by Tara Ellis
“He’s the millionaire who originally created this camp for his kids over twenty years ago.”
Sam jumps at the unexpected voice near her ear, and finds Lexie leaning against another tree trunk behind them.
“This tree was supposed to have some special meaning to him, I guess,” Lexie explains. “Something about how he proposed to his wife under it, before they bought the property.”
“So now I get the Pine part of the camp name,” Sam observes. “That’s pretty clever. But why the ‘Whispering’?”
“Because if you stand here when it’s windy out,” Lexie says hauntingly, “it sounds like someone is whispering in the woods.”
“That’s freaky!” Becky cries out.
Sam looks around Lexie to see the rest of the girls standing on the trail nearby.
“Come on!” Butterfingers interrupts, with more menace than Sam thinks is warranted. “Don’t wander off anymore.”
Feeling heavy under the ridicule, Sam and Ally step away from the memorial. However, nothing could keep Sam from digging into something mysterious, and she vows to find out the rest of the story behind the creation of Camp Whispering Pines.
5
RUMORS
As the Navaho campers near the lodge, others join them. By the time they get in line for food, the large room is filled with happy chatter.
Feeling somewhat overwhelmed again, Sam concentrates on selecting her meal from the huge array of choices. Finding the picnic-style table with the Navaho name on it, she and Ally finally sit down and look around. There must be a hundred other girls, as well as a couple dozen counselors and workers.
“How many people are at this camp?” Sam asks Lexie, who is sitting beside her. Butterfingers left them to go sit with some other leaders at their own table.
“Oh geez…good question.” Tapping her teeth with a fork, Lexie looks up at the ceiling as she does the math. “I think there are three cabins for each grade, plus the teepees. So at six to a cabin, and the three big teepees, I would say just over a hundred kids. But I heard some talk last session about enrollment being down. Last summer there were never any empty beds. They filled up long before camp even started. My first year I almost didn’t get in, and I registered three months before camp.”
“We just signed up last Monday,” Ally tells her, before biting into a big roll.
“I don’t think they put us twelve-year-olds in the upper cabins because there are a lot of us,” Lexie continues. “I think it’s because they didn’t have enough in the lower cabins. One of my younger friends said they closed down the whole third grade row and combined everyone else. Even advancing the thirteen-year-olds to the teepees, one’s still empty. And I heard that four counselors were sent home because they didn’t need them.”
“Ally’s aunt said this is the most popular camp in the state,” Sam counters. “How come enrollment is so low?”
“Well, it’s just not what it used to be. Even in the past couple of years that I’ve been coming, it isn’t as well organized, and there’s been some…bad stuff happening.”
“What kind of bad stuff?” Becky questions, her food apparently forgotten.
“I dunno if I should talk about it,” Lexie hesitates. For once she seems at a loss for words. “I don’t want to spread rumors and make things worse. I love this place and I want to keep coming here.”
“Oh, who cares,” Sandy interrupts. The four girls turn to look at her, shocked at the intensity in her voice. “My dad offered to buy this rundown excuse for a camp, and the board had the nerve to say no! So they can’t be that bad off, can they?”
After a moment of confused silence, Sam is the first one to absorb the odd revelation and what it might mean. “Why would your dad want to buy the camp? And if you hate it so much, Sandy, then why are you here?”
Stirring absently at the corn on her plate, Sandy looks like she regrets the outburst. Shrugging, she finally meets Sam’s inquisitive stare and Sam is surprised to see tears shimmering in the other girl’s eyes.
“Because I guess my dad’s business needs a retreat, or a place to ‘get away,’ and when my mom came with him to tour this dump she fell in love with it. When the stupid Board of Directors for the camp voted it down, my mom insisted that I come here, because it’s so incredible. She’s hardly spoken to me for the past year, and suddenly she was so concerned about my….how did she put it? Character building. She was convinced Whispering Pines would be a good experience for me.”
Stunned by the emotional confession, Sam looks to Ally for guidance, who’s always a little better at being more sensitive with people.
