The Girls of Firefly Cabin

by Cynthia Ellingsen

  Archer peered at her from beneath heavy black eyeliner. “Heatstroke?”

  “It happens when you get overheated and dehydrated,” Isla explained. “Eventually, your organs shut down.”

  There was a girl at school, Leanna, who had gotten heatstroke when her family went on safari in Africa. She had to be transported by air to a hospital in a neighboring village. The same type of thing could happen here, considering their remote location.

  “Sounds painful,” Archer said. “Well, the counselors have popsicles.” She pointed at two girls holding clipboards and standing guard over a bright red cooler. “I bet that would cool us down faster.”

  There was a loud cheer as the game ended. Lauren ran over, her eyes lit up and her freckled cheeks flushed pink.

  “That was so much fun,” she cried.

  “Good game,” called another camper, tossing a fluorescent ball her way.

  Lauren caught it with her knees, juggling it back and forth.

  “Wow.” Isla squinted. “How do you do that?”

  “Here, I’ll show you,” Archer joked.

  Lauren must have taken her seriously, because she whipped the ball at Archer’s bony knees.

  Archer shrieked and flailed her hands. It careened off her thigh and ricocheted off a tree, practically whacking Isla in the head. She burst into terrified giggles, which made Lauren and Archer laugh too.

  “Want to go get popsicles?” Lauren asked. The other campers had already swarmed the area around the cooler.

  “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Archer cried.

  Lauren linked her arms with Archer and then Isla. The three headed over to the popsicle line, chatting like old friends.

  Lauren looked down at her bracelet. “Jade is really missing out.”

  “I’ll eat two popsicles,” Archer said. “One in her honor.”

  Isla giggled with Lauren and Archer as they got in line. But once the laughter died down, she couldn’t get the sound of Jade crying out of her head.

  Chapter Six

  Archer had to admit it: camp didn’t suck.

  Kicking around the soccer ball and joking with the girls from her cabin was fun. Lauren was the least fake person she’d ever met, and Isla was hilarious, the way she acted like a sophisticated little grown-up. The girls of Firefly Cabin—other than Jade, of course—were nothing like what she’d expected. They were…nice.

  More than that, they were normal.

  It felt strange to be around normal people. Back home in Chicago, her closest friend, Wanda, spiked her hair with raw eggs and hated anything “mainstream.” She almost died laughing when she learned Archer was going to camp.

  She’d never talk to me again if she knew I was having fun. It would be like I had gone to the other side.

  But so far, Archer really was sold.

  “I cannot wait to get to this bonfire,” Lauren sang as they traipsed down the main pathway. “The opening ceremony is going to be amazing!”

  The Fireflies—besides Jade, who was still hiding behind her stupid sheet back at the cabin—were headed to the ceremony at the beach. The early evening air was lush with humidity and the scent of pine, and the girls who were on their second or third year sang camp songs as they walked.

  Isla swatted at the air. “Ugh.” Without a hint of irony, she said, “I don’t think I’m wearing enough bug spray.”

  Archer snorted. Before they left the cabin, the girl had practically bathed in organic mosquito repellent.

  “Don’t worry.” Lauren gave Isla a playful nudge. “If there’s anything scary, I’ll get it.”

  Scary like my sister?

  Not that she could tell her new friends she was related to something worse than a killer pack of mosquitoes.

  The idea of bumping into Makayla had her stomach in knots. One well-timed put-down and the Fireflies could decide Archer was a total freak. So far, she really liked these girls. She didn’t want to lose them.

  “I hope we don’t get in trouble because Jade isn’t with us,” Isla said.

  Lauren shrugged. “I tried to convince her.”

  “The cabins are supposed to sit together,” Isla grumbled.

  She sounded so put out that Archer nearly laughed. Archer was just happy to have friends to sit with at all.

  They stepped out of the woods and onto the beach, and her boots immediately sank into the sand.

  “There it is,” Lauren squealed.

  Archer blew a colored strand of hair out of her eyes and took everything in.

