A/N: Welcome back everyone! Sorry, it has been a while since I posted a Ham fic. But with summer on the way, I thought it would be fun to see what happens if everyone went to summer camp! Thank you to iColor With Crayons on for the inspiration! Enjoy!
Today was the first day of camp, but this year she was not a camper. She would be a camp counselor! Her older sister Angelica would be the head counselor so she wasn't going to be completely alone. They had tried to get their sister Peggy to return to Camp Valley Forge but Peggy refused.
"Guys, you know I hate camping and all that outdoors stuff. Mom and dad said I didn't have to go. Besides I'm going to cooking camp in the city. That's more my speed." Very few people went to Camp Valley Forge and then became counselors. Camp Valley Forge was literally where she spent her childhood summers, she couldn't imagine not returning.
Angelica arrived a few days early to set up and make sure everything was perfect. Camp started tomorrow for the campers and Eliza was a bit nervous. She parked and got out. The camp was just how she remembered it when she was a kid. She could see the crescent of cabins and the flagpole in the middle. Shooting out of the crescent were paths to different parts of the forest and lake.
She grabbed her two suitcases and backpack and went to the main building to check in. At the front desk, she saw her sister.
"Eliza!" Angelica said hopping up and coming around the desk to greet her sister, "You ready for 10 weeks of fun and work?"
"I'm a bit anxious, not going to lie," Eliza confessed.
"Don't worry I am too."
"Why? You've been a counselor here for 3 years, you have this down to a science," Eliza argued.
"Yeah, but this is my first year as the Head Counselor. I don't want to let Mr. Washington down," Angelica said before a door at the top of the stairs opened. It was clearly Mr. Washington coming down from his quarters but there was another voice.
"Yes sir, I won't let you down. I will make sure my campers have the best time!"
"I have no doubt son. But remember, some of these kids come from rough backgrounds and I want you to make sure they feel safe and that they have a mentor of sorts while they're here," Mr. Washington said before he came into view at the bottom of the stairs.
"Ah, Angelica! Hard at work as always," he said smiling at her and then he turned to Eliza, "Ah and you must be Elizabeth, your sister has spoken very highly of you."
Eliza was a bit flustered at Mr. Washington's praise. He had been here the last 3 years she had been a camper but this was the first time she actually spoke to him. She said a bit flustered, "Uhh, I mean, yes sir that's me. You can call me Eliza though." Mr. Washington shook her hand firmly and then moved to introduce the young man beside him.
"I believe Angelica you have already met Alexander but Eliza I would like you to meet Alexander Hamilton. He is a new counselor as well."
"Please call me Alex," he said shaking her hand a little too hard. It struck her how excited he was. He seemed to be bouncing off the walls with energy.
"Nice to meet you," she said smiling. She wished she had his nerves. Before they could get cozy Mr. Washington said, "Okay troops, counselor meeting starts in a few hours. So after you have filled out your paper and such, head to the flagpole, Angelica and I will be there in a shortly after." Eliza turned around and she saw a few more counselors lined up behind her. She quickly moved to exit with her clipboard of last-minute paperwork.
After Eliza turned in her papers, she realized didn't know where she would be staying so she lugged her suitcases and backpack to the flagpole.
"Here, let me help you," Alex said kindly. She was grateful and touched by his small gesture.
"So you're the other Schuyler?" he asked still smiling despite carrying both of her suitcases. He didn't notice her suitcases had wheels.
"Yep," she said blushing a bit. To get the subject off of herself she said, "So you're new to being a camp counselor too? I don't think I have seen you as a camper before either."
"Never went to camp as a kid. But no matter, there's a million things I haven't done and I intended to make this the greatest experience for my campers to make up for what I missed," he said beaming.
They made it to the flagpole rather quickly. There were already a few people there. Alex seemed to find his group quickly. For someone who was new, he sure had made a lot of friends quickly.
Mr. Washington came with Angelica trailing behind him. "Attention! Attention!" Everyone got quite immediately and he continued, "Welcome to the 23rd year here at Camp Valley Forge!"
