“Now we can add ‘Who’s Got the Biggest Dick’ to our list of games!” he chortled. “With Colin and Trent being the only participants.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t count onthat!” Colin shot back. “Teenage boys can be very interested in dick length. Especiallygayteenage boys!”
“We arenotplaying Biggus Dickus during Camp Pride,” Joshua stated, his voice flat and uncompromising.
“Well, not publicly anyway,” Colin added, flashing his dimples.
“David, does UVA provide any services to youth without a safe place to stay?” Joshua asked, choosing to ignore his husband’s taunt. “You’d think with all their community outreach and financial input, they’d be a champion in this area.”
David scoffed out a husky breath. “Far from it. If anything, UVA is a contributor to the homeless problem in Charlottesville!” He eyed Joshua, his expression somber. “The number of unhoused in this city has increased significantly in recent years, and UVA’s influence on the housing market is one of the reasons why. Aquarterof Charlottesville residents can’t afford decent, safe housing!” He shook his head. “Don’t count on them. I’ll use their collective guilty conscience to get the grant money out of them. But that’s the best we can hope for from UVA.”
“OK, wait!” Colin said, lifting his hand. “We can only solve so many of the world’s problems at summer camp.” He released Joshua’s hand and leaned back in his chair. “I approve my husband’s suggestion that we ask Trent and Jeff to be part of this …thing.” He shot a glance at Joshua, who was grinning broadly. “Withreservations!Also, I suggest we table the idea of including LGBTQ+ youth who are in need of housing until Josh has a chance to talk to other local agencies and get some direction. Right now, I suggest we get on with planning our activities.”
All four men nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan, Colin,” David told him.
“Speaking of that, I have a few activities I’d like to suggest,” Joshua offered. “Ones I’ve used in some youth-centered group therapy.”
“Are they fun?” Nate asked him.
“Well,” Joshua said. “I think they are. But they’re also designed to encourage trust, creativity, confidence, and inclusion. Also, they’re not all first-day activities. They may be a bit too intense for that.”
“That means a shrink has set them up,” Colin teased, then ducked away from Joshua’s fake punch. “Sorry, bud. Go ahead. What are they?”
“The first is called Two Truths and a Lie,” Joshua said. “Each person—andwe’llbe taking part in these too—says two true things and one lie about themselves. Everyone else has to guess which is the lie.” He glanced at Nate. “It’s fun, revealing, and a great way to learn quirky facts about each other.”
“That one would work on the first day,” Colin said.
“I love it!” Nate crowed. “Tell us another one!”
“This next one will require some prep work,” Joshua said, then showed them a picture containing twenty different Pride flags. “We won’t use all the flags. But we’ll hand out copies of maybe four or five different flags, depending on how many campers we have. Then they’ll look around and group up with anyone whose flag matches theirs. It’s a way to promote inclusivity while subtly educating them about LGBTQ+ diversity.”
“I’ll create a ‘pain in the ass’ flag for Trent,” Colin snickered.
“And I’ll create a ‘self-centered prick’ one foryou,” Nate countered.
“And thus, the days of inclusivity and acceptance begin,” David chuckled, shaking his head.
Joshua snickered. “I have a few more, most geared toward our evening fire pit gathering. But there’s one I want to do on the first day and then repeat on the last day of camp.”
“What is it?” Colin asked.
“Trust fall,” Joshua told him.
“Oh, I’ve donethatbefore,” Colin muttered.
“I haven’t,” Nate said. “What is it?”
“We group them by cabin assignments. The campers stand in a circle with one person in the center. The camper in the center closes their eyes and lets themselves fall backward, trusting that their friends will catch them.”
“Willwebe doing this?” David asked.
“Absolutely, we will!”
“Oh lord,” David moaned, drawing a warm laugh and a pat on the arm from Joshua.
“Davy, you’ll be great. On day one, most of them won’t be able to do it. Hell, we might not either. But if we’ve done our jobs right—by the end—they’ll fall without fear.”
“Have we gottenanywheretoday?” Nate asked, leaning on David’s shoulder.