  Sand as dark as brown sugar stretched for miles, speckled with rough bushes and reeds along the shore. Down to the left, a circle of wooden risers was packed with campers, surrounding a stage. Makayla, thank goodness, was nowhere to be seen.

  One of the counselors stood on the beach, holding one of their ever-present clipboards. “A bright Blueberry Pine welcome! The ceremony starts at the bleachers.” She pushed her sunglasses back on her head and pointed. “Once it’s over, you’ll go to the firepits for dinner and eat with your cabin cluster. Have fun!”

  Along the lake edge, the kitchen staff set warming trays on picnic tables. The stacks of hamburger and hot dog buns made Archer’s stomach growl.

  “I’m starv—” she started to say, but immediately lost her appetite.

  Makayla strutted into sight from the path by the risers. She tossed her hair like the star of a music video, and all the campers seemed to stop and stare. The Bluebirds followed close behind.

  “Who is that?” Lauren said. “She’s really pretty.”

  “Don’t know, don’t care,” Archer lied, and headed toward the seats.

  She climbed up the shaky wooden steps as high as she could go, and slid in. With her Sharpie, she sketched a dragon on her wrist for protection. Makayla hated dragons, ever since the Halloween when a boy dressed like one had stolen her candy, so maybe it would help her to stay far, far away.

  Lauren slid in next to Archer. “This is so perfect,” she breathed.

  It would have been if it weren’t for the looming threat of her sister.

  “Hi, Fireflies!” Cassandra walked up the risers, popping a bubble with every step. “Where’s Jade?”

  “Uh…the bathroom,” Archer lied. “She’s been in and out all day.” Heck, if they were going to get in trouble, they may as well have fun with it. “We’re pretty grossed out, to be honest.”

  “Yikes.” Cassandra tossed her long ponytail, braces glinting in the sunlight. “We’ll need to make sure she’s all right. Next time, someone should stay with her. Deal?”

  Archer almost burst out laughing. “I’m sure Isla would be happy to do that.”

  Isla shot her a horrified look. “I most certainly would not.”

  “Archer,” Lauren scolded as soon as Cassandra headed back down the bleachers. “Not funny.” Then she added, “Okay, kinda funny. You said she was in the bathroom.” And they both giggled uncontrollably.

  “Hey, I got us off the hook,” Archer said. “Besides, it’s where she belongs.”

  Isla raised her hand as if she were in class or something. “I suspect that Jade—”

  The slow pulse of drums cut through the evening air, and Lauren sat up straight, clasping her hands. “It’s starting!”

  The camp counselors gathered in a circle around a fire. The lead counselor threw a log onto the flames, and a burst of sparks shot into the sky. The air went thick with the scent of hickory smoke.

  “Friendship!” cried a voice.

  The counselors grabbed hands.

  “Trust!” called another.

  The group turned to the right and collapsed into one another’s arms.

  “Adventure!” a voice shouted.

  Like acrobats, they knelt on one another’s backs to form a perfect triangle. The counselor at the top lifted her arms as if reaching for the stars. The drums reached a fever pitch, and the girl on top lit a gigantic sparkler.

  In the flash of light, she proclaimed, “Blueberry Pine, commence!�
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  The campers went wild. Feet pounded against the wooden risers, and the seats squeaked and shook like they might collapse. Just then, Archer noticed Jade standing at the bottom of the bleachers.

  In the golden light of the evening, she looked mystical; like an elf or something. Like someone Archer might actually want to be friends with.

  Come on. She’s nothing but rude.

  “Jade,” Lauren called, waving like a flag.

  Jade sauntered up the risers as if she were right on time. She perched next to Lauren as the president of the camp took the stage.

  “Good evening. I’m Barbara Middleton, the president of the Blueberry Pine Camp for Girls. In the tradition of Blueberry Pine excellence, we have selected one of our brightest stars to read our camp poem. Makayla McAdams, will you come up here?”

  Archer sucked in a breath of hot air. “No.”

  Lauren glanced at her. “What is it?”

  “Indigestion,” Archer mumbled.

