Family + Camp (working title)

Chapter 17 Part 1: By the Lake

Sandra moved to stand by her daughter and started grilling Cash a little more, but in a gentle way that made it clear she really wanted to know his answers. Nell listened with interest, but schooled a look of polite I-could-care-less neutrality on her face.

He'd been coming to Camp Morgan since he was a baby—first to the family camp, then as a res camper when he was going into third grade—instead of ages, Morgan used grades to filter their campers.

"At first, I didn't like it," Cash admitted without having to be asked. "With family camp, kids have the run of the place. Parents just let them do whatever. I mean, they don't expect staff to babysit or anything, but there's a lot of freedom for kids at FC. I learned how to ride my bike here. I learned how to swim, how to play tennis, how to make a friendship bracelet..."

Nell's mom nodded. "A lot of firsts."

"Yeah," he said warmly. "And with res camp—you always have to stay with the group. You have to do what the counselor tells you to do—it didn't seem as fun. But our parents made us go. We didn't have a choice."

Nell hadn't thought about this. Campers always seemed to be having fun at Fields Creek, even when they cried or got a scrape or stung by a bee or broke an arm. There were always smiles and laughter, even for the kids who didn't seem to make any close friends. Maybe she was wrong about summer camp being a perfect paradise for every single person out there on the planet. After all, it wasn't easy for the kids who were in wheelchairs for example, or blind, or deathly allergic to bees. (Nell recalled Len running through the shelter building area last summer, a boy in his arms fireman-style, who had been stung and screamed he was allergic. Turned out, he wasn't, which is why, later, Len realized the kid didn't have an epipen on him. Little shit. But Nell remember that look of stone cold focus on Len's face masking his panic as he ran past her on the trail with the camper. It sent a frisson up her spine, which she immediately squelched.)

Back to the anti-campers: Nell was leaving out a whole population of kids who might not be able to access her favorite parts of camp. And then there were those who just didn't thrive in nature with the dirty fingernails all the time, swampy, sweaty parts, and sunburned, dehydrated skin. Back at Fields Creek, she'd had friends who always declined visiting her, even in her own, civilized home. One girl, Mariah, came to mind.

"Camping's just not for me, Nell," Mariah had said when Nell, like an overeager puppy, had written up a list as to why Mariah should come to her swim party back in seventh grade. Come to think of it, Mariah had turned into a young woman who preferred big floppy hats, sunscreen, and the shade of a tree whenever "forced" to go out. She also always seemed to wear dark colors and had very pale skin and was a tow-headed blonde. Maybe she was goth.

As for those campers who didn't like resident camp, perhaps they were faking it, doing the best they could to survive the week. She knew kids got homesick, but they always seem to rally in a day or two. Perhaps, they just learned to give in and stop complaining.

Yeesh, that was bleak. She hated that idea.

To Cash, Nell found herself saying, "You always have a choice." She held her breath, knowing this was as false statement. Third graders did not have a lot of choices when it came to defying their parents.

He smiled at her in a way she could only describe as wry. "Hm. Well, maybe I'm just an obedient son."

Sandy nodded. "Yes. What that must be like to have an obedient child." She bumped shoulders with her daughter who tsked.

"You know I'm the best, Mom. I'm always good."

"You are," Sandy said fondly. "And so is your brother."

Nell bit the inside of her cheek. Her mom always had to include Jamie in any compliments she gave her daughter. It was like a tick. Nell tried not to take it personally, but secretly, she did. She did so very much.

The group headed down to the edge of the lake where there was a deck and boathouse. There was also a wooden lifeguard chair shaded by a white and red umbrella. Nell put her hand on the seat. She'd be getting to know this baby very well. Very well indeed.

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Wattpad Friends: Every been a lifeguard? It's the perfect combo of boring and stress!  Or...is it?