filled with rustic wooden chairs and tables. Floor to ceiling windows reached up to a high, vaulted ceiling. Fans up there spun slowly, circulating the air.
“So, you can have meetings in here with everybody. Probably a good idea to have one tonight and spell out the rules. There’s books and board games on the shelves over there, in case anybody gets bored since they can’t have electronics. Through here is the sleeping area.”
He opened a door and Lissa saw several bunk beds spread out in a large room.
“We’ve got room for about fifty girls in each cabin. On occasion, someone has to sleep in one of the other cabins if the one for their age group is full. But, we try to maintain balance when registering them for camp so that shouldn’t be a problem.
“Okay, through here is the large shared bathroom. It’s only got showers, no tubs. Lots of sinks and stalls, though. And through here is your private quarters.”
He opened a door to a simple room that had a window, a single bed, a chest of drawers, a little closet, and a small desk with a lamp and chair. Another door opened to her private bathroom.
“Home sweet home for the next few weeks. Laundry facilities are coin-operated, if you need them. You’ll find the laundry room near the cafeteria. It has a bunch of vending machines, too, if you get a craving for a soft drink or something.”
He stopped, looked down into her eyes and smiled.
Gosh he’s cute, she thought.
“Okay?”
“Okay! I’ll just leave my stuff here for now.”
She tossed her bag on the bed.
“Great. You can go out to the parking lot and help the girls find their cabins. Just ask what grade they finished, and you can walk them over. I’ve got go to check on that leak. I’ll see you at lunch!”
~~~
Raven glared at Lissa when she walked back to the parking lot. Lissa ignored her, mentally deciding to maintain a positive attitude today, come what may.
Soon, a handful of cars drove up, and several parents brought their daughters out. She smiled at a pretty young Hispanic girl.
“Hi, welcome to nature camp! I’m Lissa.”
“I’m Victoria.”
“Hi, Victoria! What grade did you just complete?”
“Eighth.”
“Awesome! You’re in my cabin. Let me show you where to go and you can pick out a bunk. Mom and Dad, take her stuff and follow me.”
~~~
When Lissa returned to the parking lot, she saw a large black Infinity SUV pull up. She went over to it as two cute girls stepped out, each with long straight black hair. One was a little shorter than the other.
“Hi! I’m Lissa.”
The shorter one answered for both.
“I’m Alexis. This is my big sister, Kylee.”
“Pleased to meet y’all! Now, which grades did you both complete?”
“I just got out of sixth. Kylee is going into ninth.”
Raven butted in, physically elbowing Lissa out of the way.
“Well, hello! You’re in my cabin, Alexis. It’s the best! Come on, I’ll show you to your bunk.”
She led Alexis off toward the cabins. Lissa smiled at Kylee, then at her parents who were just exiting the SUV.
“You’ll have to pardon my colleague, she’s a little over-enthusiastic about camp starting.”
The girls’ mom laughed.
“That’s quite alright. I remember my first day here almost twenty years ago. I’m Phyllis Schulmann. This is my husband, Ted.”
Lissa shook their hands.
“I’m Lissa Jordan. I’m in charge of the Adventurers’ cabin, where Kylee will be staying.”
They made small talk while Kylee went to the tailgate of the SUV, opened it, and pulled out two suitcases.
“Oh, let me help with you that.”
“It’s okay. One of them belongs to my sister.”
The Schulmann’s laughed.
Ted said, “That’s our Alexis, always forgetting things. I have to remind her to grab her backpack every morning before school.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll drop it off at her cabin after getting Kylee settled.”
~~~
Lissa grabbed a quick bite to eat in the cafeteria around noon, then
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