by Daphne Greer
“All right, Spider-Man,” Cole says. “Max will know what to do.”
Sighing, I unzip his sleeping bag from the bottom. “Stick your feet out here so I can take your socks off, and then I’ll zip you back up. Okay?”
Duncan sniffs. “Okay.”
“Nice job. Don’t worry,” Cole says, patting me on the shoulder. “We’ll get the hang of things.”
I wish I believed him.
I lie in my bunk, listening to everyone’s nightly rituals. Kenny recites every joke he told during the day before switching to counting sheep. Sam sings to Bella even though she’s clear across the camp.
Then Duncan gets into the mix. “Batman, can you hear me? We need you.”
Sam stops singing, giggles and then says in a sinister laugh and husky voice, “Batman? Batman, you say?”
“Go away, Joker!” Duncan squeals.
“Ha! Ha!” Sam teases. “I’m here to get you!”
“No! You can’t take me.”
“Not to worry,” Cole answers from his bunk. “I’ve got the Batmobile. We’ll leave that Joker in the dust.”
“We’ll get you next time, Joker,” Duncan says, laughing, then returns to making his swishing noises. Sam goes back to his singing.
But it’s the rocking of the bunk from buddy below that has me feeling like I’m riding a rickety old roller coaster that I can’t get off.
This is only the first day.
Chapter Six
The next morning, I bolt upright to the clang, clang, clang ringing off in the distance. I feel like I haven’t slept a wink. I don’t know when Philip stopped thumping his head last night, but it felt like he did it for hours. When I notice no one else is moving, I lie back down.
Ian comes barging into the cabin. “Anyone coming to Rip ’n’ Dip?”
Across the room, Duncan is still sleeping with his pillow over his head.
“Do you want to go?” Cole asks, standing up and yawning.
“Yeah, I was thinking about it.”
“You go ahead. I’ll try to muster these guys up while you’re gone.”
I glance at Duncan. “He’ll be fine,” Cole says. “It’s all good.”
He has no sweet clue that Duncan is not a morning person.
Heather and Jen are waiting for us at the flagpole. Together we walk along a path that leads down to the waterfront. They talk nonstop about the people in their cabin. They’re also not sure if they want to do the dip after all. Ian tries to convince them that the hot chocolate will make it worth it. He even offers to go in first. It’s super fun watching him trying so hard.
We pass a bunch of green canoes resting on the bank. A door slams from a cabin near the water. A flutter of birds gets spooked and flies away from the perch in the trees.
A girl heads toward us with a whistle around her neck. “Oh hey, guys! You’re a brave bunch. I don’t usually get many takers the first morning of Rip ’n’ Dip.” She pulls her hair back into a ponytail while she’s talking.
“Last one in is a rotten egg!” Ian yells, running toward the water.
“Remember, no running on the dock!” the girl with the whistle shouts.
A mist hangs over the water, making it look really spooky. Ian dives in.
SPLASH!
The dock moves back and forth, making the different connecting docks bang together. Ian does the front crawl to the side of the dock and then climbs up and grabs his towel. Heather and Jen are still warming up to the idea of jumping in when Ian casually walks near them and says, “You won’t get your hot chocolate just thinking about it.” He then pushes them into the water.
Their screams echo across the cove. “We’ll get you!” they sputter as they come up for air.
“I’ll be on the lookout,” Ian says, laughing. “Watch out for the eels!”
Within seconds they’re both back on the dock, racing toward us. Before we have time to run away, Heather pushes Ian into the water and Jen comes after me. “Hey!” I say, laughing. “It wasn’t me who pushed you.” I end up diving into the water before she gets to me.
SPLASH!
“Man, that’s cold!” I say when I come up for air. I’m officially awake. The girls run off before we can get revenge. Ian gives me the thumbs-up as he floats on his back, spitting out water like a whale.
By the time I get back to the cabin, everyone is up and dressed—except Duncan. He’s still got his pillow over his head.
“He won’t move,” Sam says. He looks concerned. “Is he dead?”
