But they’ve got good Wi-Fi in here + I found a deck of cards. (The 9 of clubs is missing.) I’m going to see if the Sumac Sufferer wants to play blackjack. Thanks for writing me.
B
* * *
From: Avery Bloom
To: Bett Devlin
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
Bett,
We’re not talking to each other and we’re still not friends, but I’m on your side. This afternoon I asked if I could go to the infirmary to see how you were doing, and Rachel said it wasn’t a good idea right now, and that instead I should work on tomorrow’s 3-D printing assignment of an innovative cooking utensil. Mine is a slotted spatula for lefties. My papa is a lefty, and so are a lot of people, including Barack Obama and Justin Bieber. The world doesn’t go out of its way to accommodate them in the kitchen.
So even though I couldn’t visit, I want you to know that at dinner I didn’t eat my lemon tofu cheesecake. I wrapped it in a napkin and then went to Peace Lily Pod and got the red sweatshirt that was on your bunk. (Maybe it’s the one Zander Barton gave you?) I told Benita I was going to take it to the infirmary. But instead I went to see Minnie and Wilbur. (They were asleep, but they woke up right away when I got to their pen.)
I put on your red hoodie and then I dropped the dessert in their trough. I’m hoping they smelled you on the sweatshirt and know that I was feeding them for you.
Avery
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
Avery—
THANK YOU so so so much for bringing Minnie + Wilbur their after-dinner treat. I knew they would wonder where I was. That WAS the hoodie from Zander Barton. That’s why it’s really big.
There’s another kid in this infirmary now + she’s also going to spend the night. She accidentally poked herself in the eye with a wooden stick in Puppetry. Do you know her? She’s from Wisconsin + wears a little silver bell around her neck, which is super-annoying. She’s got on an eye patch now so I can’t tell how bad her injury is.
They told us to go to sleep about an hour ago. The Sumac Sufferer wants to leave the lights ON + Puppet Patch Kid and I both want the lights OFF, so that’s a problem.
I guess I’ll wait till the Sumac Sufferer falls asleep + then I’ll just get up + turn off the big bright light in the center of the ceiling with all the bugs circling like cars trying to find parking near the beach in Venice.
Thanks again for looking out for Wilbur + Minnie.
Xo
Bett
* * *
From: Dr. Stohl
To: Daniel Birnbaum
cc: Marlow Devlin
Subject: Psychological evaluation of CIGI Camper #49302
CIGI #49302 was seen today for one hour. She appears to be a bright, emotionally well-balanced twelve-year-old female. Young people in this age group are often troubled by issues of self-esteem, but this was not detected.
#49302 explained that she lives in a single-parent home and that her father is the center of her life. She showed a strong connection to animals and had highly developed personal preferences (including sleep decisions, eating, and activity choices).
#49302 has never been to camp before. She stated that coming here was not her idea, and she wanted to make sure I wrote that down.
Despite that, #49302 admitted enjoying her first eleven days at CIGI. She likes her counselor, as well as several members of her pod, and she listed a young camper from New York (#49319) as being “a good person, though totally different from me,” who “looked out for my pigs after my zip-line problem.” Camper #49319 is not one of #49302’s podmates, so this shows the ability of #49302 to expand her friendship circle.
When asked if she had broken any other camp rules besides the zip line, #49302 said a kitchen worker named Connie had been giving her corned beef and coconut cookies. The corned beef was fed to the pigs. #49302 conceded she ate the coconut cookies herself.
Conclusion:
#49302 shows no signs of wanting to harm herself or others. She appears to miss her father (within the normal range for a first-time camper). She understands that her behavior regarding the safety rules is not acceptable.
#49302 was eager to get back to Peace Lily Pod and see her assigned care animals (the previously mentioned pigs) and go horseback riding. She is also very interested in fire building and an upcoming archery tournament.
* * *
From: Marlow Devlin
To: Bett Devlin
Subject: You
Hello from “Zhong Guo”! That’s what this country is actually called by its citizens. The name translates to “middle kingdom.” So the first thing to know is that the Chinese people don’t call their country China. We were told yesterday that one explanation for where the western name came from was that when Western explorers arrived they decided that a family named Chin looked like they were in charge!
