XaviAge 10 - 11 years ago
There was a knock on the cabin door. I was alone, had been ever since my cabin leader, Nate, left–I checked my watch–thirty minutes ago.
Of course, I didn’t mind being alone, but it felt weird to be the only one in a cabin meant for twelve boys.
Because my family lives on the West Coast, my younger sister, Rachel, and I had to fly to West Barrett, where we got picked up at the airport by the Camp Director, Jack.
That part had been nice. Jack told funny stories as he drove, and we even stopped for burgers and fries on the way.
But then, when we got here, there was still another sleep until the other kids arrived, and none of the leaders seemed too sure about what to do with us.
That’s how most of the kids at school were, too, so I was used to it.
Rachel, not so much. This was her first summer here, and I think she was nervous about being away from home, away from the others and Mom.
I promised to introduce her to my friends.
I knew they would be nice to her even though she was a year younger than us.
But I also knew she would make her own friends.
Rachel was normal, not like me. Loud noises didn’t bug her, she didn’t mind crowds, all the things that made me want to scream.
We mostly spent the day hanging out together, wandering around Camp.
I showed her all the spots, the Point, the Creative Cluster, the Beach, but not the Throw.
I loved my sister, but that spot was just for us.
For me, Toni, Brennon and Cole. Ours. My tour seemed to put her at ease, and when we said goodnight after dinner, she left with her Cabin Leader and a huge smile.
That was yesterday. Today, all the other campers would arrive.
From outside, I could hear knocking on the other cabin doors, so it was only a matter of time before some loud kid I didn’t know came into my quiet space.
Aside from my bunk, and Nate’s, there were eight other beds in here, so it was sort of guaranteed.
Sure enough, a loud rapping against my own door signaled I was right.
Might as well get it over with. I took a deep breath, slid off my sleeping bag that was lining my lower bunk, and opened the door a crack, peering around the creaky old door for a first look at my new cabin mate.
But one peek, and instead of retreating back to the dark, I launched myself out into the sun towards their cries.
“Xavi!”
Toni and Cole stood side by side, and as I ran up to them, Toni opened her arms and hugged me around the middle.
Cole stood at my back and hugged me, too.
It felt like being squeezed in a too-tight sandwich.
But in a good way. When we broke apart, all of us were smiling and Cole explained, “We just got off the bus! Any sign of Brennon?”
I shook my head, “No sign of anyone else yet. You two are the first.”
“Well, there will be lots now!” Toni assured me, “There were about a hundred kids on that stinky bus.”
Cole scrunched his nose up, “They were stinky.”
“Yeah, you most of all, Coley!” Toni teased, giggling the whole time. Her giggle sounded like birds singing.
“Hey — I don’t smell!” Cole replied, even though Toni was already skipping away from us both.
“Come on you two, let’s go wait for Brennon in front of the office!” she yelled, as she began to jog back towards the main part of camp. Cole looked around before looking back at me, “I don’t smell, right Xav?”
I leaned in to sniff him. He just smelled like Cole.
I shook my head, “No. Definitely not. She’s just a silly girl.
” He smiled at me, “Yeah. You’re right. She’s probably the smelly one.
” I didn’t say that I thought Toni smelled like candy and strawberries.
I just nodded, as he grabbed my arm, and together we chased after our friend.