“Nah, he’s fine. I’ll get him up.” I try to pull the pillow off Duncan’s head, but he hangs on to it like his life depends on it.
“I’m sleeping,” he grunts.
“Yeah, well, it’s time for breakfast. You have to get up.”
Clang! Clang!
“Hashers!” someone yells from the pavilion.
“Come on, Kenny. You and I have to set the table,” says Sam.
“Stop rushing me. I’m coming,” Kenny says, counting his socks before placing them back into his suitcase. He’s freakishly neat, like Duncan.
The two of them head up to the pavilion while I spend the next fifteen minutes coaxing Duncan out of his sleeping bag. In the end the only way I can get him moving is by promising him my hot chocolate at breakfast.
I throw clothes at him that I know he’ll like. Thank god Mom packed all his favorite T-shirts.
“I like hot chocolate,” Duncan says as I help him turn his Spider-Man shirt around so it’s not on backward.
“Me too. Now let’s go.”
We arrive at the flagpole in time for morning circle. Yesterday Ben explained to us that each day two different cabins are responsible for coming up with the thought for the day. “Southern Crown is up first,” Ben says.
Ainslie reads from a small piece of paper, “Our morning thought is Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
Ben nods his head. “Good one, Southern Crown. Next up is Flying Fish.”
“That’s us!” Bella announces. She steps forward and puts her hands on her hips and says, “Our morning thought is What would Beyoncé do?”
Everyone laughs.
After we raise the flag and sing the anthem, everyone heads up to the pavilion for breakfast.
“Oh man. I wish you were in my cabin,” Ian says, catching up to me. “There’s this guy who tells the best ghost stories, and this other guy just cracks me up with his jokes. You gotta hear them.”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “I’ve got my own jokester. Can’t say I’ve got anyone telling ghost stories, but the guy who sleeps underneath me makes loud grunting noises that would be perfect in a horror movie. You should hear him. I thought Duncan’s weird noises were annoying. I’ll show you who I mean.”
I turn around and bump right into Ainslie. “Oh, sorry,” I say.
Ainslie points to Philip a few feet away. He is rocking back and forth like he’s listening to a heavy metal band. Except he’s not. “Is that who you’re looking for?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Thought so.” She gives me a hard look. I can feel myself shrinking.
“You know that’s her brother, right?” Ian whispers as Ainslie walks away.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Max!” Duncan yells, even though he’s only a few feet away from me.
“What?”
“Your face is red.”
Chapter Seven
“You could have told me Philip is Ainslie’s brother,” I say after breakfast.
“Sorry,” Ian says. “I didn’t think it mattered.”
“I wish she hadn’t heard me ragging on him.”
“It’s not like you said anything that bad. Besides, he does make weird noises.”
“I guess.”
I glance over at Duncan, who’s about to go off on a nature walk with Cole. It feels strange not to have to be with him, but Cole reassured me he’d be fine. When I notice that Ainslie and Philip are going with them, I feel a little gui
lty.
Ian nudges me. “Okay, time to shake it off. Look who’s signed up for archery.” He lowers his voice. “So I’m really stuck on Heather…you can have Jen.”
“I don’t think you can order them up like pizza,” I tell him. “Give me a break.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I just get so nervous.”
And just like that, I forget about Duncan.
Ian spends more time trying to get Heather’s attention during the archery lesson than actually learning how to shoot the bow and arrow. I, however, manage to get some good shots in. The counselor can’t believe I have never done it before. “You must be good at sports.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
After putting the archery gear away, we head over to the zip line near the high ropes course where various climbing ropes criss-cross between trees at various heights. Duncan is back from his walk. Bella is up on a platform, about to go on the zip line.
“This should be entertaining,” Heather says. Jen agrees.
I’m not sure if they’re making fun of her, but I make a point of saying, “At least she’s trying it.”
“Oh, yeah, for sure,” Jen says. She looks a little embarrassed.
Cole and Ainslie help Bella get hooked onto the line. “Sweet lord in heaven it’s high,” she yelps. “Are you sure I’m not going to die?”