“Maybe it won’t be all that bad,” Ally says encouragingly, reaching out to pat Sandy’s hand.
Yanking her hand away as if a snake were about to bite her, Sandy stands suddenly and takes a step back from the table. Her face is a mixture of disgust and alarm at having opened up to the other girls. She spins around and flees the room, drawing some questioning stares from the other tables.
“Man…talk about a drama queen.” Lexie watches Sandy leave and then shakes her head, returning to her food.
“I think it’s sad,” Becky whispers.
Falling somewhere in between the two views, Sam is experiencing a mixture of both irritation and sorrow. While she feels bad for the situation that Sandy is in, she thinks the girl’s reaction really is overblown and a bit selfish. What she is sure of is that it raises more questions than it answers.
“What did you say to her?”
The harsh voice behind Sam and Ally makes them jump. Sam nearly falls out of her seat as she spins around to face Ms. Cooper, who is even more intimidating up close. Straightening up on the bench seat, Sam looks up at the tall, rugged form. Arms crossed, dark brows furrowed, the camp director is looking down her nose sternly at them.
“N…nothing,” Sam stammers. “She was just telling us how her dad wanted to buy Whispering Pines, and she got upset about it, but-”
“Enough!” Ms. Cooper interrupts, cutting Sam off. “We don’t tolerate gossip here, and you will do well to remember that!” Without another word, the director leaves in a huff, stomping loudly across the wooden planked floor.
“What was that about?” Butterfingers has joined them now, a concerned expression on her face.
The three new campers all look to Lexie for an explanation.
“I’m guessing Ms. Cooper’s a bit sensitive with any talk about the camp being sold,” Lexie suggests.
“Because she’s afraid of losing her job?” Ally speculates.
“No, because she’s one of the board members,” Lexie says. “Her dad was Howard Pine.”
“What?” Sam shouts. All sorts of new questions tumble in her head, but Butterfingers prevents them being asked.
“You need to respect Ms. Cooper’s wishes, and not talk about this anymore. Okay, you guys?” Butterfingers turns to see where the older woman is, obviously worried. “Come on. We need to go get changed and head down to the pool soon.”
The girls silently obey. As they begin gathering up their dirty dishes, they don’t see Ms. Cooper step out onto the front porch. If they had, they might not have missed seeing her scowl turn into a satisfied smirk.
6
SINK OR SWIM
By the time they get back to the cabin and change, and then walk the mile or so of trails, they just barely make it to the isolated swimming pool on time.
Sandy was already in her swimsuit when they got there, and skillfully ignored them. None of the young girls had tried to talk to her, but Butterfingers had taken her outside for a few minutes before they left for the pool. Whatever was discussed seems to have helped calm Sandy down.
Now they’re all seated on the wet cement next to the pool, lined up around its edges. They were sure to select a spot near the shallow end, so that Becky wouldn’t risk falling into the deeper water.
The swim test is broken up into sessions, with the older girls going first. Butterfingers tells Becky that she
needs to stay with the group, but can just pass when it’s her turn to take the lap.
Sitting with her legs in the water, Sam is glad it’s a hot day, because the pool doesn’t seem to be heated. Although the pool is big, she can’t imagine how they can possibly test all the campers in the time allotted. While considering this, she notices lifeguards in red swimsuits and shorts, standing opposite each other in the deep end of the L-shaped pool. There are six of them in total, four of them boys. Sam had been wondering if there were any boys there besides the kitchen crew and groundskeepers she had seen.
The oldest-looking lifeguard blows his whistle, and the girls fall silent. “I want you to form six equal lines behind each of us,” he calls out in a deep voice. “There will be three of you swimming at a time, with the next girl entering the pool at the opposite end when a swimmer exits the water. You must be able to make it from one end to other, without assistance, to pass. Any questions?”
When nobody raises a hand, he blows the whistle again and waves them all into motion.
