Pranked

Twenty Five

I woke up after what must have been a couple hours. I was immediately hungry. Everyone else was still asleep. Martin was curled up, holding my hand. Jojo was laying face up next to me. Kenny was laying down against the wall, holding Jojo's hand. I realized how comfortable we had gotten around each other over these few months. We had bonded over these pranks and over everything we had done together at this camp. We went from strangers to close friends. I guess that can happen when you are all working together to play pranks without getting caught and even during survival week. I wondered if the other cabins who were not involved in this prank war felt the same way I did right now. I think they felt closer to their cabin mates, but not as close as I felt to mine. I shook Jojo awake gently.
"Wake up," I whispered.
"Are we there yet?" Jojo whispered.
"No. I just want some company," I answered.
"Okay," Jojo whispered.
"Have you noticed how close we've all gotten since the beginning of camp?" I asked.
"Not really. I think you're just more inquisitive than I am," Jojo said.
"Like we didn't talk much other than planning pranks in the beginning, but now we are all comfortable with sleeping in the back of a U-Haul trailer together. You and Kenny are even holding hands," I said.
"I guess," Jojo said, "Makes sense."
The truck came to a halt.
I tapped Martin's shoulder.
"Wake up," I said.
He opened his eyes and asked, "Are we even there yet?"
"I think so," I answered. He sat up and Kenny woke up too. The door opened and we all stepped outside. We were at another clearing and we saw a log cabin with the word "Counselor's Office" on a sign. We followed the staff inside.
I recognized Mr. Teagen who was our head counselor and had explained survival week to us at dinner.
"Hey Mr. Teagen! Sup? I liked your speech about survival week. You're a good speaker," Jojo said, smiling.
"Thank you. May I first speak to Leighanne Parker and Courtney Vargas?" He asked.
"Sure," I said, and I followed him and Courtney into a little room with a couch and a desk and a computer.
"So, last night, someone in cabin six brought to my attention that cabin seven played a prank on the first day of camp. I also know that cabin six made a revenge prank and it errupted into a prank war. Is this the honest truth?" he asked, sitting down.
"Yes," I admitted, sitting down on the couch.
"Yes," Courtney echoed, "But who told you?"
"The person from your cabin who told me, Miss Vargas, asked to remain anonymous. And it was also brought to my attention that Miss Vargas put thumbtacks in the shoes of everyone in cabin seven. Is this the truth?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," I answered.
"No," Courtney denied.
"Liar!" I shouted, "You think you're a cool kid, Courtney, but you're just a cheeky, evil liar!"
"Miss Parker," Mr. Teagen said, "Please calm yourself. And Miss Vargas, considering that you have two accounts accusing you of putting thumbtacks in shoes, I can assume that you're lying. I believe that lying is very unwise on your behalf."
"Sorry, sir," she said.
"And it was also brought to my attention that yesterday, Miss Parker overheard you talking to your cabin mates about making a revenge prank last night. The person said that everyone in cabin seven was hidden during the prank and leapt out, surrounded everyone in cabin six, and threw water balloons at them. Is this also true?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," Courtney said.
"Yes, sir. And I had overheard that they were going to make a revenge prank even though we hadn't revenged yet because they didn't want us to expect it, sir," I answered.
"Yes, that is correct sir," Courtney said.
"And I also heard that Miss Parker was punched in the nose and on the shoulder by Miss Vargas after a minute or two of angry chatting. Is this true?" he asked.
"No, sir," Courtney answered.
"Yes it's true and you know it you liar. I even have a bruise on my shoulder and bloody tissues as proof," I snapped.
"That will not be nescesary, but thank you Miss Parker," Mr. Teagen said.
"You're welcome, sir," I answered.
"Courtney, you are dismissed to go join the others in the lobby while I speak to Miss Parker alone," he said. Courtney got up and walked outside.
"You're camp counselor, Evelyn, came forward at the beginning of camp and informed me that you told the group that Courtney was a bully to you during school," he said.
"That's right, sir," I said.
"Would you mind talking to me about it?" he asked.
"I don't mind," I answered, "I met her during the school year and she was in all of my classes and she was also living in the apartment down the hall from me. I was a normal girl and so I naturally made friends with her. We had sleepovers and stuff and she was totally cool and friendly. She was just like a sister to me. And then she went to make friends with the popular girls at our school and she totally abandoned me and she would say really mean things to me and bully me basically. And she would sometimes apologize and act all friendly only to betray me again later. And Jojo, my cousin, knew about this and suggested that we play a prank just as a joke. And so I did it and the whole prank war happened and I became more and more okay with it. It was like a way to stand up for myself without talking directly to her face. It was a way to show her that I wasn't afraid. And I know I'm probably gonna be in trouble for this mess along with all of my other friends, but I'm not ashamed. I'm not afraid of Courtney anymore and I'm not as shy as I used to be. And all due respect, sir, but if me coming out of my shyness is something I'm going to be punished for, I think your system of right and wrong is wacked off." Tears came to my eyes as I spoke.
"I don't intend to punish you for this until I speak to the others first. Thank you, Miss Parker," he said.
"You're welcome, sir," I answered.
"You're dismissed. Please send Courtney back down here," he said. I grabbed some tissues and wiped my eyes. I then got up and walked back to the lobby.
"Courtney," I said, "He wants you." She got up and walked to his office, giving me a quick glare.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Martin asked.
"Pretty good. He said someone in Courtney's group told him everything. She denied a bunch of stuff and then he talked to me about the bullying. I think it went well," I answered, rubbing my eyes, "And I told him what you guys told me in the truck. I told him that I'm not ashamed and that if I'm gonna be punished for what happened, that he was wrong."
"I see," Jojo said, "I'm proud of you, gal." She held my hand tightly and I leaned against her. Courtney came back after a few minutes. Later, they sent everyone into the office.
"After some discussion between Miss Vargas and Miss Parker, I have arrived at a conclusion. I will be sending everyone home early," he told us.
"All due respect sir, but why us? We haven't done anything wrong," Jojo interrupted.
"Patience, Miss Ellis. I will get to that. Firstly, I think it is fair to accuse Miss Vargas of assault. I will be calling her mother shortly and I will tell her everything that Miss Parker told me. Secondly, I am sorry to say this, but to everyone in cabin six besides Courtney, I will have to send you all back for assosiation with Miss Vargas's doings. It's nothing personal. It's simply camp code. And lastly, I would normally let everyone in cabin seven stay because the pranks are all jokes. However, I am not allowed to do that by camp code because apparently pranks are considered vandalism. I will be calling your parents as well and I will tell them that I do not believe you should be punished, but I will still have to send you home due to vandalism. In fact, I will tell them also that I am actually impressed with your support and friendship loyalty to Miss Parker," he told us.
"Look, sir, I'm very sorry. The pranks were just jokes and I wasn't thinking straight and I took it too far. I'm very sorry," Courtney pleaded.
"I feel no guilt for you, Miss Vargas. That's my only comment," he said.
"Oh snap! You got told now, girl!" Jojo remarked, snapping her fingers. Kenny and Martin and I all laughed.
"Thank you, Miss Ellis. All of you are dismissed," he said. We all walked outside and back into the vans.