equipment and me belaying, you could climb Widowmaker no problem.
ROCKWALLWILLIAM: I don’t need equipment to climb.
AMIRCLIMBER: r u going to free climb it again?
AMIRCLIMBER: r u?
AMIRCLIMBER: R U???
ROCKWALLWILLIAM has signed off.