“You did?” I say, shocked.
“It wasn’t a duffel bag,” Gavin says.
“Okay, fine, it was more of a carry-on size. But still. It was a headache. I’m going to give Eric a warning just in case. See you later, Rosenspan. Glad you’re back.”
I smile as I keep walking up the hill. Botts is exactly the same. Everything here is exactly the same. It looks the same, it smells the same. The pool that I pass on my right is the same. It’s an indoor pool, surrounded by glass, with a green lawn outside. I can practically smell the chlorine.
Everything is exactly the same, except me.
To my left is Upper Field. It’s a big clearing with a gaga court, a Newcomb ball court, which is actually the same as a volleyball court, and a baseball diamond. I played on the softball team and got my first home run on that field. It went right over Bunk 10.
Now I’m walking down the hill. There’s a cabin to my right. Bunk 9. I can see that the tennis courts are still behind it, with the plexiglass-walled athletic center called the Skydome behind that.
Next is the Rec Hall, where we sang songs on Friday nights. Counselors played guitar and piano, and the lyrics were displayed on a screen. It was one of my favorite parts of camp.
I keep walking. To the left is the walkway to the lake. Below I see the sandy beach and a bunch of staff members setting up sailboats and Windsurfers.
The road turns into another hill.
“You made it!” Danish calls out from underneath a leafy tree. “I am so thrilled.”
“I made it,” I say. “Sorry I’m late.”
She’s wearing Teva sandals, blue sweat shorts, a gray tank top, and she’s holding both a walkie-talkie and a clipboard. “Oh, it’s fine,” she says. “I’m just glad you’re here. You’re such a great addition to my section.” She looks at her clipboard. “Do you want me to introduce you to your co? I’m sure you guys will get along.” She glances at her watch. “I need to be at the Arts and Crafts in like minus five minutes, but I can run.”
“I can introduce myself,” I say, although I’m suddenly nervous. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Yeah? Great. There’s some issue with the paints. I’ll see you at dinner, ’kay? You know where you’re going?”
“As long as you didn’t move Bunk Six.” I want her to think I know what I’m doing. I want her to have total confidence in me. I can manage finding my bunk! I can manage a bunch of kids! I’m going to be a teacher! So of course I’m going to be a great counselor!
Hopefully.
“Ha! Okay, bye!”
I keep walking. There is so much dirt in my ballet flats. I really need to put on my sneakers. What was I thinking wearing these? I spot the flagpole next, which also marks the beginning of Lower Field, where the majority of the cabins are. There are six to my right, all in a line. There are four bunks to my left. Straight ahead is another baseball diamond and a basketball court. There’s a path behind the basketball court that leads to the CIT village, but I never spent much time there since I was only here for one year and I wasn’t a counselor in training.
Bunk 6. Right here.
There are two pretty girls my age standing on the porch. One looks familiar—I bet she’s Lis, the one who was here when I was a camper, too. She’s Asian American, with light smooth skin, and she’s wearing her straight black hair in a low ponytail. The other girl is shorter, tan, super thin, and has spiral curls in a loose bun on top of her head. They’re wearing tank tops and ripped jean shorts. They both look sweaty. They study me as I step up the stairs.
“Hi,” I say, trying to make my voice sound extra cheerful and not at all nervous. “I’m Sam.”
“I’m Talia,” says the curly-haired one. “Your co-counselor.” I can feel her looking me up and down, glaring.
Why is she looking at me like that? Does she know about my nickname? Do they all know? Do they not like me already? Get it together, Rosenspan.
I cross my arms tightly and then try to force myself to relax. “Nice to meet you,” I say. I push my sunglasses to the top of my head. I feel a bit like I’m standing in front of them in my underwear. The back of my neck feels tight.
“I’m Alissa,” the familiar-looking girl says. “But call me Lis. You’ve been here before, yeah?”
“I was here for one year as a camper,” I say quietly. Hopefully she doesn’t remember me.
I study the porch. There are already four brightly colored towels hanging over the railing. There’s a poster on the left side that says “Welcome, 6A!” in bubble letters and glitter. Then it says “Counselors: Talia and Sam” and lists a bunch of girls’ names. “Francie. Shira. Emma C. Emma F. Lily. Prague.”
I guess I’m in 6A.
“Prague?” I ask. “Is that a nickname?”
Lis laughs. “No! It’s one hundred percent real. Her brother’s name is Barcelona.”
“No it’s not.”
“It totally is,” Lis says. “He’s in Bunk Eight. Senior.”
I laugh. Talia doesn’t. Her arms are crossed and she’s still kind of glaring at me like I’ve done something to offend her, even though I just met her ten seconds ago.
On the left side of the bunk there’s a second poster that says, “Welcome, 6B! Counselors: Lis and Janelle,” and lists five names.
“We have one less kid than you,” Lis says. “Although two of our kids are only seven, so it sucks to be us.”
“I’ll show you where you’re sleeping,” Talia says tightly, and opens the door to the cabin.
Great. She hates me already. I follow her.
“Danish has her own room on the right, since she’s head staff and apparently needs her privacy, unlike us. The four of us are here.” She pushes aside a hanging white bedsheet and steps inside the counselors’ room, which is narrow and long. In the front part, there are two parallel single beds on metal frames, about three feet apart. One has a sleeping bag on it already and is under a window. “You and Janelle are here,” she says.
“I guess that one is mine?” I ask, pointing to the bare one.
“Yes,” Talia snaps.
Seriously, what the heck is up with her? Did I run over her cat on my way into camp?
In the far back of the room, there’s a bunk bed pushed against the wall. The mattresses are both made up with sheets and pretty comforters.
“So why were you late?” Talia asks as Lis steps into the counselors’ room behind her.
“I told Danish I had an exam,” I say. “But honestly, it was because my boyfriend is leaving for Rome today. Don’t tell?” Eli had convinced me that missing a day of pre-camp wasn’t a big deal. And I’d wanted to spend the extra night with him. But I didn’t want Danish to know I had blown it off. I wanted her to like me. I wanted everyone at camp to like me.
“We won’t,” Lis says, biting her thumbnail. “How long have you been together?”
“Almost a year,” I say.
“Oh wow, forever,” Lis says. “So why’s he going to Europe without you?”
“He’s traveling with his cousin. And I don’t have the money.”