"I don't want pasta surprise!" Sydney groans at lunch, flicking bits of—actually, you don't know what it is. It splurps off of her plate and lands on the table in a messy, mysterious blob.
Dylan snickers. "The surprise is that it's super gross!"
Apparently, the kitchen staff is trying to use up all of the camp's leftovers in one giant casserole. It isn't doing much to contribute to the happy mood that the peppy music is still trying to set. ("I'm A Believer," followed by "Happier," followed by "Watch Me.")
As you're making your way out of the dining hall, the music cuts out with a sudden blare of feedback. It's replaced by the only thing that could have even more forced cheer in it: Ms. Martin's voice, calling, "Good afternoon, campers! Let's give a big Camp Cedarcrest welcome to the board of directors! And let's show them how great this place is!"
There's absolutely no mistaking who the board of directors are. Coming down the path from the camp entrance is a group of adults dressed far too formally to be walking around a summer camp. A few—including Justine's parents—have made an attempt at outdoor gear, but it's all crisp khakis and brand-new L.L. Bean hiking boots. Completely impractical. One of them—a young black man with a neat tight fade—is actually wearing a suit, as if he were in an office. Something about him tugs at your mind. He looks really familiar. Then you realize—he has to be James, the one who's related to Marcus.
These are the people who are going to decide whether Camp Cedarcrest stays open or closed.
Next