Feeling Skittish
Tuesday, July 16th, 2024
LAKE VERONICA circa 4:00pm—A glorious sheet of high clouds have transformed the usual barrage of harsh afternoon sunbeams into a perfectly diffuse aura of grey light. Everything is gently illuminated with no shadow anywhere. The shade structure stubbornly remains even in its obsolescence. A patch of wild pennyroyal bombards the shoreline area with its soapy aroma while a garrison of bumblebees rifle through the periwinkle petals. The shallow water has been made into a murky latte from disturbed silt while the majority of the lake remains a shimmering black. Campers stream back and forth across the lake, taking official swim tests or enjoying free swim.
The lake shuttle arrives for a final trip, setting into motion a chain reaction of wrap-up commands. What was recently a bustling hub of aquatic activity has now been marshaled into full-on departure protocol. Campers clamber out of the water and on to the patchwork of shoreline mats. Teen staff with hands cupped to their mouths attempt to organize a walking group back to Camp. The first lake day of Session C has come to an abrupt end.
Earlier today I questioned some breakfast patrons on their take-away from last night’s Tipi Skit Night.
“Our skit was… interesting,” said Dune, 12, of the Blue Tipi. “We didn’t really plan at all, no one knew the song, and there was no order whatsoever. It actually turned out pretty decent. We just shouted out our names in the song breaks. People were laughing. It was entertaining.”
“It was fun but long,” said River, 13, of the Ultraviolet Tipi. “It was basically the same thing fifteen times in a row. I don’t think it was lame; it was funny. The espresso skit was hilarious.”
“I liked the skit the older boys did about kind of cars they were driving,” said Felix, 10, of the Orange Tipi. “There were a lot of Toyotas and even a BMW! Our skit was car-themed too. We were the ‘O-Range Rovers’. It was ridiculous.”
“Not a lot of people were trying to skip evening program by coming over to the fire,” said Waterfront Honcho Annika Crowley, who tended the night watch fire last night. “By deduction I figure that the show must have been entertaining.”
“I heard all the commotion at the Rainbow so I knew my mom was tricking me,” said Miles, 5, while engaged in a chess game with his uncle. “The score is 2-1 against Uncle Jasper. Camp is good but let me focus.”
“I was a valet and the campers were cars,” said Teen Staff Sha’him. “It’s ironic because I don’t even drive. If I got pulled over I would just show them my shirt,” he quipped, gesturing at his McLovin’ ID shirt, a reference to the 2007 film Superbad.
Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor
