“Wait until the kids get here,” he says.
“Right,” I say. It’s weird, because it feels like so much has already happened while the kids aren’t here. It’s like maybe, when you’re a counselor, the kids aren’t the only important part?
Lis sits beside him. “You didn’t tell me she was Porny!”
Ugh. Really?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says with a shrug.
Aw, what a sweetie.
“How’s Janelle doing?” Botts motions his chin toward Janelle’s sleeping bag.
“She’s nice,” I say. “How did she end up here? Are there always international staff members? Not that Canada is that international.”
“A lot of camps have an exchange program with international students who want the experience. Plus, it’s a job. And they get to come to America. Everyone wins.”
“Not everyone wins,” Lis says. “I don’t think Jelly uses deodorant.”
My back stiffens. “She doesn’t smell. And we’re not calling her Jelly.” I turn back to Botts. “What do you do on rounds exactly? Chitchat with everyone?”
“I check on everyone, but I only stop and chat with killer softball players I haven’t seen in eight years.”
“What do you do if someone is missing?” I ask.
“I find them,” he says. “But no one’s missing now, since they know I’m coming around. People sneak out later.”
“Really?” I ask. “Where do they go?”
“To hook up,” Lis says.
“Where?” I ask. “There’s not much privacy in these rooms.”
“That never stops anyone,” Botts says. “When we were CITs, Dee literally fell out of Baker’s top bunk with her bra half-on.”
“Nip!” Lis cries out. “They all called her that.”
“I never called her that,” Botts says.
“Do we get a CIT?” I ask, changing the subject.
“No,” he says. “We don’t have enough for everyone. And we can’t work them too hard because they pay to be here. And they’re barely in camp. They go on a lot of trips.”
“Do we go on any trips?” I ask.
“Just a canoe trip to New Beach.”
Ugh. New Beach.
The worst day ever.
New Beach is actually part of camp property, but it’s across the lake, so you can take a boat there and make it seem like you’re actually going somewhere far away. Thank goodness it is actually in camp, because after Kara noticed that I had bled all over my sweatpants, and told Zoe, and all the girls started shrieking, “Porny is disgusting!” “Porny smells!” “Porny’s gross!” like a scene out of Carrie, my counselor Jennifer took me back to camp to shower, get a pad, and change clothes. We had to return to sleep at New Beach, though, and of course the rest of the girls were still up to whisper insults at me as the tent sagged above my head.
I couldn’t do any water sports for the rest of the week. Jen offered to teach me how to use a tampon but I was too terrified.
I can do without going back to New Beach. Ever.
Janelle pushes the curtain open. “We have company!”
Botts gives her a high five. “Janelle! I was about to send out a search party for you.”
“Don’t be silly, I was just taking my time.”
“I was telling them about your upcoming trip to New Beach,” he says.
Her eyes widen in delight. “Nude Beach?”
Lis snorts. “No! New Beach! New!”
She laughs. “Nude Beach sounds more fun.”
“It really does,” Botts says. He stands up. “All right, ladies, tomorrow is a big day. The kids arrive at noon. I’ll let you get some sleep.”
He closes the door gently on his way out.
Lis turns to me. “So, did you and Botts stay in touch?”
“No, not at all,” I say. “But we were friends when I was here. He’s a nice guy.”
She sighs. “He is, right?”
Talia laughs. “Lis has had a crush on him forever!”
“Ooooooh,” squeals Janelle.
Lis turns bright red. “I have not!”
“Have so!” Talia says. “Since you were like a junior, right?”
“Okay, fine,” she says, biting her thumbnail. “Maybe a tiny crush.”
“You guys would be cute together,” I say. “Do you want me to put out some feelers?” If I help her with Botts, maybe she’ll bury the Porny nickname somewhere deep.
“Okay. But without making me look desperate. Because I’m not. I’m just . . . interested. Maybe.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” Talia says. “Although there’s always Muffs . . .”
“I’m not interested in that guy and his kind-of-sexual nickname and his weird earmuffs!” Lis says.
“Muffs is in love with her,” Talia tells me.
“He is not,” she says. “Besides, he’s like my brother! We go to—went to—high school together!”
“I have my eye on someone too,” Janelle says, waggling her eyebrows. “Actually two someones.”
“Ooh, tell us,” I say, turning back to her.
“Well, JJ is adorable,” she says. “And he looks good in a bathing suit.”
Lis bursts out laughing. “JJ is gay,” she says. “He came out when we were CITs. Sorry to burst your bubble.”
“Dang,” she says. “Okay, then. The hot tennis teacher. He’s smokin’. Is he straight?”
“I believe so. But did you really just use the word smokin’?” Lis asks.
“I did.” She makes a sizzling sound. “What’s his story?”
“Who’s the tennis teacher?” I ask.
“Benji Rhee,” Lis says. “He’s tall and has amazing shoulders and was wearing a Red Sox hat in the CL. He is smokin’. And I think he’s the only other Korean American at camp. But his you-know-what is probably smokin’ too because he hooks up with everyone.”
“Oh, I noticed him,” I say. “He is hot.”
“And a player,” Janelle says. “I like players!”
“Not me,” Lis says.
“What’s your type then?” Janelle asks her.
“I like nice guys. Although my bubbe would prefer if I marry a nice Jewish guy.”
“What’s a bubbe?” Janelle asks.
“Jewish grandmother,” she explains. “I’m adopted. In case you’re wondering.”
“Cool,” she says and turns to Talia. “What about you? Interested in anyone?”
“No,” she says quickly.
“She never likes anyone,” Lis says. “Something’s wrong with her.”
“Nothing is wrong with me! I come to camp to relax, not to hook up with guys.”
Janelle giggles. “I came completely to hook up with guys!”
We all laugh.
“What about you, Sam?”
“I guess to make some money, and be around kids,” I say.
And to put my Porny days behind me once and for all.