The Indigo Lights

The Wave Pool Phenomenon

For most of her life, Indigo has suffered from what she reffers to as the wave pool phenomenon. It is the overwhelming sense that she is stranded in the deep end of a wave pool, unable to swim away, as wave after wave washes over her. That's what life felt like all the time. It not that she is depressed, she doesn't always feel sad, unmotivated, or tired. It's just a subconsious gnawing. Alex had always been good at telling when it was a bad day, when the waves swallowed her up. Today, the wave pool is still.

Pheobe is smiling with her arm around Indi's shouders. Indigo has never really had friends that are girls. She did once, in the third grade, before she moved to WillowCreek. Tanya Admiir and Indi were tight. And Tanya was a good friend, but the thing was that Tanya was good at everything. So it was that kind of friendship, Indi wanted the best for Tanya, and yet was jealous of every sucess.

Pheobe is different from Tanya, yet Pheobe is different from everyone. Everyone at Petersons is a little different.

"You're not even ready for today's Group!" Miles says, giving Alex one of those friendly, guy punches in the sholder.
"You know what it is?" Alex asks.
"Nah, no one does, but I figure my group will win." Miles replies in half seriousness.
"Of course you do..." Pheobe says.

The Group activity is odd, weirder than trying to keep ice frozen in a cardboard box. They are supposed to complete an obstical course to retrieve something, they haven't been told what yet.
If Indi were told to give someone a list of her abilities, agility would not make the top ten, or the list for that matter. Does jumping from the light in her room to the bed to avoid the monsters undoubtbly lurking in the dark show any athletic skill? Running from the coach to the fridge during the commericial break? Dancing by herself to Good Charlotte? No, those activities are not counted as agillity training? That's unfortunate, as they would be Indi's only forms of athletisism. As a kid she wasn't exactly first pick in the school yard....Long story short she was basically screwed for this activity.

Kakki...err, Nigel, was less concerned about his athltic abilities proving unsatisfactory. He was stretching, butt in the air, tips of his fingers grazing the tips of his toes. Lanie stood off to his side, fidgeting awkwardly. The short boy, whose name Indi learned was Bentley, (however that seemed like a nickname), was cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck. Indi is staring at the wall she is supposed to climb, she gulps.

The blond counselor from the last Group has brought a blow horn this time. He smirks before pressing the button. The startling sound causes half the crowd to jump and place their hands over their chests as they try to regain a normal breathing pattern.
"Listen up campers!" He says, "As you can all see in front of you, today's group activity will involve an obstical course. Each team will be racing to recieve an object you will be needing in the near future. As you can see we only have one course so the winner will be based on the team with the best time. Also, it is a relay race so each person will compete! The team with the best time will receive an extra prize....But I guess I'm supposed to say that you're all winners in my eyes.....anyways take some time to assess the course and sign up for your spot in line with Mr. Westely."

The crowd disperses quickly and Indi's group walks around the course. There is a wall to climb up. It's around fifteen feet tall, not too high really, however the only way up is a single rope. The Other side of the wall looks the same and it leads to five logs to leap over. Next there is a row of ten or so tires probably to run through, then a low chicken wire cover to crawl under, then a flag Indi guesses means the start of another player in the relay. It is followed by two kitty pools attached to make them seem longer. They are filled with balloons and a rope dangles from a tree above them. A small tunnel comes after, proceeded by a thin plank of wood most likely useeed as a sort of cat walk. There's another flag that is followd by a maze of card board boxes. Ind almost laughs. Almost. After further examination of the boxs, Indi realizes the maze is some serious shit. The maze is sepparated from the next opsticle by another flag. There are four trees connected by strings that run in every which direction. It looks like the homemade verion of the laser beam security systems seen in any and every spy movie. There is a flag on the other end of the string web, it sits in front of a desk topped with papers that Indi realizes are puzzles. Not the jigsaw kind, the brain scrambler game kind. The kind of puzzles that require far to much use of the left hemisphere of the brain. The puzzles are followed by another flag. After that there is only trail. And more trail. So much trail Indi cannot see the finish line of the race. Yeah...running isn't exactly one of Indi"s favorite activitis. She, among many others, is a member of the 'Running is Only for When You are Being Chased by a Serial killer Club.'