“Yeah, it’s really cool here,” Archie said earnestly. At least Hetta’s meltdown had made the kids forget their other differences. “You can shift all the time! Whenever you want!”
“Oh.” Hetta looked down at her hands. “Actually, I—I can’t shift.”
A flicker of motion caught Conleth’s attention. Rufus had been sitting next to Finley in his usual quiet, self-contained way, listening to everything without taking part. Now, however, he stared directly at Hetta, golden eyes narrowing.
“Hey, that’s no big deal,” Estelle was saying, oblivious to Rufus’s sudden interest. “You aren’t the only one. I haven’t had my first shift yet, and neither has Ig.”
“Why yes, go ahead,” Ignatius said to thin air. “Please, do share my most private, personal problems with everyone you meet. How thoughtful of you to ask my permission.”
Estelle stuck her tongue out at him. “Oh, come off it, Ig. It’s not like it’s a big secret.”
“And it’s nothing to be ashamed of, either,” Paige said firmly. With a final hug, she released Hetta. “Don’t worry about not being able to shift, sweetheart. You can still have fun at camp.”
“Just look at Paige,” Beth chipped in. “She isn’t even a shifter.”
Conleth was not sure this was a compelling argument. So far, he did not think Paige’s experience of camp could honestly be described as ‘fun.’
“Well,Iwanted to come to camp,” Nancy announced. “And I know exactly what I want to do this summer.”
“That’s good, Nancy,” Conleth said, relieved that at least one camper was showing some genuine enthusiasm. “Go ahead.”
Nancy beamed at him. “Mountain climbing!”
Conleth looked at Paige, and found her looking back at him. It was perhaps the closest moment of shared sentiment he had yet experienced with his mate. Under other circumstances, he might have found it encouraging.
Paige cleared her throat. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to fit mountain climbing into the schedule, Nancy. There are so many fun things to do at camp, after all.”
“Capture the Flag,” Conleth suggested. “Basketball. Athletics.”
Nancy pulled a face. “Those sound boring.”
“Water polo,” Conleth extemporized wildly. “Ultimate Frisbee. Competitive rhythm gymnastics. Many other enriching activities that happen to require a completely flat, open environment.”
Nancy wrinkled her nose. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Estelle has something she wants to do.” Beth jabbed her friend with an elbow. “Don’t you, Estelle?”
Conleth massaged his forehead. “Does it involve sheer cliffs?”
“No,” Estelle said, which was at least somewhat reassuring. “What I’d really, really like to do is… spreadsheets.”
There was a momentary pause.
“Spreadsheets,” Conleth repeated flatly.
“I am very interested in them.” Estelle looked like every word coming out of her mouth was causing her physical pain. “Please teach me everything you know about pivot tables.”
Inexplicably, Hetta perked up. “Can I learn about pivot tables?”
Conleth threw a desperate glance at Paige. “I swear I did not put them up to this.”
The look she gave him was rather longer and more thoughtful than before. “You know, I actually believe you on that one.”
Mercifully, the camp bell rang, killing any further chance of conversation. Leonie’s whistle cut through the air a second later.
“All right, campers,” the head counselor called, waving to attract everyone’s attention. “I hate to call an end to the evening’s fun, but it’s time you all got some rest. Tomorrow’s another busy day!”
Conleth sighed, and went to fetch the ladder.