Contrary to what Sam had thought, the testing goes quickly. Before long, the shallow end of the pool is filled with campers who’ve passed. Ally is in line ahead of her, and she watches as her friend expertly dives in and does a perfect breaststroke to the other side.
As soon as she pulls herself up and out, Ally turns to watch Sam. The cool water is refreshing and she’s eager to go join the other girls once Sam has passed.
Sam’s dive is not quite as good as Ally’s, and her stroke is not as sure, but she makes it across just as quickly. Smiling at her success, she stands next to Ally, slapping her on the back good-naturedly.
“Come on!” Ally urges, tugging at Sam’s arm. They move off to the side, out of the lines of girls still waiting to go, but Sam pulls up just short of the shallow end.
“Wait,” she calls to Ally, having to yell over the squeals and laughter of the other swimmers. “Lexie is about to go. Let’s wait for her.”
Shrugging, Ally leans up against the wire fencing that surrounds the pool, letting the hot afternoon sun warm her cooled skin. I might as well work on my tan! she thinks, closing her eyes.
As Lexie dives in, Sam becomes aware of excessive splashing in the water close to her. Looking down, she expects to see a water fight, but is alarmed to instead find a young girl floundering. This far side of the shallow end bottoms out at six feet, according to the numbers painted onto the cement. There is a rope with floats blocking it off from the other area of the pool, but it’s obviously over the distressed swimmers head.
Sam looks around frantically, realizing that none of the other girls can see what is happening. Spotting the only lifeguard still free to watch this presumably safe zone, Sam can tell that she has just noticed. Racing forward, the lifeguard leaps in without blowing her whistle first.
Grabbing Ally’s wrist, Sam drags her over to the edge, pointing at the drama unfolding. The lifeguard has easily reached the panicked swimmer, but is having a hard time getting a hold of her.
Amazingly, no one besides a couple of other girls on the side of the pool has seen them. But they are both frozen in fear, mouths hanging open.
“Help!” Sam yells while pointing, struggling to be heard over all of the noise. “Somebody help them!”
One of the guards at the far end finally looks up, but Sam realizes there isn’t time for the guard to reach them.
Sam has had basic rescue training as part of the swimmer safety course her parents make her take. She can tell that the young lifeguard isn’t performing the rescue correctly. The struggling camper and guard are both going under for the second time, and they need help now.
Without a second thought, Sam performs a shallow dive and reaches them in just two strokes. Going to the young camper first, she approaches her from behind and hooks her arm around the thrashing girl’s chest. Nearly drowned, most of the girl’s strength is gone, so she gives little resistance to Sam as she drags her backwards towards the side of the pool.
Once there, Ally and two other girls pull the exhausted and terrified swimmer out. Sam looks back to see that the head lifeguard has his co-worker, and the two of them are already standing in the shallow water, where he towed her.
The whistles erupt all at once, signaling everyone out of the water. The rest of the lifeguards are all rushing over, and everything is in chaos.
Although more than able to get out on her own, Sam is helped by a growing crowd, and then becomes surrounded. Lexie and Ally each put an arm over Sam’s shoulders, making sure that she’s okay.
Everyone is congratulating her on the rescue, and her face burns with embarrassment at the recognition. “I just happened to be close by,” she professes. “I’m sure you all would have done the same thing!”
“What is the meaning of this?” The booming voice somehow drowns out all of the other commotion, demanding attention.
The main lifeguard hurries to where Ms. Cooper is standing and they carry on a very animated conversation. It involves him first pointing towards the dejected guard sitting with a towel wrapped tightly around her, then the traumatized swimmer, and finally Sam.
“Butterfingers, bring that young lady to the camp nurse immediately!” Ms. Cooper orders, pointing to the lifeguard who’d had trouble.
“Alpine,” the director continues, her voice harsh. “You will come with me!”
The young lifeguard, nicknamed for her height, hangs her head and leaves the pool area.
“The rest of you will carry on with your normal schedule. There is still another group waiting to be tested.”
