Campfire Diaries

Monday, June 18, 1990

Dear diary, this summer's gonna be the best. I finally got to go to sleepaway camp for the first time, and I've been thinking about it since forever. My older cousins told me all these cool stories about camp, and I wanted stuff like that to happen to me too. The bus ride felt like it took a million years, but when we finally got here the sun was warm and everything smelled like pine trees and dirt and summer. My stomach felt all jumpy, but in a good way.

After we put all our stuff away, the counsellors told us it was time to change into swimsuits because we were going for a quick dip in the lake before lunch. I couldn't believe it; we were gonna swim and have lunch at camp. So excited, I pulled out my brand‑new red and yellow trunks from my bag. But when I turned around to face the other boys, I started feeling shy. They all just took off their clothes like they did this a million times before. Me? Not so much. I dressed quickly, keeping my back turned and my eyes on the floor. I don't think anyone noticed, but when I was done, Kevin smiled at me from across the room, which only made my cheeks burn even brighter.

We ran to the lake, and even though I was still a little shy, everyone else jumped right in like it was nothing. I stood at the edge for a second, pretending to stretch or fix my trunks, but really I was just stalling. The only problem was... I couldn't swim. Not even a little. I didn't want anyone to know, so I took a deep breath, stepped in slowly, and stayed where the water barely reached my waist, hoping nobody would notice.

It ended up being fun anyway, splashing around and getting to know the other kids. I felt way more comfortable at camp knowing that Kevin and I weren't alone in this awkward stage. After swimming for a while, we all went back to our cabins to get changed into dry clothes, then we met up with the counsellors for lunch. We sat around picnic tables under big oak trees and ate hamburgers and hot dogs, which tasted so good after being at camp for a whole day.

Later that night, lying in my bunk bed, I couldn't help but feel excited about what other crazy adventures awaited us. Kevin was snoring softly above me, his quiet breathing reminding me I wasn't completely alone. It was nice to have someone I kind of knew there with me. As I drifted off to sleep, I felt more confident than ever that this summer at camp would be the best one yet.

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Tuesday, June 19, 1990

Dear diary, today we went swimming again before lunch. I guess that's just how things work here... swim first, eat after. It's better than having to wait half an hour before swimming after eating, but I just didn't feel like going in the water. I sat under the tree while everyone else splashed around, watching them and feeling a little jealous. I really wished I knew how to swim.

I looked around for Kevin, but he wasn't in the lake, so I figured he must've gone to the bathroom or something. Then I heard someone behind me, and when I turned, it was him. He was dripping wet, standing there in these white swim trunks with blue flowers on them... almost Hawaiian‑looking... like he'd just climbed out of the water a second ago. His blond hair was long enough to fall into his eyes, and the afternoon sun caught the tiny peach fuzz on his upper lip when he pushed it back. "Not in the mood to swim?" he asked, and I just nodded instead of answering, because talking to older boys always makes my throat feel tight.

He let out a small grunt as he sat down beside me, the kind people make when they're tired from playing hard, not annoyed. Up close I noticed things I hadn't before... his tan shoulders, his clear blue eyes, and the way his long blond hair stuck to his forehead from the water. He leaned against the tree and stretched his legs out, brushing a few drops of water off his nose. "Good idea sitting under a tree, dude. You don't wanna get a sunburn, right?" he said, and I nodded again. His voice was deeper than mine and he was taller too, but somehow that made me feel small in a way that wasn't bad, just different.