There's a Bat in Bunk Five Read Online Free PDF Page A

unite,” Barbara yells.
    Now there are eight of us, all finding out about each other.
    â€œEveryone back together now.”
    We get back together, only this time we all seem to crowd in closer.
    I kind of wish I were sitting next to Jimmy, but he’s sitting next to Heidi, looking into her eyes.
    Carl points to Heidi. “Who knows something about this person?”
    Corrine yells, “She’s from Washington, D.C., a senator’s daughter.”
    She’s an artist,” I add.
    â€œShe wants to be president someday.”
    â€œSo how come she’s at a creative arts camp?” someone wants to know.
    Heidi answers, “I want something secure to fall back on if I don’t make enough money as a painter. Presidents pull in good salaries.”
    More people yell out stuff.
    I look over at Jimmy.
    He winks at me.
    Carl points to someone else and everyone makes comments.
    He points to me and people say things, all nice. About my writing, my personality, and my sense of humor. What a relief.
    No one knows what I was like before. I can be what I want to be, not what people expect or think they know. I always worry that people expect me to be something I’m not when I’m not even sure of what I am.
    Finally all staff members are discussed. It’s really great. Even though I don’t know all of the names, I’ve got an idea about each person and it’s going to be easier to get to know everyone.
    â€œBreak time,” Barbara yells. “Bug juice.”
    Everybody stamps their feet and applauds again. I do too even though I’m not sure why.
    Gallons of something that looks like Kool-Aid are brought out.
    I take a glass. It’s sort of like water with a little Kool-Aid sprinkled in.
    In her letter to me Barbara mentioned that thecamp was not a rich one, but she never mentioned that we’d have to live on colored water.
    I hope my mother can send up a Care package of Tab.
    I notice that Jimmy’s talking to another one of the new female counselors.
    After the break we role play.
    The experienced counselors pretend to be campers with an assortment of problems.
    The CITs have to show how to solve the problems.
    I get a counselor named Lori who pretends to be a mosquito-bitten camper and is screaming how she wants to go home.
    I pretend to put Calamine lotion on the bites.
    â€œWhat else?” Barbara asks.
    I pantomime putting the cap back on the bottle.
    â€œScratch them for the kid?” someone yells.
    Corrine says, “Hug the kid.”
    I do.
    Barbara nods. “That’s it. Just remember that the kids are going to want some attention and will do lots to get it. They’ll need a lot of affection. I know that we all do, but remember, the kids come first. I want each of them going back home feeling special.”
    Role playing continues for a while.
    Then Carl and Barbara explain the basic rules. How many days off. Procedures. Responsibilities. How no one is supposed to use drugs or get drunk. What to do in case of emergencies.
    Barbara looks at her watch. “Time for general clean-up. Get the cabins ready for the kids. Then we’ll have a cookout supper and campfire.”
    Everyone troops out.
    Jimmy and Carl are talking to each other about how to handle the skunk smell in the pool.
    As Corrine and I walk back up to the cabin, I ask Corrine what comes next.
    â€œThis camp has got to be cleaned up after the winter. We did it before we left last year, but there’s always sweeping and stuff.”
    Housework, actually bunkwork.
    We go back to the cabin. I sweep the floor, and Corrine gets the spider webs down.
    I look down at a corner of the room. There are all of these tiny brown pellets.
    â€œCorrine, what’s this?” I call her over.
    â€œMouse turds,” she says.
    â€œBullshit,” I say, figuring it’s some kind of curse they say at her college.
    She comes over and punches me on the arm. “Very funny,