Secrets at Camp Nokomis. Jacqueline Dembar Greene
“That’s the bugle playing ‘Reveille,’” Corky announced. “Rise and shine, lassies!”
“I saw a bugle once in a newsreel about the army,” Rebecca said. “I didn’t know there would be one at camp.” She slid from her bunk onto the bare wooden floor. “Morning, Tina,” she said with a yawn. When there was no reply, Rebecca peeked into the bottom bed. It was empty, the covers pulled taut. Maybe Tina was changing in the outhouse again.
Ginny stepped into the tent. “Good morning, girls! Put on your bathing outfits and go have a wash in the pond. It’s a cold dip, but it will wake you right up.”
The girls dressed, grabbed soap, and straggled to the pond. Rebecca felt the chill air against her bare legs. She had never taken a bath like this before!
“Last one in is a skunk!” Cammie shouted, splashing into the water. The rest of the Beavers rushed in, yelping as the cold water hit them. They washed quickly, rinsed their hair with a fast dunk, and dashed back to the tent.
In dry clothes, the girls clamored for space in front of the cloudy piece of metal that served as a makeshift mirror. It was nailed to a tree above an outdoor washbasin. Rebecca tried to peer at herself as she combed her tangled hair.
“Braids would feel cooler,” Ginny suggested. “If you girls team up, no one will need a mirror.”
Rebecca braided Dottie’s damp hair tightly, and Dottie returned the favor. The girls admired each other. As they hung their dripping suits on a rope strung between the trees, Ginny turned toward the dining hall. “Head for breakfast when you’re done,” she said. “I’ll save a table.”
As soon as Ginny was gone, Corky put her hands on her hips and asked, “Where’s Teeny?” The girls looked around, baffled. “Well, if the last one into the pond is a skunk, I guess we’ll smell her before we see her,” Corky said. She pinched her nose and added in a nasal voice, “And the smell won’t be teeny at all!”
“What I smell is fried onions and potatoes,” Josie said. “Let’s eat!”
As the Beavers headed off in a ragtag group, they passed some younger girls scurrying toward the Crane tent with dripping watering cans.
“What on earth are you doing?” Bertie asked as the girls began pouring water on their tent stakes.
The Crane girls looked serious. “Why, the campers in Loon told us we have to keep the stakes wet or the tent will fall over,” one explained. “Didn’t you water yours?”
Rebecca was puzzled. “We’d better ask Ginny about that.”
Josie nodded. “She’s in the dining hall.”
As soon as the Beavers left the watering can brigade behind, Corky burst out laughing. “I can’t believe they fell for that old trick.”
“It’s a trick?” Dottie asked. “But what if the stakes do dry out?”
Corky smirked. “It’s a camp prank. They’ll figure it out soon enough. My tent was fooled last year. We sure felt silly!”
In the meal line, Rebecca was amazed at the variety of food. There were heaping bowls of fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, bananas and oranges, breakfast rolls, pitchers of orange juice and milk, platters of pancakes—and sliced strawberries! She wondered if Tina had actually persuaded the cook to serve them. She spooned a pile onto her plate and then hesitated at a tray of curly strips of meat. “What’s this?” she asked Corky.
“Ain’t you ever eaten bacon?” Corky responded.
Ginny corrected Corky’s grammar. “Haven’t you ever eaten bacon,” she repeated.
“Sure an’ I’ve eaten it,” Corky said, not realizing her mistake. Ginny let it go.
Now that Rebecca knew what the meat was, she moved on. Although her family was willing to overlook the fact that food at camp didn’t follow the Jewish kosher food laws, there was no reason for her to eat pork. It was strictly forbidden, and there were so many other dishes, she wouldn’t go hungry.
Corky nudged Rebecca’s arm. “Go ahead and try it, Beckie. It’s delicious.”
“My family doesn’t eat that,” Rebecca explained.
“Well, here’s your chance,” Corky said. “They’ll never know.” She dropped a few strips onto Rebecca’s plate.
“No thanks,” Rebecca said. She slid the bacon onto Corky’s plate. Ginny shepherded the Beaver girls to a table. Tina was already seated, dressed in her long jumper, with a full plate of food in front of her.
Corky picked up a piece of bacon with her fingers and took a crunchy bite. “I can’t believe Beckie passed up the best food of all.”
“Different families have different ways of doing things,” Ginny said. “Why, Corky, I’ll bet you wouldn’t be eating that bacon if today were Friday, would you?”
“Of course not,” Corky answered. “You can’t eat meat on Fridays, now, can you?”
“That’s the custom in Catholic families,” Ginny explained, “but not everyone has the same religion.” She smiled. “Now you and Rebecca have both learned something new.”
“I think she should learn to eat what’s put in front of her,” Corky mumbled with her mouth full. Then she turned her attention to Tina. “And where were you this morning? You missed your bath.” Rebecca was startled by Corky’s bluntness, but she was curious about Tina, too.
“I…I’m…the bugler,” Tina said, clearly flustered.
“So you’re the culprit who blasted us awake,” Sunny teased.
Josie was a bit grumpier. “I thought I was in the army!”
“Now, now, there’s no need for teasing,” Ginny interrupted. “Let’s treat one another the same way we’d like to be treated.”
Rebecca patted her bunk mate on the back. “Sounding the bugle is a hard job! Who else would get up that early?” Tina smiled gratefully.
The girls looked up as Roger sauntered in, his hair neatly slicked back. The hot food was already gone, but Roger walked right into the kitchen and came out in a few minutes with a full plate of bacon, eggs, and potatoes.
“Will ya look at that?” Cammie marveled. “I thought Miss Pepper was tough, but she must have a soft spot for Roger.” Ginny looked up and her gaze lingered on Roger for a long moment.
“Looks like Miss Pepper’s not the only one,” Corky teased. Her eyes sparkled as she looked from Roger to Ginny.
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