Eager Beaver

Chapter Thirty-Seven - North Star Award

"Go away, Nate." I said as confidently as I could, cringing back under his superior gaze. "I don't wanna talk to you!"

"Why not?" the bigger boy smirked sarcastically, letting go of my shoulders and putting his hands up innocently. "I just thought you might wanna say thank you for your special present."

I put a hand in the pocket of my vest, taking out the still wrapped package and glaring up at him suspiciously. I ran my finger around the shape of it through the fabric. It certainly felt like a pocket knife. But it didn't make any sense. Why would he buy me such a nice gift?

"Thanks." I spat, hoping he would be satisfied and leave me alone, but he just smiled even wider.

By now our conversation had attracted some attention - Liam, Charlie, Val and Zach making their way over to the snack bar to plan the Northern Lights Quest. Taylor and Nate's aunt, the Cub Akela, weren't far away either - locked in their own conversation. "Why don't you open it?" Nate demanded, his beady eyes lighting up with delighted anticipation.

I had been suspicious before, but now I was certain Nate was up to something. What was his plan? Had he got 'Oopsy Coopsy' engraved on the handle? Bought me some pink sparkly version for girls? I shivered. Maybe he was going to try and cut me? Whatever he had in store, I was growing more and more emotional - my hands shaking and my cheeks going red with a strange mixture of fear and embarrassment.

"Err...that's okay." I tried to fob him off. "I'll open it later..."

"Don't be ungrateful, little Coopsy." Nate growled, showing me a terrifying snarling frown. "I got you a present. The least you can do is open it!"

The others were right beside us now, watching the scene unfold curiously. Zach stepping up protectively beside me gave me some confidence, as did the two scout leaders finishing their conversation and coming over to join us. There was no way Nate would try and hurt me with his Aunt right there.

"Fine!" I snapped. Whatever it was, I just wanted to get it over with. I struggled with the knot on the cloth, my shaking sweaty fingers making the process take much longer than it should have. Eventually however, I got it open.

Nate let out a delighted snort. "Do you like it?" he asked smugly.

The difference between Liam and Charlie's knives and the item I was holding wasn't immediately obvious. They were both small red oblongs, both bore the brand name in distinguished serifed silver lettering on the side, both featured the distinctive red and white swiss cross; but while there's were bona-fide heavy steel tools good for sawing, cutting, whittling and all other manner of grown-up scouting activities, mine was nothing more than a pitiful plastic pretend toy - a harmless make-believe model given to appease a fussy toddler who wanted to be just like his big brother. I didn't answer Nate's question, just turning the toy over in my hands as my already rosy cheeks sizzled hot pink in humiliation.

"You got Cooper the toy version?" Liam pointed out the obvious with a surprised frown, holding his own precious knife protectively to his chest as if it might be whisked away at any moment and replaced with the same lame embarrassing plaything.

"Of course." Nate smirked. "We wouldn't want his itty-bitty fingers getting cut."

I let out a sad sniff, dropping the toy into my pocket and quickly burying my face in my armpit to hide it from view. It was so stupid, I didn't even want a gift from Nate anyway, but I felt like I might start crying at any moment. It was nothing to do with the knife, really. The cruel prank had just dredged up all the little insecurities I'd had lingering in the back of my head about the ceremony all week. It made me feel like I didn't belong, like I was always gonna be some stupid little kid, like everyone everyone thought I was a baby - tinier even than the littlest most babyish beaver kit.