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“Alright everyone, I have your cabin assignments here. Two adults and four kids per cabin. I made sure to put friends and relatives together as much as possible, so if you have an issue with your assignment, let me know. I’ll see what I can do. Alright? Cabin one…”
I take the assignment card for cabin three. I’m bunking with Tina, Patty the admin, and three other young girls. We have an hour to settle in and get situated before lunch, so I unpack my clothes and help the girls choose their bunks.Tina looks extra grumpy, and I’m wondering if she isn’t starting to get a little sick.
“Why don’t you take a quick nap?” I ask. I’d hate for her to miss the fun because of one night of poor sleep. She’s argumentative, but a large yawn interrupts her speech, and she grudgingly agrees. “I’ll bring you back a sandwich from the cafeteria.”
The itineraries Jaromir handed out are very well planned out. There are activities with different levels of exertion happening all day long. Hiking, fishing, and arts and crafts are all options for the afternoon.We might have to bundle up while we travel from building to building, but the amenities could probably make a person forget they’re camping in the woods well past summer and into fall.
Despite the inherent risks of all three activities, they’re all very normal things to do while camping. And I came prepared for the worst-case scenarios of snake bites, fish hook injuries, and sprained ankles. I can handle those.
But then my eyes skim down to the evening plan of field sports. Tag, flag football, tennis, and tug of war are even riskier. But it’s okay. I can handle skinned knees and some bumps on the head. I’m not thrilled about it, but I can handle it.
But then I see tomorrow’s lineup. Zip lines. Kayaking.Archery.Hatchet throwing!
“Absolutely not,” I state firmly.
I crumple the agenda in my hands and march out of the cabin towards the cafeteria. Jaromir is standing there, in the middle, placing cabin number signs on each table. I walk up to him with the paper in my hands, eyes wide. “I would love to hear you explain this one.”
Jaromir looks down at me with genuine shock. “Care to elaborate?” he asks with a sly grin.
“You really think it’s okay for children, not adults or even teenagers, but actual children, to throw hatchets around?” I cry.
“Oh, that! Well, yeah, actually. I do.”
“How?” I ask, a slight strain in my voice.
“Because I got permission.” Jaromir walks over to one table with a stack of paper folders and leafs through one. “Permission slips. The more intense activities all had one for the kids’ parents to fill out. Which is why I’m not sure why you’re surprised about this. Didn’t you see Ryan’s?”
I slowly shake my head. “I didn’t see any permission slips.”
Jaromir skims through the papers and nods. “Yeah, he didn’t turn his in. He probably knew you would say no anyway. Makes sense.”
I feel a quick, harsh pang in my chest. “I still don’t see how this is safe.”
“Not everything is, Melody,” Jaromir says in a condescending tone. “The kids have to get their hands dirty eventually.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. There’s no getting through to him. And if the parents really gave permission, then there’s nothing I can do. When one of his star players loses his fingers, it’ll be on him.
I check back in on Tina, who’s sleeping soundly now and walk towards the lake. A few kids are splashing each other and picking up small stones. I try to keep my brain from thinking about bacteria and water snakes and just relax. But it’s so hard.
I close my eyes and just try to let go of my anxieties and worries, even for a minute. But then I hear the excited screeching of children, and I cannot help but feel my blood pressure spike again. I turn to investigate and see a group of them crowded around something. Jogging up to them, I see they’re circling around Jaromir, who’s standing in front of a stump.
“Stand back now. A little more, guys. Alright, a little bit more. I don’t want anyone getting splinters in their eyes, alright? Alright. Now.” Jaromir takes off his shirt and flexes his muscles. My pulse picks back up, beating in my throat as he bends over and grabs an ax. “Now you always want to start with a log that has at least one flat end.”
“Oh,” I whisper to myself. Jaromir puts on safety glasses and instructs the kids on how to chop their own firewood. He does so with carefully controlled motions and makes sure the kids aren’t close enough to get hurt.
At one point, he catches me in the crowd and winks. I can feel my face burn. After twenty or so minutes of this, Jaromir observes the fruit of his labor, while I observe him. It feels like there’s something stuck in my throat again.
I suddenly don’t need the jacket and hat I’m wearing to stay warm. Not now that I know how it feels to blush with my whole body. I thought it was just an expression until now. I squeeze my fists until my nails are digging into my palm. I wonder what I look like from his perspective. Does he know he has this kind of effect on me?
“That should be enough for smores tonight,” he tells the kids. “But now it’s time for lunch. Everyone, wash your hands and get to the mess hall!”
I bite my lip. Maybe I was a little quick to turn him down.
15
JAROMIR
It’s the first morning of the camping trip, and things are off to a great start. There’s no chance of rain and the weather is hot enough to wear my comfy board shorts—but not so hot that I have to worry about sweat stains on my tank top. And so far, the kids have been on their best behavior.
