“Can I get your name?” I ask when the girl comes up to the table.
“Morgan,” the little girl says as her mom covers the mouthpiece of her cell phone to add her last name.
“Morgan Meyers, and she’s on a strict diet plan. Vegan. I already sent in her papers so if we could speed this process up a little bit that would be fabulous.”
Kenny and I exchange a look before I look down my list of campers and place a checkmark next to her name.
“You’re in my cabin too,” I say, and notice her dad is talking into his Bluetooth headset and Morgan’s mom is half listening but concentrating more on the conversation in her phone.
“Hold on,” she tells the person and then looks at me. “So, you’ll be her counselor this summer?”
“Counselor in training,” I say and she glances over me. “There will be a main counselor in our cabin also. She’ll be meeting you at the cabin.”
Mrs. Meyers gives a nod. “You need to make sure to keep an eye on Morgan. Don’t let her have any junk food, she’s on a strict diet. She has ballet in the fall.”
“Mom,” Morgan groans as her face turns red.
“Morgan, ladies don’t wine. Now come on, let’s get you to your cabin, dad and I have a flight to make tonight.”
As Morgan follows her mom and dad into the welcome center, I shake my head.
“Are you kidding me?” I whisper.
“I hope campers’ my parents aren’t like that,” Kenny says. “I think the clingers might be better, the ones that try to call and check on their kids once a week.”
“Agreed.” I say, tapping my pen against the clipboard holding the campers cabin assignments.
“Where the heck is that water? It feels like it’s already ninety out here,” he says, squinting up at the sun and then wiping some sweat off his forehead with the collar of his staff shirt.
“Here it comes,” I say, seeing someone driving the golf cart and holding onto the giant cooler in the passenger seat. When the cart gets closer, I realize Sampson is the one behind the wheel.
“Sorry guys,” he says, unloading the cooler for us and sitting it on the table with some plastic cups. Some of the other staff come over to fill a glass too. “How’s check-in going?”
“Fine,” I say. “Only two so far.”
“I’m sure it’ll get busier soon,” he replies. “If you guys need anything else, let me know. We’ll be coming around with some sandwiches for lunch soon.”
“Thanks,” Kenny says. “Do I need to be back at the cabin once our campers start coming in?”
“Nah,” Sampson answers. “Once they drop their stuff off at the cabin, they’re directed to either hang out with their parents for a bit or head to the pavilion and fields to hang out with other campers until check-in is over.”
“Gotcha,” Kenny says. “I’ll see you back at the cabin to get ready for dinner around four thirty?”
“Yeah, dinner is at five. I’ll grab our campers from the field and bring them back to the cabin.”
Sampson hops back onto the golf cart and peals out, heading in the direction he came from. I feel a pang in my stomach because he didn’t say bye. I shut it out though, because six more cars with campers show up and I need to concentrate on them, not Sampson.
“Oh my God!” I say, standing up from the table. “Kelsey?”
“Penelope!” she yells, jogging over to give me a tight embrace.
“How did it slip my mind that you were coming back this year? I guess I just assumed you were too old to return as a camper!” I say, releasing her from the hug. Her parents come up behind her and Kenny helps sign her in.
I lean over and glance at the book where Kenny is making a check next to her name. “You’re in my cabin!”
“No way! This is going to be awesome!” she says. “How’s the other counselor?”
I shake my head. “She’s something.”
“We only have five campers left to check in,” Kenny says. “Why don’t you guys go hang out and catch up? I’ll finish check ins.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yeah, go for it. There’s only thirty minutes left anyway.”
“Thanks,” I say, turning to Kelsey and her parents. “Head on in and see the nurse for your super fun lice check, and then I’ll meet you out here.”
“Yuck, sounds like loads of fun,” Kelsey says as she walks away and into the welcome center with her parents.
I take her bags over to one of the final people still transporting campers’ bags and load it onto the golf cart. “Goes to cabin six, please.”
