Chapter 5: American Kids: We're a little messed up, but we're all alright
Abi
Emma was the theater coach. This years play was a watered downed version of Hamilton.
She was amazing at rehearsal. So was Dylan. Who knew he would be so good at acting?
"You were incredible Abs." Dylan says. I like the nickname he has for me. It isn't new. I always hated it when others did it. But I'll allow him to say it.
"You were too." I tell him. "Everyone was."
"Announcements of the list will be at first rehearsal, so you'll know your fates by tomorrow." Emma sing-songs. The room comes to life with equal sighs of anxiousness and excitement and some groaning of dread and disappointment from the kids.
"There is always something to be nervous about." Dylan sighs.
"That's life in the theater, baby." Emma laughs. Coming over, she puts her arm around Dylan and kisses him on the cheek.
Dylan pulls away but he's laughing too.
Across the room, Jacob scowls.
I want to tell Jacob that Dylan's more into guys. But that's not my place. If Jacob couldn't figure it out by himself, I can't help him. Maybe that's why he's so horrible to Dylan sometimes. Or he was just a bully.
"That's life. Period." I say. And everyone agrees.
We all head back to the cabins together. Before we say goodnight, Dylan hugs me hard. I want to pull away because I'm not much of a huger but I let him because I know he'd be hurt. And also I need to feel the closeness tonight.
I notice how Ryan hangs back a bit for him. Their shoulders almost touching, the way they smile at each other. I hope I'm not reading too much into things. Either way, it looks like someone is on their way to discovering the person he wants to be, as Mr H says, we'll leave Hackett's Quarry forever changed.
Maybe there's a little hope for me too.
Emma and I climb the steps of our cabin and I glance over my shoulder. I catch the sight of Nick. He's leaning against the railing of his and Dylan's cabin, bathed in yellow of the overhead lights. The expression on his face is unreadable. He's too far away, but I raise my hand in a little wave and to my astonishment, he waves back.
I feel a little lighter.
I wake up to soaked sheets. Everything feels wet, my skin, my hair. My pillow. The curtains flutter in the night breeze. The window is open.
I slip out of the bed and tip-toe over to close it. The fog is rolling in now but it's not thick like last night. So I can see her.
A woman is walking across the muddy field between the cabins, moving in and out of the fog and shadows. Her white nightgown, flowing behind her. She turns in my direction and we lock eyes across the darkness. Arms outstretched she reaches toward me. Long bony white fingers.
I stop, putting my hand over my mouth to quiet my breathing. I take a step back away from the window.
The old woman's mouth opens in a silent scream. The fog whips around her feet like curls of smoke, I could almost smell it. Instead of a scream comes the noise of a loud siren.
I startle awake. The siren I heard was the morning alarm, bleeding into my waking moments. My heart is still pounding in my chest. I look over at the window. She isn't there. I must've been dreaming then, the product of lack of sleep and Ryan's ghost stories.
Dylan would be making the morning announcements any minute now.
How can I believe in ghosts when there's like twelve other campers snoring a few feet away?
Except the smell of smoke still lingers.
It's a camp, Abi. There's going to be campfires.
The cabin is almost empty. I grab my stuff and head to the pool-house.
July 4th was on a Sunday. For breakfast they have something called Freedom pancakes, which were just pancakes with blue and white sprinkles and wiped cream. Izzy seemed to be enjoying them. She was usually a big texture eater. All the kids were enjoying them. Apart from the play, today was their day to slack off and have fun with the days festivities. Mr H thought it important for campers to experience the Fourth of July in a traditional way, by spending time with their families and friends, to have a fun and festive day. Even though it fell on a weekend, the counselors didn't get the day off.
Emma rearranges her sausages, muttering her lines for the play under her breath. Abi understood why she was nervous but not Dylan. Maybe he's still worried about me.
After breakfast, they headed out for the days activities. While the counselors set up bunting, plastic table covers on the picnic benches and extra tables. Before lunch the parents would arrive and would take them down-town for the parade. Some who's parents couldn't make it, took the bus, that included the counselors.
Upon returning back to camp, Emma and Kaitlyn sat down in lounge chairs watching their kids do the three legged race. Izzy didn't want to join in.
Abi asked her what was wrong. She looked sad.
"Don't you want to play any of the games?"
"No. My dad didn't show up."
