Camp Nowhere Read Free

how it went with Dr. Larry. Then they headed out to the campfire.
    I showered and changed. The windows were open, and a cold breeze swept through the cabin. I shivered. The July sun was strong during the day. But as soon as it disappeared, the air turned as cool as autumn.
    I straightened my camp sweatshirt and made my way out the door. I could see everyone gathering at the meeting grounds in the middle of the camp. And I could smell hot dogs roasting on the grill. I started to jog.
    I was nearly down the hill when I heard Marty’s alarmed shout: “Look out, Russell—that cotton-mouth followed you!”
    I stopped. “Whoa.” I shook my head. “No way, Marty. No way I’m falling for that dumb trick!”
    Then I felt the snake drop onto my shoulder.

5
    I let out a frightened scream and shook my whole body, trying to throw the snake off.
    I could already hear kids laughing. I knew I’d been tricked again.
    My heart still pounding, I spun around—and saw David dangling a rope over my shoulder. He and Marty slapped each other a high-five and collapsed on the ground, giggling.
    “Not funny,” I muttered through clenched teeth. I could feel the blood rushing to my head. I knew I was blushing.
    There is only one way to stop their jokes, I thought as I hurried away from them. I have to prove to them I’m brave—no matter what it takes.
    Campers were lined up at the grill to get their hot dogs. Two counselors—Ramos and Corey—were struggling to light the campfire. The logs must have been wet. The kindling sizzled and smoked but wouldn’t light.
    I pulled out my red lighter and flicked the flame high. “Let me try,” I said, bumping Corey out of the way. I held the flame under the kindling until it finally caught fire.
    “Way to go, Russell!” Ramos clapped me hard on the back. I nearly went flying into the fire. “You’re a hero!”
    “I heard you saved Harvey’s life,” Corey said. A grin spread over his face. “Well, actually, I heard you fell off the rock cliff and Harvey landed on top of you.”
    Both counselors laughed.
    “That’s not what happened,” I said angrily. “I was attacked by snakes, and I fought them off.”
    “That’s cool,” Ramos said, nodding his head. One of his favorite expressions. He kicked the fire. “Get yourself some food, Russell. As soon as the logs catch, I’m going to start the meeting.”
     
    The campfire crackled and sent purple embers shooting into the sky. The sun had gone down. The air had grown cold. The dancing red flames were our only light.
    The tangy smell of the barbecued hot dogs lingered in the air. Somewhere in the distance, a bird hooted, a sad, lonely sound.
    We huddled in a tight circle around the fire. Tucking my legs under me, I glanced around at the faces, orange in the firelight.
    Marty and David sat together across the fire from me. They were laughing about something. Marty grabbed David’s baseball cap and shoved it low over David’s face. I saw Charlotte sitting with Erin and some girls from another cabin.
    Ramos stepped into the center of the circle. He is big and powerful looking, with broad shoulders and muscle-man arms. Some of the other counselors call him Truck, but I don’t think he likes it.
    Ramos is twenty or so. He has long, straight black hair that he pulls back in a ponytail. He has round, black eyes, heavy eyebrows, and a thick black mustache he calls his bandito mustache.
    Ramos hardly ever smiles. He speaks slowly, in a soft voice, and walks around camp with his eyes narrowed to slits, like a gunfighter looking for a fight.
    He says he is descended from one of the Indian tribes that used to live near the lake. He told us he lives on his own in the woods and survives by hunting and fishing.
    But Erin, who works part-time in the camp office, found out he actually lives in Shaker Heights in Ohio. And he’s a student at Oberlin College.
    He is a great storyteller. Which is one of the reasons everyone likes him. He’s the most