Chapter 3

 I eventually found the councilor's office. When I walked in, there was a man with crazy hair and a stern look on his face that was traced with stubble. His hat was resting on his desk right next to where his boot-covered feet were. He was chewing out sunflower seeds and spitting them with excellent aim out the side of his mouth at the garbage bin a few feet away. He looked up at me. His face was bold and cold. His eyes were expressionless.

"Alright, there she is.” The guard grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the cowboy, Yep, he’s sexist… I told myself whilst shrugging off the guard’s hand. He sent me a death look.

“This is the right girl?” The cowboy spat the pod out and shoved in another.

 “Yeah…you’re still on them sunflower seeds?" The guard asked.

"Of course." the man said, as the guard shrugged and walked outside; the cowboy was still staring at me, "You're name is Kathlyn Barlow, right?" I nodded. “Follow me.” The cowboy got up, put his hat on and walked out the door. I followed. He entered another door that was just opposite the one I came out of. As I went inside he was talking to a buff black haired guy who gave him an orange heap and gave me a weird look. The cowboy swiveled around. He motioned with his hands to my backpack. I pulled it off my arm and handed it to him. He threw me two hideous orange jumpsuits that the boys outside were wearing a pair of dirty boots in return and handed my backpack to the black haired guy. When the guy held it in his hands he gave me a disgusting yellow-toothed grin. I flinched and turned away. "One is your work clothes; the other is your relaxation clothes. Every three days, your work clothes will be washed and you will wear your relaxation clothes as your work clothes. Got it?" The cowboy explained.

"Yes, Mr.…?" I didn’t know what to call him.

"You will call me Mr. Sir, nothing else. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Mr. S-Sir?" I tried to control myself from laughing.

"What’s so funny?” he looked at me with piercing eyes. I coughed and resumed my natural state; looking bored. “Your name is Barlow right?”

“Yes, Mr. Sir.”

“Barlow, hmmm…” he looked me up and down, “well Barlow get changed.”

"Should I, erm, with you in here?" I looked at the black haired guy and Mr. Sir.

“Oh, right… Buck get outta here,” he motioned the guy outside, “I'll leave you to it." Mr. Sir glanced at me strangely and then turned around, walked stiffly out the door and firmly slammed it shut. I clutched the orange rag until there was defiantly no one coming in. I quickly slipped off my shorts and put the jumpsuit on over my tank top. I tied the sleeves to my waist because the heat would be literally unbearable, if it wasn't already. I took off my sandals and put the boots on. I put my hair in a messy high bun. I gazed into the glass of one of the cabinets. Ew, ew, ew… I looked like an orange banana with its peel down and a head poking out the top. A loud knocking came from the door.

“Uh, you can come in now.” I said.

I turned around, as Mr. Sir followed by a beaming sunburned short man with a big hat and sunscreen down his nose walked in. They stood in the doorway as I came outside and walked back into Mr. Sir’s office with them. The short man was starting to creep me out with his big grin shining through a messy beard. 

“Kathlyn Barlow, this here is Mr. Pendanski. He will be your councilor for your time in Camp Green Lake.” Stated Mr. Sir as he slouched back in his chair. Mr. Pendanski came right up to me and firmly shook my hand. I practically bounced up and down.

“How-do-yah-do, Miss Barlow? I just want to tell you that you may have done terrible things in your life but it does not mean that you’re a terrible person. I respect you Kathlyn.” Pendanski announced.

“Err, well thanks Mr. Pen-De-Dam…?” I stuttered

“Pen-Dance-Key, three simple little words that I bet you’ll soon remember! Now come with me, I’ll show you to your tent.” I followed him, and luckily, I didn't have to spend any more time with Mr. Sir, because he just sat in his chair chewing his sunflower seeds as we left his cabin. He was starting to freak me out! I think everything here is gonna freak you out… I heard my conscious state.As we walked and Pen-Dance-Key showed me the different rooms I felt as if every guy around was staring right at me. I turned my head to look at them and I saw a bunch of heads turning or awkwardly stretching or scratching their heads. They were watching… Suddenly Pendanski stopped and faced me.

