My cabin mates get down to the business of unpacking and jostling for position to each grab a drawer in the solitary dresser. The door creaks open and in walks Tasha, Tynekwa, and Allison. I can tell by the looks on their faces that they are best buds now.
I get out my packet and sit at the desk to find out if the rules for naming our cabin are the same as last year. “Okay gang, we have to name our team something from nature—except no animals.” Last year it was animals.
Names start flying around the room in a huge free for all as the girls shout them out, “Glaciers, snowballs, stars, rainbows, avalanche, tornadoes, hurricane, sunspots, volcanoes, Venus flytraps, seaweed, waterfalls, roses, daisies, eclipses, sunbeams, spider webs.”
It turns out our team has a wicked sense of humor. After a lively debate, everyone votes for Ashley’s suggestion, the “Venus Flytraps”
Tasha says, “I hope nobody else picks that name.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. It’s pretty original,” I say.
Two raps on the cabin door and Mr. Z. (still glowing) sticks his head in the cabin door. “Hey girls. I’ve volunteered your cabin to hand out the hot dogs, chips, and sodas for dinner tonight. Why don’t you head on down and find Toby. Megan and I will meet you later.”
The “Venus Flytraps” head out laughing and chattering down the path.
“Megan, let’s go for a walk.”
I follow Mr. Z. down the path to a couple of chairs set out on the boat landing. We have privacy while still being in view of the whole camp. We sit.
CHAPTER 2 - ZADOK
“Megan, when you look at me, what do you see?”
“You glow.” I can’t look at him as I say this. It sounds so strange.
“Do you see anyone else who a—‘glows?’”
I look out at the lake. Everything is so beautiful. “No.”
I voice the only explanation I can think of that isn’t supernatural, “Mr. Z. is there something wrong with you? Are you dying?” Tears are welling up in my eyes. I take a deep breath and will myself not to get emotional. That must be the reason. Nothing else makes sense.
He chuckles, “No. But let me ask the questions. You’ll get your chance in a minute. When did you first notice?”
“Last year.”
“Have you told anyone, discussed this with anyone?”
“No. Except last year, when we were around the campfire, I mentioned you look like an angel. The kids teased me, so I never mentioned it again.”
“Am I shining now?”
I look up at him. He’s looking at me, waiting for an answer, “Yes.”
Now I’m getting scared. I’m afraid of what Mr. Z. is going to say next. I sense my world is changing, the same way water becomes an ice cube. It’s still H2O, in a different form.
“Well you’re right. You’re not imagining things. Some people I can’t hide from. Those that have the gift. Like you.” He looks me in the eye.
“Megan—what do you think I am?”
I can’t breathe. This is the moment where I expand. I whisper, “An angel.”
“My name is Zadok.”
Suddenly, his brightness arises. I see wings. I see his glory. He is beautiful. He is air. He is real. I am small and earthy next to this heavenly angel. Zadok cloaks himself once again in his human form. Unbelievably, no one else in camp seems to have noticed. I am changed. I am more. I am afraid.
“Megan, I am a messenger of God. I’m here to do what He wants. You have the gift of seeing spiritual beings. That’s why you can see me. If you can see me, you will also be able to see others. The good and the bad.”
“Others? The bad?” I’m still in shock. I can’t think.
“It’s in the Bible, Megan. We’re in there. We are at war with the forces of darkness, even on a beautiful day like today. When the evil ones notice you, and they will, you and your loved ones are going to be targets. You need to be prepared. They will come after you. You are in danger. You have eight days to ask me questions. You have the gift to see and the responsibility of freewill. You can choose to fight evil or join the devil and his angels.”
“But what can I do? How can I fight spiritual beings?” I start to panic. Waves of fear slip over my head. I’m drowning in it.
“You can’t, but He can,” Zadok points to Heaven. God is in control and he’s already won.”
I start to calm down as I realize Zadok is right.
“Be still and know that I am God,” I pull up from memory.
“That’s right,” Zadok smiles. “Everyone on God’s side has special gifts. Seeing angels, demons, and other spiritual beings, reminds you that we are involved in something much bigger than your universe, more mysterious, wonderful and dangerous than most people care to think about.”
