Lights out. It’s definitely time for that. The campers may not be exhausted, but I am—absolutely wiped out.
It’s been a long day, a very long day. The preparation, arrivals, getting them settled, taking them to the pool to be tested, to the showers after swimming, back to the bunk to change and go over the cabin rules, on to dinner (noisier than the school cafeteria ever was), a meeting so that the campers could meet the staff and learn the general rules and regulations.
The campfire. I hope marshmallows come out of hair or else Ginger’s going to attract a lot of flies. Somehow, someone managed to drop a freshly melted marshmallow on her head without getting caught. No one would admit to having seen who did it, not even Ginger. She wouldn’t let Corrine or me try to help her get it out.
I tried to talk to her, but she turned away.
Now we’re back at the bunk.
There’s lots of giggling going on. It began as soon as we turned out the lights.
Corrine walks into our room. “I’ve suggested they all settle down and go to sleep, but I doubt they will. After all, it’s the first night, to be expected.”
“What should we do now?” I ask.
“Why don’t you work on the diary we’re supposed to be keeping. Just relax a little.”
I get the notebook and look at the first-camp-day assignment. We’re supposed to write down first impressions of each camper, a little description of each of them, and my own feelings and perceptions about the first day.
I begin by opening the notebook and staring at it. That’s what happens when I confront a blank sheet of paper when I begin writing. I go as blank as the page.
I alphabetize the names, then doodle on the margins.
Risa sticks her head in the door. “We’re taking a poll to see who in the cabin has already gotten her period and how old they were when they got it. Do you two want to be part of it?”
Corrine chuckles. “No, and I think you should cut it out. It’s time for lights out, and anyway that may embarrass some of the kids.”
Risa shakes her head. “The poll’s already taken, six yesses, with the youngest age being nine. Four noes. One maybe. And one ‘if you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.’ ”
“Let me guess,” I say. “The last one’s Ginger.”
“It sure wasn’t Stacey,” Risa says.
“I think that’s enough for tonight, Risa,” Corrine says. “Lights out.”
“We took the poll in the dark. The only light on in this cabin’s yours.”
Linda sticks her head in the door. “I think this camp’s haunted.”
“Why?” Risa asks.
“Because everyone here keeps talking about the camp spirit.”
“Out,” Corrine and I yell. “Get into bed.”
Risa and Linda vanish, giggling.
Corrine gets out of her bunk and stands up. “Marcy, please watch any comments about Ginger. If the kids think we can’t stand her either, they’ll just come down harder on her.”
I nod. “Okay. I’ll try. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s understandable. Just don’t do it again, if you can help it.”
“Okay.”
Corrine pretends to pound her head on the wall. “I need a break. First days wipe me out,” she says. “Marcy, you’re in charge. See you in ten minutes . . . or so.”
She leaves. I’m going to have to try harder to be nice to Ginger. Setting an example is hard when you’re only a couple of years older than the campers. Being the youngest CIT isn’t easy. Still I’m glad that Barbara thought enough of me to ask when they needed a last-minute replacement.
I stare at my notebook for a few minutes and then write.
Corrine returns. “Your turn to go out.”
I yawn. “I’ll skip it tonight. I’m exhausted.”
She grins, “I ran into someone outside who wants to talk to you.”
“Who?” I ask, jumping out of my bunk without even using the ladder.
“It’s Ted. I’m glad you got over your crush on Jimmy,” she says while I put on my sneakers. “I didn’t want to butt in before, but I know what he’s like. I went out with him once last summer. It’s just not worth it. You spend the entire time listening to him talk about himself.”
She crawls into bed. “I feel much better now that I told you. I feel like you’re the little sister I never had, but always wanted.”
“I’m glad you’ve adopted me. I always wanted an older sister.”
She grins. “Now go outside and say hello to Ted. And Marcy, don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.”
I wave and walk outside.
The kids are still giggling and talking to each other in their beds.
Ted’s standing near the cabin, looking at the sky. It’s glorious in the country. Clear. Stars. There’s even a full moon tonight.
I come up behind him, tap him on the shoulder, and say, “Pardon me, sir. Is this space taken?”
