After what seems like miles along the winding road, we end up at cabin number five, which happens to be the last cabin on the left. Behind and to the right of the cabin, thick stands of pine, maple, and elm trees continue up along the mountain. About twenty feet of grass and wildflowers separate the cabin from the tree line. Even though we’re at the last cabin, the dirt road turns sharply and extends deeper into the wooded area.
Kelly pauses at the bottom of the steps leading up to my cabin. “We’ll announce the teams tomorrow. Only the people on your team will know your strengths. It’ll be up to you to let them know your weaknesses. The rest of today will be used to unpack, meet others, and tour the camp. Do you have any questions so far?”
The more she explains, the more intrigued I become.
“I’m still trying to process all of this. I’m sure I’ll come up with questions at some point.” I lift the bundle of paperwork in my hand. “Hopefully, this packet will fill in any blanks.”
We reach the top of the steps, and Kelly opens the cabin door. She waves me in first. Six bunk beds extend out from the far wall, with four more bunks close to the entrance. Tall dressers next to each bunk act as separators between the beds. On the left, a door leads to the bathroom, and nothing but a corkboard fills the wall to the right. An aged tile floor runs through the cabin and into the bathroom. Shivers course through me as I imagine stepping on the cold floor first thing in the morning or the middle of the night.
“You can call on me anytime, for any reason.” Kelly follows me inside and points at a redhead sitting on one of the top bunks. “Now, let me introduce you to Fallon. She’s your cabin lead. If I’m not around, she can also answer your questions.”
“Hey!” Fallon says as she hops down. “Most of the top bunks are already taken. Look around and leave your stuff on the one that you want. We don’t have a lot of time to put things away before we have to head to lunch.”
“Hi. I’m Cassie.” I nod in her direction as I glance over my new home. To avoid an abundance of traffic past my bed, I decide to stay away from the door as well as the bathroom.
“Well, Cassie, the top three drawers are for the person on the top bunk, and the bottom three drawers are for the person on the bottom bunk.” Fallon waves her hand at the room as I finish my walkthrough, pointing out the dressers situated between the bunks against the bright white, stucco walls. “There’s a cubby space in the bathroom for each person.”
My bag ends up on the bottom bunk located in the back corner of the wall opposite the entrance. From this spot, anything or anyone that comes in the room is visible.
“Well, ladies, we should head back up front. Cassie, I need to update your paperwork with your new information, and you need to say goodbye to Mr. French.” Kelly heads out the door, not waiting to confirm if I followed her.
I take one last look at the place I’ll call home for the next several weeks, and then I chase after her. As we walk back, she points out areas I ignored previously. After we pass all the boys’ cabins, I notice a small putt-putt course set back into the woods. Next to the course, a half-court basketball court with a rusted chain net butts up against the start of a nature trail. Boys run around the court, trying to steal the ball or out-maneuver their opponent, while girls lie around pretending not to watch the boys.
Once we pass the basketball court, a large building with windows covering three of the walls rests right off the path, behind some purple flowering bushes.
Kelly explains, “This building includes the cafeteria and activity center. People play cards, do crafts, read—there’s a small library—and use the computers and internet. Everyone’s allowed to use the computers as long as the privilege is not abused. Each person has to sign in and out. When you sign in, you’ll be given a code. That code is used to log you into the computer. We can track your usage based on that login.”
Her serious expression makes me wonder if someone abused this privilege in the past.
As we continue walking, we pass a clinic as the road opens back up to the main area, and the apartments I saw near the front come into view.
Kelly points to those buildings. “The teachers, camp counselors, and other staff stay in those apartments while camp is in session so that we’re always available if needed.”
Once we return to the sign-in area, Kelly leaves me, and I head over to Simon.
He places his hands on my shoulders. “Do you think you’ll be all right? I can’t stay, but I won’t leave you if you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m tough.” I wink at him, then cringe inside. Bah! Where did that come from? I never wink. This place is already getting to me.
“Be good, be careful, call or write when you can. I’ll be back to get you at the end of the term.” He gives me a quick hug before he turns and walks to his car.
I watch as he drives away, wondering what I’m going to do now.
CHAPTER THREE
I miss Fallon walking back up to me, and I jump when she says, “Hey, I just got word lunch is being delayed. Let’s go back to the cabin, so I can introduce you around. Some of the other girls are already heading there.”
We turn back toward the cabins and a few other girls join us. A bubbly blonde introduces herself. “Hi! I’m Lily.” She grabs my hand and shakes it enthusiastically. “This is my second year here. You’ll love it. I think I cried for a week last year when I had to go home.”
“I’m Cassie.” I try to decide what to reveal about myself to her when someone else chimes in.
“Hey, Cassie, I’m Lara. I’m new this year and haven’t drunk enough of the Kool-Aid yet to be sold on the place.” Lara’s spiky black hair doesn’t move as she shakes my hand.
I like her already and laugh for the first time since I found out about my stay here. “I’m also reserving judgment, but I’m curious enough about the place to stick it out.”
Wide-eyed, Lily stares, switching her gaze between the two of us like we grew extra heads. “I’ll make sure you love every minute. I hope we’re all on the same team. This is going to be so much fun.” She jumps and claps.
Lara and I watch Lily skip along and talk to other campers we pass.
Fallon turns back to us and shakes her head. “Lily will calm down by tomorrow. I do hope we’re all on the same team, though. It makes it a lot easier to work on projects when we’re in the same cabin. Last year, my team was split between three cabins. We either had to sneak out to work together or really focus during group time. I don’t think either of you will sneak out of my cabin, though.” She gives us both a little smirk.
Lara giggles at her. “Are there many cute boys here? It would totally be worth breaking the rules to meet up with one of them.”
I frown at her. “Boys aren’t worth that much trouble. I do like to win, but I would never break any rules.” I cough slightly to cover that little, white lie.
We finally catch up with Lily as we enter the cabin. The girls helped to ease my comfort level with the camp up until I walk over to my bunk. “Fallon, my stuff’s missing. Would someone break in here the first day to take things? Is my stuff the only stuff missing?”