-CC Day Twenty-

Lounging around, with his feet on the coffee table Dave mindlessly matched colorful shapes on his phone causing explosions and cascading rivers of new brightly colored objects to fill in the empty spaces left behind. So much fun, he thought bitterly. Glancing up to see Roxie reading a newspaper like an old woman, he was sure that it wouldn't be long before she'd ask him to play bridge or canasta next. Being a camp counselor, even at Jurassic World of all places was not exactly what the man had been hoping for. In fact he found it quite depressing, and at this point he kind of hated it.

None of the kids could get along for more than a day or two at a time, not a single one of the outings they had planned was deemed a unanimous success someone always finding at least one flaw in each activity, and at times the kids could be mean, like really ruthlessly mean, not just to each other, and not in the way he was accustomed to dealing with mean kids.

All Dave had wanted was a break from his life, and for the kids to relax and have fun, fondly recalling his own camp experiences as a child. His memories were filled with daring adventures, broken rules, skinned knees, and now that he thought about it very questionable blood pacts and games of spin the bottle. Man camp was weird, but that was the point! Summer camp let you be weird, it let you taste freedom, and explore who you were without the totalitarian reign of parents and guardians, and it let you do it before you were shackled by the unbreakable adamantium bonds of adulthood.

It was like with all the pressure and expectations put on children these days they were forced to grow up faster and faster without getting the opportunity to really have a bite of life before it was ripped away, replaced by work and responsibilities. And that was all he wanted for them, and yet he seemed to fail each and every time he tried.

"Am I intimidating?" he asked after a moment, the thought occuring to him suddenly. Roxie let out a snorting laugh, the corners of her eyes wrinkling with mirth. Dave, who didn't think it was quite as funny stared until she could compose herself.

"No I mean it." he said putting his cell away and leaning towards her, real concern on his face. "It seems like no matter what I do Ben's afraid of me." he paused, playing through various situations which he might have done something to warrant that type of reaction. "I mean, yeah the whole zipline thing was kinda mean, and I know I probably threw the ball a little harder than I should have in pachysephalosaurus themed dodgeball, but I mean, come on! He was looking right at it he could have moved! Or caught it! Or something!"

Roxie folded her paper over her expression aghast. "You gave him a bloody nose in the first ten seconds of the game!"

"He should have dodged!" Dave yelled back defensively. "It's called dodge-ball! You literally dodge the ball!"

"And another thing," he cut through the silence that had fallen over the employee recreation area, full on vent mode activated. "I don't think Brooklynn or Kenji really like me either. I try to joke around, engage with them, you know camp counselor stuff and they just look at me like I'm crazy! It's just like what am I doing wrong? Am I not cool enough for you guys? I'm sorry, I'm just trying to make sure you're not miserable the whole time you're here!"

The man fell quiet again as he brooded and Roxie returned to her paper. "Also woo that Yasmina! That girl can seriously run! I can hardly keep up with her, like at all!"

"Dave," Roxie sighed. "That's because even though she's only seventeen, Yasmina is a professional athlete. While you're, you're just... not."

"I know she's an athlete," Dave rolled his eyes. "But I mean damn, most mornings she's just a little gray dot on the horizon... Oh, but I've lost like eight pounds!" he enthused patting his slightly tighter gut. "I think I might keep this running thing up after the summer's over. I've been feeling really good lately too, I mean I'm dying every morning, but I feel great!"

"That's great." the woman replied, clearly distracted.

"That's exactly what I just said. Are you even listening to me? Because you don't sound very enthusiastic. You know if you lost eight pounds and wanted someone to celebrate I'd be blowing it up for you." Dave pouted.

Roxie lowered her paper once more, this time to reveal dangerously narrowed hazel eyes. It was then that Dave knew somehow, in some way, that he'd just fucked up. "Are you calling me fat?" she asked in a sharp-but-trying-to-not-get-too-angry sort of tone.

"No!" Dave was quick to say, hands up defensively. "No, not at all! You look, you look- I mean-" he trailed off giving her the ok sign and a wink hoping to defuse the situation.

"Mm-hm." she muttered with a cocked eyebrow, Dave could feel the threat level dropping from red to orange and reminded himself to watch what he said. "Listen the thing with the kids not liking you is because your their camp counselor, not a fellow camper, and not their friend."

