Chapter Thirteen: Matt
Over Too Soon
The sunlight usually nagged at Matt like a wife to a husband, but not that day. There was too much he needed to do. Matt stretched, ruffling his hair that seemed to be dented by the last night’s sleep. Matt checked past the blue curtain that separated his and his camper’s bedrooms to see if they were all still sleeping. When he saw they were still dreaming, Matt went back into his room and took the sheet off his bed. He draped it and tied it around his neck and stood atop his bed.
“Yori,” Matt whispered to the air that swirled in front of him. He shot one arm out, Superman style, and continued, “Don’t worry! I’ll keep Katie busy, so you can create the best havoc you can make….which I know will be awesome! Awesome? …No, great! I know it will be great…that doesn’t sound right…splendid? Resplendent, that’s way too big for her…”
“Matt?” Salvo, one of Matt’s campers, asked from the doorway, rubbing his eyes. Matt scrambled off the bed and yanked the sheet from around his neck. Hurling the sheet across the room, Matt tried to act as calm as he could.
“Don’t worry, Matt…we all see you talk to no one every morning. Good thing we didn’t put in that recording device on the robot before, huh?” Salvo teased, his black spiky hair ridiculing Matt.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Matt said, sticking his head up in the air, feeling his brain cells die with the force.
“Dude,” Salvo replied flatly. “Shouldn’t you be actually talking to your girlfriend instead of pretending to be a superhero?”
“She isn’t my girlfriend, yet,” Matt corrected, picking up his sheet and tossing it onto his bed.
“C’mon, that Silk girl—“
“Velvet.”
“Velvet, whatever! Velvet told you that Yori liked you. You like her, she likes you, I don’t see the confusion,” Salvo pressed.
“It’s more complex than you think, little buddy. She hasn’t said anything to me yet, which doesn’t technically mean she wants to be my girlfriend. She might want to wait,” Matt explained. Salvo shrugged and breathed a I-give-up sigh.
“Well, I guess everything changes after fourth grade.”
“C’mon, let’s get ready,” Matt laughed and patted Salvo on the shoulder.
Havoc was in full swing by the time Matt and his campers had gotten down to the main field. But not only did it look like a twisted circus, it looked slightly more refined. An arc of white and silver balloons shaded the main office entrance, bouquets of roses (some of the vases already knocked over and split into a million pieces) cornered the docks and main field, and the pavement Matt and his campers had just walked on felt smoother.
“Wow!” Timmy exclaimed, taking in the whole field.
“I hope we can have a havoc day next year!” Salvo cried, his missing toothed smile grinning. Matt couldn’t wait to see the look on Yori’s face when she saw how happening things were. A counselor walked by on a pair of pink stilts, dressed in a full joker costume. He had the words Bloody Hell fake-tattooed on his arm.
“I didn’t know we had stilts had camp,” another camper of Matt’s, Jim, pondered out loud.
“Neither did I…” Matt mused, scratching his mop.
“Matt!” Yori came jogging over to Matt from the center of the main field. She was beaming a radiant smile. She could have been an ultraviolet ray, she was smiling so happily.
“Hi Yori,” Matt replied. She looked so pretty. She had a sweater on over a shirt and she also was wearing jeans. She had on shoes, too. Man, she looked pretty.
“Look at this! Isn’t it great?” Yori said, gesturing to the huge amount of chaos.
“What?” Matt asked. He couldn’t hear what she had said. A camper with a boom box had just passed by while riding on a skateboard with skull stickers taped to the top and under.
“Doesn’t it look great?!” Yori repeated into Matt’s ear. Matt could smell Yori’s perfume. It smelled like the shore of an ocean without the seaweed and salt. Matt sometimes visited the beach when his sinuses got clogged.
“Ask her out,” Salvo urged, punching Matt in the leg. Matt could feel his face turn red and so he gave Salvo a harsh nugie.
“Why don’t you and the others go…to that cotton candy machine?” Matt hissed, glaring him down. Salvo laughed and rounded up the other campers.
“Matt’s gonna ask Yori out!” Salvo cried, starting to run away.
“Go get her, superhero!” Jim yelled and the four campers raced away before Matt could beat them down.
“They’re cute,” Yori commented, smiling. She looked so natural and calm. She must be asked out a lot. The thought of that made Matt freeze up. Was he just another guy? Would Yori say no because he was just another one? Matt didn’t want to be lost in the crowd of Yori’s other boyfriends. Matt wanted to stand out to Yori.
“So, Matt…” Yori remarked, rocking back and forth on her heels.
“Where’s Velvet?” Matt blurted, avoiding the conversation he knew he was doomed to have. It wasn’t that he wasn’t in love with Yori—he was—he just wanted the moment to ask her out to be a really good one, different from anyone else’s.
“Velvet?” Yori asked, surprised. Her two eyebrows were raised and she looked startled. “Velvet and Brody are pretending to say good-bye and Jan is telling Katie she’ll take care of Velvet and me. We’ll be gone, as far at Katie is concerned, as long as me and Velvet stay out of Katie’s sight.”
“Oh, so you already figured out a plan to ensure Katie doesn’t actually make you and Velvet leave?” Matt asked.