I let my fear go, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I silently keep repeating my simple scripture until I am calm. I manage to smile at Zadok, pushing back my fear, “I can do this. I guess I have to.”
“You were chosen for a reason,” Zadok says. He gets up and stretches.
“Zadok,” it feels funny calling him that, “why do you think God chose me?”
He looks at me and smiles, “I don’t know for sure, but in the Scriptures, He indicates that a child’s faith is powerful. You are at the end of childhood. I remember when David, just a boy, slew a giant that a whole army of armed men were afraid to face. Maybe you have that kind of faith.” Zadok looks at me and smiles, but in his eyes I see that he is serious. “Well Megan, talk to Him, tonight. You know He loves to hear from you. Now I have to go start a fire for the weenie roast. I’m still not sure if I’m brave enough to eat one of those things. We’ll talk again soon,” Zadok squeezes my shoulder then walks back up the path, still glowing.
I look out at the lake again. How do I act as if nothing has happened? Who can I tell? Who would believe me? No one. The wind in the trees behind me rustles the leaves; a cloud covers the sun and suddenly I feel chilled and threatened. Darkness begins to fall. The universe contracts and evil takes a step closer.
I look at all the kids running over to watch Mr. Z., I mean Zadok, start the fire. With the extra flames behind him, I see his wings again outlined in the light. I guess it’s true that nothing can be hidden in the light. I hear footsteps approaching on the dock, and see Seth and Robby, followed by Kayla and a girl I don’t know.
“Come on Meg, let’s help the kids,” Seth says. I let him grab my hand and lead me along. I’m stunned and not sure how to act like nothing has happened. I’m shocked they can’t tell I’ve changed.
Robby pipes up, “Hey genius, tell her what you signed her up for tonight. He volunteered all of us for KP after dinner and making sure the fire goes out.”
“Well, better tonight when there aren’t any dishes to do and we get to stay up past curfew until the fire goes out,” Seth answers.
“Oh yeah. Good thinking,” Robby turns to the girls, “Did you find enough sticks?”
He’s talking about sticks to roast marshmallows after it gets dark. Kayla and the other girl look at Robby adoringly while Kayla answers, “We’re working on it. Don’t worry; you can pick yours out first so you can show us how to do it.” The girls head back toward the tree line.
Seth holds out a cup of coffee for me, “Here, I thought you might like one.” He’s drinking a Coke. Robby takes a last swig of his Mountain Dew and crumples the can with one hand. I say, “You really should have saved that move for your fan club over there,” nodding to Kayla and her friend.
“Oh, yeah, I’m the man, check out the guns,” Robby says as he flexes his biceps.
I turn to Seth, “I’ve never really gotten what that means. Someday you’ll have to explain it to me.” Seth laughs. I take a sip, “Thanks for the coffee.”
We start heading back to the campfire. Robby puts his can on the ground, kicks it, and yells, “Kick the can!” Several young hyper sugar-fueled boys converge as Robby yells out directions and gets the game goi
ng.
Seth looks at me and shakes his head, “He never runs on anything less than full steam. I’m glad he’s here. If he can’t wear these kids out, no one can.”
Now that we are at the campfire, I say hi to some of the kids and staff I haven’t seen since last year. I can’t believe how normal everything appears. I want to scream that there is a whole hidden world around us. There is no one who can see, no one to really believe. I work hard on getting anchored back into my everyday life.
Mr. Steve along with Mr. Timmons, one of the owners, calls Seth over to help him roast the hot dogs. Mr. Timmons loads up these big metal tongs that hold a dozen dogs each. They’re heavy, but the dogs can’t fall out of them into the fire.
I walk over to my Venus Flytrap girls who are standing behind the table loaded with buns, plates, and all the fixings needed for a cookout. “Hey Megan, have some chips!” Five bags fly at me, hitting me mainly in the head. Somebody says, “A chip off the old block!”
Now they’re all laughing so hard I’d almost bet someone’s going to pee in their pants. Next someone yells out, “How ’bout a soda?” An empty can hits me on the shoulder. As I half duck, I spill some of my coffee. The laughter continues. I’m becoming more anchored by the minute.