"It's ok kiddo. " Dylan said, instead of get used to it. He wanted too and yet wanted to shield her from more disappointment.
"It's ok." Hannah came over. She and Izzy had become friends. "Mine didn't either. Would you want to do the three legged race with me?"
"Ok."
Hannah took her hand, like an older sister would.
Ryan calls Dylan over to help him with something.
"Watch Bon Bon for me?" Izzy asks Abi, handing over the stuffed rabbit.
"Of course, I will! I'll make sure he's on his best behavior." She winks at her. "He can chill out in my bat-pack. "
Abi puts the stuffed animal in her bat-pack, it's head sticking out so it appears to be looking over her shoulder.
"Now he can watch."
Izzy gives a little laugh.
Hannah and Izzy wait in line so Ryan can tie their legs together. He was good with knots. Dylan hoped not too good. That would be awkward trying to untie. Sure they probably had scissors lying around from the arts and crafts.
They worked together instead of fighting like the other kids and ended up winning.
Nick and Chris start cooking hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill while the kid's alternate between games and activities by cabin.
"Hey, can one of you be me look out tonight, during the fireworks?" Emma asks. "I want to sneak off with Jacob."
"Why?" Dylan asks.
"To have sex. Duh."
One of the kids looked up from pouring their lemonade, halfway through and looks over at them. "What's sex?"
Emma and Dylan bust out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Emma farted." Dylan says.
"Ew, gross. I do not fart. For us ladies it's so unladylike."
"Thank you." Dylan puts his hand to his chest. " I'm so flattered to be one of the girls."
Kaitlyn rolls her eyes. "You're on your own." She says to Emma.
Dylan says, "Don't worry Em, I'll be your look out for you."
"Oh boy, what's the catch."
"No catch, honest. I miss having a partner in crime."
"Ok. You have a deal. Next time I'll be look out for you."
They're called for ice cream. Half eaten hot dogs and hamburgers are left behind on some of the kid's plates. Flies begin to buzz around as Abi and Dylan start clearing the garbage away.
Bon Bon is still sticking out of her backpack.
"How did you do that? I can never get her to let go of that thing." Dylan asks her. Abi just shrugs.
Bonfire night felt different that night. Maybe it was the buzz of celebration. The counselors handed out sparklers, which were lowered into the fire until they ignited.
"Yay! Someone gave me fire!" One of the boys shouted, running off with his, leaving behind a trail of sparks.
Izzy sliced the sparkler spelling her name. Dylan did the same. A distant boom of fireworks grabbed their attention. The sky lighting up in green, blue, white and red, an array of colors. Emma of course was nowhere to be found. Kaitlyn most likely agreed to be her look-out.
"Wow. So pretty!" Izzy exclaimed. She stood on one of the log benches from behind Dylan.
"Awesome, right?" He gives her a boost up onto his back. "I want you to always remember this. Promise me you will?"
"I promise."
The kids are lined up to get ready to go back to their cabins for bed-time. Emma was able to sneak back into the fold. Giving a wink at Dylan, thanks for keeping an eye out. I owe you one." She says in a sing song voice. She leads her girls back up the path.
He and Ryan hang behind.
"You're really good with Izzy." Ryan says.
"I ought to be. She's my sister."
"I didn't know you had a sister."
"Well, you would know things about me. If you asked."
===============================================
Monday July 5th 9 AM- Dylan
The first painting lesson is held outside, away from the arts and crafts room in the lodge and it's crowd of campers. When Abi suggests we paint by the lake, I embrace the idea. It temporarily soothes my anxiety.
They carried their easels from the classroom to the back of the lodge near the lake. The roof to the art building was being repaired. The maintenance man, who was built like John Cena, dressed in overalls and a cap had been hammering away. Was he even legit?
The pool-house even had a crack along the side, that you can peer through. I'd seen Jacob try to peer through it to spy on the female counselors, mainly just Emma.
I don't remember this place being such a dump. Were they really that strapped for cash?
"Do you think he even knows what he's doing?" I glance at the large silhouette on the roof, continuing to get smaller and smaller as we walked.
"It will give them something better to do than still life's." Abi said, looking at it positively. I don't know how she was so optimistic, blase Dylan tried to with his jokes. But Dylan Dylan overthought every detail and all the cons vs pros as per usual.
"How long have you been doing this?"
"Art? Mmm. Since I was six. I've since improved from stick figures and stick horses."