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd and Mr. Washington smiled and said, "Now most of you know who I am, but for those who I have not had the pleasure of meeting I am George Washington. During our time here you will know me as General or Mr. Washington. Now I think it would be good for us to go around in the circle and share your name and camp name. Angelica why don't you go first."
Angelica with all of the confidence said, "Hey everyone, my name is Angelica Schuyler and my camp name is Ponderosa. I'm also, the Head Counselor so if anyone has any problems let me know."
It next went to a Hispanic guy with curly brown hair and a lot of freckles, "Hey! My name is John Laurens! My camp name is Tortuga."
"Hi, I'm Hercules Mulligan. Thankfully you don't have to say all that, Herc is fine, Oak was my camp name last year and no way am I changing it!" Herc looked like an oak tree, all muscle and just shy of six and a half feet by her guess.
The guy next to this looming figure seemed almost miniature in comparison. This guy was slender and his Afro was pulled back into a ponytail of sorts. "My name is Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette and like Oak, you have the great fortune of not having to say all that nonsense, Laf is fine. My camp name is Dandelion because well as you can tell by my accent I flew over from France."
"Salutations, I'm Aaron Burr sirs and ma'ams and my camp name is Boulder."
A nervous looking guy was next and he was so quiet everyone had to lean in to hear him say, "C-charles Lee, uh Gopher." Everyone assumed he meant that he just saw a gopher but when people tried to find a gopher hole or the gopher they realized that was what he wanted to be called.
In contrast, a guy who was all flash and pomp. She couldn't be sure but she noticed he ironed his pants given the fresh crisp pleats. Did he realize he was going to be hiking and getting dirty? He said, "Bonjour! Bonjour! I'm Thomas Jefferson and y'all may call me Storm, 'cause I always bring the thunder." He turned and gave the guy beside him a high five.
The next guy had a terrible cough and in between coughs and wheezes said, "James Madison, Granite."
"Are you alright son?" Mr. Washington asked at James's troubled breathing. James only nodded. Mr. Washington raised an eye and told James to speak to him after this meeting.
Eliza was so caught up in learning people's names that she didn't realize it was her turn. Alex nudged her and she said, "Oh, hi. My name is Eliza Schuyler. Yes, Angelica and I are related. My camp name is Ember." People looked at the two. They were certaintly an odd pair given that they were adopted and looked nothing like each other. She Chinese and Angelica who was Haitian, no one would ever guess they were sisters.
Then it was Alex's turn and he seemed to straighten and said, "Greeting everyone! I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R…" Mr. Washington coughed. They had clearly been through this routine before and Alexander blushed slightly and continued, "Alexander Hamilton but please just call me Alex. And my name here is Hurricane."
"And that is just about everyone here. Now let me give you all your cabin assignments. In Cabin A we have Charles and John. Cabin B Thomas and Lafayette. Cabin C Eliza and Maria. Maria won't be coming until tonight. James and Hercules you will be in Cabin D And that leaves in Cabin E Aaron and Alex Why don't I let you all settle in and during dinner we can discuss more about these upcoming 10 weeks, yes?" Everyone nodded he waved his hand and everyone was dismissed. People scattered. Eliza noticed almost everyone had bags with them and they all went to find their perspective cabin.
"How'd that go?" Angelica asked Eliza.
"Lots of people. Hey why didn't you get a cabin?" she asked.
"I have my own cabin. There weren't enough girls to justify another counselor so it's just me and 5 girls."
"Sounds nice."
"Why don't you get moved in and I'll see you a dinner?" Angelica asked smiling. She was biting her lip and Eliza knew Angelica was incredibly stressed. Eliza set down her suitcases and hugged her sister, "You got this. You would be Washington's right-hand gal now if he didn't think you were capable."
Angelica only nodded. Her sister was stubborn that way, never believing her own competency despite being all guts and bravery.
Eliza made her way to Cabin C. The cabin was of course empty. The rows of bunk beds on either side made her remember that there would be campers in here. Since she was the first one she picked the counselor bed closest to the showers. She never liked the idea of sleeping by the door. Maybe it was an irrational fear a bear would come in or maybe because it had a spider on the plastic mattress.
She began to unpack and wondered what this summer would have in store for her.
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