chess players and hoped the rec center stayed far away from board games.
Woody hadn’t stopped talking. “Your big focus will be the youth program, of course.”
“Of course,” she echoed.
“They arrive at nine. We don’t provide meals, but we have snacks. There’s usually juice when they arrive, a midmorning snack of milk or juice and graham crackers, and then, at noon, they have the lunch they brought with them. Afternoons we try to provide fruit, popcorn, pretzels, something that’s not too sweet. We have water jugs available at all times, especially when the children are outdoors. You’ll need to make sure that whoever is in charge of that follows through.”
By now she had figured out that she ought to be taking notes. She was scribbling on deposit slips, since she rarely needed them for their real purpose these days.
He continued in the same vein. By the end of the tour it was clear that for the most part her job was making sure other people did theirs. And if they didn’t, she filled in. People got sick? She filled in. People forgot? She filled in. People got lazy? Same thing.
They ended up back in the reception area. Gladys grinned when she saw them approach. She finished printing a receipt and handed it over to a woman in black spandex. Then she folded her hands on the counter.
“So…you took the job?”
“I guess I did.”
“I’m going to leave Tracy with you now,” the beaming Woody told his wife. Tracy thought his was a smile seen most often on carnival midways. She was as gullible as a farm boy forking over a month’s spending money in a quest to win a stuffed gorilla, and Woody was thrilled to take whatever she gave him.
“Well,” Gladys said, when they were alone, “I took the liberty of putting everything together for you.” She reached under the counter and took out an expanding folder, held together by an elastic band. “You can do most of this at home and ask any questions when you bring it back Monday. I know you’re probably not prepared to stay today.”
“Wow.”
“I put my faith in you when I gave him your résumé.”
Tracy heard the message. Gladys believed Tracy could do this, and Tracy was not to fail her.
“I’ll bring this back Monday morning.” She took the folder and tucked it under her arm. “And Woody said you’d tell me a little about the tennis tournament?” That, at least, was something she could sink her teeth into.
“Tennis tournament?” Gladys looked over Tracy’s shoulder and smiled. Tracy had heard footsteps behind her; it seemed to be that kind of morning.
“I’ve never seen it so busy,” she told Gladys.
“Registration for youth camp just opened. People come early to be sure their kids get a spot. It’s going to be like this all day.”
“Then I won’t keep you. You can tell me about the tournament later.” She turned and saw that the footsteps belonged to Marsh Egan.
For a moment she didn’t know what to say; then she found her voice. “Let me guess. You’re here to register Bay for youth camp.”
He didn’t look pleased to see her. “I’m not sure why you care.”
Today Marsh almost looked presentable. Khaki trousers, a pinstriped sport shirt unbuttoned at the neck. A round pin on the pocket that read: It’s Not Easy Being Green. Even the end of his ponytail was tucked under.
“Registering him for the whole summer?” she asked.
“You got it.”
“We may have to require a ball and chain with your deposit.”
“We?”
She smiled sweetly. “I’m the new recreation supervisor. I’ll be in charge of every breath he takes.”
She heard Gladys clear her throat and remembered that the other woman was counting on her. “Of course he’ll be so happy to spend his summer here, doing things he loves, learning to get along with people. You came to the right place.”
“I thought so—until a few minutes ago.”
She had done her part. She turned to say goodbye to Gladys, who was standing, leaning forward. Before Tracy could stop her, Gladys reached over the counter and clapped an oversize cap on Tracy’s hair.
Tracy reached up with alarm and felt it sitting there like a bad bouffant hairdo. She snatched it off, but Marsh was already laughing.
The hat was bright red with white lettering. She turned the brim and read the slogan. Palmetto Grove Shuffleboard. Get A Cue. Under the letters was a logo of two long poles crossed like swords. She could still hear Marsh laughing as she squashed the hat in