Reveille blurted over the loudspeakers at six. A sliver of the sun had just peeked over the horizon. At some point in the evening, I lost my blanket and now the damp morning air gave my skin fits.

The kids awakened one by one. Some slithered to the bathroom. Some didn’t move. Others got dressed. With their eyes still closed, they stuffed their heads into the neck holes and yanked the red Chokochakee t-shirts down to cover their bellies. I looked down at my shirt. Blue. With a cartoon wolf in the style of Tex Avery that said “Howl Yeah.”

Jumping down from my bunk, I noticed the camp counselor enter the cabin. He had on sunglasses, even though it was still dark out, and was carrying a clipboard.

“Hey Tochocos, Jim says it’s time to get up!” And he banged the clipboard on the nearest bunk. The clanking of the metal stirred the remaining zombies to their feet. “Get some grub. We’ve got a busy day. Nature hike, 7:30. Archery, 10. Lunch, then canoeing.”

I slipped on my shoes, tied them and walked towards the door. Jim stopped me.

“Whoa. You’re the new kid right?”

I nodded.

“We need to get you a shirt.”

“What’s wrong with this?” I asked.

“Nothing. It’s funny. But if Jim doesn’t get you into the right shirt and you get separated from your group, Jim gets yelled at.”

“Okay.”

“Get some breakfast. I’ll bring one to you.”

“Thanks.”