"Kathlyn, I know you’re a smart girl and all that but, do you see any fences?” he asked. I looked around.

“No.” I said.

“Any wires?”

“Nope.”

“Guard towers?”

“No, Mr. Pendanski.”

“Do you know why?” This man’s voice was starting to annoy me.

“Um…well-“ I started but was immediately cut off.

“It’s because we don’t need any! We have the only water supply in five-hundred miles, and if you run away…you’re sure to be a goner in three days flat.” He paused for a moment. The thought of water made me lick my lips. I’m thirsty? Already? It’s only been like twenty minutes!

“I think its time for you to meet your tent-mates!” His voice broke my thoughts. We eventually walked to one of the many green dirty tents. It had a sprayed on white D on the front. “This is your new home for the next eight months. D stands for diligence. I came up with the names!” No shit Sherlock. Only you would come up with something like that. He looked really proud then asked the tent, “Boys I want you to meet your new addition to the group. Are you all decent?”

“Yeah, we’re decent Mom.” A voice came from inside.

“Mom?” I asked my voice hushed.

“Just something they call me, they all have their nicknames.” He told me and went back to talking to the boys. “Good. I just want you all to treat her with respect because-” I was about to inquire that I was quite strong so I wouldn’t have a problem but another voice butted in before I could say anything.

“Her?” it questioned.

“You mean it’s that girl that gave us the-,” said another. My cover was about to be blown.

“Gave us the … err… hug?” interrupted a strong Texan voice. I soon heard a whack! Then some loud shushes. Mr. Pendanski gave me a weird glance. I smiled sheepishly and shrugged my shoulders at him.

"Boys, this is your new tent mate,” said Mr. Pendanski, whilst lifting the tent flap up so they could see me. The tent was almost dark but I could still make out the objects inside because of the light shining through the green sheets. There were ten beds, five facing right, five facing left the heads to the outside. A small figure lay on the closest bed to me, three others were sitting on beds farther away, the other three were standing. At first I couldn’t see their faces but as my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized who they were. They were the group of boys I gave my bag to.

"Her name is Kathlyn Barlow, since Camp Waterfield our sister camp can’t take her, she has been sent here to us. That's Alan, Theodore, Rex,” he pointed to the boys standing up. Hazel Eyes, Chubby, Glasses. I recognized. “Jose, Ricky, Stanley,” pointing at the sitting boys. Latino, Electric, Less Chubby. “And this little guy is Zero.” He said walking over to Afro’s head and ruffled his hair. Zero looked up at him, glared, and then stared at me like all the other guys. They were as surprised as me. There was an awkward silence.  Someone coughed. Pendanski carried on, “You know why we call him Zero?”

“Um, because it’s his nick-name?” I guessed. Everyone laughed, even Pendanski. It wasn’t even that funny! I sighed and looked at Zero, shrugged my shoulders and smiled. He smiled back.

 “No, no, no!” Pendanski chuckled, “It’s because there's nothing going on inside his stupid little head." Zero’s smile faded and so did mine. Pendanski continued laughing hard by himself. Now, that made me mad! Zero wasn't stupid. If anyone was stupid, it was Pendanski. He wouldn’t shut up so I decided to stop it myself.

“That’s not funny.” I said sternly. Silence. “I bet he’s not stupid, I bet he just doesn’t want to answer stupid things; which is actually quite smart Mr. Pen-Dance-Key.” Pendanski gawked at me.

“Yeah, it’s true.” Said a small voice.

“Whoa, she got Zero to talk!” somebody whispered. I looked at Zero and he smiled again. I winked at him and he turned over facing the tent wall. Pendanski cleared his throat.

“Well, um, well…Kathlyn… these boys will take care of you won’t yah, Rex?”

"Mom, how many times do we have to tell you? It's X-Ray, Squid, Armpit, Magnet, Zigzag and Caveman." Said X-Ray. He seemed to be the leader of the group.

"I like to call you by the names society will remember you by.” His voice was not as cheerful now. I thought the nicknames were pretty cool. What was he, a shrink? Nicknames are so much better than a shitty name like Mr. Pendanski. Or shitty names like Kathlyn. "I'll leave so that you can all get acquainted."