Page 26 of Class Clown

“So, day one. What do you think?” Kristy asked, her long blonde ponytail swinging as she came to stand next to me, her camp uniform looking adorable on her.

“Not one of those kids are unfortunate looking,” I responded, tipping my head toward a group that had congregated nearby. Kristy followed my gesture and nodded. “It’s tragic. How will the next generation know how to cope with hardship if they’ve never had the opportunity to be humbled by their own adolescent hideousness?”

Kristy laughed. She could laugh because she also had the glow of a person who’d enjoyed full access to dermatological care throughout her life. Her parents had probably emphasized clean eating and exercise as well. She’d probably never banged her shin against those sharp teeth on the bike pedals, and choked on the cigarette smoke in her neighbors’ coupe while riding unbuckled with all the windows up.

“This first group is so exciting,” Kristy chirped. “It makes it all official. I love it here.”

I nodded. “I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Any first impressions on who our medically disadvantaged campers will be this week?”

She scrunched up her nose and joined me in perusing the group. There were a couple kids scratching at their arms, or heads, and I saw one kid trip, but as a whole the group seemed pretty fit and ready for mountain life.

“No one jumps ,” Kristy answered.

I nodded. “Even better. I love a good surprise.”

A set of parents approached then, and Kristy and I were kept busy for the next half hour as we went over the medical needs of a couple of campers. It was pretty run-of-the-mill stuff. Asthma, melatonin for sleep, a few anti-anxiety meds – nothing I couldn’t handle and hadn’t seen before.

When my notes were complete and parents were reassured, we made our way to the big gathering area in front of the lodge where campers were lining up in age groups and saying goodbye to the last straggler parents. Cole held up a megaphone and called everyone’s attention. I chuckled and Kristy glanced my way.

“I will never be comfortable with my brother having a megaphone.” I playfully shuddered.

His cheery voice boomed through the open area in front of the Bearadise Lodge and gradually the conversations stopped. He welcomed the kids and promised the parents they’d be taken good care of. Then, as those parents meandered away to their cars, Cole called the counselors up front and introduced them one-by-one, followed by Kristy and I, the cooks, and maintenance crew. Lastly, he introduced Nico as the co-director and I had the immeasurable pleasure of watching the female teenagers’ too-cool masks be replaced with interest in the specimen in front of them.

Which reminded me.

I grabbed my phone from my back pocket and hurried to snap a picture of Nico as he did his best imitation of a smile of welcome. Ithought he looked a little bit like a guy suffering from constipation, but hey, my friends would probably eat it up. I truly and exceptionally nailed the timing, as he was nearly directly facing me when I clicked the button. I checked the picture and was pleased with how it turned out. I smiled to myself, tucked my phone back in my pocket, and looked up front in time to see Nico scowl in my direction.

Busted.

I shrugged with a big grin and wiggled my eyebrows. He had been warned.

“Did you take a picture of Nico?” Kristy asked.

I glanced down at her and nodded. “I did. I was telling my friends about him and they wanted a picture.”

“Is he okay with you doing that?”

Sweet, sweet poppet. I smiled. “Oh, yeah, he knew I was going to.”

Her eyebrows pinched and she looked to where he’d shifted off to the side. “He seems kind of private.”

She was right, and it moved her up on my potential love match list to see that she’d be protective of him.

All the campers were instructed to put their things in their cabins and then meet back in the big meadow for opening games once introductions were completed. I watched as the kids moved in separate directions, loving the bubble of noise that filled the meadow as they chatted excitedly. The sky was bright and clear, and the meadow grasses seemed to absorb the sound of laughing and feet stomping along toward the small cabins. It was a picture-perfect scene as the camp filled with life. These kids were so lucky to be here.

“What are opening games?” I asked Kristy.

“We’ll divide into two groups. Older kids do a scavenger hunt. Younger kids play a couple little games. Then we all meet back at the lodge for dinner and a flag ceremony. Then campfire time before heading to cabins.”

I rubbed my hands together happily. “And do we get to participate in camp games?”

She smiled. “Yep. They usually put us with the younger kids because they need a little more help. It’s pretty fun. I’d advise changing your clothes first, though. It can be messy.” She paused for a second before looking me over. “Your clothes aren’t quite the right size.”

I laughed. “How true that is.”

“Does Nico know?”

I pulled out the hem of the shirt I was wearing. “Yes. He had to let me borrow his shirt while we wait on a new set.”

---