Chapter 14

Will and I got to sleep late Sunday morning, skipping church. We had to leave at 11:30 to arrive at camp at the check-in time. Will and I dressed in our scout uniforms. At 11:15 Eddie arrived with his duffle bag. Eddie helped Will and I load our trunks in the car. We also loaded up our weights. Andy was going to train with Jeremy while we were away. We stopped at Eddie's house to load his trunk in the back seat of the car. Eddie was squashed in the back with two duffle bags on his lap. Will and I were in the front seat.

Will headed west toward Lancaster. I asked Eddie, "How is Stefany doing?"

"OK, so far. She had a check-up yesterday. Her mom let me go along so I would know what is going on. Stef has gained two pounds this week. She isn't real happy about it. You can see that her belly is starting to grow. It isn't flat like a month ago. The doctor said everything is going properly. Our baby is about 10 mm long. I saw it move on the ultrasound!"

I asked, "Cool! Do you know if it is a boy or a girl?"

"The doctor said it is too soon to know. Stef can find out the next time she has a check up. You will be able to see on the ultrasound then." Eddie explained.

Will asked, "Are things going better with Stefany's parents than when you first told them?"

Eddie answered, "Yes and no. I get along fine with Mrs. Horst, but Mr. Horst won't speak to me. He completely ignores me. Stef said every few days he goes on a rant about what I did to his 'little girl.' The ladies promise me that he will come around eventually, that I need to be patient with him. I sure hope so."

Will said, "I think he will come around, Ed. You are going to be the father of his grandchild. Do your best to help out any way you can. Mr. Horst will see that you are alright."

Eddie said, "Thanks for all your help. I couldn't have made it through this without the two of you."

Will changed the subject to how camp staff worked and what was expected of us as counselors-in-training. We worked for free this summer, learning how to teach scouts the skills they needed to earn merit badges and rank. The camp provided us with free lodging and food in return. We would get first consideration next year if we wanted to come back as paid staff members. We would work in a different program area every week, learning how things worked throughout camp.

We stopped at a Burger King in Lancaster to get lunch. Will headed north from the restaurant. It took about 45 minutes to arrive at the camp.

Will herded us to the camp office when we arrived so we could check-in. Will took us down to the staff area to find tents. Eddie and I picked one out that was vacant. Will took his usual tent that he always shared with Jim Hardy. Jim had already moved in. Jim greeted me warmly. When Jim saw Eddie, I said, "Jim, I would like to introduce you to my friend, Eddie Fritz. Eddie, this is Jim Hardy" They shook hands.

Jim said, "Nice to meet you, Eddie."

Ed answered, "Nice to meet you too, Jim. I prefer to be called Ed."

Jim responded, "Ed it is. Good to have you here." as he shook Eddie's hand.

When we got out of ear shot of Will and Jim's tent, Eddie stopped me. "Kyle, please listen. I want to be called Ed not Eddie. Eddie is a little kid's name. Please call me Ed."

I answered, "I'm sorry, Eddie. Oops, I'm sorry, Ed. This is going to take me awhile to get used to this. I have called you Eddie all our lives."

Ed and I joined the crowd of staffers heading to the health lodge to check in. We did swim tests at the poll after that. The aquatics director wanted everyone tested, staffer or camper, per B. S. A. regulations. Ed and I both passed the Swimmers test. We headed back to the staff tents when we were done at the pool.

Ed and I had just gotten back to our tent when Rob Young walked through the staff area announcing, "Staff meeting in five minutes in the dining hall. I want everyone on time."

Ed and I grabbed notebooks and headed for the dining hall. When we arrived, we found seats near Will and Jim. I looked around the crowd. I knew about half of the people in the room. Some of the guys who taught me last year stopped to say hello. I did a double take when I spotted Trent Wilson, my friend and canoe partner last summer. I needed to go say hello when I spotted him, but couldn't. Mr. Anderson, the camp director stood up and started the meeting.

He reviewed the plans and procedures at camp and introduced his senior staff. Rob Young, Aquatics Director last year, was the Program Director this year. All counselors and CITs reported to Rob. Joe Gieger, Rob's assistant last year, took over as the Aquatics Director this year. Jim Hardy would be Joe's assistant director at the pool. Will was announced as the Assistant Aquatics Director in charge at the boat yard. Mr. Anderson introduced the rest of the senior staff. The most important introduction for Ed and me was Gerald McMichael, the director in charge of the CIT program, our new boss.

When Mr. Anderson was done, we split up by program area. Gerald called for all CITs to meet him in the back of the dining hall for an orientation. Twenty-four of us followed him to the back of the room. He introduced himself first as 'Jerry.' He explained how the CIT program worked. All of us worked staff week when we set up and prepared for the summer. Half of us, including Ed and me, would then work the next five weeks. The other half of the CITs would come to camp when we left and work the final five weeks of camp.