“I’m on it,” says one guy.
“Hey, I’ll take it.” Ah, Casanova at it again. He comes walking over and hops on the golf cart before the CIT can take off. “I have some business to attend to in those parts anyway.”
He winks at me before he takes off, and I just stand there frustrated. What can he possibly do, anyway? With campers here, his little games with Viv must end, right?
Once Kelsey has completed her check-in, we both wave goodbye to her parents as they drive away. She grins mischievously at me. “Let the fun begin.”
“Safe fun,” I clarify. “Remember, I’m working this summer. I can’t let you get away with too much. I’m your counselor.”
“You’re such a party-pooper,” she says, pouting but brightening up within seconds. “So, how many cute guys have you seen so far? Is it slim pickings?”
“I don’t know!” I tell her, my voice rising in shock. “Geez, I’m technically an adult this summer, I can’t be looking at other campers.”
“I’m not talking about campers! I’m talking about the guy counselors! Remember when we used to always crush on them? They were always so hot, and now that you’re one of them, you totally have a chance!”
“I’d rather not get involved with… wait… I shouldn’t be discussing this with you, you’re my camper!”
“Technically, I’m not your camper for another forty-five minutes, and then I’m under your control,” she winks. “Oh my God, speaking of hot. Did you know Lain was returning this summer?”
She points over to the soccer field and sure enough, there’s Lain with his Kool-Aid-blue mohawk. Every year he comes back with different color hair, it’s kind of his thing. Last year his hair was down to his shoulders and bleach blonde, almost white. I have to admit that he’s always been one of the hottest guys here, but it has always been ‘slim pickings’ at Camp Arthur. And, of course, the hottest guy must pair up with the hottest female camper for the summer.
“I think this is my year,” Kelsey says. “I will talk to him.”
“Now?” I ask.
“A great man once said, ‘If not now, when’ or something like that.”
I shake my head. “That’s an album by Incubus.”
“Huh, really? Then he’s a smart man.”
“He’s a band,” I say, but she’s already halfway across the field.
At first, the interaction is awkward between Lain and Kelsey. She’s twirling her hair around her finger and when he says something that I assume is funny, she places her hand on his chest for a second.
I stand there for about five minutes before finally leaving to head back to the cabin. It’s going to take time to adjust to my life as a counselor versus my previous years as a camper. If I were a camper, I would have followed Kelsey over like a lost puppy dog. Now, I have responsibilities.
It’s going to be an interesting summer.
Back at the cabin, Viv puts me in charge of helping the girls make their bunk name tags while she’s off learning a skit all the main counselors should learn before the opening bonfire.
I’m not good at remembering names. Thankfully, we’re having the girls label their bunks and they have to wear lanyards with their names on them. We do, however, get a list with the names of our cabin mates, ages ranging from eight to sixteen.
Daisy, Kelsey, Lauren, Morgan, Annie, Ronnie, Katrina who likes to go by Kat, Chelle (don’t you dar
e call her Michelle), Brittany, Olive, and Jenn with two N’s. Luckily, we’re supposed to play name games every day for the first two weeks. I’ve already started one with the girls.
“My name is pondering Penelope and my favorite animal that starts with a P is a platypus.” I don’t actually like platypuses.
One of the younger girls giggles, “That’s silly!”
“Well, then you come up with something better for your name!” I say, faking hurt.
“My name is Chelle,” ah, not Michelle. “Crazy Chelle and I like cats!”
“Girl,” I smile. “You and me both! Alright, who’s next?”
“My name’s kinky Kelsey and I like…”
“Kelsey, shhh!” I say, my face turning blood red.
The other three older girls laugh with Kelsey and I just shake my head.
“What does kink-e mean?” asks Daisy. I only remember her name because I checked her in first.
“It’s not a real word, don’t worry about ever needing to use it,” I suggest. “Kelsey is just kidding. Kidding Kelsey.”