Seth yells out, “I warned you you’d be in for it!”
The laughter goes on. I have an intuition that I’m going to be finding at least a frog in my desk drawer tonight.
As the sun sets, I have the three musketeers as I’m beginning to think of them, Tasha, Allison, and Tynekwa, run back to get us all jackets and a couple of flashlights. I have a few minutes to think about how ordinary the night appears except for the fact that I can see angels. I’m still in shock.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the leaders for the songs tonight. They’re the adult team from Robby’s bus. Mr. Davis comes out lugging a big box of bandanas. “Okay, who has names picked out for their cabins?” As each team yells out their name, followed by much hooting and hollering, Mr. Davis hands over a bag filled with their team’s color. We get neon orange. Seth’s team, the ‘Lightening Bolts’ draws a bright blue color. Robby points out, “Hey put your colors together, go UF!” Robby is talking about the University of Florida, back home. He starts doing the gator chomp, along with the “Duh, da, duh, da, dudadudaduda.” Robby’s fan club squeals as he comes close. Robby’s team name is the “Volcanoes”. They get bright red.
We settle back into a light routine of singing songs and roasting/burning marshmallows. We end with a group prayer and Mr. Davis sends all the campers back to their cabins for bed. “Bri,” I ask, “can you take charge till I get in?”
“Yep,” she says as she takes a flashlight to lead our girls back.
Mr. Timmons comes up to Robby, Seth, and me and says, “You kids know to dump some water on the fire once it dies down and watch out for the steam. Buckets are over by the shed. You can use the lake water. I’ll be in the lodge kitchen making notes for the breakfast gang. I’ll be back out after that. See you in the morning.”
We nod our heads, “Thanks Mr. Timmons.”
After Mr. Timmons is out of sight, Robby turns to us and says, “I know I’m a fifth wheel.”
I pipe up, “You mean a third wheel.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ve got my pole, I’m gonna head over to the dock to see if I can catch something.”
Seth looks at him and says, “Thanks man.”
Seth and I sit down next to each other with our backs to the dock facing out to the water now on our left. We can still see the cabins off to the right and the lodge behind them. Seth reaches out and grabs my hand. “I missed you,” he says.
I squeeze his hand lightly, “I missed you too.”
“You know I never officially asked you to be my girlfriend, but I am now.”
Seth takes my other hand and stares lovingly into my eyes, “Would you?”
I smile at him and answer, “Yes, of course.” We lean in and give each other a kiss. His lips are warm. Seth smells smoky from the fire. I love that smell. He puts his hand on the back of my hair and holds me gently while we press our lips softly, searching, not wanting the moment to be broken. I breathe him in, wanting to hold this moment for eternity. We slowly draw away.
“There, sealed with a kiss. You don’t mind if people know, do you?” Seth asks.
“I think they already know, from the way the girls were acting earlier.”
“Well back home I was texting you a lot. I think they noticed, and Robby’s probably said a few things to Bri, and of course she tells everybody everything.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty hard to keep secrets.”
The mention of secrets reminds me again about Mr. Z./Zadok. For a moment I had almost forgotten. I wonder if he sleeps while he’s in human form. I wonder if he’s watching us now from a different dimension, in spirit form. Suddenly, I have a million questions.
Seth asks, “What are you thinking?” I scoot closer and lean against him. I want to tell him my secret. I won’t. Not yet. Instead I think about us, our future.
“I’m just glad we have these eight days together,” I say. Eight days with Seth, now my boyfriend, eight days to ask Zadok questions.
“Really only seven, today’s almost over with,” Seth says into my hair. Seth continues, “I peeked at your schedule and traded with Carrie so I can do lifeguard duty this week with you.”
“So you can see me in a swimsuit?” I tease. Most of us girls wear T-shirts over our suits and only one-pieces are permitted anyway.
“Nah. I don’t care about that. I just want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“I’m glad. Me too.”
Seth keeps his arm around my shoulder. I don’t know what about him is so intoxicating. When I’m near Seth, it’s just so right. Almost like we’re one.