“Bella, you’ve done this before,” Cole says. “You’re a natural at it. There is no way you can fall off. Besides, Ainslie is hooked up to you.”
“Spider-Man has you!” Duncan shouts. He holds his arm high in the air, fingers spread wide apart.
“Yeah, Spider-Man has you,” Sam echoes.
“Thanks, Spider-Man,” Ainslie yells. “We’re going to need it.”
“Here goes nothing,” Bella says. She jumps off the platform and then screams, “I’m going to die!” the whole way down.
When it’s Duncan’s turn to climb up, I step forward to help him. He pushes me away.
“No, Max. I want Cole to help me.”
“Well, I’m honored you trust me, Spider-Man,” Cole says, jumping down from the platform. “I guess you’re off the hook,” he says to me.
“Okay, if you’re sure,” I say. “He can be a bit dramatic.”
“I’m not dramatic. I’m Spider-Man.”
“No one is arguing with you on that one,” I say, walking away. I should be happy that he’s enjoying himself and doesn’t need me twenty-four/seven. So why am I feeling like this?
Ian is sitting on the grass with Heather and Jen. I plunk down next to them.
“Duncan seems to be doing okay, eh?” Ian says.
“Yeah. I’m stunned,” I say.
“Why is Ainslie helping out so much?” Jen asks.
“She’s a CIT,” Ian says.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Counselor-in-training.”
“Isn’t she the same age as us?”
“Yup—well, technically, she’s older by two months.”
“I’m flying!” I know the voice without even looking up.
“Go, Spider-Man!” Ian shouts. Jen and Heather laugh.
Everyone cheers when Duncan lands safely on the lower platform. I’ve never seen him look so happy.
“Hey, why don’t we play Two Truths and a Lie while we’re waiting?” Ian suggests. “One person tells two truths and one lie, and the rest of us have to figure out which one’s the lie. Who wants to go first?” he asks.
“I think you do,” Heather says.
“All right,” Ian says, grinning. “Here goes. Once I dared this guy to eat a spoonful of peanut butter that had a booger in it.”
“Oh my god. That’s so gross,” Heather says.
I smirk and shake my head, because I know who the guy was, but I didn’t know it had a booger in it. Ick. Ian carries on with a poker face so he doesn’t give anything away as he tells his other two whoppers, then leans back with a lopsided grin and listens to everyone try to guess. Nobody gets it right.
“You mean you actually put your boogers in peanut butter?” Heather says.
Ian grins. “I was bored.”
“Okay, your turn, Max,” Jen says.
“Okay…um…I’m good at hockey.” Pause. “I like to play the guitar, and…” I glance at Ian and smile. “I once almost lit my friend’s jeans on fire doing blue darts.”
“What are blue darts?” Heather asks.
“When your bum breathes fire,” Duncan blurts out.
Once again Duncan has appeared out of nowhere. Ainslie is standing next to him. Oh man. Why couldn’t I have come up with something different?
The girls laugh. “What?” Heather says. “I don’t get it.”
“Max?” Duncan says.
“It’s when you light your farts with a match,” Ian says. “Max is a little thunder bum.”
“Max?” Duncan says again.
“You two are gross,” Jen says, laughing.
“What is it, Duncan?” I ask.
“Your face is red.”
Chapter Eight
The water has been too rough all week for the usual canoe trips. To make up for it, some of the groups are heading out today for an overnight trip to the bay known as Birch Tree Gut. Even though we’ll be camping at different spots along the shore, Cole said I’ll be able to join Ian’s cabin for a campfire if I want to.
Duncan is excited at first, but once we start walking through the woods, his complaining kicks into full gear. “I’ve learned enough good things about camping,” Duncan whines. “The bugs are picking on me.”
I lag behind the rest of the group so I don’t have to listen to him. Luckily, it’s just a short walk through the woods, over some old abandoned railroad tracks and down a fairly steep bank. When we arrive, I take a moment to appreciate the sunshine sparkling on the water. Ainslie has come with our cabin to help out with Philip, but she ends up being more of a help to Duncan. She pulls out her guitar and starts strumming some tunes while we set up the camp. Duncan sits quietly next to her with his head in his hands, gently swaying to the music. I help Cole get a fire going so we can start cooking supper.
