Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,10

handle it from here, Mom,” I said as I stepped around her and into the office.

“Good,” a voice called out as a lean shadow appeared down the hall. “We like our counselors to be independent self-starters. You’re one of those, aren’t you, Miss Williams?”

The man walking toward me had to be Charles Purty. His presence and deep voice were commanding without being harsh. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with trim salt-and-pepper hair and chestnut brown skin. Ebony eyes sized me up while he pursed his lips and asked, “Your mother told my staff a lot about you over the phone, but I have to ask, do you have any camp experience, Miss Williams?”

I swallowed hard before answering. “I sometimes went camping with my… dad.”

I heard Mom inhale nervously behind me. Had she told Mr. Purty what happened to Dad? Either way, I didn’t want her bringing it up now. Without turning, I waved her off, hoping she’d get the hint and let me do this on my own. The door creaked, and I heard her footsteps on the gravel as she headed back out to the car.

“Ah, yes. Your father was a camp counselor here many years ago. Quite a valued employee, I hear. I’m happy to have such a distinguished family back on the grounds.” He offered me a fatherly smile, one I gladly accepted.

“Did you... know my father?” I asked, my voice shaking.

He dropped his eyes to the desk he stood behind. “No. This is only my second year as Camp Dean. But from the stories I’ve heard from the other staff, it sounds like I would have liked him very much.”

“Thanks,” I said, swallowing down so much emotion, I worried I would choke on it. “I’m happy to be here. I plan on going to school to become a teacher, so working with children is right up my alley. I know CPR, first aid, and took classes in early childhood education. I also have a ton of babysitting experience.”

I clasped my hands behind my back so they wouldn’t shake. Suddenly, I worried this was all for nothing, and Charles Purty would tell me I was unqualified and ask me to leave. I really didn’t want that to happen, not after all it had taken just to get me here.

Charles tapped the desk with two fingers. “This job will certainly pad your resume. The children here are… They will challenge you. Are you up for the challenge, Miss Williams?”

“You can call me Piper. And, yes, sir. I’m up for it.”

Was I?

“You have three days of counselor orientation until the campers arrive, but please remember you’re still on the clock. No funny business.” He waggled a finger. “The training you will receive is extremely important and should be taken seriously.”

I held up my hands. “No funny business. You can count on me.”

“Good. Have your mother drive your things to cabin seven. The sign out front says, Saka'am. Your partner should be there to meet you.” He offered me a paper trifold map.

Having survived my first interaction with my boss without completely embarrassing myself, I backed out of the office and high-tailed it to the car.

Mom stared at me as I slid into the passenger seat. “See? Nice, right?”

I blew out my breath. “So far, yes. We need to take my things to the cabin.” I opened up the trifold and showed her the cabin on the cartoonishly drawn map.

My cabin, Saka’am, looked like all the rest of the buildings, an ancient log rectangle sporting a slanted green roof with the door thrown open despite the bugs. I walked up the steps and peered inside. Rows of metal bunks lined each wall with built-in cubbies running down the center for personal belongings. Stepping inside, I lifted one thin, musty mattress and sighed. If the bugs didn’t get me, the mattresses might. My so-called partner was not here after all.

“You’re going to have so much fun here,” Mom said as she rolled in my suitcase and set it at the foot of the bed.

I thought she was joking, but when I turned around, her face beamed with a special kind of nostalgia that let me know she was being genuine. She really thought I’d have the time of my life.

I glanced around the room, trying to see it with new eyes.

Everything seemed dingy and dusty until I looked up. On the ceiling, hundreds of names were written in different fonts and different colors, some faded by time,