Camp (14 page)

“Why don’t you ease up on her already?” Donnie jumped in before I could figure out what to say. “You just said nobody cares what Amy and I wear. So forget it, Rory. You’re right. It doesn’t matter.”

“Good. I’m glad we got that cleared up, that part about my being right. But you know, Donnie-girl, I must admit, I am just a teensy bit curious. So let’s see, Amy. What outfit have you planned for turning the boys on?”

How could I tell her I didn’t know, that I’d have to borrow something from Erin? When cornered about the package my parents had sent, I’d told Rory it was sheets and towels— anything to get her off my back.

“She hasn’t decided what she’s wearing yet,” Donnie said.

“What’s the matter, Amy?” Rory teased. “Cat got your tongue again? You need ol’ Donnie-girl to talk for you now?”

“Leave her alone,” Donnie answered for me.

“Well, I’ll be,” Rory said. “Look who’s back-talking me now.” She pushed her nose in Donnie’s face, then stepped away. Rory tilted her head to the side as she studied Donnie’s blouse. “Here’s the deal. I do like that shirt, and it’d look real nice with the pink pants I’m wearing to the dance. So off with it, Donnie-girl. Hand it over.”

“No!” The word ripped loose from a place deep inside me. How dare Rory order Donnie to take off her shirt. Donnie, who looked out for my safety. A hot wave of hatred moved through me. “Don’t give it to her.”

“Ah, so Amy can talk after all. Well, la-de-da. Listen to that. Amy’s giving orders now.” Rory turned to me, her face flushed. “And just who do you think you are, telling Donnie not to listen to me?”

“I’m sorry, Rory,” Donnie said. Why was she apologizing? Was Donnie afraid for herself, or for me? “And Amy’s sorry too. So you want my shirt? No problem. I’ll lend it to you. Just leave us alone.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Rory said as she paced the length of the cabin. Back and forth, then back again while Donnie and I retreated to our beds. Fear returned, yanking my heart to my throat. How stupid to have challenged Rory. What would she do to us now?

Rory glared at me when she finally spoke. “Time for a little deal here, I say. First we see what Amy’s gonna wear, and then I choose: Donnie’s blouse or Amy’s outfit. One of you gets to keep your clothes, and one of you gives them to me. Though I can’t figure out why I’m being so nice, punishing only one of you. But hey, I’m a nice person. So let’s see it, Amy. Time for that little fashion show.”

“Listen,” Donnie said. “I’d be happy to lend you my blouse. You said it’d be perfect with your pants.” She started to unbutton.

“Hold it right there. The deal is, I choose. So first I have to see what Amy’s planning to wear.”

Donnie still tried to rescue me. “But why not—”

“Jesus H. Christ! Don’t you understand plain English? So come on now, Amy Becker. Let’s have a look.”

Donnie caught my eye and shrugged.

“I’m not sure what I’m wearing.” My voice came slow and measured. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Oh, is that so? Well then, Jess and I will help you decide. So let’s see the choices.” Rory walked toward me. She drew in close. “Shove off,” she ordered, then sprawled across my bed as if she owned it. “And don’t just stand there. Get your clothes from your trunk. We’re ready to choose an outfit for you—or for me, if you catch my drift.”

I stood frozen at the foot of my bed.

“Tell her the truth,” Donnie said.

“The truth?” Rory smirked. “That’s a good one. Your friend here’s a freakin’ liar. You should know that by now, Donnie-girl.” Rory put her hands behind her head and sunk into my pillow, pulling muddy sneakers onto my blanket. “See, lie number one: Amy said she met Andy and Jed before the initiation. And number two: Amy told me tennis was just all right. But I know she roped Andy into being her partner, even though he wanted to play with Marcy. So tell me, Donnie-girl, why in the hell should I believe Amy now?”

“Because now she’s telling the truth.”

