Family + Camp (working title)

Chapter 20 Part 2: Water Sports Team

Next, she blurted, "What about college?" Why would she just assume that everyone was going to go to college? What an elitist Jamie would accuse her of being. This, coming from a guy in the Ivy Leagues! Then again, he didn't have to deal every day with Nell's disappointment in their dad.

And Nell could just tell that Izzy was college material. She had it written all over her being, especially her crewneck sweatshirt.

"I'm deferring Tufts for a year," Izzy said, all blasé.

That was the name her sweatshirt shouted: Tufts!

"It's a good school," said Seth. It was the first time he'd spoken since being introduced. "A really good school."

"Thanks," Izzy said flashing him a smile and doing a funny little curtsy thing.

"I finished up at SF State last year," Seth offered. Nell found herself trying not to look surprised. How old was his? Well, maybe he had started school later than usual.

It's never too late, Nell could hear Len saying in her head. He was always full of encouraging words as such.

"What did you major in?" Izzy asked.

"Business."

Nell lost interest.

"That's a useful one," Sybil piped in.

They chatted some more in a freeform sort of getting to know you way. Nell felt like they were at a "mixer," a sort of social event her parents made her and Jamie go to sometimes. Not like the camp ice breakers she was used to in which participants played a game of human bingo or pass the orange. This felt more adult. Not at all silly. Important and mature. Maybe this summer was going to be one that stayed mellow. Nell was with the grownups. She was the youngest one of the group ,and she was hella mature!

The rest of the morning, Sybil got them up to speed on their responsibilities. They toured the pool and its shed. They went over all the things they needed to know: how to check the pH of the water, how to balance the chlorine levels, how to set up and clean up. How the bathhouse worked—Seth would be in charge of the men's side, but once the pool was closed, the girls could help him out. They went down to the lake and did basically the same thing, getting to know its shed, the canoes, the paddles, the life vests. There were two red paddle board for lifeguards to use.

"OK, team." Sybil clapped her hands together once. "We'll meet back here an hour after lunch. Be in your suits. We'll get in the water so I can see what y'all got."

They headed back up to the dining area. Nell realized her stomach was growling.

"Hungry?" Seth said.

"Yeah. You?"

He nodded. He was not a man of many words, but Nell was pretty sure there was a lot of deep thinking going on in that noggin of his.

In the dining hall, there was a line for lunch. More people had arrived. More program staff. Nell would be getting to know all of these people. Maybe some of them would become her friends, if not for life, then at least for the summer. And maybe...maybe something would...happen. At this point, she wasn't sure what she wanted to have happen. An adventure of some sort? Something to shake things up. To make this move from the only home she'd ever known worth it.