Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett

Author:Sarah Bennett [Bennett, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

16

Cam led the excited group along the trail from the campsite towards the farm, pointing out the landmarks he’d used to help memorise the route as well as the little marker posts. He was that strange combination of exhausted and hyped up. After their early start, it had been a long day and part of him wanted to stay in the peace and quiet of his lodge and chill out on the patio with nothing but the sound of the birds and the breeze rippling through the trees – and Hope by his side, of course.

He wasn’t a naturally outgoing person and one of the biggest challenges he’d had to overcome to do his job was being the centre of attention. On a one-to-one basis or leading a small discussion group, he had no problems with his confidence. The first time he’d had to stand in front of a full lecture theatre, though? He’d thrown up before, almost during, and several times afterwards. His nerves had become so bad, one of the senior lecturers had suggested he do some cognitive behavioural therapy to conquer them.

It was during that process that he’d come to understand it wasn’t just because he was a naturally reserved person. Though he’d challenged it at first when his therapist had raised it, he’d slowly come to accept that part of his lack of self-belief was to do with his working-class roots. He’d mistakenly believed the therapist had been insinuating he felt some kind of hidden shame towards his parents, but she’d carefully explained it was more to do with him unconsciously taking on the lack of expectation society had towards boys like him being able to succeed. Throughout his education, he’d been treated as something of an anomaly by his teachers. A poor white boy who came from a strong, stable home where both parents worked and encouraged his love of learning. That didn’t match the messaging at all. He wondered how many of his peers had lost out on opportunities to excel because they were written off before they had a chance to get going.

He looked around the group and was saddened to be reminded that not one of them was from a background like his. Those students were off working for the summer, earning as much money as they could to shore themselves up financially for the coming academic year. Cam had been able to eke out a small stipend from his budget for everyone coming on the dig, but it was only enough to cover food and basic essentials. Even the most frugal of them would struggle to have anything left at the end of the summer. It was something Cam should’ve thought about before, he was dismayed to admit to himself.

‘Which way now?’ someone asked.

Lost in his thoughts, Cam hadn’t realised they were this close to the edge of the woods and the people ahead had already reached the crossroads. Deciding he would try to have a chat at some point with

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