“My name’s original Olive, and I like making origami,” says another girl from her bunk. She seems like she might be one of my favorite campers for the summer. She quietly did her bunk tag when she got here and then relaxed in her bunk and read a book. Kelsey on the other hand, she might be the death of me this summer.
“Alright,” I say, checking my watch. “Looks like it’s time to get ready to head to dinner. Afterwards we have a bonfire, so wear closed-toed shoes and pack some bug spray.”
Some girls rummage through their bags in search of their gym shoes, and the others don’t make a move at all. How am I possibly supposed to get over ten girls ready to go by myself?
“Alright, meet me at the door when you’re ready to go,” I say, and then an idea pops into my head. “We’re sitting as a cabin at dinner tonight. Last two people in line have to be the helpers who run and get food for us.”
That does the trick. Everyone puts socks and shoes on in a hurry. Daisy is the first one in line and she smiles up at me, quickly followed by four more. Finally, Kelsey and Chelle take up the back of the line.
“You set me up for failure, Penelope,” she says. “You know I can’t get ready that quickly.”
“Better luck next time,” I say. “Alright, let’s go to dinner!”
I’ve come to realize that pool time is the only time I can fully relax. With the lifeguards taking over the pool, I can just sit on the sidelines, read a book, and enjoy myself. It’s only day three with campers, and I’m already pumped to have two off days at the end of the week. I didn’t realize how much effort counselors put into this job.
After taking a quick dip in the pool to cool off, I go over to where Kelsey is trying to get a tan.
“I just don’t get it,” Kelsey says. I can’t tell if she’s looking at me because her huge black sunglasses are too tinted. Kelsey hardly ever swims at camp, so me and her took over two of the lawn chairs.
“Don’t get what?” I ask, drying my arms off and wrapping my body up with my towel when I notice some of the boys from the other cabins ogling me, or possibly ogling Kelsey in her revealing bikini. I’m pretty sure the camp pre-registration packet says no two-piece bathing suits, but Kelsey has the body and wants to flaunt it, just like always.
“Lain,” she states. “I don’t get why he doesn’t remember me. We’ve practically grown up together every summer.”
I lie back into my chair and look toward the guys; Lain is over there with his dyed hair laughing with them. He catches me looking at him and waves.
Kelsey squeezes my arm before I can lift it to wave back. “Oh my God, he saw us looking at him. Don’t wave back. I’m so mad at him.”
“Why don’t you just go over there and say hi?” I ask. “Try to talk to him again. I’m sure he wants to talk to you if he’s waving and smiling.”
“Should I? What if he laughs at me? Or the guys won’t go away so we can talk?”
“So be it,” I tell her. “You’ll never know if you don’t try.”
Kelsey adjusts her bikini for maximum cleavage and stands up with an air of authority I wish I had myself. She has so much confidence she looks regal, like a princess about to tell off a poor servant. I’ll never be as strong as she is.
I’m about to reach into my pool bag and pull out my copy of The Scarlet Letter when a shadow spills over my legs.
“This seat taken?” asks someone standing by the chair Kelsey was in.
“No, she’s busy. You can have it,” I say, assuming they just want to move it somewhere else.
To my surprise it’s Sampson, and he sits down next to me. At first, he says nothing, and I have no idea how much time passes. It feels like an eternity. All I know is that I could sit here forever and not say a word to him. That would be perfect.
“Why aren’t you swimming?” he asks, not looking at me, but at least we’re on speaking terms again. One minute he’s avoiding me because of Viv, and the next we’re friends again.
I shrug my shoulders. “I took a dip earlier. I just like that I don’t have to be in charge of anything right now. This is my time to just chill out. What about you? Shouldn’t you be guarding some lives?”
“I’m off duty today,” he says, pulling on his grey board shorts. “We alternate. I get Mondays and Wednesdays.”
“Gotcha,” I say as I glance to one of the three lifeguard stands where Viv is sitting. She has her legs crossed, whistle in her mouth, and she’s staring at me. “How’s Viv?”
