RUMFORD – Carlos Cousins learned to swim in Maine. He rides a bike through the streets with his special friend, Jacob Hickey. He’s had fun these past few weeks.

Carlos, 11, is a Fresh Air child from the Kingston section of Brooklyn, N.Y. He’ll be finishing up his six-week visit with his Rumford family, Mary Hickey and her son, Jacob, 12, at the end of the week.

He is one of about a dozen children from the inner city of New York who are living with families in the River Valley area this summer.

This is his fourth year with the Hickeys, and at six weeks, the longest visit.

“I like riding around town,” said Carlos. “I plan to come back next year.”

When Carlos first arrived at the Hickeys four years ago, he was a little frightened by the Hickeys’ dog, Buddy, and cockatiel, Spike. Now he’s best friends with them, often encouraging Spike to sit on his shoulder.

Jacob said she has liked having Carlos at home, as well. He gets to stay up longer and ride his bike later. And Carlos is someone he can hang out with.

“I don’t have a brother. Carlos and I do a lot together,” said Jacob. Oftentimes, Jacob’s friend, Eric Spaulding, hangs out, too.

Like last week.

Mary took the three boys to Funtown where they rode go-carts and crashed into each other on bumper boats. That was Carlos’ favorite thing to do this summer.

The extended family has been pretty busy, Mary said.

They’ve been to the movies, flown a remote-controlled plane at Hosmer Field, gone swimming, and in late July, spent two weeks at a camp in Winthrop.

Carlos has been coming to the Hickeys for so long that Mary keeps track of his height.

“We measure every year to see how much he’s grown. He’s grown a foot!” she said.

Mary learned about the Fresh Air program many years ago when she was taking courses in Farmington. Then she heard of it again much later in Rumford. She said she thought it would be a great experience for both the Fresh Air child and her own family.

“It’s good for Jacob to see that there are cultural differences. Everyone around here is about the same,” she said. “Rural Maine and inner city kids are like night and day.”

Carlos had never been in the water until he came to Maine. The food, is altogether different. With a Jamaican heritage and the spicy food from that ethnic background, Carlos began eating down home Maine food.

“He eats about everything,” Mary said.

But inner city or rural Maine, the two boys have a lot in common, too.

“They like to play on PlayStation, wrestle, bike and just hang out,” Mary said. “We’re really lucky to have Carlos. He’s a nice boy.”

She plans to continue inviting him to come up for part of the summer. “I know him now. He’s part of the family. I see him relax and change. I look forward to seeing him as a big man someday, that he’s all grown up.”

The Fresh Air Fund began in 1877 to provide a chance for inner city youngsters to enjoy a country vacation. Now, about 6,000 children visit host families in 13 eastern states and parts of Canada. Another 3,000 youngsters attend Fresh Air summer camps in upstate New York.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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