Camp Jaha was looking for new employees to work over the summer, and as co-leader I was relatively excited to see some new faces. The past few years had the same drawn out expressions: lifeless and plain. It was about time we got some new smiles.
I, myself, wasn't one for giving kids a blinding grin. But that's why we were hiring. We needed a new co-leader and a new set of worker bees. The nicest part about this was that I had no duty in picking the fresh faces. However, at the same time this worried me. What if I wouldn't like whomever Jaha picked? Could I really stand for someone taking his place and calling themselves my equal? These were questions only time would tell the answers to.
"Clarke." The name exited Jaha's lips with a wisp of familiarity. Not bothering to fake a smile, I looked up from my paperwork with an uninterested glance.
"Yeah?"
"Good news is that I've found someone to take my spot. Bad news is that I'll be counting on you to show them the ropes as I fill out some paperwork." He gave me a nod. My brow instantly arched.
"How is that bad news?" My tone hitched slightly, showing my amusement. Jaha only grinned in response. He knew damn well why that was bad news.
With a slight shift of his weight, Jaha made his way into the room and ushered for someone to follow. A girl, lean in nature and tanner than anyone I had seen in quite some time. "This is Alexandra, she'll be filling my spot."
I stood and gave the girl a nod, extending my hand for the taking.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Clarke, co-leader." With one deft movement, Alexandra took my hand and gave it a firm shake. No smile played upon her lips; only a look of concentration.
I'll like this one.
Sometimes the preppy behavior and mindset of all the Worker Bees could become a little too much, so a change would be much appreciated.
"Nice to meet you, Clarke." Her lips twitched as if she had attempted a smile, but failed miserably. My hand quickly detached itself from hers as Jaha began his small introduction.
"Well, then. Welcome to Camp Jaha. You're job here, along with Clarke, will be to oversee all thirty of our Camp Councilors."
"Worker Bees," I interjected lightly.
Jaha simply shook his head and continued.
"You'll do everything from picking out programs for the kids to filing Employee paperwork. It's not the most exciting job in the world, but it's pretty close." A smirk played out on Jaha's lips as he made the claim.
"Try not to look too excited, you two." As if giving into his secret wish, I gave Jaha a quick smile, "we'll sure try."
After a few moments of absent glances, Jaha motioned for me to begin showing Alexandra around. "I'm off to finish some paperwork. Clarke, you know what to do."
As soon as he left I gave Alexandra one of my cheap smiles. "So, Alexandra? Do you have a nickname? Alex? Or..."
She pursed her lips and gave a small shake of her head, "Lexa. I usually go by Lexa."
I nodded once in response.
"Good to know. Clarke. Just Clarke... There isn't really anything spectacular you can chop my name into." The corners of Lexa's lips twitched slightly, proving that she was at least trying to show some human emotion.
"Okay," I breathed, "let's get this show on the road."
-
"These are the Walkie-Talkies," I began; fingers loosely wrapping around the knob that rested atop a black box. "Everyone needs to carry one, all of the time. Even in the bathroom." She smiled at that one. "If someone is having issues with a kid, they'll radio us and have us fill out an incident report. Or, we'll just take the kid and sit with them for a while." I press my lips together, "...It's just how we communicate."
"This," my hand lands on a metal tray atop my desk, "is my 'mailbox'. You have one, too, in your office. Same spot." My fingertips absentmindedly brush themselves across the tray's metal ridges. "This is where you'll put paperwork I need to do, and I'll put your paperwork in yours."
I pause. "It works more fluidly than it sounds, trust me."
I look around the room for a few seconds, trying to spot anything else I can explain. But when I find nothing, I give Lexa a small shrug.
"That's really it for now..." A small smile comes onto my features, "welcome to Camp Jaha."
It's the first day of work, and I find that my heart feels a little lighter than usual. I have to admit, working with someone that acts like myself is a nice change.
My eyes quickly flick to the person in question: Lexa. She's sitting diagonally from my person, next to her pile of paperwork which lies before me. My position is reversed; my paperwork before her. It's a simple setup that takes up little space, and is more comfortable than I'd willingly admit.
Why? I like her.
She's an excellent co-worker, everything I had ever hoped for in a co-leader. I had taken a liking to Jaha, and luckily her work ethics mimicked his impeccably. I hope she felt the same, but her off-standish behavior (as I have come to know) is hard to read.
Suddenly, the radio beside me beeps to life.
"I need Emma to the front desk, please." Both mine and Lexa's attention snap to the Walkie for a moment, but we soon after return our gazes to our respective paperwork.
"How's it coming?"
"Slowly. You?"
"Slowly."
"It'll end sometime, right?"
"Hopefully. Probably not."
I lightly shake my head and she presses on with her paperwork. Some sort of reaction would be appreciated, yet I find it rare to receive one.
