Если я останусь

           Ilookedather,thenervouslookinhereyesbetrayingthe"youwannapieceofme?"smirkonherface,andIwasoverwhelmedwithgratitudetobefriendswithsomeonewhooftenseemedtounderstandmebetterthanIunderstoodmyself.DadaskedmeifIwantedtogo,andwhenIprotestedaboutthemoney,hesaidnevermindaboutthat.DidIwanttogo?AndIdid.Morethananything.

           Threemonthslater,whenDaddroppedmeoffinalonelycornerofVancouverIsland,Iwasn’tsosure.Theplacelookedlikeatypicalsummercamp,logcabinsinthewoods,kayaksstrewnonthebeach.Therewereaboutfiftykidswho,judgingbythewaytheywerehuggingandsquealing,hadallknownoneanotherforyears.Meanwhile,Ididn’tknowanybody.Forthefirstsixhours,noonetalkedtomeexceptforthecamp’sassistantdirector,whoassignedmetoacabin,showedmemybunkbed,andpointedthewaytothecafeteria,wherethatnight,Iwasgivenaplateofsomethingthatappearedtobemeatloaf.

           Istaredmiserablyatmyplate,lookingoutatthegloomygrayevening.Ialreadymissedmyparents,Kim,andespeciallyTeddy.Hewasatthatfunstage,wantingtotrynewthingsandconstantlyasking"What’sthat?"andsayingthemosthilariousthings.ThedaybeforeIleft,heinformedmethathewas"nine-tenthsthirsty"andIalmostpeedmyselflaughing.Homesick,Isighedandmovedthemassofmeatloafaroundmyplate.

           "Don’tworry,itdoesn’traineveryday.Justeveryotherday."

           Ilookedup.