With that, Ms. Cooper makes a dramatic exit, leaving everyone exchanging glances.
Even with the sun hot upon her back, Sam feels a slight chill.
7
TRADITIONS
The rest of the swim time passes without further incident, and Sam is almost relieved when it’s over. Normally, she loves every second she can get in a pool, but the atmosphere after Ms. Cooper’s outburst was very somber.
After changing and re-grouping, Butterfingers tells them they have free time until dinner at six, over two hours away. “I’ll meet you back at the cabin at 5:30,” she says. “I have to run some errands now.”
As soon as she walks away, the debating begins on what they should do with their afternoon.
“Let’s go explore the camp!” Sam suggests. “I’d like to check out some of the trails.”
“We aren’t dressed for hiking,” Sandy counters. “And I’m tired after all that swimming. Can’t we just hang out at the cabin?”
Making a face at the boring suggestion, Lexie throws her hands up. “What we need to do, is get a head start on our barge.”
“Our what?” Ally questions.
“Barge…a little boat. It’s a camp tradition. We have to make it out of natural items found in the woods, except for the candle placed in the center of it. We all write a wish down on a small piece of paper to put on it. Then, at the end of the camp closing ceremony, each cabin launches the barge that they made into the lake. The last one still floating wins, and your wishes are granted!”
“That sounds stupid,” Sandy whines, continuing her poor attitude.
“I think it might be kinda fun,” Becky says softly. “How are we supposed to make it stay together?”
“Oh, there’s an arts and crafts cabin that we get to use whenever we want, during free time. It’s okay to use glue on it, but that’s all.” Lexie looks at Sam and Ally to see what their vote is.
While Sam would rather go hiking, she’s curious about the barges, and the arts and crafts cabin sounds interesting. “Sure, why not?” she agrees, after Ally indicates that she doesn’t care either way.
“Well, I’m going to our cabin,” Sandy insists stubbornly. “I want to lie down.”
“Suit yourself,” Lexie tells her. She turns to walk in the opposite direction, the three other girls following her.
After brief hesitation, Sandy reluctantly chases after them. “I’m no
t about to go back to the cabin by myself. I’d probably get eaten by a bear or something.”
Lexie tries hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of her comment, but doesn’t quite succeed.
“Go ahead and laugh!” Sandy scoffs. “I don’t care, but I’m not helping with the silly barge.”
Before anyone else has a chance to respond, Alpine dashes across the trail in front of them, clearly upset. She’s changed from her red swimsuit and shorts into regular clothes, and has a big duffle bag thrown over her shoulder.
Coming up short, Alpine realizes she’s almost walked right into the girls. They’re on a narrow trail that leads into the woods behind the main lodge. According to Lexie, the staff cabins, maintenance sheds, and craft house are all back in here.
“Oh!” Alpine gasps, nearly dropping her heavy bag. She turns to Sam. “Aren’t you the girl who helped me?”
“Yes,” Sam confirms. “Are you okay?”
Alpine bursts out in tears at the question, letting her bag fall to the ground as she covers her face with her hands. Looking at the rest of her group, Sam is at a loss.
“Why don’t the rest of you go get started with the barge,” Ally finally says. “Sam and I will stay with Alpine.”
Not needing any further convincing, the other three girls quickly head down the trail, leaving Sam and Ally to deal with the distraught lifeguard.
Sniffing, Alpine wipes at her nose and then sits down on the bag, trying to compose herself. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, hiccupping. “I’ve never been fired from a job before, and I was going to use the money for college. I graduate from high school next year. It wasn’t even my fault!”
“You got fired?” Ally asks, shocked.
Sam isn’t all that surprised, though. She knows that Alpine made some critical mistakes in the failed rescue attempt.
Nodding, it’s obvious that the teen is trying hard not to break out in fresh tears. “Ms. Cooper told me to pack my bags and leave immediately. I mean, I could understand if I was actually a lifeguard, but I was hired to be a counselor for the fourth graders. I’m not even certified!”