The fire makes a crackling sound as a log falls with a thump into the embers. I can feel the chill from the evening creeping closer. I shiver. The fire is dying and our time together is running out.
Robby strolls back, “Nothing’s biting tonight. Whew, it’s getting cold.” He stands as close to the fire as he can get without stepping into it. He holds his hands up to warm them.
Seth stands up pulling me to my feet, “Let’s get those buckets and get to work.”
We each dip our buckets in the lake trying not to get our feet wet. We throw our water on the embers and the steam makes a loud hissing sound.
Robby lowers his voice and says, “Steam fires of hell.”
I feel a fingernail trailing down the center of my back and jump. It was just Seth. “Boy are you jumpy,” he laughs, “I’ll walk you back to your cabin.” Seth puts his arm around my shoulder, and with a flashlight in the other, we make our way back to my cabin. We can hear the girls giggling as we approach so we just say goodbye as I head in.
As I enter, the cabin gets quiet until I hear croaking coming from my desk drawer. The girls burst out laughing at their little joke. I lift out the toad and let him go out the door. “Remember, I can pay it forward. And,” I add menacingly, “I’m not afraid to pick up a snake.”
The laughter quiets down to a giggle and soon they’re asleep from exhaustion. I get ready for bed quickly, patting down my cot just in case the toad wasn’t the only surprise.
CHAPTER 3 - UNEXPECTED DANGERS
I awake to the sound of a bugle accompanied by the groans of everyone in the cabin. “It’s too early”, “Just fifteen more minutes,” someone moans. I force myself out of my cot feeling the same way. I’m stiff and my muscles ache from spending the night in the cot. I know not to stall on taking a shower as the hot water will run out by third or fourth kid. Besides, the hot water will wake me up and warm up my muscles.
“Okay, anyone left in bed by the time I get back from the shower, is fair game to hit with your pillows, and if you don’t take a shower this morning, make sure you do during the lunch or after-dinner break,” I grab my tote that holds my toiletries, wrap myself in my robe, and head out
the door.
I take a quick shower and leave some extra conditioner in my hair because of swimming duty, head back, get dressed, and race over to the counselors’ lounge for a cup of coffee. I’m not hungry, but I force myself to eat a bagel with cream cheese. I’ll need the energy later. I say hi to the other early birds while waiting for Seth to walk in.
“Hey Megan,” Carrie says as she comes in, “What’s your schedule like?” She asks then continues, “I have archery in the morning and swimming in the afternoon.” Carrie sounds excited. She’s very athletic and it shows.
“Mine’s swim in the morning and arts and crafts in the afternoon,” I’m not a fan of the sun, and not nearly as athletic as Carrie. So I’m pretty happy with my assignment. We compare notes on the kids in our cabin. A few minutes later, Robby and Seth stroll in together.
Robby says, “So this is where all the beautiful girls hang out.” Carrie punches Robby as he walks by. “Ow. Superwoman that hurts,” Robby says, feigning pain.
“Where there’s coffee, there’s Megan,” Seth comes behind me and rubs my shoulders. “Did you already eat? Want me to grab you something?” he offers.
“I already had a bagel thanks.”
“Let me get you a refill,” I hand Seth my mug and he walks to the breakfast bar.
Carrie gives me a look, “Well look at the love birds.”
I just smile, “Robby’s available.”
Carrie gives me a dirty look, “I’m not interested in Robby or any relationship right now. We’re young, what’s the rush? Can’t we all be friends without getting into mushy stuff? It’s just not for me right now.”
“You’re right. We are kind of young, but it just happened. Who knows how long we’ll last? Besides, we are long distance most of the time, so our relationship won’t go beyond us texting and hanging out a couple of times a year. I do know how I feel about him. I love Seth and I don’t want to be with anybody else.”
Mr. Z. (Zadok) walks in talking to Mr. Timmons. I look at him and my brain goes into shock. I hope it doesn’t show on my face. I hadn’t remembered this morning what had happened yesterday. I just woke up happy that Seth liked me as much as I liked him.
Seth brings a plate loaded with doughnuts and sits down next to me. He sets my refill down, then his plate, and takes his can of Coke out from under his arm.