When Jerry was done, he told us we had a half hour of free time before dinner. Ed and I made a beeline towards Trent Wilson. I wanted to say hello. Trent had a big smile on his face when we met. I slapped him on the back and said, "Man, I'm glad to see you here."

Trent answered, "I'm happy to see you too, Kyle. I'm not surprised. I figured you would end up being a CIT this year. You always have to follow your brother's lead."

I laughed. "You can do worse than following what Will does. Have you met my friend, Eddie, umm, Ed Fritz?"

Trent said, "No. Nice to meet you, Ed." as he shook hands with Ed.

I added, "Ed, this is my friend and canoe partner from last summer, Trent Wilson."

Trent said, "I've heard your name from somewhere before, Ed. Do you play football?"

Ed smiled and said, "Yep. I was the quarterback on the Wolverines JV team last fall."

Trent said, "That's it. I knew I had heard of you before. Are you going to be varsity this fall?"

Ed answered, "I hope so. I'll find out when practice starts in August."

I asked, "Are you working the first half of camp or the second half?"

Trent answered, "The first half of course. I need to get ready for football practice in August. I need a lot of preparation to get ready for this turkey when we play each other," as he pointed to me.

I could see the light bulb in Ed's brain click on. "You're the cornerback who covered Kyle when we played Central last fall, right?"

Trent observed, "Guilty. More accurately, I was the cornerback who TRIED to cover Kyle in that game. Like I said, I need a lot of preparation to be ready for Kyle this fall."

I glanced at my watch. "Hey, guys. We need to get back to our tents and get into Class A uniform for dinner. See you later."

After dinner, we spent the evening reviewing first aid, CPR and emergency procedures for the camp. Will, Ed and I went out around 9 pm that night for our run. We ran out of time for weight training. I ran into Trent when Will, Ed and I went to the staff showers to clean up after the run.

Trent asked, "What were you guys doing? You look like you just ran a mile."

I said, "Actually we did three and half miles tonight. Out to the main road and back."

Trent answered, "Wow! You guys are serious about running aren't you?"

I said, "You bet! I want to be ready for football season."

Trent asked, "Would you guys mind if I ran with you? I probably could use the work out."

Will, Ed and I agreed. Trent would join us for our 9 pm runs. After our showers, Ed and I went straight to bed.

The standard camp routine required that all staff be up and at the flag raising at the parade field by 7:50 every morning. After breakfast, Rob divided us into work crews. We spent the first two days setting up tents, cots, dining flies and picnic tables in the 16 campsites in our camp. It was hard, dirty work. We were fortunate to have a friendly group of counselors at the pool. Joe, Jim and Will agreed to have staff swims every afternoon when the work was done. We enjoyed the swim in the pool.

When Ed, Will, Trent and I went out for our run on Monday, Trent found out how serious we were about getting in shape. He was far behind us after the first mile. Will slowed us down so we didn't lose Trent. He improved rapidly during staff week, so that by the end of the week, we were running at our regular pace again.

Ed, Will and I made a little time each evening to send e-mails to our girlfriends. Stef, Penny and Abby had sent us e-mails too. It helped a little to connect us to home.

We spent part of every evening on leadership training. One night Rob reviewed the Boy Scout merit badge program and how to be a merit badge counselor.

Another night Mr. Anderson reviewed teaching techniques. By the time we had finished that night, I had EDGE down. Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable. These are the four steps to teaching. I had no idea teaching was this complicated. I took a lot of notes. I knew this was important.

On Wednesday, Jerry split the CITs up and sent us to various program areas to help set them up. Trent and I were assigned to help Will at the boat yard. We spent the next three days moving boats from winter storage to the boat yard, checking them, repairing anything that was broken, setting up the instruction area and checking paddles, oars and PFDs. By noon on Friday, everything was ready for scouts to arrive. Will had us review our rowing and canoeing skills on Friday afternoon to make sure we were ready to teach.

Saturday morning the whole staff went over how to check troops in and out, ran an emergency drill and reviewed search and rescue procedures. Mr. Anderson complemented us on the hard work everyone had done during the week and gave all of us the afternoon off. Staff members certified as lifeguards agreed to take turns life guarding at the pool, so the rest of us could go swimming for the afternoon. We had a barbecue for dinner. After dinner, the twelve CITs who were working the second half of the season got rides home.

Sunday morning after chapel, Mr. Anderson gave us free time. Ed and I decided to go down to the parade field and practice some pass routes. We had just started when Trent came by. He asked, "Hey, guys. Do you mind if I practice with you? I could use the work."

I answered, "Sure. Why not? It'll be more interesting to practice against coverage."

Ed and I huddled for a second to plan the next play. I whispered, "We can't show Trent everything we do. He plays for Central, our biggest rival. Remember that."