"Darn. All I can do are stick figures and stick horses."
She laughs. "We're...here!" She says in a sing-song voice. Abi is so cute in an innocent sort of way. I already think of her as a younger sister. I can only hope Izzy will grow up to be like that, retain her innocence too.
Palettes in hand the campers seemed nervous. I'm nervous too, not just the stress of the morning. The way the kids glare at me, seeking guidance is intimidating. Definitely not in my wheelhouse. I follow Mr. Hackett's advice. Just try to be yourself.
Treat them no different as I would Izzy.
"The assignment this morning is to paint what you see," Abi announces. "just look at the lake and paint it only as you see it. use what ever colors you want. Remember this isn't school. you won't be graded. The only person you need to please is you."
The bell rings for lunch and the kids toss down their paint brushes, running back toward the lodge.
"Walk, don't run, please." Abi groans "will they ever listen to me?"
"You just need a little bit more confidence, girlfriend."
"What confidence?"
Before lunch, he goes to the arts and crafts room. With lunch going on in the mess hall, loud voices, plates and utensils clattering, no one notices him go up stairs. He roots through the art supplies.
"Shouldn't you be at lunch?" Abi asks. He whirls around, "not stealing art supplies now are we? There's no glue for you to inhale."
That didn't sound like too bad of an idea. But now that she's mentioned it, she'd take inventory. "No. I was just... Just wanted to admire what you've done with the place."
"It was a lot of work."
"It shows."
"Should be able to put all that hard work to use next week. Now that the roof's fixed." She looked at him worriedly. Her mouth doing that little twitch thing when she's thinking. " If you wanted to borrow anything you could just ask."
"Yeah. I know."
" You did an awesome job with the radio hut."
"You did great with the kids today."
"I volunteer at a hospital back home, doing art therapy with the patients. But it's not something I'd want to do in the long term. Perhaps I want to work in a gallery or become an artist one day. If I don't make it someday before I die, spread my ashes outside the Met or the Sorbon in Paris or something."
"That's kind of dark. Who are you and what have you done with sweet innocent Abigail? I have successfully corrupted you."
"Hey, you can't take all the credit. I can be dark and twisty on my own."
"Like Meredith Grey."
"Ugh..." She rolls her eyes. "They killed it when they killed off Dr. McDreamy."
"I cried for like a week. Do you think Nick is a Dr McDreamy? An Australian sporty Dr Mcdreamy who likes baseball."
"Oh, Nick? I don't know. Do you?"
"Do you mind if I take this?" He looks over at a cart filled with art supplies spotting what he needed.
She shrugs. "We should head down to the mess. If campers don't see you there they'll get the idea in their head that they can skip lunch too. We should lead by example, as Mr H says."
"Yeah. I'll be right down." He lies.
He might clean up the art supplies left out in the sun. The easels are already being collected by the maintenance man he saw on the roof.
"Figured you could use some help." His voice gruff, matching his build.
"Thanks. I'm Dylan by the way. " He sticks out his hand but the man doesn't take it. "I've seen you before. Working on the roof."
"Don't work at the camp. Work for the family."
"I see." Not wanting to feel useless he fold the last easel and hands it to the man. "Can I help you with those?"
"I got 'em." He steps away, revealing several red splotches on the grass, that resemble blood. Dylan found it a little unnerving. "You kids make a mess."
"Yeah. That's what happens when you're painting." He gives him a smile, hoping to appease him but it doesn't.
He grunts a sound of displeasure.
Then he's off, his shoulder knocks into Dylan's, carrying the easels as if they weigh nothing.
"Ah." He grabs his shoulder, rubbing it. "Rude. Man of few words."
Dylan heads off and doesn't see him pick up an empty vial. He walks down to the cabins, easels having been put away. Making sure no one is looking, he puts the vial in the trunk of the tree.
Dylan uses the clay he grabbed from the art room to cover the hole left by the crumbling brick of the pool-house. Jacob might be mad at him now but it's for his own benefit. "For your own benefit, Jacob."
Lunch is halfway over by the time he gets back to the lodge.
The lifeguard for the pool that afternoon is Nick. He's undeniably handsome up there on his perch with his sunglasses and whistle. Abi stares up at him laughing loudly at something he's just said. Apparently flirting was not in the cards between those two.
Emma and Kaitlyn are sharing a large beach blanket. They look up when Dylan's shadow blocks their sun.
