For this one, you must clear yourself of having let a child disappear on your watch.
A STEP ASIDE (any gender, mid to late teens)
Well, yeah. I stepped aside at dinner. I wasn't trying to ABANDON the campers, like you say... they never go ANYWHERE during dinner hour, especially when it's apple pie night. If Johnny snuck off around that time, I probably wouldn't have caught him even if I WAS there. I mean he was able to disappear at least twice when you were leading morning meeting and you're our BOSS... but, but, BUT:
I'm totally not saying what I did was okay. I just needed a BREAK. We had the whole campfire to run afterwards and then I was going to be up all night finishing the costumes for the arrival day show... I'm not saying it was the right thing to leave the dining hall. I just needed a breath of fresh air. Some time to myself. I was just trying to keep sane.
But I'm not saying I've been INSANE. I'm fine. I WAS fine. I'm obviously upset. I SHOULD be upset. Johnny's missing. That's BAD, I get it. I'm just saying...
Okay, look: You want to know the truth, here's the truth. I'm pissed. I'm pissed at YOU. Steve, you're our BOSS. You're the camp DIRECTOR. Why weren't YOU there during the final dinner? You told us, you'd TRY to make it. Steve, you've been doing that all summer. Every evening activity, every rest hour. ALMOST every morning meeting.
"I've got something I need to attend to but I'll try to make it."
And you've never told us WHY. We have guesses... we catch sight of you in your office, on the phone, pacing around, sometimes shouting. It's the divorce, right? RIGHT? No, no, no... because it IS my business. I think so. Yes.
Steve if you were letting personal stuff affect your attendance ALL SUMMER, then I don't think I should be shamed for FIFTEEN MINUTES of grabbing some personal time with Shane--
[pause]
Uh... okay. Okay, I...
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"