"Why not?" Dave asked incredulously. "Why can't I be their counselor and their friend."

"That's the other thing. You also try way too hard."

"How can someone try 'too hard?'" he sneered, leaning over the back of the sofa to peer through the open doorway. Through the opening and down the hall he could just make some of the kids. They were all gathered in the entertainment room playing on their phones or zoning off to the television like bumps on a log.

"I think we're melting their brains." he muttered to himself, but Roxie felt that it was her duty to respond anyway.

"No we're not, that's what technology is for, we're educating them." she snarked.

"Yeah, but I think they could use a break from all this structure and learning they get enough of it during the school year, trust me. What they need is some sort of outlet, burn of some steam and energy." he explained.

"That's exactly what today is, down time."

"And what are they doing with their downtime?" Dave criticized growing more frustrated and more impatient, though for what he wasn't sure. "Just watching movies all day, napping, texting? Ugh! They should be out doing something!"

"You're a strange one alright." the woman dismissed turning away from him.

Glowering at the kids Dave couldn't help but feel that this whole situation was incredibly wrong. It didn't even feel like summer vacation it felt like a lazy Saturday, and he wasn't quite sure how, but he intended to fix it. What they needed was freedom, excitement, and most importantly adventure. A devilishly ingenious plan coming to mind Dave got up and headed for the door.

"I'm just gonna go take a quick poll on what everyone wants for lunch." he explained.

"So you're cooking then?" Roxie asked in a way that made it sound like a statement.

"Sure." Dave nodded, easing the door closed behind him.

Walking into the entertainment room Dave took up a position in front of the TV, hands on his hips, and a mischievous grin on his face as everyone broke out in protest. "I know, I know, but hear me out." he beamed before checking over his shoulder superstitiously. "Today was supposed to be a day of zen, tranquility, and relaxation, but let's face it, today is a bust. Now, who's ready for a top-secret-ultra-mega-covert-do-not-tell-Roxie-ditch-camp-breakout-adventure-extravaganza?"

"I'm in!" Sammy jumped up eagerly, Brooklynn quick to agree.

"Me too!" Darius said, struggling to contain his enthusiasm. "What are we going to go see? Is it something dangerous? Something Roxie doesn't what us getting too close to? Oh like a-"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but there are no dinosaurs on this one, no learning either, just you guys having some fun." Dave cut him off with a wince.

"Oh." Darius said setting his bowl of chips aside, looking a bit deflated. "I'm still in though."

"Anything to get out of here!" Kenji who was hanging upside-down from the back of the sofa groaned.

"Ditto." Yasmina agreed.

Slowly the room turned towards Ben who was reading contently in a beanbag chair. He appeared caught off guard when he noticed everyone staring at him. "So Ben, are you coming or what?" Dave asked with a smile.

"I-I don't really think we should be breaking the rules, and if Roxie doesn't know it feels like we're breaking the rules." he muttered squeezing sanitizer into his palm.

"So, what, Roxie's my boss now, and I can't make my own rules?" Dave scoffed.

"Isn't she though?" he asked.

While the kid did technically have a point, something the counselor grudgingly conceded Dave still had one final tactic to resort to: good old fashioned peer pressure. "Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben!" he started chanting. The kids picked it up and soon they were all cheering for the boy in low secretive tones.

"Fine, I'll go!" he finally gave in.

"Fantastic, everybody, go get your swimsuits on and meet back here in five!" Dave declared watching with amusement as everyone scrambled away doing their best to keep the noise to a minimum in spite of all the laughter.

Hurrying to his own bedroom Dave pulled on a pair of trunks, a white tee, and sunglasses. Looking sharp, he thought giving himself a quick once over before loading a duffle bag with a bunch of towels, some Camp Cretaceous shirts, water bottles, and granola bars. By the time he got back most of the kids were waiting for him, Kenji doing his best to impress the girls as he flexed and posed his topless bod. Darius who wasn't nearly as muscular was doing the same beside him. Grinning Dave couldn't determine whether the younger boy was trying to mock or emulate him, either way it made for a hilarious sight.

Girls are always so self-conscious, Dave thought rather dismally then, as he did a quick head count. Brooklynn had not one but two different shirts on over her bathing suit, while Sammy hid her lower body under a pair of baggy shorts. "Is that your suit?" he asked pausing at Yasmina, regretting it when she turned away with embarrassment.

