I stared into the smiling faces of two hundred and fifty mostly ponytailed girls, all wearing green.
“Good morning, Woodlands!” Bethany shouted.
They replied loudly and in unison, “Good morning, Bethany.”
Bethany rattled off the daily announcements. “The Swans have their first social tonight with the boys at canteen.”
Cheers came from the right flank.
“The Rabbits have canteen after lunch.”
Squeals from the middle of the gathering.
“All campers in all divisions need to take their swim tests today.”
A collective groan echoed down the hill.
“Linda Kunesh from the Otters, cabin three, has a birthday. Linda, please come up to raise the flag.”
As she walked up the hill, her bunkmates sang, “Look at all the fun she’s havin’ / That’s because she’s in our cabin / Yay, Linda.”
“How does everyone already know these songs?” I asked Bethany.
“Camp culture. Passed down by the older campers.”
Bethany put a birthday tiara on Linda’s head. She was all smiles as she pulled the cord, watching the flag catch the wind.
Most of the staff were not from the United States, and I wondered if they found this ritual odd. After the pledge was said and the formation broken, the girls headed to their bunks to start chores.
The first day of what would be the morning routine was set into motion. Aside from having to use a little water incentive on a counselor, everything was going well.
The activity after Flagpole was possibly the most important one of the day—cleaning the bunks. During orientation, Maggie made a prototype job wheel for the counselors to copy and decorate, listing the chores that each camper would do that day. It was hung at the front of the cabin and one girl was assigned a different task each day: broom, dustpan, clotheslines, porch, trash, washroom. The other girls got the day off. Then the DLs inspected the cabins, and one bunk each week would get the privilege of raising and lowering the flag together because they had the cleanest bunk.
Campers had to make their beds every day. As I watched the Cubs scurrying about, I smiled, thinking about how Zelda and Hazel were doing the same thing in their cabins. I would make sure that chores continued when we were home, and I’d add dishes and keeping their bathroom tidy. No day off.
10Learning Curve
We stood on the dock shivering—the sun was shining, but the morning chill hadn’t burned off. I had passed my swim test during orientation, so I hadn’t bothered to wear a suit—the water would be freezing.
Lifeguards were asking the campers questions and placing them in four different swimming lanes partitioned by green and white buoys. I stood at the far end of the dock so I could give the girls encouragement without getting splashed.
Mike suddenly appeared by my side while I was cheering them on. The only item of clothing he wore was a kelly green Speedo. He blew his whistle next to my ear to get everyone’s attention. If his intention was to startle me, it worked.
“Okay Cubs, I know you’re all here to pass your swim test. One of the rules at the waterfront is that you always need to be prepared, that means wearing your bathing suit, that means all campers, all counselors, including division leaders.”
He turned toward me and put his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disgust that I’d broken his rule. Then he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I kicked and screamed but he held on tight.
“Watch what I do to people who come down to my waterfront unprepared.”
He unceremoniously tossed me into the lake.
When I surfaced the campers were elated, jumping, cheering, and laughing. I’m sure he expected profanities to be flung at him, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, I swam to the dock and reached my hand up to Mike, hoping to pull him in.
“Really, Lori, I’m no sucker. The ladder’s right there—help yourself.”
I was wearing my sneakers and hoodie, which made it difficult to climb the steps. But when I managed to maneuver myself onto the dock, I raised my arms in the air like Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and jumped around in circles.
Everyone was entertained. I even got a smirk and nod from Mike. He had unintentionally given me a gift. I now shared an inside joke with the Cubs.
