Drops of Sunshine

I pulled my brand new, now mud-caked Jeep into a clearing. A banner hanging between two trees read: Welcome to Camp Green Lake. I was relieved to see four other vehicles in the lot. A girl was lifting a duffle bag out of the back of a rusting pickup, and I parked next to her.

As I opened my door, she let out a long whistle. “Nice Jeep.”

“Thanks,” I said, jumping down from the cab. The moisture in the air seemed to attack my skin, and I instantly felt sticky.

“Wow, it’s…”

“Woodsy.” The girl finished my sentence. “That a reward for serving time with the disabled?” She pointed to my vehicle.

I turned towards her, hands on my hips. “No. That a consolation prize for coming in second in a beauty contest?” She hadn’t been nice, but my comment was mean. What did I care though? I didn’t need to make friends anyway.

“Ouch, guess I deserved that.” She wrapped her hair in a bun and held a hand out towards me. “I’m Brittney.”

I shook her hand and released it. “I’m Nina, the new lifeguard.”