"Yeah, it's for speed swimming." she replied fiddling with the zipper at the front of her body suit.

"I didn't know you were a triathlete!" Sammy chimmed in.

"I'd wager there's a lot you don't know." Yaz bit out.

"Guys, no fighting this is our fun day. Got it?" Dave asked trying to reassure himself that this was a good idea just as much as he was trying to reign the campers in. Turned out he wouldn't need to, as a fit of giggles broke out at the sight of Ben, caked in sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, a large sun visor, a Hawaiian shirt, and socks with sandels waddled in juggling a tote and several different books.

"What?" he asked. "As if I would submerge myself in a soup of-"

"Uh-uh!" "No, no, no, no!" "Ben stop it!" and "That's already way too much information buddy!" Dave and the other kids interrupted hastily.

"I was just going to say-"

"If you ruin swimming for me I swear to God I'll ruin your book!" Kenji threatened with a clenched fist. "Yeah, that's right, I read the ending!" Ben looked horrified but kept his mouth shut.

"Huh," Brooklynn said observing how the scenario played out. "You're kind of an evil genius." Leading the way the influencer nabbed one of Ben's novels while he scrambled to keep hold of his other supplies. Yaz, and Darius quickly followed her example each one turning to the last few pages of their pilfered material, gasping scandalously while they read. Laughing, they raced towards the elevator in heated competition.

"I think I hate you." Ben said to Kenji with a look of pure exhaustion.

Dave smiled ushering everyone outside, as Sammy assured her friend that no one would dare to actually spoil anything for him.

Once everyone was loaded into the back of the Jeep Dave pulled up along the exterior of the treehouse, staring up at the window of the recreation center. Honking the horn several times he waited until Roxie was leaning out of it, with a sour expression on her face before he produced his cellphone and gave her a ring.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded to know.

"Well, hi to you too." the man said hanging his head out of the driver's door. "So, this seemed like one of those beg forgiveness later type situations, so this is me, you know begging... But also if you wanted to throw on a swimsuit and hop in the other car we're gonna go crash the big water park near the central hotel..."

"You're going to what?"

"K see ya later bye!" Dave laughed hanging up on her. Burning rubber and kicking up dirt for a second the man tore off in the truck with a jerk as the momentum he'd built caught up with them. The children wooped and hollered from the back, fists pumping in the air. "Let's rock!" the counselor said to himself blasting some tunes, windows rolled down, probably frightening everything within ear shot, but oh well.

Getting into the water park was a breeze, they just found another large group of people heading in quickly flashed their non existent wristbands, and blended into the herd. Rushing past the welcome desk, through the concession stands, and making a run for it the last leg of the journey they emerged victorious on the other side. Inhaling the pungent chlorinated air the camp counselor took in everything from the wave pool, to the dozen or so waterslides, and grinned at his charges.

"Now is this a day off or what?" he asked as they looked around and then back at him expectantly. He glanced at his watch, before finding an easily distinguishable landmark. "Alright, we'll meet back at the apatosaurus awning in say two hours?"

"Wait, we can just go?" Darius asked trying to surpress a smile, just in case he'd misheard.

"Yeah, you're free. Go!" Dave laughed.

"Like for real, reals?" Sammy followed up skeptically.

"Like for real, reals, or we can always go back to the treehouse."

"Bye!" Yasmina shouted racing away from the group.

"Peace out!" Kenji called bounding away as well.

And just like that the campers dispersed into the massive horde of visitors, some flying solo, others in pairs. Finding himself a luxury pool side chair Dave leaned back and relished the deep radiating warmth of the sun. It was as he lounged blissfully and without a care in the world that he heard a familiar voice screaming with delight.

Turning just in time he saw Yasmina rocketing out of a big red corkscrew, eyes squeezed closed, laughter infectious as the man realized he hadn't ever seen her so genuinely happy. Trying to cypher through the massive throngs of bodies the others weren't quite so easy to pick out. Except, of course, for Ben who had cordoned off the area by rearranging some benches and strategically placing various articles onto them so that he could read in the shade undisturbed.

Sammy and Brooklynn he eventually spotted wading in the shallows gossiping, while Kenji was undoubtedly off trying to mentor Darius in something likely misinformed, inappropriate, and highly cringe worthy. Scratch that, he thought as the boy with the dark complexion shot out a green slide nothing but smiles.

