His exuberance was contagious. I smiled, looking around. Everything was green and lush, and the scent of pine trees and freshly cut grass filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the drab, dirty streets of the exhaust-filled city I’d left that morning. I could just make out the shimmering water of the lake below the hill and beyond the trees.
“You’re right, it is beautiful.”
“What brought you to my little slice of paradise?”
“I wanted my two daughters to come here. Zelda’s eleven and Hazel’s nine. It’ll be the first time at a sleepaway camp for all three of us.”
“We have something in common. I’m here with my ten-year-old son, Max. Let’s get your bags on the cart.”
Ted went to my car to lift the enormous camp-issued duffel out of the trunk, grunted, and dropped it. He stayed bent withhis hands on his knees. “What’ve you got in there? You know you didn’t need to bring all the sporting equipment—they do supply it.”
“I guess I must have packed too . . .”
While I spoke, he picked up the duffel and tossed it onto the back seat as if it were a feather. “I’m just giving you a hard time.” I probably didn’t look amused because he said, “Lori, lighten up, you’re at camp now. Remember to have fun, be campy. That’s my philosophy when I’m here.”
“You don’t strike me as the philosophical type,” I said.
“What type am I?”
I eyed him up and down. “Charming rogue.”
Ted laughed loudly.
“Are you laughing because I’m on the money or because I’m way off?”
“I guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself.”
“What about me?”
“Easy. Anxious New York City overbearing helicopter mum,” he said.
“You just piled every stereotypical motherly adjective on me.”
“Shall we agree to let our first impressions go and figure it out as the summer unfolds?”
He stuck out his hand and I shook it. I was pretty sure my assessment of him wouldn’t change. “Fair. Do you have any survival tips to share with a newbie?”
“Hmm. Get as much rest as you can because you’re constantly on your feet. The campus is massive. I think everything else would be better for you to find out yourself. I don’t want to influence your experience, but ask me a direct question, and I’ll do my best to answer.”
“Okay, where do I live?”
A woman with long, frizzy brown hair who looked sixtyish walked out of the office holding several keys swinging from her wrist and a clipboard held to her chest.
“Welcome Lori. Jack and I are happy that you’re joining us this summer.” Happy? She was expressionless. “I see you’ve already met Ted. I’ll drive you to your cabin.”
We’d spoken on the phone back in February, and I’d seen photos of Marilyn on the camp’s website, but this was the first time we were meeting. I was put off by her cool manner. She didn’t look me in the eye or shake my hand.
Ted squished in the back of the golf cart next to my things while I slipped into the passenger seat.
Marilyn handed me a kelly green knapsack with Lori K. written on it in bold black Sharpie.
“You’ll need to carry this with you. Inside are two camp polos, baseball cap, first aid kit, and the orientation schedule. And most importantly a charger and your radio.”
I looked inside the bag, pulling it out. “Radio? Like a walkie talkie?”
“Yes, we need to be able to contact you wherever you are, and the campus is enormous.”
I looked over my shoulder at Ted. He leaned over, pointing to the radio clipped to his shorts. That was something I’d have to get used to.