Donnie’s effort to save me made Rory sit up. “Yeah, right. Like I just might believe that. So go on, Amy Becker. Show us what you’ve got.”

I had to tell Rory the truth. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Didya hear that, Jess? My oh my. Nothing to wear, and the social’s the day after tomorrow. Why don’t I believe that, Amy Becker? Why do I think that maybe that package you got was filled with clothes after all?” Rory leaped off my bed and pushed me back to the window screen on the other side of the cabin. Her breath was hot in my face. “So are you gonna show us what your parents sent, or do I have to find it myself?”

If I pulled out the dress and shoes, Rory would make me the laughingstock of senior camp. My gang might come to my defense, but they wouldn’t be able to stop all the giggling.

I poked at the truth. “Really. I don’t have an outfit.”

Rory turned toward Jessica. “Looks like it’s time for a little scavenger hunt then.” She pulled her sidekick to my trunk, then ordered Jessica to open the lid, revealing the top cardboard tray. “Well, lookie here.” Rory fingered my socks, bras, and panties— folded and stacked as if in a dresser. “Why, little Miss Prissy must think we’re in some kind of fancy hotel or something.” Rory faced me and chuckled. “So let me show you how we live at camp, Amy Becker. Jess, take an end.”

In an instant, they lifted the tray and flipped it to the floor. Socks, balled in pairs, tumbled with my underwear. Rory trampled the pile. “You’re a riot, Rory,” Jessica said.

“Then why aren’t Donnie and Amy laughing?” Rory marched on my panties. “Where’s your sense of humor, girls?”

“It’s not funny,” Donnie told her.

“Oh, is that so? Well then, how’s this for funny?” Rory hurled a pair of socks at Donnie’s face. “You shut your trap or your trunk’s next.”

Donnie didn’t look at me then. Somehow we both knew eye contact would make us even more ashamed. So we didn’t look at each other, and we didn’t say another word until Rory tossed every item from my trunk onto a heap on the floor.

She nearly choked with laughter when she uncovered the red dress. She held it up to Jessica. “Lookie here, Jess. How’d you like to wear this getup to the social? And she’s even got shoes to go with it.” Rory pitched my party shoes to the front of the cabin. “Now where do you suppose Little Miss Amy thought she’d be going all dressed up and fancified? Is this what you’re planning to wear to the social, Amy Becker?”

“No.” I said the word, but I wasn’t sure Rory heard.

“Excuse me, Miss Fancy Pants. Or should I say Miss Fancy Dress? I asked you a question.”

“No,” I said louder.

“See,” Donnie added in a last-ditch effort to save face, to save me. “She told you the truth. She doesn’t have anything to wear.”

“Are you just about finished?” Rory asked. She laughed as she fiddled with a strap on one of my bras, then twirled my panties on her index finger. “’Cause I’ve got two things to say to you, Donnie-girl. One: I’ll take that blouse of yours now. So hand it over. At least one of us will be set for the social. And two: As soon as you give it to me, you’d better leave. Amy and I have unfinished business, and I won’t have you standing around, getting in my way.”

I prayed for someone to come in then. Anyone. Even Patsy. Or Fran and Karen, who were visiting in Bunk 8. Rory couldn’t have been clearer. She was out to hurt me, and no one but Jessica would see it happen.

Donnie changed her shirt, then held out her blouse to Rory.

“Now get outta here,” Rory demanded. She snatched Donnie’s top with her fingertips, as if the blouse had cooties.

Donnie eyeballed her and grinned. It was then I knew what Donnie would do. She would find someone else to rescue me.

“Now, Amy Becker,” Rory said as soon as the door closed behind Donnie, “time for that little chat.” She plopped herself on my mountain of clothing. “You lied to me again, about the outfit, I mean. About what was in your package. See, I keep telling you I’m not stupid. Sheets and towels, you said. But all your things are right here.” Rory pointed to my belongings, flowing around her. “And guess what? No new sheets. So I’m thinking what they sent you was this dress.” She scrunched the red fabric and hurled it toward me. “And while I’m thinking about how to punish you for lying again, you’re gonna put all your things away before anyone sees how messy you are.”

