Early Monday

. . . . .

Lilly woke early and stretched in her bunk. These early morning planning sessions were becoming a habit. She looked around and saw Maryla's eyes on her.

"You're awake, Is Oliver going to help you?"

"He did, it's all set. I'll do it this morning before breakfast. Now go back to sleep. It's too early to get up, this isn't Christmas."

Just a few hours more, Lilly thought. I'll either wow them, or I'll be a laughingstock. Either way, everyone will know I wasn't afraid to take my shot at it.

. .. . .

Monday Proper

. . . . .

Girl's Orange was it's usual busy self. Everyone chatting, gathering clothing, heading to the showers. Maryla looked to Lilly with her eyes wide open, as if asking if the time was now.

"Not yet. Right after I shower, keep cool."

Lilly kept an eye on Gayle. It was important to pace her opponent, to time this correctly. It would all come down to the timing. Of course, if everyone laughed at her, the timing would mean nothing, but she couldn't think that way.

There-Gayle was heading to the shower. Lilly followed, and Maryla followed Lilly. The showers consisted of individual stalls all in a row along one wall. There was a small wooden table between each stall, the one to the right when facing the stalls belonged to it. A girl could go in, close the curtain, undress, and place her clothes on the table from inside the curtained area. This prevented problems due to shyness or unease around others. Towels and the new day's clothes also fit on the tables.

Gayle entered a stall, and Lilly turned to Maryla.

"If you want to see this, you have to beat her out of the shower. I have to come out just after her."

Maryla nodded and ducked into a stall. Lilly stepped into a stall and closed the curtain. She removed her clothing and reached out of the stall, placing those on the table. The shower controls were three oversize buttons, labeled warm, warmer, and warmest. Lilly knew by now they really meant cold, cool, warm. She pressed warmest and stood to the side to let the water reach temperature. She hurried through her shower, needing to get things right.

But would it work? Lilly could only hope she was striking the right teen movie note to embarrass Gayle enough in front of everyone to shut her down for the rest of camp.

Win or lose, she would have to apologise to Janine later. The counsellor had left the cabin early for a meeting with the camp director, which Lilly had known about and was why this was D-Day. I suppose I should call it U-Day, Lilly thought

She stopped the water and reached for her towel. After drying off, she returned it and grabbed her fresh undergarments, and snuck a peek towards Gayle's stall. Not yet out. She slipped on her bra and managed to get it hooked without dropping the other item. This she now studied, holding it by the elastic waistband and turning it until the front faced her and she could see the rear inside elastic. OLIVER OKEN was there printed in block letters, the label dividing the words. His mother's precise lettering, she thought. She lowered the briefs and slipped her right foot through, then her left. She pulled them up and ran her thumbs around inside the waist to set it comfortably on her hips. Then her fingers around the leg openings. I'm wearing boy's underpants, she thought. She ran her hands over the fabric covering her, looking around herself to feel and see and understand the different cut, the different cotton fabric. Oliver's underpants. Not just any boy's, Oliver's.

Lilly again looked out. Gayle was out and walking to the sinks, dressed only in bra and panties. Most of the girls, all except Gayle, would at least wrap a towel around themselves while brushing their teeth and fixing their hair. And keep the towel on while returning to their bunk to dress, if like Gayle they didn't bring clothes in with them. The Queen of Orange did as she pleased.

It was almost time. Lilly waited until Gayle had a mouthful of toothpaste, then stepped out of the stall, draping her towel over her arm, and walked towards the sinks. Maryla had been watching in anticipation, and was first to see the plan Lilly had kept secret, even from her. She had a younger brother, and so knew what she was seeing. Her eyes popped wide open. Other girls noticed. Eyes bugged out, startled noises rang in the tiled room. Gayle turned to see what was going on.

Lilly walked up to a sink near the other and placed her towel on the next sink over, matching Gayle's moves.

Gayle's mouth dropped open, toothpaste dribbling down her chin.

"What are you wearing?" she demanded.

"These? These are Oliver's. I thought it would be fun to wear my boyfriend's tighty-whiteys."

She took two steps out from the sinks and did a model spin. "Isn't it cute?"

The other girls crowded about Lilly, wide-eyed and facinated by the newly discovered bold, adventurous girl amongst them. Summer camps were in fact teen small towns. By lunchtime everyone would know. Queen Gayle and her cheap animal print bras and panties were old news.

The defanged girl quickly finished and stormed out to dress and get out of the cabin.

It wasn't over yet. To lock in the win, Lilly knew she had to complete Gayle's routine. She had to march out to her bunk in bra and underpants, and calmly dress as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It wasn't for her. Just being in the bathroom as she was, in front of everyone, embarrassed her terribly. Walking out that door was flat out frightening, but she had to do so to be sure.

She managed to get through it, though it was as difficult as she had feared. Still, she kept a happy, unconcerned expression on her face the whole time.