So, Bett, I got an email today from the head of CIGI, Daniel Birnbaum. He probably thought I’d freak out to hear that you jumped into a lake, but of course he never drove a pickup truck that pulled you by a rope on your skateboard. (Don’t tell him about that. Also, maybe don’t say anything to Avery, either.) But, honey, I can’t come back to get you if you get tossed from the place. So please try to stay on the right side of the water.
Betts, I haven’t said thank you. I know that this wasn’t your idea of how to spend your summer, but sometimes moving out of our comfort zone is how we grow.
What I’m trying to say is that the world is tough and so are you. I trust you to do the right thing (meaning please follow the safety rules!). Also, here we are writing to each other. You and I never do that because we spend so much time together, and text messages don’t count. This is all new for us both.
I’m going to make an effort to be in touch whenever I can. So far China is one of the wildest trips I’ve ever taken. And you know that’s saying a lot! I was unprepared for how much history is here and how humbling that is.
Are you and Avery getting along? Are there other kids there with same-sex parents? Or is that something kids even talk about? Your generation is a lot less judgmental than mine. Hooray for that!
Love you and miss you so much,
DAD
P.S. We ate scallion pancakes with a great dipping sauce yesterday, and all I thought about was how much you’d love them. We’re going to have dinner at Mandarette first thing when we’re back, and you can get a double order.
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Marlow Devlin
Subject: Zip-line misunderstanding
Dad—Dropping into the lake didn’t seem like such a big deal when I did it. But now I KNOW it’s a big deal. It was kind of a dare because this kid Eric Peabody said HE was going to jump on his turn. Only he didn’t. As Gaga would say, “He was all hat + no cattle.” I was ALL cattle. HA! Anyway, don’t worry. They let me go back to my pod today.
Avery has been really nice about the zip-line thing. I guess you can tell her dad I said that. I got moved, so we’re not in the same cabin. (They call them pods but they aren’t.)
I’d love a scallion pancake right now. Especially if it meant we were having it together.
Love you + miss you a lot,
Bett
* * *
From: Daniel Birnbaum
To: Marlow Devlin
Subject: Follow up regarding Camper #49302—Bett Devlin
/> Mr. Devlin,
Bett is now back in Peace Lily Pod and we’ve put the incident behind us. But you should know that because of what happened our thought for the day was: “Your best teacher is your last mistake.”
I do want to share one other thing. A fellow camper came to Bett’s defense. She organized all of the girls in Petunia Pod to wear their T-shirts inside out in support of your daughter. This was surprising because no one had ever even seen the two girls talk to each other. Anyway, we were very anxious to put a stop to any “us-versus-them” attitudes at CIGI, so at lunch today we asked everyone to wear their shirts inside out for the rest of the day.
We’re finding this is breaking down some of the barriers between pods, which is a great outcome.
Needless to say, Bett does have one strike on her record now.
Most sincerely,
Daniel Birnbaum
Camp Director, CIGI
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
A—
I’m back in Peace Lily Pod. I don’t have any restrictions so it’s like nothing ever happened, except some of the girls are sort of quiet around me now. Maybe they think GETTING IN TROUBLE will rub off on them.
When you + I see each other in the dining hall it’s probably okay to say “hi” + I could also bend the no-talking rule just once to tell you about going to see Dr. Stohl. She’s a counselor, only the therapy kind, not the sing-a-camp-song kind.
Bett
* * *
From: Avery Bloom
To: Bett Devlin
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know
Is Dr. Stohl the same woman who teaches the workshop We Can All Learn from Mice in Mazes? She’s giving a community talk on Friday called “Helping Others: When Is It Appropriate Not to Act?” But she doesn’t mean theater acting.
Half of my pod signed up for the Vocabulary Building Now! class tonight. (Too many of the classes have exclamation marks, don’t you think?)
I’m not planning on going, because I saw the flash cards and I know most of the words.
AB
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
I’d do the mice maze workshop if they GAVE US A MOUSE. Or let us hang out + feed some. But Benita said it wouldn’t be like that.
I’m going to go to the BIRD-WATCHERS FORUM after dinner. Why is it called a forum? I heard they give us cool night-vision binoculars. Only we don’t keep them, we have to give them back at the end. I guess we could do that together if you want.
BD
* * *
From: Sam Bloom
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Checking in
My sweetest angel,
This trip has been very hectic. Apologies for being out of touch for a few days. Marlow and I should have done more research (you know how much WE both like doing that, but not everyone is like us). Marlow is really a “fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants” kind of guy. Which is sometimes great. And sometimes, well, not so great.