  In a crystal clear, confident voice, Makayla read the Blueberry Pine induction.

  The sun stretches across the weary morn;

  Loons cry across the lake and lawn.

  Our girls are fast asleep,

  Eager for reveille as they dream.

  Music sounds, the day is here, our sleepy faces

  Light with cheer.

  Blueberry Pine has become our home;

  Lifetime friendships quickly form.

  We laugh, joke, rejoice, and sing;

  Swimming, hiking, playing games.

  Our hearts are grateful for each day.

  The light of day dims with the night

  But our campers,

  Like stars, forever shine bright.

  Everyone but Archer listened with rapt attention. The moment Makayla said the last cheesy line, the audience exploded with cheers.

  “That was really good,” Lauren cried.

  Archer tried not to gag.

  Once the ceremony had ended, the counselors instructed everyone to head to the bonfires on the beach. Makayla commanded the center of the circle, and Archer felt frozen in her seat. It would be impossible to exit without walking right past her sister.

  “Come on.” Lauren nudged her. “I can’t wait to roast hot dogs. One of the Dragonflies told me they have the ones with cheese inside.”

  Archer followed her cabinmates down the rickety steps, hoping to sneak past. Unfortunately, one of the counselors chose that very moment to add another log to the bonfire, and a piece of flying ash got caught in Archer’s throat. She broke into a coughing fit, and her sister glanced over. A wicked smile stretched across her face.

  “Is there snow in the forecast?” Makayla trilled. “That girl wore boots. Quick, someone bring me my parka!”

  The Bluebirds tittered.

  Archer looked down at her boots, which had seemed so cool at home. Now, they felt hot and all wrong in the summer sun. She wished she hadn’t worn them, wished she wasn’t such a loser, wished she had never come here at all.

  “I think I just felt the first snowflake,” Makayla sang.

  The nearby campers also started laughing, looking up at the sky. Cheeks flaming, Archer tried to think up a decent retort but couldn’t.

  To her surprise, Lauren bustled forward and took her arm. Isla took her other one, and even Jade moved up to stand with the group.

  “I think what you’re saying is mean,” Lauren told Makayla. “Please leave her alone,” she said, and propelled Archer toward the exit. Once they found a space away from the crush of campers, she gave Archer a searching look.

  “You okay?”

  Archer looked at her feet. The thing with her sister was humiliating, but her heart was filled with a cautious optimism.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” she admitted. “No one has ever stood up for me like that.”

  “Of course we’re going to stand up for you.” Lauren gave her a tight hug. “You’re a Firefly.”

  Isla frowned. “I wonder why she picked on you.”

  “Because I was born.” Everyone but Jade laughed. “No, really.” Archer felt her cheeks turn red. “I…I’m her sister.”

  “What?” Lauren’s eyes flashed. “If I had a sister, I’d never treat her like that.”

  “That’s good to know.” Archer held up the wrist with the friendship bracelet, trying to make light of the situation. “Because you’re my honorary sister.”

  Lauren beamed. “We’re all sisters. We’re the girls of Firefly Cabin.”

  Everyone touched bracelets, except for Jade. She fiddled with a loose string on her shirt, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else.

  Well, so what? If Jade didn’t want to be friends, that was her problem. For the first time in her life, Archer had finally found her people.

  Chapter Seven

  Lauren was thrilled. The opening night of camp was perfect. When they got to the firepits, the kitchen staff served hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs, along with heaping sides of deliciousness like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and watermelon.

  I’ve never seen so much food!

  Lauren followed the Fireflies to a large, available log where they could sit by the fire. The lake had gotten darker with every hour that passed, and she imagined it would turn black in the darkness. Turning, she looked at her new friends. Isla studied the bright orange bonfires across the water with interest, while Archer sat cross-legged, happily shoving mac and cheese into her mouth. Jade sat in silence, barely eating.

  “What’s over there?” Archer pointed across the lake.

  Isla sat up straight. “The boys’ camp. Blueberry Lane.”

  “There’s a boys’ camp?” Archer sounded surprised.