Finally! Dave thought with contentment, now it was beginning to feel like summer camp and not a juvenile detention center! Resolving to let them have their fun the man set a fifteen minute alarm on his phone and settled back, listening to the cacophonic noise of the hustle and bustle around him, this was truly the life.

By the time of the third headcount however, Dave espied something that concerned him. He approached the notorious duo with a stern look of disapproval directed at Kenji, who was sprawled out in the sun sipping what looked like a large strawberry daiquiri. The man cleared his throat loudly when his presence went unnoticed.

Kenji sat up eyes wide beneath his shades, "It's virgin I swear!" he said in an anxious rush.

Dave stared down at him hard, gaze shifting to Darius next who was smiling like a nervous puppy that just spotted the rolled up newspaper. Struggling with his suspicions the counselor didn't want to call Kenji an outright liar, yet that was exactly what his gut was screaming. Wrestling for a moment with his responsibility as a camp counselor, a teacher, and temporary guardian, he also knew that this sort of thing was a normal part of being a teenager, a part he had gone through when he wasn't much older.

"It had better be. Remember I'm still here, and I'm still watching you." he cautioned, his desire for the kids to just experience life outweighing his own sense of duty and moral obligation, Dave chose to let this one slip.

Seriously, the man thought with aggravation as he ambled back to his chair, listening as Kenji and Darius laughed and high-fived behind him. Dave knew now without a doubt that he'd been lied to, and maybe that was ok, just this once, he reasoned, though he knew he'd have to keep a closer eye on them. The man was just beginning to relax in his chair again when a somehow deeply ominous shadow blocked out the light. Cracking one eye he smiled up apologetically to his vengefully gorgeous, yet jilted partner in all of this.

"Roxie-roo, you made it," he grinned turning his head to the side so she wasn't quite so upside down. "And looking good in that suit by the way. You're really lucky the camp color is red because I have to say that really is your color, I mean what eight pounds?"

"Hello David." she gritted out, arms rigidly crossed.

"Ouch, that mad huh?" he winced gesturing for her to take the open chair beside him.

"I am furious!" she fumed starting to pace. "The least you could have done was consult me before committing six counts of kidnapping, and seven of breaking and entering! This isn't part of the camp package, you're technically stealing from this water park I hope you are aware!" she raged, her last few words gritted through her teeth as she leaned down in his face.

"We're not stealing, were just..." Dave puzzled for a moment trying to find a reasonable excuse. "Crashing?"

Rolling her eyes Roxie sat down, one leg crossed over the other giving him a disparaging look. "Well whatever you're doing it would have been nice to have been informed ahead of time."

"Would you have said 'no?'"

"Of course I would have said 'no' I'm not a sociopath!"

"See," he grinned with vindication. "That's exactly why we didn't ask you."

"We? Are you seriously trying to deflect some of the blame onto the children?"

"Fine, it's exactly why I didn't ask you. Better?"

The two quietly watched the kids race around like they'd lost their minds until a slowly loosening up Roxie spoke again. "So is this what you were like as a teacher?" she asked. "A rule breaker?"

"Oh most definitely!" Dave laughed nostalgically. "I did the whole shebang, brought the kids to the roof top for egg drops, cultivated a mold so pungent that half the school had to be evacuated when we uncapped that bad boy, encouraged the kids to play with fire-" he paused his reminiscing when he saw the look of abject terror she was giving him. "With proper adult supervision, God I'm not that crazy!" he laughed. "But getting kids physically involved in the science is what made it meaningful to them, and what sparked their interest in the world around them. And damn did it help make the lessons stick. Test scores, whoosh, through the roof!"

"You sound pretty passionate about it." the woman mused.

"Oh, I am." Dave nodded tossing her a water bottle from the duffle bag.

"So then why leave?" she asked.

Dave thought quietly for a moment his face grim. He wondered if bringing this up would change things between them. Would talking about it put the thought in her head where it would burrow and gnaw away at her until she became suspicious of it herself? He wondered. It had happened before when he'd expressed his frustration to co-workers in the past, what was there to say it wouldn't happen again?

"Do you know what people say when you're a grown man and you tell them that you work with children?" he asked. Roxie shook her head. "Well, if they're polite they say 'bless your heart.'"

