It was the last period on the last day of school. Mr. Mathews was explaining some summer reading stuff but no one was really listening. We were all just aching for the bell to ring. Finally, the bell rang. The whole class ran out of the room as quickly as possible. I was thinking about how awesome this summer was going to be when Riley jumped up from behind me and yelled BOO!
"Riley, you've got to stop doing that," I said.
"Sorry. I'm just so excited about this summer. We're going to that new fashion camp, and my families going to Europe for two weeks, and I'm just so excited!"
"I am too," I said. "But I don't going around jumping up from behind people."
She apologized again, but she didn't look that sorry. I didn't really care. I forgave her, and we talked about our new camp as we walked to Riley's apartment. When we got there, I was surprised to see Uncle Shawn in a deep conversation with my mother and Mr. Mathews at the kitchen table. Riley was about to speak, but she saw the trio talking and decided to wait. She sat down on the couch, so I sat down with her. I knew that whatever they were talking about was important, and I pondered on what it was.
About 20 minutes after we got there, the adults finally got up from the table. They didn't say anything at first, but a few minutes after Mr. Mathews came up to me and said "Maya, there's been a… change to your summer plans."
"What?"
"What he means is…", Uncle Shawn started, " you're going to be staying with me this summer."
I had the same response. What did they mean I was going to stay with Shawn? I had plans for this summer, and just because I liked him didn't mean I was going to change all my summer plans just to spend "bonding time' with him. We weren't even technically related.
"You see, I've been offered a summer job at a camp. You can go there for the summer, and you'll learn a lot. It'll be fun," explained Shawn.
"Can I come?" asked Riley.
"Uhh, no. We're going to Europe, remember? "answered her dad.
"Oh. Right," she said, disappointed.
"Wait. I don't want to go to some camp. Me and Riley have been planning this summer forever. We're already going to fashion camp. And I want to have fun with my friends. I don't want to throw all of it away! You know what, I'm not going!"
"Everyone was silent, but then my mother, the one person who hadn't talked yet, spoke up. Maya, I know that you've been planning this summer for a long time and that you're really looking forward to it. But I really think that this is a really good opportunity for you. I have to say that I'm forcing you to go."
After another moment of silence, I gave up and said, "Fine. What's the name of this stupid camp, anyway?"
Uncle Shawn answered "Camp Half Blood."