Cabin 13 ~Book 1~

Prologue

"Sydney, can you come into the office for a moment?" My step dad, Bill, asked me right as I got in the house. I glared as he walked away, but dropped my bag on the floor and followed him. My mom was sitting on the couch, looking like a perfect wife that had no mind of her own. She wasn't the free spirited mom that I used to be able to go to with any problem I had. No, she's been brainwashed byhim.

"What?" I asked, annoyed.

"Sit down, please." My mom said, pointing to the couch that sat opposite of them. I did as she said.

"Your mother and I would like to talk to you. We've decided on something that we think is best for you. You might not like it, but there is no arguing. It's already been decided."

One thing about my step dad was that he repeated himself, as if to emphasize his point on something. This little trait was one that I hated with anyone.

"Well then what's the big decision you've made? We're going vegetarian? New grocery store?" I joked.

"No..." He said, frustrated. "We're sending you to summer camp."

With anyone else, I would have thought they were kidding. But after two years of dealing with him, I've come to learn that he doesn't kid. In fact, I'm pretty sure the man hasn't laughed once in his life.

"SUMMER CAMP?!?!" I screeched, jumping up from the couch. "Of all things in the world, you're sending me to the place where preteens are sent because their parents just don't want them for three months?!"

"Sydney, please have an open mind about this. We're just trying to do what's best for you." My mom pleaded, trying to be gentle.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're right, let me think about this." I bring my hand to my chin and act as if I'm thinking for a moment. "Ha ha, no. Hell no. No way, absolutely not! I'm. Not. Going."

"You really don't have a choice. You may be a teenager now but you are still our daughter. Meaning, if we want to send you to summer camp with 'preteens' we will." Bill ordered.

"You are NOT my father. My father is up in New York now. If you want to send me somewhere, why not to his place?"

"Because he isn't suited to take care of you. He left us Sydney, never forget that I was the parent that stayed." My mother said. But I'd heard this before. They were the same lines she always fed me.

"I'm sixteen, practically an adult. I can take care of myself and him if I need to." I looked at my mom, pleading now and hoping to bring back some of the same mom that I used to see before. "Let me go to New York. Please?"

She hesitated, and I knew she would have considered it. But, as usual, he had to step in the way of things. "No. You are spending the summer at Camp Pinewood. There will be no more discussion on the matter."