"Not going to take a dip?" He asks.
"I want Jacob to know what it feels like to look but not touch." Emma said.
"I get that. But why aren't you swimming?" Dylan asks Kaitlyn.
"Don't want to. Where are you going?" Kaitlyn eyes his backpack.
"Canoeing."
"Alone?"
"Yeah."
"I don't think that's a good idea. Each year an average of eighty people die in canoe and kayak accidents." Emma gives her a look. "What? I looked it up. Do you even know how to swim?"
"Yes." He pauses. "Good enough."
"Dude, how did you pass the swim tests?" Kaitlyn lowers her sunglasses to peer at him.
"The kids peed in the pool like on day one."
"Did you organize that? You shoulda just came to me for something better. I know all the excuses in the book. Although my go to excuse wouldn't work for you." A woman's natural function once a month still was a taboo subject to some men. They didn't want to hear about cramps. One word about stomach aches or 'time of the month' they nervously stammer and accept it as a feasible excuse.
"As much as I wish I had thought of that, we can't all be evil geniuses Kaitlyn."
"He won't be alone." Emma said. "Ryan will be there. Ooh Kaitlyn, he blushes. Maybe he'll teach you how to swim."
"I...I already know how to swim."
"Alright. I'm coming with." Emma started to gather her things.
"Uh...it's a long way. And there's a lot of hiking involved."
"I'm coming too." Kaitlyn said.
"You don't need to..."
"Pretty please?" Emma batted her eyes at him.
"You know that won't work on me." Damn, it was starting to work. "Fine."
Emma squealed.
Abi, hearing the commotion came over. "What are you guys going?"
"Canoeing." Emma says.
"And hiking." Dylan adds. Trying to discourage her. He'd been hoping to get an opportunity to get Ryan alone. With the three girls it would be hard to slip away, especially with Kaitlyn.
"Without me?"
"Do you really want to come along?" Emma asks her. Equally trying to discourage her.
"Not really but..."
"Ok. Bye. Hold down the fort for us ok? Have fun with Nick." They hear loud screeches. Jacob and Caleb are playing chicken, two kids on their shoulders. The one on Caleb's shoulders had fallen off.
"Ha ha. Yes!" Jacob gives a shout of victory.
"And Jacob." Emma sounds displeased.
Emma is bored. She leans her head back. Dylan is enjoying watching Ryan teach the kids how to tie knots. He could make anything interesting.
Emma made a motor boat sound with her lips. "Boo. I'm bored. I say we head to the island."
"I think Dylan is enjoying himself over there." Kaitlyn says. " I got to say, I am too."
"What?" That got Dylan's attention. She so did that on purpose.
"Emma wants to go to the island."
"The island?"
"The zip line is next anyway." Emma said. "We'll just get there before anyone else."
Minutes later they were on the Island, sitting cross legged on the floor of the tree house.
"It is pretty nice up here. I see why you come here." Dylan said.
"Do you got anything good in there?" Emma nodded toward his backpack.
"I got some snacks. I'm not giving you any of my edibles. Besides Mr H already busted me for some weed."
"Damn. Let's play a game instead." Emma suggested. "Two truths and a lie. Dylan you go first."
"One time my mom was so drunk she passed out in an elevator in public. Two: I've kissed a boy. And three, I'm not that good of a swimmer."
"You're cheating! Those were all truths!" Emma exclaimed.
"How...how'd you know?"
"Well you've already said you weren't that good of a swimmer. The second one is so obvs. You so got to tell me all the dets later. And to the first one, my mom's done that too, just not in an elevator."
Their new inner sanctum was ended when rowdy excited kids burst into the tree house.
One of the kids peed his pants when he realized how high up they were . Nick was tentative to the poor young lad. He offered to take him back so he could clean up and change his clothes.
It really amazed Dylan how a rag-tag bunch of screw ups like them were good with kids. When a kid fell off her bike and Ryan took her to the nurses office (To Kaitlyn. Where she likely developed feelings for him. Who would not? Now's not the time to be jealous, Dylan) Emma with Izzy when she had gotten a splinter. Himself with Rowan when they had a nightmare about Ryan's ghost stories. He had assured them that they were just that, stories.
Abi was great with getting the kids to express themselves with art. Now Nick.
Maybe they wanted to make sure they have good summers, make good childhood memories for them, before life messed them up.