He turns around, smiles, and says, “Hi, Marcy.”
After that wonderful start I’ve got no idea what to say next.
“I just wanted to see you, find out how your first day went. I hope I haven’t disturbed you.” He looks a little uncomfortable.
I hear giggles from the direction of the cabin. We move to a more secluded area, where we won’t be the cabin’s late-night show.
We sit under a tree.
I slap at my arms, killing the mosquitoes who think I’m the local blood bank.
“So how did your first day go?” I say.
“Fine. And yours?”
“Okay.”
“This is a wonderful conversation,” Ted says. “For two people who were hired for their creativity, this is really dull.”
I giggle. Giggling must be catching. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed . . .by camp.”
“Not by me?” Ted grins. “Well, good then. I can handle that as long as I know that the diagnosis is overwhelmed due to occupational hazard.”
As we sit there, I see Jimmy walk by with one of the girls who is on the grounds crew. He’s got his arm around her waist and he’s pointing something out in the sky.
I’m glad that’s not me. Tonight at the campfire Jimmy asked if I wanted to go back to his room later to look at the newspaper clippings he’s got about his sports triumphs. He asked while we were trying to deal with the marshmallow in Ginger’s hair. I said no. Risa volunteered to go in my place, but Jimmy just looked at me, said, “Your loss,” and left.
Ted pinches me on the arm and says, “Marcy.”
I look at him.
“I don’t think you’ve heard one thing I’ve said for the last four minutes.”
“Oh, Ted, I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “You were too busy looking at Jimmy. I can’t believe you could be turned on to that creep. I thought you had better taste.” He stands up. “We’d better get back to our cabins.”
I jump up. “It’s not the way you think it is. Don’t be mad at me.”
He says, “I’m not . . . Well, maybe I am. I don’t really know exactly what I’m feeling. I just think you’re special and it makes me angry to think you like Jimmy better than me.”
“But I don’t,” I say and realize that it’s absolutely true. “I do care about you, not him. I’m just a little confused.”
“Marcy, I want us to be friends. At least friends. Probably more.”
At least friends. Probably more. This thing with Ted isn’t a crush. It’s something more for me too, only I’m not sure. What if I let myself start to care and get hurt? I’m not sure I can survive a broken heart. I get hurt so easily anyway, so I’ve never let myself get too close to a guy, not that there have been that many opportunities. I’m scared. What if it turns into a real relationship and it’s as bad as my parents’ marriage?
I look at Ted. He’s bright and fun and very cute. He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He likes me, obviously a lot, and he’s not afraid to let me know.
I push the hair out of his eyes and say, “Friends. At least friends.”
He puts his arms around my waist.
I bet he’s going to think I have no waist at all, that I’m just a puffball. Then I remember, I’m not fat anymore.
I put my arms around him.
A mosquito’s draining all of my blood out of my right arm, but I decide now is not the time to slap it.
We kiss.
It’s wonderful.
We kiss again.
It’s still wonderful—until the large flashlight beams on us, we hear a cough, and separate.
It’s Carl and Barbara, who are smiling.
I could die of embarrassment.
Ted says, “We’re on a ten-minute break. The cabins are supervised.”
Carl says, “We’re just doing our nightly check of the areas, to make sure everything’s okay.”
“Everything’s okay,” I say.
“So I noticed.” Barbara smiles.
I blush.
“About time to get back, isn’t it?” Carl says.
Even though our parents aren’t around, I’ve got the feeling that Barbara and Carl keep an eye on things.
As Carl and Barbara go off to check out the camp area, Ted puts his arm around my shoulder and we walk back to the cabin.
I feel good. A little nervous but good.
We stand by the cabin for a minute.
I hear muffled giggling.
So does Ted because he leans over and gives me a fast kiss and whispers, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I walk into the cabin, there’s applause and a lot of voices start singing:
Marcy and Ted, sitting in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G;
First comes love
Then comes marriage
Then comes Marcy with a baby carriage.
Corrine’s standing there, singing with the kids.
I look at everyone, wave as if I’m a queen greeting her subjects, and walk into my room as everyone applauds again.