"Bless your heart? Well that doesn't sound so bad." she smiled obliviously.

"That's because you're british." the man laughed tipped his own bottle towards her before taking a gulp. "Unless it's coming from an old southern woman it means that you're too stupid to even realize that what you're doing is stupid."

"Oh." Roxie's brow furrowed. "Well that doesn't seem terribly fair does it? Making something so cruel sound so nice... And what if they aren't polite."

"I'm not sure if I can speak for every school, but uh, the ones I've worked at it was always the same. The second a male teacher is hired the rumor mill starts running, churning out news in the blink of an eye. Everyone always knows you're sleeping with someone, the principal, other teachers, parents. Then if you're good with the kids," he let out a sigh. "It they like you and enjoy your class, that's when the rumors turn really nasty. Eventually people insinuate some pretty terrible things. The parents are always talking about you, the female teachers watch you like a hawk, and the office staff coordinates regular meetings just to 'insure everything is running smoothly.' All in all, everyone makes doing what makes you happy for the love of teaching, and wanting to make the world a better and brighter place for kids extremely uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry David," Roxie said gently. "I had no idea."

"It happens." the man shrugged. "Nothing ever came of it either, just rumors." he sighed again. "But that's just the way people see the world I guess."

"I hope that I haven't ever made you feel like I think-"

"You haven't," he beamed cutting her off. "And that's what's great about working with you. You trust me, and ever since picking Childhood Education as my major, that's something that I've found has been few and far between... Thank you."

"Anytime Co-Head Counselor." Roxie smiled back.

"Really?"

"For the today at the very least, actually 'Head Couselor Dave' sounds better, you know so if we get thrown out of here this ones all on you. As far as I'm concerned it's my day off." she larked before getting up and rushing into the water. The man wanted to follow her in, but didn't, likely overthinking things he opted to hang out where he was and keep an eye on the kids.

When Dave couldn't see three of his six campers a half-hour later he went in search of them, particularly concerned as the oldest among them was counted among those who had disappeared. Rounding the end of the wave pool he found Darius and Brooklynn in a fit of giggles as they tried shushing Kenji and pulling him back into his chair.

"Hey, what's up?" Dave asked the wobbly teenager, already beginning to regret his momentary lapse in judgement.

"The sky." Kenji smiled as he broke free of his friends and tried to push past the counselor. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some drowning to do."

"What?" Dave asked no quite following.

"See Mr. Beefy McCakes?" Kenji asked motioning to a well muscled lifeguard. "Yeah, I'm in some serious need of mouth to mouth."

"Oh dear God help me." Dave muttered pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I thought you were supposed to use grand gestures?" Darius asked sarcastically, looking up at his friend.

"Yeah junior, but that's with girls," Kenji explained bluntly. "With guys you gotta let them be the hero!"

"If you say so." Darius said with a frown.

"Whatever." Kenji shrugged trying to move past Dave again, only to stop short when the man caught him tightly by the shoulder.

"How many of these have you had?" Dave bit out picking up a tall glass with a paper umbrella.

"Somewhere between too many for you to still believe they're none alcoholic, and not quite enough for me to forget how much camp sucks." he responded, swaying slightly. "Now, my audience awaits."

"Oh my God, I'm getting this on camera!" Brooklynn announced standing up phone at the ready.

"No, you're not." Dave shouted, pushing Kenji back into his seat. "Jesus!" he went on running a hand through his hair as he looked around for back up that wasn't there. "What were you thinking."

"Hey, it's not my fault," Kenji smiled with charm. "Darius wouldn't finish his, and Brooklynn is some sort of mojito snob."

"If you can call those mojit- I'm sorry?" Brooklynn smiled with forced sheepishness when the man turned his attention to her. "My dad got me one in Cancun... This one wasn't as good."

"And you?" he asked leveling his gaze at Darius who looked like he knew he was in for it.

"It tasted like a strawberry smoothie made with mouthwash," he grimaced. "I thought I could drink it but it was really gross."

"Fine," Dave sighed running a hand down his face. "You three wait here while I gather the others."

Scanning the crowds like a meerkat looking for predators Dave finally spotted Yasmina. She was walking fast with a scowl on her face, fists clenched, clearly on a warpath. Hurrying to catch up with her he tried it figure out where she was going when the counselor spotted Sammy and a girl he'd never seen before taking shelter behind her as the Texan squared off against a couple of guys who appeared to be frat boys on vacation. Pouring on the speed Dave rushed to get there before anything happened.