I walked slowly to my trunk.

“And I’m just gonna sit right here,” Rory kept on, “while you pull your clothes out from under me. So get started, girl. We haven’t got all day.”

I stooped to gather socks as the cabin door opened. “Hey, Ame,” Erin called. I didn’t look up, couldn’t risk the tears. “I finally got that letter off to my folks, so I thought I’d come visit.”

“Well, freckle-face, you’ll just have to come back another time,” Rory said. “Amy’s got some straightening up to do.”

“No problem. I’ll help.” Erin pulled a pair of shorts from under Rory’s bottom. “Come on, Amy,” Erin said. “We’ll have this done in a jiff, especially if Rory moves her fat ass. Or the other choice is, we can send someone to find Nancy, and she can move Rory’s ass. Either way, we’ll have this straightened up in no time.”

Rory stayed where she was, stretching her arms to guard my clothes. “This doesn’t concern you, Erin. So I suggest you leave.”

“Oh yes it does. Amy’s my friend, and friends help each other. But of course you wouldn’t know that, Rory, seeing as you don’t have any real friends.”

I wanted to applaud, but I didn’t. I almost laughed, but laughter would have made me cry. I simply picked up another pair of socks instead.

“Oh, and one more thing, Rory,” Erin said as she lifted a Takawanda shirt from under Rory’s leg. “You might want to start getting your own things packed, ’cause when we tell Mr. Becker what you did, he’ll probably send you home.”

Without a word, Rory left the cabin, stopping only at her cubby to pull a pack of Salems from behind a stationery box. She didn’t look back, not even when Jessica called, “Hey, wait for me!”

I knew Uncle Ed wouldn’t kick Rory out for emptying my trunk. He would have to catch her in a “false move” himself. The only hope was our plan, which had even less of a chance now that we had started to fight back. But as Erin and I gathered my belongings, I didn’t think about that. I just looked at Erin and smiled.

Chapter 11

Indecent Behavior

I
t didn’t take long for all the seniors to find out what had happened. Once Rory thought about it, she must have figured she wouldn’t be sent home for something as silly as emptying my trunk. So she didn’t stop chuckling about how she had threatened to take my outfit, then found that all I had was the stupid “belle of the ball” getup my mother wanted me to wear. Everyone saw Rory doubled over on the volleyball court, laughing about my red dress and party shoes.

“I hear Aunt Sonia sent quite an outfit for the dance,” Robin snickered when we met by the clothesline between our cabins. “Where does she think you’re going? To the Waldorf?”

I grabbed my bathing suit.

“Regular clothes aren’t good enough for you, cuz? Well, I’ll tell you this: Your mother may think she’s a hotshot beauty queen, but she doesn’t know squat about fashion.”

It was all right for me to think that about my mother, but Robin’s saying it made my fists clench. Who was she to criticize how my mother dressed when her own mother squeezed herself into skintight Bermudas and nearly busted the seams of her shirts? “At least my mother’s clothes fit,” I mumbled as I headed toward the cabin.

The door slammed behind me.

“Your mother doesn’t know squat about anything,” Robin called from outside. “Jeez! She doesn’t even know how to raise kids. Just look at your screwy brother.”

Charlie. I no longer thought about him getting off the minibus every afternoon while I changed into my bathing suit. When had he slipped from my consciousness?

The day after Rory emptied my trunk, Nancy stopped Erin and me after lunch. “Come see me before the end of rest hour. I need to talk to you. Both of you.”

“We have to tell her,” Erin said as we walked toward Nancy’s cabin.

“No we don’t. She already knows.”

“Whaddaya mean?”

“I could tell by her voice. She knows there’s been trouble. Everyone knows.”