Disclaimer: Same as before.
Chapter Nine
As the days went on, Carl became stronger. Sure, being the only thirteen year old among fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen year olds was challenging and it meant that until he was their age he would never be able to lift as much dirt as them, but no one really seemed to care. The shorter shovel, which had been solely Magnets, had been given to him to use.
"I've been here the longest, but you are younger then the rest of us, and there for you should have it" Magnet announced in the tent one night. "I hereby forfeit my right to the smaller hole, and give it to Dime"
"Dime" had become Carl's nickname. He liked it. He now had a new name, new friends, and could forget about the past. He decided that once he got out of Camp, he would demand to live with someone other than his mother. Maybe Aunt Shelly. He had always liked her, and she was the one sibling who did not get involved in the arguments. Carl could imagine himself doing it. He would be almost fifteen when he got out of here.
At dinner about two months after he arrived, he was sitting down, poking his beans. The table was unusually silent.
"Yo man" Magnet said suddenly. "Put your arms down" Carl silently agreed. Armpit was called armpit because of what happened when he picked his arms up, especially at dinner.
"That's right, I can't eat when my eyes are watering that much" Zigzag said, failing to eat and talk while plugging his nose.
"Kid, this is Camp Greenlake, where everyone lives together in very tight quarters." Jukebox said calmly. "And I mean very tight.
Carl was glad that he hadn't gotten a very derogatory name like Armpit had but before he could put his two cents in, a gooey substance hit him in the back of the head. He turned around, and saw The Lump laughing at him.
"That bastard" Squid snarled, standing up. "Hey asshole! Come pick on someone your own size!"
The large kid stood up so fast his fork went flying to the table behind him.
"What was that you just called me, Punk?"
"I told you to pick on someone your own size, and I called you an asshole!"
The Lump came at Squid with remarkable speed for someone his size, but it was still slow enough that Squid was ready for him. Just as the Lump was putting his arms out to beat up Squid, Squid took a flying leap and latched his hands around The Lump's neck. The Lump, caught off guard staggered back a few steps. As Squid began to tighten his grip, Carl realized that Squid was losing even more control of his temper. Carl ran to the battle scene, jumped up high, and grabbing the back of his jumpsuit pulled squid to the floor. The doors flew open, and The Warden rushed in.
"Squid! Lumpy! In my office NOW!" Squid got to his feet and strutted. The Lump waddled in the rear.
The tent members stared at him as Carl came back to his seat.
"Wow man, where'd you learn that? X-Ray asked, clearly surprised.
"That was like awesome!" Barfbag said, impressed. Jukebox laughed.
"Kid, we shoulda called you Wings."