It turns out that motorcycles are illegal in many Chinese cities. We hired a company (we had to by law) and we follow two people in a car who are supposed to be escorts. It’s our choice to have them go ahead or follow us from behind. But it’s not a perfect system because we keep losing each other.
We’ve had a few incidents, nothing that serious. This is a beautiful country (maybe best seen not from a motorcycle), and we’re having a once-in-a-lifetime experience. At least I hope some of the things we’re doing are once in a lifetime.
Marlow said you helped his daughter when she had some kind of misunderstanding with a swim instructor at the lake? (He hasn’t gone into detail.) She sounds so different from you (and not just because he says she loves all water sports).
I’m really looking forward to August 14th, when we are back together! You are in my heart, my love.
Always and forever,
Your Papa
* * *
From: Avery Bloom
To: Sam Bloom
Subject: Re: re: Checking in
Dear Papa,
Are you and Marlow having a good time? I can’t tell from your letter.
Bett and I have started to hang out a little bit. In the beginning I didn’t think she was a very caring person. But then I watched her with the camp pigs, Wilbur and Minnie, and with the horses (they all swish their tails when she walks into the barn, and they don’t do that for anyone else), and I saw that she was different from how I first thought.
Last night we went bird-watching, which was the first time we did an activity together. I wasn’t scared, even though it was very dark out. We could hear the owls hooting in the trees, and Bett found a ladder next to the pig stall and we climbed up the back of the barn and went onto the roof. I wasn’t sure that was allowed, but she said there was nothing about ladders or roofs in the rules, so it was fine.
Then this amazing thing happened, which was that an owl flew by and landed on top of the barn really close to us! We didn’t even need our night-vision glasses. (You know I love owls, and not just because of Harry Potter.) The owl had a mouse in its claws and was going to eat it. (We didn’t watch that part.) Bett said it was better not to tell anyone what we saw because it would just make the other campers feel left out, since it was a bird-watchers forum.
Take care of yourself, Papa. I miss you, but you are on a dream vacation with your new boyfriend, and I’m at a summer camp in Michigan, and guess what? So far I haven’t needed my inhaler even once!
Love you so much,
Avery
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
You’re probably sleeping now. Everyone around me is. That was cool last night when we saw the OWL, wasn’t it? That’s your animal! I’ve seen sharks in the water at home, which is not as scary as it sounds.
Who do you think would win in a fight between a big night owl + a dogfish? I think the dogfish, unless the fight was on land.
Solana in the bunk below me snores really bad. She needs to learn to breathe through her nose. They told us lights-out, but even though I am not a night owl like you, I’ll never get used to sleeping on demand.
I’m writing to you because I want to know if it made you feel kind of weird tonight at Fire Circle when Camp Director Daniel talked about CIGI being a FAMILY, and then he went on about how we should appreciate our OWN FAMILIES? But all of that was just his way of getting everyone all worked up about FAMILY DAY AT CAMP.
Obviously you and I don’t have any FAMILY coming to see us. You said before that your dad didn’t hire a surrogate (like my Brazilian situation). So do you know the person who is your biological MOM?
You don’t have to answer. But I’m awake if you do, Night Owl.
Dogfish
P.S. Rodrigo in the barn says we can’t move in J.K. Rowling to live with Wilbur + Minnie. He says pigs have been known to kill chickens. I re
ally don’t think Wilbur and Minnie would EVER DO THIS, but he said it’s too much of a risk.
* * *
From: Avery Bloom
To: Bett Devlin
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
Dogfish—
I shouldn’t be awake right now, and neither should you. Too little sleep can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. You can read about it online. I’m not making it up.
Okay, you asked me a question about my mom, and I’m going to break my cone of privacy about this very personal family information.
My biological mom is named Kristina Allenberry.
She was a friend of my papa’s in college. It’s a long story.
Night Owl
* * *
From: Bett Devlin
To: Avery Bloom
Subject: Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: you don’t know me
WHAT??? NO WAY!
Me + Dad saw 2 plays last year written by someone named KRISTINA ALLENBERRY! I kept the program, which is why I remember her name. I put it up on my wall because I liked the drawing of the DOG from the play DOG IN THE WILDERNESS (even thought there was no dog in the play). We also saw TELL ME WHEN JIMMY COMES HOME.
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