Climbing the Walls (OFFICIALLY RESUMED!)

Chapter 34: Home, Sweet Home

Chapter 34: Home, Sweet Home

When I wake on Friday morning, I'm in the best mood possible - so excited that I practically fly out of bed and hop onto Marissa's bunk. "RISE AND SHINE," I shout, straddling her and bopping all around.

"Are you on drugs?" she hazily replies, not the least concerned with my antics.

"LET'S GO HOOOME!"

"You're an idiot. Wake me in fifteen - "

"MEEEEERE!"

"Okay, okay.. Jesus. I'm getting up!"

I cheer and grab my iPhone, crank some Black Eyed Peas classics, and head for the showers. Mere and I have a loud sing-along while we get ready; Lor soon joins in the fun and, so a trio, we have a mid-morning dance party before we head to out.

Our coworkers arrive in drones, last of all Sabrina, followed by her minions. She looks extra smug this morning: completely made-up, hair curled, and sporting a pair of black, cork-bottomed wedges.

"Wedges are totally appropriate for chasing kids around," Mere whispers. Heartily, and by heartily, I mean pig-like, I snort a response.

Kathleen waves happily from the crowd; she looks almost as excited as I feel! Not even Sabrina can tamper with this euphoria. I do a little dance of excitement before the group breaks to claim their work areas. Before I can move, Louis grabs me by the elbow and hauls me off to the side.

"If anyone asks, the girls are going to Lauren's this weekend." He whispers quickly, glancing around to make sure no one is listening, "got it?"

"Sure, but wh - "

"No time to explain, gotta watch the kiddos! See you at lunch!" He slips down the beach, looking extra-cheeky. I send a text to Mere, Lor & Kathleen to share the news. They don't question it. Women...

Although the text exchange took only a few seconds, the delay was long enough for the whole beach to be occupied by the other counsillors. Since no one made it out to the pier because they usually wait for campers to arrive, I seize the moment, strip off to my swimsuit and wade out. It's a little chilly, but once I get into the deeper water & dunk my shoulders in, I hit my stride and begin to swim out.

"Cheater!" someone yells from the beach. I turn to see Ang jokingly sticking out her tongue and waving. I flail back, before I continue to swim. Her laughter catches the attention of more onlookers, and as if it's a race, Liam & Harry rip off their shirts and sprint to the water. I actually stop swimming to watch them pushing and splashing each other, trying to be the first one out. I wonder if they know that there are always three counsellors out there? Who cares, this is better than Baywatch. The boys are like freakin' dolphins and have caught me me in a matter of seconds.

"I WIN," Harry shouts, clapping me on the shoulder to prove that he was there first.

"That's 'cause you cheated!"

"How?" Harry asks, grinning from ear to ear.

"'Cause you're a Merman." The boys laugh and splash around like children.

"The pier has to have three counsillors, so we all win," I interrupt. They grin cheekily at each other.

"Well, last one there is a rotten egg," Liam shouts before the boys dive back in, leaving me in their wake. Needless to say, I'm the rotten one. When I climb the ladder and onto the dock, Harry says, "it smells like eggs up here, suddenly."

"Maybe it's just your breath," I counter. Liam laughs a high-pitched squeal, before Harry walks over and shakes his shaggy locks, laughing. We're soon joined by a swarm of campers on the beach, who quickly cover the entire area in view, as well as the pier. Harry and Liam take turns picking up & tossing kids into the water; I judge a "diving contest" among the older kids. I'm no Michael Phelps, but I can do alright in the water. When they ask me to dive, however, I don't miss the opportunity to show off my mad belly-flop skills, splashing everyone around me.