For this one, you must convince your supervisor that you co-counselor is a danger to the camp.
CHARLOTTE (any gender, mid to late teens)
Of course I'm worried about Tommy. But I don't believe he's in big danger. The worst things in those woods are like, mosquitoes. Maybe if he gets enough bites that'll drive him back to camp. Ha! Maybe that'll stop him from wandering into the woods completely.
Anyway there's nothing we can do. Nothing I can do. Sorry Stan, I know you're doing everything you can. I know it's going to be a long night for you. Making the calls, helping with the search and all that.
But I need to talk to you about Charlotte. This isn't, like, peer-drama or anything. This is just about my job. Working with Charlotte... Stan, it's just like having another kid to watch over. There aren't many counselors here. We can agree on that, right? And we're going to have to keep extra watch on the kids while camp is on lock-down.
Stan, I don't think we can count on Charlotte. Not tonight. Even earlier? During evening activity? I know you didn't see this, but the entire time we were explaining the game... Charlotte was just standing there with this blank look on her face. She does that, Stan. She does that all the time. The kids pick up on that. Tommy might have even picked up on that, knowing he could run away... one less set of eyes, right?
And then, it's when she looks at you. God Stan, it gives me the creeps. She makes eye contact with me occasionally... OCCASIONALLY and it's like someone's jumping out at me in the dark, that's the jolt I get when her eyes hit mine.
Stan, I don't want to get into your business or anything... but is it possible to get Sandy back here? I know, what's between you two, it's none of my business. But watching out for the kids, that's definitely my business, right? You and Sandy could put your differences aside, right? At least until parent arrival day?
I can't put my differences aside with Charlotte. I don't feel safe.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"