  Lauren gave an eager nod. “I read about it on the camp website. It was founded forty years before ours. We patterned a lot of our activities after the boys, once girls were allowed to play sports and stuff.”

  Lauren had always been good at running and playing soccer but had never been able to participate in team sports at school due to the cost and the time. She’d signed up for every league they had at camp, including soccer, tennis, and beach volleyball. She couldn’t wait to be part of a team.

  Isla swatted away a mosquito. “Will we get to interact with the boys?”

  “Yes.” Lauren gave another enthusiastic nod. “I read these blogs from girls who have been to camp here, and they said there’s usually a few events with the boys. Plus, there’s a big coed dance toward the end of camp.”

  “Oh, wow.” Isla bit into a piece of corn on the cob, eyes wide. She looked equally ecstatic and terrified at the prospect.

  Archer moaned. “Boys hate me. Especially once they meet my sister.”

  Jade tossed her full plate of food into the fire. It sent up a flurry of sparks. Brushing sand off her legs, she stood.

  “I’m going to bed.”

  “It’s only seven o’clock,” Lauren protested.

  Jade stretched. “Sorry. I’m tired.”

  Disappointment filled Lauren’s heart. She wanted to sit around the campfire and get to know the girls. If Jade went to bed, that wouldn’t happen.

  “Come on, Jade,” Archer said. “You could give us a chance, you know.”

  The hint of hurt in Archer’s voice surprised Lauren. Ever since the Fireflies had stood up for her in front of her sister, it was like the hard shell she had brought to camp had fallen away. Now, she had that defensive look on her face all over again.

  Jade shoved her hands into her pockets. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “We covered for you earlier, but we’re not doing it again,” Archer said.

  “Tattle if you want,” Jade said lightly. “But I sincerely doubt I’m not allowed to sleep.” With a toss of her hair, she strolled toward the woods.

  Archer stabbed a plastic fork at the air. “What is wrong with that girl?”

  Why would anyone leave a campfire? It almost did seem like Jade didn’t want to be at camp at all.r />
  The fire crackled as they talked, warming Lauren’s cheeks and making her hair smell like woodsmoke. Archer and Isla were by far the most interesting people she’d ever met.

  For starters, Isla was from New York City and lived in a fancy apartment with a doorman. She rode an elevator every day, had two older brothers who sounded perfect, and her parents were these big-shot lawyers. Once, when her mother had worked on a case against a corrupt corporation, Isla and her brothers had taken bodyguards to school.

  And Archer was apparently a really good artist. She talked about mixed media, oil painting, and drawing for at least ten minutes straight. Once they moved on to the topic of school, Lauren learned she was also supersmart at math and science but did her best to hide her talents so the boys wouldn’t make fun of her.

  Lauren ached to share the story of this one foster home where the oldest boy had bullied her for getting better grades than him, but she couldn’t, or the girls would know she was an orphan. It was so nice to feel normal that she only felt a little bit guilty for lying.

  When the kitchen staff handed out marshmallows, chocolates, and graham crackers, Lauren watched, fascinated, as Archer stuck her stick straight into the flames. The marshmallow burned bright orange and blue, then distorted into a blackened, gooey hunk.

  “Impressed by my craftsmanship?” Archer asked.

  Lauren grinned. “No, I’ve just never roasted a marshmallow before.”

  The girls looked at her in shock.

  “How is that possible?” Archer demanded. “Where are you from again?”

  Immediately, Lauren realized her mistake. If she wanted to keep her secret, she had to be more careful. “I meant I’ve never incinerated one before.”

  It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it did the job. Archer went back to smashing her marshmallow between graham crackers, and Isla nibbled at a chocolate bar.

  Lauren slid a marshmallow onto a stick and stuck it near the fire. It started to bloat, the edges turned brown, and she pulled it out before it could catch fire. The moment it cooled, she took a bite and melted sugar oozed into her mouth.

  Heaven.

  Then the strangest thing happened: the forest suddenly glowed with tiny lights. They blinked and flashed, practically dancing through the night.