Dinnertime was held in a big communal room with school tables. Both the boys cabins and the girls cabins eat at the same time.
You go stand in line to get your food then hopefully get a seat before they're all filled.
Its rare anyone got the seat they wanted, as the people who run this camp had underestimated how many kids would show up.
There'd always been five to ten kids who have to sit on the floor.
Like the weirdos we are, Sal, Larry, Chug, Ashley, and myself, all chose to sit in a circle on the floor to eat dinner.
None of us wanted to try and fight for seats, and this way there was more room for the other kids.
They didn't mind, even though I kinda wished I could at a table.
"Oh yeah, Todd," Larry said with his mouth full. He swallowed his food before continuing, thankfully.
"Sorry bout' making Travis sit next to you earlier. I swear I didn't mean to push him. He weighs like, five pounds. Tops."
Ashley scoffed playfully. "Theres no way he weighs five pounds. It'd be impossible for him to be alive!"
"Shes right." Sal whispered. "He weighs ten pounds."
Larry and Ashley both laughed along with Sal.
Chug was in a different place mentally. He was focused on two things. His food and watching his crush across the room.
"Yeah yeah funny stuff..." I sighed, picking at my food. "And its fine, Larry. I know you didn't mean to. Im just happy you didn't get in trouble."
"Hoooh yeah, shit, man. I was so scared. My mom would be pissed if I had to go home early." Larry didnt sound too concerned, though. He always had a way of getting out of trouble it seemed.
"Youre such a mama's boy!" Ashley pushed Larry and laughed.
They went on joking with eachother, going back and forth slinging playful insults at eachother.
Chug and I weren't included in this. We rarely were.
Just like him, I found myself watching the other kids. Part of me wondered where Travis was, now would be the perfect time for him to throw food or something at us.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
"You okay there? You look totally spaced." Ashley nudged me gently. She's always looking out for us stupid boys.
I snap back into reality and fix my glasses. "Y-Yeah, hah. Im fine, theres just a lot of noise, you know?"
"You wanna get some fresh air?" She asked in a quiet voice. The kids werent allowed to leave the dining area, but Ashley was ready to sneak out with me need be.
I shook my head and stabbed at the meat on my plate. "Im fine, Ash."
I really was fine. All these conversations going on around me did make me nervous, sure, but thats not what was on my mind.
"Thanks, though. Youre a good friend." I added on, giving her a reassuring smile.
Something just felt wrong.