A/N: Hey everyone! Two updates in a week? What? Don't get used to it :). Please be sure to follow to get updates whenever I add a chapter. Comments are always lovely to receive as well! If there's anything you want to see just leave a comment!
Eliza finished grabbing her dinner and stood awkwardly next to the fire to eat. Angelica was busy speaking to Mr. Washington, the plate of food in her hand looked untouched. Eliza didn't really know anyone and it would be weird to just stride up to one of the clusters of people and ask to join. Thankfully, Alex noticed her and waved her over.
"Eliza! Want to eat with us?" he asked. She noticed he was standing with Laf, John, and Herc.
She walked over and sheepishly said, "Hi."
"Hey, Eliza. We were just talking about what activities we were leading," Laf said.
"I was telling them how I was going to be leading an awesome water safety lesson and canoeing adventure," Alex said and turned to John to high-five. John was unprepared for this high-five and ended up having his plate slammed to the dirt.
"Alex, I know you will teach the kids so much cool stuff but could my salad have been spared?" John asked mournfully.
"Sorry," Alex said crouching down to pick up the lettuce and bits of carrot, "But let's be honest were you really going to eat that salad?"
"Maybe!" John said with fake irritation as if this were a routine. They clearly had some ongoing joke about salad despite the fact Alex was just as new as she was. She was envious how he could make these friendships so fast.
"What are you leading?" Herc asked between bites of his burger.
"Music and campfire singing. Nothing special," she remarked, "You guys?"
"Hey now! Don't think like that! You are preventing a serious problem. If the kids weren't singing around a campfire, you know what that would look like?" Herc asked, "It would look creepy that's what. A bunch of kids staring into a fire not saying anything has got to be one of the creepiest things. You will be serving the most important service of not making this camp look demonic and cultish!"
"What must it be like in your head if that's the first thing you think of?" John asked. Herc just shrugged.
"Well, I am also providing a very useful activity. I'm doing a thing the history of the land. We stand here but do any of you the Native American tribe's that called this land home?" Laf asked. No one knew. "Exactly! I want kids to know about the cool history of this land."
"I'm leading a weaving and general art session. I did this activity last year where we crushed up plants and used them as paint. The kiddos will get very messy when they're with me," Herc said. The guy was so big; the idea of him holding a paintbrush was unimaginable. But she saw a banner for his cabin and it looked amazing. Herc must really have a hand for fine detail work.
"And I am leading the campers on a wilderness hunt or sorts," John said after he and Alex returned from dumping the salad and his plate in the trash. "I made little booklets to give to the kids, where they check off all the animals and plants they see. I hope Washington decides to lead a hike around the lake. Personally, I am still trying to find the ever elusive White Sand Turtle."
"That sounds really amazing," Eliza said. Despite what Herc had said she hoped they didn't think her choice activity was silly. They had chosen really educational and sophisticated things. What was she going to do? Lead a bunch of kids in silly campfire songs she had grown up with.
"Did you guys hear what Charles is leading?" John asked the group. She remembered Charles vaguely by how twitchy he was.
Everyone shook their heads. "He's leading wilderness survival and fire safety."
"Charles? Charles Lee?" Herc asked incredulously.
"Yep," John said grinning.
"After what he did last year?" Herc asked.
"What did he do?" Eliza and Alex both asked.
"Well, during the annual game of Capture the Flag a girl stuck her foot in a wasp nest. Now given that there are a bunch of 8-12-year-olds who are witnessing their fellow camper getting stung, they all begin to scatter and run around panicking," John explained, "And instead of listening to Washington's orders, Charles went running off too."
"Oh, my!" Eliza said shivering at the thought. She had been stung by a wasp once and panicked herself.
"And this guy is leading wilderness survival and fire safety? Can he be trusted?" Alex asked.
"Apparently," John said shrugging, "He told me he wouldn't freak out this year and that last year was different. He acted kinda cocky as if what he was doing was more important than what I was doing."
"He seemed really shy at the meeting earlier," she recalled.
"Yeah. In crowds, he seems shy and like a fly on the wall, but get to talk to him one on one and you got yourself a whole different story," John said, "I wish he stuck to astronomy, at least no one can get hurt. But Thomas convinced Washington to let him teach it and here we are."
"Did someone say my name?" Thomas strode over. James followed him coughing.
"Nothing, " Alex said.
"Hmmm, I thought I heard my name gracing your mouth," Thomas said cocking his eyebrow.
Alex's hands became fists and looked like he was about to tell Thomas to mind his own business when Mr. Washington whistled.
"Gather around counselors!" Mr. Washington called out. Thomas smirked and walked away to stand closer to Mr. Washington. Everyone moved to where Mr. Washington was. His back was to the lake and facing the fire his face was lit up.
"I hope you all had a chance to talk and get to know each other and sample some of Mrs. Washington's cooking," he said gesturing to his wife, "I'm sorry I did not introduce her sooner, she was in town grabbing supplies for tomorrow's First Day of Camp Feast." A cheerful older woman waved from the back.
"Now as you all know, camp starts tomorrow and it will be all hands on deck for the next ten weeks," Mr. Washington said. Alex whooped in the back and everyone cheered.
"You all cheer now, but I doubt you'll be cheering in August!" Mr. Washington laughed, "But during these upcoming weeks I want you all to keep some things in mind."
"As you know this year I have set the camp up a little differently as to accommodate more kids from different backgrounds. Firstly, some of these kids from rough backgrounds. This camp offers scholarships so kids from lesser means can come and have a normal summer they might not be able to have otherwise. So, I would like you all to refrain from talking about wealth, income or anything to do with money. That goes along with my second thing, since many of our campers come from rough homes, I would like you all to be as open and friendly as possible. Not that I ever doubted you would be, but just something to keep in mind."
Eliza began to understand why many people didn't return o be counselors. When she was a camper, most of the kids were middle class. She knew there were some changes to the camp when she did her training but didn't think they were enough to make counselors not return.
"I just want you all to be sensitive and understanding. I know you all will be great counselors, so let's make this the best year yet!" Mr. Washington exclaimed. Everyone cheered loudly and everyone was dismissed. Everyone had to be awake at 6 am to be ready for the campers at 9, so people shuffled to their cabins.
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When Eliza got to her cabin she noticed a slender red head. "Elizabeth?" the girl said turning around from her bed.
"Yeah. Hi, Eliza's fine," Eliza said reaching to shake the girl's hand. The girl shook her hand very firmly. "Maria Reynolds."
"Nice to meet you," Eliza said smiling. Maria did not seem impressed. "Is this your first year?"
"Have you seen me before?" Maria asked turning around and continued unpacking.
"Uh, no," Eliza said.
"Well, there's your answer, " Maria said.
Eliza decided it was the end of the conversation when Maria strode out of the cabin. Eliza decided it was too late to work on the banner and besides maybe the campers would have fun making it.
She got ready for bed and in the large empty bathroom. She looked into the mirror above the sink and said, "You got this."
NOTE: The White Sand Turtle is not a real animal. Also, any of the places I mention are not real.