He looks over at her and then back to me. “You spend more time with her. Shouldn’t I be asking you?”
I chuckle, but I don’t find it funny. “She’s not around much,” I say. “Figured she was always sneaking off to be with you.”
“Really?” he asks, shaking his head and letting my words float around in his mind. “Not really. I mean, she has her own activities to do. Probably busy with that.”
I want so badly to shake him and tell him to see Viv for who she really is, but I don’t, I can’t. I shake my head instead and open my book to where I left off. Instead of taking the hint that I want to be alone, he picks a new topic to discuss.
“So,” he starts. “How long have you been coming here?”
I sigh and place my book back into my backpack. “Since I was ten. This is my home away from home. My happy place. Some people like the beach, I like camp.”
“You really want to work here again next summer?”
“Yeah, it’s been my dream job since about five years ago,” I tell him simply. I look at him and watch as he relaxes a little. Something makes me look around to see if anyone is in listening distance. Why does it feel like I’m doing something wrong, when I’m not?
Our eyes meet. Until this moment, we were looking anywhere but at each other. He brushes his hair out of his eyes and I smile.
“I’m going to say something I shouldn’t,” he says as he looks away from me. “I’d like to get to know you Penelope. I still do even under these circumstances.”
“Same goes to you,” I whisper back. “I mean, you seem really cool. But Viv… she’s so possessive. I can practically feel her burning a hole in my chest right now.”
“Viv’s a bit scary, isn’t she?” he asks, scrunching up his nose.
“A bit,” I say. “Has she always been weird about you having friends that are girls? Or is this a new personality trait?”
He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. “Eh, not really. I’ve never had friends that were girls though. She doesn’t get weird when we go to parties and I talk to other girls. It’s actually pretty strange, she sort of encourages it…”
“Do you let her talk to other guys?” I ask.
“Of course,” he says. “I’m not going to be that over protective boyfriend who freaks out whenever she gets a text from a Jack or a Matt.”
“But a Zach is uncalled for, right?” I tease.
“No, Zachs. Hell no. Have you ever
met a nice, trustworthy Zach?” I shake my head and he continues. “Exactly.”
I almost mention the name Josh, aka Casanova, but I decide now’s not the time.
“You know,” Sampson says. “Kenny seems smitten by you.”
Sure enough, Kenny is sitting on the side of the pool and waves at me. I wave back and tighten my towel around my torso.
“We’re friends. We actually went to camp together when we were younger,” I say.
“Yeah?”
I look him in the eyes. “Yeah, nothing more. I don’t know why you and Viv think we should be together.”
I raised my voice a little, but I instantly feel bad about it. My cheeks blush and I cross my arms over my chest.
“Sorry, I just thought it might pass the summer by a little quicker,” he says.
“I don’t want the summer to pass by fast,” I say. “Don’t you get it? I love this place. You don’t realize how lucky you are that your parents own this camp. You get to live at my happy place year round while I have to go back to the real world in August. I’ve planned the next four years around Camp Arthur.”
“Miss. Penelope!” calls Daisy, running over to me in her little Elsa swimsuit. “I need to go tinkle!”
I get up and slide my flip flops on and turn to Sampson. “Sorry, I have to go.”
“Nature calls,” he says, and as I’m about to escort Daisy to the restroom he grabs my wrist. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“It’s okay,” I say, shaking my head. “Sorry if I got bent out of shape.”
He nods. “It happens.”
I guess he should be used to it though, dating Viv and all.
After dinner, we were supposed to have a campfire, but storms are rolling in so the camp has been split into three groups, part of them staying in the dining hall for songs and games, the others going to the old barn and then my cabin and two other cabins going to the Welcome Center.
We brought over some board games, one of the male counselors brought over his guitar for some singing and then a few other activities from the overflowing storage closet. It’s do what you want to do until the storm passes and we can go to our cabins for the evening.
The Last July: A New Adult Romance Page 8