He gawked at me. “That’s not what I meant. You always mix my words and use them against me.”
He was off balance. Good. “Why did you want to see me?” I asked.
“What did you and Chip talk about?”
I crossed my arms. “Our conversation was private.”
His hands balled into fists, and he began to rant. I should never have stepped into the office where no one could witness his tirade. I took a step back and leaned against the file cabinet,next to the useless Marilyn. If he went to hit me, I could duck, and he’d punch the metal drawer instead.
“How dare you speak to me that way you, you, you bitch! Since you’ve been working here, you’ve been nothing but trouble.”
“Who the hell are you to . . .”
Talking over me, he came closer and leaned into my face. I could smell rancid coffee on his breath and saw the sweat on his brow. “If I could, I would kick your sorry ass out ofmycamp. You may have fooled Chip and everyone else here, but I will not allow you to make a sucker out of me.” He sprayed me with spittle.
I looked to Marilyn for help, but she was staring at her keypad.
Jack continued ranting. “You walk around here like you own the place. You do not,Ido. Me! I’ve told you all this before, but no, you think you’re above everyone else. All I hear every morning is Lori is so smart, so quick, so witty, the campers love her, she’s a team player. Well, you are not onmy team. I’ve got your number—you lie, you cheat, you drown my expensive equipment, and because of your negligence a camper broke her arm. And don’t get me started on your trouble-making kids. You do everything to make me look bad while all along it’s you who’s incompetent . . .”
Mindy and Bethany almost knocked me over when they burst through the front door. Bob and Teddy came through the back at the same instant. Marilyn remained passively at her desk.
Bob put himself between Jack and me while Teddy placed his hands on Jack’s shoulders. Jack tried shrugging him off, but Teddy held on firmly.
In a stern but calm voice Teddy said, “Jack, you need to take a step back.”
Jack blinked and looked around, grasping that his leadershipteam were in the office. He stepped back from me, unclenching his fists. He was breathing heavily, his face still red, and he glowered at me with pure loathing.
No one moved for what seemed like an eternity.
Jack shrugged and said, “Take your hands off me.”
Bob still blocked Jack, so Teddy let go. No longer feeling threatened, I threw my shoulders back and positioned myself between Mindy and Bethany.
Jack snarled. “What the hell are you all doing here?” He looked at me as if I’d invited them.
It turned out I did need protection. No one had stood up for me weeks ago when Jack had verbally attacked me, but they all showed up now.
Nicole was at the door. “Your argu . . . discussion was broadcast out to the entire camp.”
The color drained from Jack’s face as he snapped at Nicole, “How’d that happen?”
Nicole walked to where the camp PA system sat between Marilyn and Jack’s desk.
Nicole shrugged. “The switch was on.”
Jack was seething. He slammed his palm on his desk and said in a low growl, “All of you, get the fuck out of my office.”
We filed out the front door. Bethany waved us to follow her across the road to her room.
Teddy put his arm around me. “I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”
“I know.” His nearness was reassuring. Hopefully his gesture would be construed as friendly.
When we all were inside, Bethany closed the door, pulled the blinds, and asked, “What the hell just happened?”
“I think I’ve become some kind of scapegoat for all the bad shit that’s happened this summer,” I said.
“I think you may be right,” Mindy said.
