Later in the reck room, I was sitting on the couch with Stanley, who was trying very hard not to put his arm around me or hold my hand. ZigZag sat in front of the television with his eyes fixed on the fuzzy screen. Everyone was tired from digging, except me. I felt like I could dig two more holes and not be tired. I tried to pretend that I was just as tired as everyone else. It worked, except for the fact that I had no blisters on my hands. First day diggers always got blisters but I hadn't. I tried to keep my hands covered so X-Ray wouldn't notice.
The next day, after Mr. Sir filled our canteens and drove away, Magnet produced something out of his hole.
"Anybody want some sunflower seeds?" I sucked in my breath as I watched the sack being handed around the holes. Stanley was thinking the same thing as me. We were going to get caught.
"Guys, no!" I said, more to myself than them. The bag was tossed to Stanley where it fell and got spilled.
"Caveman," I silently breathed. I wanted to help him but decided it was better not to. Mr. Sir drove back up and found the sack in Stanley's hole.
"I think the Warden would like to see what you found." Mr. Sir took Stanley away in his truck. It took all of my willpower not to cry.
"Now look at what you did!" I yelled. Everyone hung their heads. Zero got out of his hole and jumped into Stanley's hole. I smiled at him.
"At least one of you has sense." I continued digging and left everyone to their conscience.
Stanley returned later that day, still alive. I looked up from my digging.
"What happened?" Magnet asked.
"Nothing." Came his reply.
"What'd she do?" X-Ray adjusted his glasses.
"Nothing." Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Stanley walked to his hole (which was next to mine) and discovered that it had been finished.
"Thanks guys!"
"Don't look at us," Magnet said.
"Yeah, it was Zero. That boy likes to dig." Zigzag confessed.
"He'd dig a hole to China, man!" Armpit said.
"Yeah, but where do them Chinese kids dig to?" Squid laughed.
"Man, shut up!" I laughed silently at their little joke.
Everyone was done before me so I walked back to the tent alone after my shower. I walked in on Stanley and Zero who were in the middle of a writing and reading lesson.
"Hey Deyna," Zero said. His smile covered his whole face. "Stanley is teaching me how to read."
"Good for you, sport." I ruffled his hair with my hand and looked at Stanley over his head. His eyes bore into mine and I felt my face flush. "See ya later." I quickly left the tent and ran into Pendanski. He gave me an "I'm mad at you" look and walked the other way.
When I rounded the corner to the reck room, I was greeted with two boys fighting and a crowd around them. I ran up and pushed my way through. Quickly, I jumped in and pulled the two apart.
"What's going on here?" One of the boys was black and the other white.
"He said that black people are nothing but dirt," the black boy said.
"That's right, black boy!" The white boy said.
"Hey, stow the insults, okay? Sit down." I pointed down.
"What?"
"Sit! Maybe you'll learn something." Everyone sat down, although I only meant the two. I could tell by people's faces that my tone was commanding.
"You say that black people are nothing but dirt? Black people came from white people. And white people came from dirt." I pointed to a random boy. "You would not criticize a woman because she is different in looks than you." I turned and pointed to the original white boy. "So you should not criticize another male because his skin is different. If you were blind, it wouldn't matter what colour his skin is." I crossed my arms and looked around. A few boys had tears in their eyes and all of the counselors were in the street listening.
"Class dismissed." I shoved my way out and walked into the reck room. There were a few boys in the doorway, listening to my speech. As it happened, they were the D-tent boys. I pushed through them and slumped down on the couch. They followed and stood in front of me.
"Hercules, we named you right. You're strong in body and mind." X-Ray smiled. "I have a problem too, if you're not too busy…"