I dig with everyone in our HUGE underground/tunnel.
"Hey Girlie."Armpit says wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
I act like I'm puking because of the stench.
"Sorry."He says taking his arm away.
"What did ya' want?"I ask.
"I'm gonna get the day off."He says showing me a dial off a stove.
"Armpit,you're gonna get in trouble for handing that in."I warn him.
"Nah,the warden will like it and I'll have the last laugh."He says.
"Whatever."I say going back to my digging.
"Today's the day. I can feel it."The warden says as her and Mr. Sir come into view.
"Good to have you back,X-Ray. We could use your sharp eyes."The warden tells X-Ray.
I can't hold in my laughter as Armpit pushes X-Ray away so he can get to the warden.
"Malm,I think I found something."Armpit says handing her the dial.
"Are you trying to be funny or do you just think I'm stupid?"The warden asks.
Armpit isn't prepared for her question.
"Um... no malm,I wasn't trying to be funny."Armpit says.
"Excuse me?"The warden asks handing him the dial back.
"Well Armpit,your little joke just cost you a week of shower privileges."Mr. Sir says.
All of D tent groans.
"Everyone back to work!"The warden says.
"Man you sleeping outside!"Squid says.
"Ok,back to work!"Dr. Pendanski says.
The warden and Mr. Sir walk away and I take that chance to talk to Armpit.
"I told you."I say.
He nods before going back to digging.
"Four days. Four long days and this is all you jackasses have to show for it!"The warden yells as we're digging.
"Well,it's not our fault your impatient."I mumble causing Stanley to chuckle.
"I ain't on stupid pills!"I hear Mr. Sir yell.
"What are you jawing about?If you can't get 'em to dig any faster,you can grab a shovel and join 'em!How 'bout that?"The warden yells.
"Get to work!This ain't no kindergartners in the sandbox,I wanna see some effort!"Mr. Sir yells.
I roll my eyes but continue to work.
"Listen up!The warden and I think that your character building would be best served by returning to the digging of individual holes."Mr. Sir says as we all stand in front of the mess hall.
"On to you."He says to Dr. Pendanski.
"Come on boys and girl!Let's go,let's go,let's go!"Dr. Pendanski yells as we follow him to our holes.
D tent and I are getting our water filled by Mr. Sir when thunder rumbles.
"Don't get your hopes up!Them storms never make it past the mountains."Mr. Sir says.
"Maybe this time they will."I say hopeful.
"I got a story for you girl scouts."Mr. Sir says giving Zero his canteen back.
"Once upon a time,there was a magical place where it never rained. The end."Mr. Sir says before he laughs.
"I don't get it."Squid says to ZigZag and I.
Well,more to ZigZag. Lately he's been a real jerk to me. No matter what I say,he finds a way to say something that hurts me.
"Have a nice day."Mr. Sir says getting into his truck.
"Man,I never get anything he says."Squid says as we all go back to our holes.
"Hey guys."Magnet says as Mr. Sir drives away.
"What?"We all ask.
"Anybody want some sunflower seeds?"Magnet asks holding up Mr. Sir's sunflower seed bag.
Everyone but Stanley,Zero,and I give sounds of approval.
"I can't help it,my hands are like magnets!"Magnet says as he and X-Ray take some.
Armpit gets some also.
"I'll take some of those!"ZigZag says before the bag is thrown to him.
"Zig,man,hurry up!"Squid says.
I look at Mr. Sir's truck to see it turning around.
"Guys!He's coming back!"Magnet says.
ZigZag throws the bag to Stanley who misses.
"Oh Stanley!Butterfingers!"ZigZag says.
"Better hide it!"Squid yells.
Stanley tries hiding it before Mr. Sir pulls up. He gets out of his truck as Stanley sits back down. Mr. Sir looks in all of our holes before coming upon Stanley's.
"Well,how did this get here?"Mr. Sir asks.
"What?"Stanley asks.
"How did that get there?Did it fall from the sky?Huh?"Mr. Sir asks pointing to the uncovered sunflower seeds and the mostly visable bag.
"No."Stanley says getting up and grabbing the half hidden bag.
Stanley looks at Magnet to see him with a pleading face.
"I stole your sunflower seeds!"I speak up.
Everyone turns to me with wide eyes.
"Excuse me?"Mr. Sir asks.
"I stole your sunflower seeds."I repeat.
"Than explain to me how the seeds and the bag ended up in his hole."Mr. Sir says.