Ed answered, "Sure thing, Kyle. Nothing showy"

We practiced that way for half an hour. All short and medium passing routes. I made some plays on Trent. He broke up some of the passes too. On one play I told Ed, "I'm going deep. Under throw me by ten or fifteen yards, OK?"

Ed said, "Sure. What's up?"

I answered, "Call it preparation for when we play Central."

I ran a deep streak route. Trent did his best to follow. Ed threw the ball short. It bounced five yards short of Trent, who was three steps behind me.

Trent smiled and said, "You're going to have a fun year aren't you?"

I answered, "We'll manage. Ed is improving." I threw an ugly pass back towards Ed that fluttered and bounced to the ground twenty yards short of him. I said to Trent, "I guess you know now why I play wide receiver."

"Yeah, I guess so," he answered.

We practiced for another half hour. Ed and I threw in a few more deep routes. Trent intercepted two of the under thrown deep passes. When we had finished, Trent had a big smile on his face. He said, "If you guys do this again, I'd like to practice with you. This was fun."

I answered, "Sure, Trent. I enjoyed practicing with you. I think it'll help me get ready for the season."

After Trent had left, Ed asked me, "What was all this about?"

"We play Central once, hopefully twice this fall. Trent doesn't need to know everything that you and I can do. I want him KNOWING when he leaves camp that you can't throw the deep ball. I also want him to think that I can't pass the ball at all. He hasn't seen me on the flanker reverse option play. I want to keep that play a secret. It could be worth a touchdown when we play them. It could be the difference between us winning and losing the game."

"OK. You got it, Kyle," Ed said.

We cleaned up and headed for lunch with the staff. When lunch was done, I found out my week's assignment. Trent and I would help my brother Will and Justin Finnegan at the boatyard teaching Canoeing and Rowing Merit Badges.

I went to the parking lot with Rich Short. I was assigned to help him check Troop 1252 into Chippewa campsite. We took the troop down to their site when everyone had arrived. I didn't need to do much, since Rich had been checking troops in for three years. I watched and tried to learn what to do. We took the troop to the dining hall for orientation and then on to the pool for swim tests. When the swim tests were done, Rich and I went back to the camp office for our next assignment. Rob sent us to the campfire circle to help the crew building tonight's campfire. It was interesting to finally learn how you build a campfire that can burn for hour or so without anyone feeding it.

After dinner, I was sent out to sign up the kids who wanted to take Canoeing Merit Badge. Justin signed up the kids taking Rowing. I now understood why Will wasn't around last summer when I signed up to take Canoeing. He had to go to the leader's meeting after dinner to talk with the scoutmasters about his program area. Fifty-two kids signed up for Canoeing in the four periods it is offered.

All troops assembled on the parade field at 8:30 for the opening campfire. I never really looked at the size of the crowd a camp full of scouts and leaders made. Rob led the group down to the campfire area. The campers seemed to enjoy the campfire. Ed and I headed to bed after the campfire.

I had been in my cot a few minutes when I started to think about Penny and how much I missed her. My cock swelled to full size. I couldn't get Penny and our last night together out of my mind. After suffering through half an hour of my painful erection, I had enough. I quietly asked, "Ed, are you awake?"

"Yes. What's up, Kyle?"

"Do you mind if I jerk off? I keep thinking about making love to Penny. I need relief."

"It's fine, Kyle. I can't get Stef out of my mind either."

Quietly, each of us pulled our boxers down and stroked our cocks until we climaxed. I was glad I was able to share a tent with such a close friend.

We started our weekday routine Monday morning. Being on staff wasn't much different than being a camper. I stood up front when classes started instead of sitting with the class. Breakfast was at 8 am, three classes periods between 9 and noon, lunch, an hour siesta after lunch when Ed, Trent and I passed the football around, and three class periods in the afternoon.

Ed was assigned to work at the Nature Lodge for the week. I worked with Will at the boatyard. On Monday Will did all the teaching. I handed out PFDs and paddles, made sure everyone signed out on the buddy board when they went in the lake. We had three classes of Canoeing in the morning and a fourth after lunch. The last two periods were open boating. Will, Justin, Trent and I only needed to help kids get their boats and keep an eye on them while they paddled and rowed. Will reviewed the teaching plans for the rest of the week. Will wanted me to demonstrate strokes while he taught the class on Tuesday. Wednesday Will wanted me to teach the scouts how to unswamp a canoe.

I was nervous on Wednesday when Will turned the class over to me. Teaching went better than I expected. It was fun. Will complemented me when we were done with the last class that day. He said I did a very good job. The first week went quickly.

At Friday night's family barbecue many of the Canoeing Merit Badge students talked with Will and me as we served them dinner. They kept telling Will and me how much fun they had earning the merit badge. It felt really cool. The campers enjoyed the closing campfire Friday night. Saturday morning, I helped Rich Short check Troop 1252 out of their campsite.