Author's note: Whew! Good catch on Danin's name! I went back and changed it in the last chapter, but it's stuck as Devon in my head, now, so if I call her that sometime in the future, forgive me!

OOOOOOOOOOO

The introductions lasted the full hour. There were several counselors there, after all, and each of them was expected to stand up and tell the others their name and a little bit about themselves. As each person finished, Gary Hines would look at a clipboard in his hand and announce what cabin that person was in – just in case they'd just arrived and hadn't had a chance to find out – and tell the group what age level they were counseling.

Ian learned during that time that there were eight cabins that were going to be in use that week – there were actually ten cabins, but not all would be needed. Australia, Peru, Russia and Egypt were the boys' cabins, while Spain, Japan, Argentina and Romania were designated for the girls.

He also learned that he, River and Shawn were going to be responsible for seven six year olds. Six was apparently the youngest they allowed to attend camp – and it was way too young as far as Ian was concerned. He didn't know anything about six year olds, after all. Only that they were little.

As they went around in a circle introducing themselves, Ian noticed with a certain satisfaction that Shawn garnered a lot of attention from the other counselors when he announced where he was going to school. Adams was the youngest there, and Ian was glad to see that while the others might have assumed him to simply be some ordinary kid just here because his parents didn't have anything better for him to do during summer vacation, the fact that he was in college already was impressive to all of them and dispelled that notion immediately.

The oldest of the female counselors was Kelly, who was in her early forties, and the youngest was Danin, who was seventeen. The male counselors ranged from Shawn at sixteen to a senior at Colorado State who was twenty-three. Ian didn't really pay all that much attention to the introductions, but he didn't need to, since he'd be able to remember all the names thrown at him with ease.

Ian watched as River introduced himself, though, and was glad to note that the younger women watched the Californian closely as he stood up, obviously impressed with his looks and the fact that he, too, was in the Air Force Academy. That was all the better as far as Ian was concerned, because he wasn't looking forward to a week of trying to make small talk with a bunch of strange women. When it was his turn to introduce himself, he made it short and to the point, simply giving his name, age and where he went to school. Then he sat down, and Gary stood up once more, looking at his watch.

"All right. The campers should start arriving anytime. Let's get out into the main entrance, shall we?"

There were murmurs of excitement as they all stood up, and River came over to join him and Shawn as the crowd headed out the door of the cafeteria and filed down the hallway.

"This is pretty cool, Adams," he told Shawn as they found the sign on the wall labeled "Australia". This was where their boys would come to check in and meet their counselors.

Shawn nodded, but he gave Ian a look that was almost worried. As if he expected Ian to say something sarcastic – or caustic. The New Yorker didn't say anything, though. He picked up the clipboard on their table, and scanned the list of names; something to do while they were waiting.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

They didn't have to wait long. Almost immediately campers started arriving with parents, and it wasn't long before someone approached them. A little boy – and Ian supposed they were all going to be little boys – with hair as blonde as River's and an excited smile on his face. He was with his mother, who was holding his hand and looking far more nervous than her son was. She glanced at the Australia sign and angled that direction, stopping in front of Shawn and River.

"I'm Shelby Marcus, and this is my son Brian."

River took charge as if he'd been doing this counseling thing for years. He gave the woman a smile that eased some of her nervousness and introduced himself, Shawn, and Ian, and then started asking the boy all sorts of questions about himself – questions designed more to entertain than to really learn anything – since they'd been told that there would be time for that later that evening. It also filled in the gap between then and the arrival of the next boy.

This one was Grant, who was blonde as well, although his hair was cut so short you could barely tell what color it was. Grant wasn't any more nervous than Brian had been, and he was quick to hug his mom and dad and then turn his attention to River as well.

"See?" Shawn said, softly to Ian as Grant's parents headed for the door. "It's not so bad."

Ian scowled.

"Don't say that, Adams. Sure as shit, something bad will happen when someone says that."

Shawn grinned.

"Better watch that potty mouth."

Ian resisted the urge to flip him off – knowing that while he hadn't spoken loud enough for anyone to hear him swear, they'd definitely be able to see the obscene gesture.

"Whatever."

Grant and Brian were soon joined by the rest of their cabin mates. Wilson and Chad were step-brothers who actually looked almost enough alike that they could pass as twins; both with dark curly hair and big blue eyes, while Chance Phillips was a wiry black boy with a grin that was so contagious even Ian had to smile. Sammy Peterson arrived with a pile of stuff that made even River's huge wardrobe pale in comparison and Bruce Carson Chadwick the Third immediately gained their attention when he arrived wearing an Air Force sweatshirt and hat.

"Is that everyone?" River asked, although he knew that it was.

The boys all nodded.

"Then let's get you guys to the cabin and show you around a little, okay?"

They started gathering up their stuff, but it was hardly surprising that the little boys weren't able to carry the bigger bags, and Shawn, River and Ian all three found themselves loaded down with luggage.

"Is there going to be dinner soon?" Sammy asked, holding his pillow and a backpack, while Ian was struggling with the rest of his stuff.

"At seven," Ian told him. He'd already looked at the schedule, so he knew what was coming and when.

"What time is it now?"

"Six."

"Are we going to have campfire?" Wilson asked Ian, reaching down to pick up a pillow Ian dropped as they walked.

"I hope not."

"Why not? I heard that- wow! Look at that bell! It's huge!"

They'd reached the top of the hill and the boy had caught sight of the bell that was used to do all the signaling at the camp.

"I have a bell that big back home," Grant said.

"No you don't," Chad said.

"Yes, I do."

"You can't."

"I do."

"A bell?"

"Yeah."

"That big?"

"Yeah."

"How come?"

"We live beside a church, and it has one in the tower."

"Wow! Cool. Can I ring the bell, River?"

Ian could already feel a headache coming on, and he wished he would have thought to bring aspirin.