"While you were filling everyone's canteens,I snuck them out of your truck. When you figured out they were missing and you turned around,I threw the bag at Stanley. He missed it and the seeds scattered all over his hole. It's my fault,one hundred percent."I say.
"Well,I think the warden would like to hear that from you. Come on."Mr. Sir says beckoning me to follow him to his truck.
I put my shovel down and follow.
"What're you doin',Girlie?"X-Ray asks.
I ignore him as I get in the truck and we drive to camp.
Mr. Sir and I go to the warden's cabin. Mr. Sir acts like he's fixing his hair before he knocks on the door. The warden looks through the curtains.
"What is it?"She asks through the door.
"We found something."Mr. Sir says.
The warden's face lights up as she opens up the door.
"Come in,Come in! You're letting the cold out!"The warden says letting us in.
Her cabin is a very beautiful rustic looking home. She even has air conditioning
"Tell her."Mr. Sir orders.
There's an almost-greedy look on the Warden's face even though she's smiling. I take a deep breath before speaking.
"Um…while Mr. Sir was filling our canteens,I snuck into his truck and stole his sunflower seeds."I say.
"Yeah."Mr. Sir murmurs.
I watch the Warden's expression turn from greed to bitter disappointment. The Warden glances at Mr. Sir in disbelief before looking back at me.
"Girlie,would you kindly bring me that little brass case in the bureau over there with my nail polish in it?"The warden asks me.
"Sure."I say before I walk to the large dark-wood cabinet behind them.
"Them little devils think I don't have eyes in the back of my head,but I don't miss much,as you well know."Mr. Sir says to the warden as they both sit down.
"My philosophy is...see I keep 'em in line. Punishment and reward. Punishment and reward."Mr. Sir slaps his palms together for emphasis.
I find the brass case the Warden had described. I carefully pick up the case. I glance at the walls to see newspaper prints have been framed. Their all printed by Greenlake Register.
They all feature Kissin' Kate Barlow, either about a robbery or murder she had committed or a wanted sign for her arrest. I can't help but think of the heart and the letters on that golden tube. K. B.
"Every time they see me coming,a little shiver goes down their spines."Mr. Sir says.
"D-tent is a sneaky little bunch, you know. They think they're a step ahead of me but I'm miles ahead of them. I look around,I see it in their eyes. They know I know."Mr. Sir says as I start coming over to them.
"Come right over here,Girlie."The warden smiles an artifical smile.
I hand her the brass case carefully.
"Thank you."The warden says as I stand by her.
The warden picks up a nail polish bottle.
"You see this,Girlie?This is my special nail polish."The warden says as she paints her nails.
"I make it myself."The warden continues.
"You wanna know my secret ingredient?Rattlesnake venom."The warden says setting the nail polish bottle down.
"I just love what it does to the coloring. It's perfectly harmless…" The warden runs her fingertips down my cheek.
I nearly slap her hand away but I surpress the urge to do so.
"When it's dry."The warden adds taking her hand away from my face.
"So you think she stole your sunflower seeds."The warden asks Mr. Sir.
"No I don't. I think she's covering for X-Ray or somebody. It was a five-pound sack and she claims to have eaten it all."Mr. Sir says.
"It was half full when I got it. And there's a lot in my hole,you can check there."I say.
"Oh I will. I will—!"The warden strikes Mr. Sir across the face with her left hand.
Mr. Sir clutches his face while falling backwards over an armchair.
He yells nonsense while stomping his feet in the pain. The warden turns to me with a sour expression.
"I suggest that you go back to your hole now."The warden tells me.
"Yes malm."I get out before I leave,slamming the door behind me.
I go back to the boys who all are surprised that I'm still alive.
"What'd you say,Girlie?"Magnet asks me.
"Nothing."I say.
"What'd she do to you?"X-Ray asks.
"Nothing."I say.
The boys are amazed.
"So,you're okay?"Squid asks me.
"Oh,so now you care about me?Or are you just worried that I lied and said you did it?"I ask with an attitude.
"What's your problem?"He asks getting out of his hole.
"You!"I yell as he stands in front of me.
"What'd I do?"He asks.
"You've been angry at me for the last few days after I did nothing wrong!"I yell.
ZigZag and X-Ray have to come and pull us apart.
"Cool down,Girlie."ZigZag says guiding me back to my hole.
"You're right. You're right."I say.
"Thanks."I tell him before getting down in my hole and starting to dig again.
Hope ya'll like and thanks to Sugercupcake and WritersWayOfLife for the reviews!