Before too long we’re all sitting around the crackling campfire, wolfing down the best chili I’ve ever tasted. I made sure we brought ketchup for Duncan. He hasn’t budged from Ainslie’s side. Philip sits on the log beside me. He keeps looking into his spoon and tilting it in my direction. Every once in a while, I catch Ainslie smiling. I pretend not to notice. I’m not sure if she’s smiling at him or me. Of course I hope it’s me.
While I’m rinsing out our bowls down by the water’s edge, I pick up a spoon and look at it the same way Philip did. Sure enough, it’s like looking through a distorted magnifying glass-mirror combo. You can actually see people without looking right at them. “Huh. That’s pretty smart,” I mutter.
“What’s smart?” Ainslie asks, dumping another bucket full of dishes next to me.
“Your brother.” I wave the spoon in the air. “I figured out what he’s being doing with his spoon.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s got some quirky behaviors for sure. But he’s definitely a thinker,” she says. “And I think he likes you.”
I feel a pang of guilt because I’ve done nothing but complain about her brother.
Later that night Ian appears at our campsite with Heather, Jen and a bag full of marshmallows. “Do you want to come over for a campfire?” he asks, popping a marshmallow in his mouth.
“Give me those,” Heather says. “You’re going to eat them all before we get back!” She snatches them out of his hands and holds them behind her back. Ian fake cries, then clasps his hands together, begging for the bag back. Heather rolls her eyes and gives him another marshmallow but holds on to the bag.
He’s such a dork.
“I want some marshmallows,” says Duncan.
Heather glares at Ian. She turns toward Duncan. “Yeah, um, sure. You can have one.” She reluctantly holds the bag out for him.
“They look good
,” Sam says. “Is it good, Duncan?”
“Okay, gang,” Cole says. “We’ve got our own marshmallows.”
Embarrassed that Duncan has started all this, I root through the food bag, looking for the marshmallows, but Ainslie beats me to it. Our fingers brush, and an electrical volt shoots up my arm.
“I got it,” she says, smiling.
“Are you coming with us or what?” Ian says.
“Um…I guess,” I say.
Ainslie looks disappointed, but maybe I’m imagining things. I turn toward Cole. “You sure it’s okay for me to go?”
“Beat it. Scram. Go have fun. Come back in an hour or so.”
I dart out of there before Duncan decides he wants to come too.
The fire at Ian’s campsite is roaring and crackling away when we reach it.
“So you guys have the marshmallows!” says Rick, their counselor. “We’ve been looking for those. I should have known.”
“Yeah, Heather took them,” Ian says.
Heather slaps the bag across his arm. “Yeah, right!”
“What?” Ian says, laughing.
We are soon sitting on logs with our long sticks, roasting marshmallows, laughing at jokes, telling ghost stories and everything in between. Jen keeps inching closer to me as the night goes on, laughing at everything I say. Even when I’m not being funny. It’s weird, but Ian keeps winking at me and making stupid faces. He thinks we’ve hit the girlfriend jackpot.
Then I hear Duncan’s voice. I look up from the fire. What’s he doing here?
Ainslie is right behind him. I feel weird sitting on the log crammed next to Jen.
“What are they doing here?” Jen says. She sounds annoyed.
“I think Duncan’s got something stuck in his ear,” Ainslie says. “Like a bug or something. Max, he wanted you.”
Duncan has a bad habit of picking at his ear when he gets worried. I glance at my watch. I’ve been gone for two hours. I didn’t mean to stay that long. “You’ve probably just scratched it, Duncan. Let me have a look.”
“No. I have a bug in my ear,” Duncan whines.
Right away one of the guys from Ian’s cabin starts telling us about a time when his dad worked at camp. How this one guy got a beetle stuck in his ear. How they had to airlift him to the hospital. “He almost died,” the guy says.