"This is the last time I'm going to warn you, keep your skeezy commentary to yourself!" Sammy was yelling, impervious to the embarassment of the attention she was drawing. "She doesn't like it, no girl likes it, and I'm done listening to it."

"Yeah," Yaz called taking up a position at Sammy's left mean faced and ready to brawl. "First rule of feminism you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us. Second rule is you mess with us and we'll make you our bit-"

"Whoa, hey, whoa!" Dave walked between the parties hands up. "I think that's enough, ladies we alright?"

"These pigs keep catcalling every girl they see!" Sammy shouted. "I was ignoring it until they started following her, and I could tell she didn't want to be followed."

"Hey, you alright?" Dave asked the girl in pink, who looked a lot younger than she did from across the pool, she shook her head. "Alright so you boys just go back to whatever you were doing, just leave her alone."

"We were only trying to be friendly." one of them objected, reaching a hand towards the young woman's exposed midriff.

"Mm, yeah, no. I'll call security." Dave said grabbing his wrist, tone dropping an octave. "But not before I break your face." Dave stared up at the slightly taller young man, grip tightening on the thug's forearm as they sized one another up. "We good?" Dave asked after a second.

"Fuck you," the one Dave had by the arm said pulling away. "You too, you fridged bitches."

"Yeah, and you with a rusted pipe!" Yasmina added, catching Dave by surprise. Thankfully, two guards approached the scene, and with their presence and a growing crowd in spite of what he feared her outburst didn't escalate the things any further.

"Is everyone alright?" Dave asked.

"Yeah I think so." Sammy said as the girls all shakily hugged one another.

"I could have handled it." Yasmina muttered.

"I'm sure you could have." Dave agreed before tapping the unknown girl on the shoulder. "Hey, we've got to head so go find your grown-ups and don't leave their line of sight k?"

"My 'grown-ups?'" she repeated.

"Ugh, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunt, uncle, fosters I don't know!" he snapped at her, his frayed wits end beginning to show. "I didn't want to assume. Just find your tall people and don't leave their side!"

"We'll walk her back." Yasmina declared as they turned to leave.

Dave was beginning to argue that they had to go, and now when a shrill whistle caught his attention. Turning he saw a lifeguard diving into the water after a flailing Kenji. Dave felt like he was not only losing control, but his mind as well as everything unraveled all around him. Then he spotted Ben, good old reliabel Ben, reading on his own, never the cause of any trouble. Yeah Ben was definitely his new favorite camper he thought in a moment of serenity amid the chaos before it all came rushing back. Wondering how exactly he was going to pull everything together now a loud shout from behind him put his mind at ease.

"Camp Cretaceous campers!" Roxie yelled, her hands cupped around her mouth. Suddenly all six of them turned, including Kenji who had miraculously discovered he could stand on the bottom of the pool. "Bring it in, let's go!"

And that was when Dave realized why they worked so well together, he might have been the heart, but Roxie was, well, Roxie was everything else. Gradually all of the kids made their way to the counselors, where Roxie motioned to Dave to take the lead. He opened his mouth to say that it was time to go home when an announcement for the Tyrannosaurus Rex feeding cut in through the loud speakers dotted around Jurassic World. Immediately Darius started begging, the others quickly following suit.

Dave looked to Roxie who shrugged, "This is your rodeo, I'm just here to watch."

The man leveled his gaze at the tipsy boy who smiled back. "Are you good?" he asked.

"Best I've been all summer!" Kenji replied.

"Fine." Dave agreed against every last ounce of reason left in his body.

"Woo! Let go do touristy shit!" Kenji hollered, as they all slipped on the extra shirts Dave had grabbed and headed for the exit.

Half dead by the time they got back to the treehouse that night Dave collapsed onto the couch. At least they had fun, he told himself, face buried in the cushions. They were all drained, and a little sunburned, but very happy by the time all was said and done. Now all the man wanted to do was sleep.

"Hey, oh great leader." Roxie yawned from the recliner. "I don't mean to interrupt, but you've forgotten something fairly important."

"What?" Dave mumbled.

"What are we feeding them for dinner?"

The only response Dave could muster was a whimper...