“That’s what I said,” Yori chimed. Disappointed, Matt tried to smile. He wanted to be the hero who saved the day. The awkward silence Matt felt when he went to Astronomy club and someone made the mistake of saying auroras were caused by comets, fell between him and Yori. Wanting it to end, Matt searched his brain for something to say. Matt struggled. He could always think of something when the teacher asked for the reason the Sun was hot, or when he had to spell circumbilivagination.
“Did you get those stilts?” Matt finally found something to say, glad to hear the silence filled.
“Yeah, I got everything here, most of it at least. That’s why I didn’t come down yesterday, pretty much at all. I was finding cool things to order and when I found some spot-on stuff, I overnight ordered them. They all arrived this morning at five o’clock. I snuck into the office and picked up the boxes. I spent all this morning, unwrapping and putting parts together with an installment crew. I actually had to read some manuals, ugh! I scattered the things around the main field and went into all the girls cabin, waking everyone up to get the havoc started. Do you like it?”
“I love it! You’re pretty dedicated to your mayhem,” Matt replied, laughing.
“Looks like it, huh? Want to ride the zip line?”
“Zip line?” Matt repeated. Where did she even install the zip line?
“It goes over the lake! Let’s go!” Yori exclaimed and ran towards the woods by the lake.
Three zip line rides, two cotton candies, one life-sized chocolate bunny eating contest, one trapeze lesson, and three rides on the mini Tilt-A-Whirl later, Matt and Yori took a rest by the pig racing event center.
“This is really fun!” Matt remarked, having to yell a little over the enthusiastic crowd.
“Did the ref check that one? C’mon! That was totally the Winnie Piglet!!” one counselor hollered from somewhere in the depths of the crowd.
“Hey! The press is here!” another yelled. Dozens of teens and kids rushed to the magazine reviewers, wanting to add in their two cents. A camera crew, a few anchor-dressed people, and a few reserved interviews and journalists trailed in after the big shots with the massive cameras and flashy lights.
“I hope Martin comes soon before the chaos dies down,” Yori said, worried.
“He’ll come, don’t worry,” Matt reassured Yori, hoping he wasn’t wrong.
“Hey guys! Did you see the press is here?” Velvet asked, coming up to Matt and Yori, Brody following behind her.
“Yeah, does Katie think we’re gone?” Yori questioned, grinning at Velvet who looked confident.
“Yup! As Brody and I were leaving the office to come back down here, we heard Jane telling her she’d handle us. Katie seemed satisfied that Jane would take care of it.”
“Does Katie know Martin is coming?” Matt asked.
“Nope! Speaking of which, where is he?” Velvet replied, turning her head to see if she could see the ‘big boss’ coming.
“I don’t…look! An SUV! That looks important!” Velvet exclaimed, pointing to the parking lot that was filled with magazine vans and camera crew trucks. One lonely SUV car pulled into an empty spot. A driver hopped out and went around to the passenger side to open the door for whoever was sitting inside. A proper foot stepped out, leading a body that was the body of Martin King. He had Brad Pitt shades on and was wearing a suit.
“Is that him?” Yori asked, looking at Matt.
“Let’s go say hi,” Matt responded and led the group to the foot of the parking lot.
“Thanks, Chives,” Martin nodded to his chauffeur and straightened the cuffs of his suit. Matt remembered the pearly white suit he wore to his eighth grade prom and chuckled to himself. His best friend at school, Oliver, had wore a baby blue suit, too. All the girls they had asked to dance had a convenient excuse.
“Hi, Mr. King,” Matt piped up, extending his hand for a shake. Martin’s hand shake was firm. Martin apparently took on the French custom of one up-down shake, leaving Matt stranded.
“Hello, young man,” Martin responded.
“Thank you so much for coming to Camp Sing-Song, sir. We are all really happy you decided to come. How does the camp look to you?” Matt said, smiling like he was proud of the “normal, every day” camp. Martin slid his sunglasses off from his nose and scanned the main field. Matt and the other counselors scanned with him.
Matt was happy to see the giant Post-It note costumed camper toddling across the main field right when the larger than life gummy worm slithered on the grass. It’s remote controller trailed behind it, mad scientist gleaming in his eyes. A bright flash shot at the snaking gummy worm and Matt was thrilled to see the press really getting into the camp chaos. Matt hoped Martin would see how one of his chain camps was getting some serious press.
“It looks…crazy,” Martin answered, his voice drawing out a little as he thought of the right word.
“Yes, well…that’s a normal day here at Camp Sing-Song!” Velvet piped up, perky and convincing.
“Yes…” Martin said, skeptical. “Crazy, but…everyone looks like they’re having fun, so I guess that’s all that matters!” Matt snapped his head to look at the others who had panic written all over their shocked faces.
“It isn’t too…wild, is it, sir?” Yori tried, tailing Mr. King as he walked towards all the activity.
“Wild? Camp Sing-Song is all about fun…appropriate fun that is,” Martin replied, his rosy cheeks dancing in the afternoon light. Hearing those words gave Matt an idea.
“I’ll be right back. Bring Martin down to the field soon,” Matt whispered to Yori and hurried down to the main field. Narrowly missing the collision of him and a girl camper on spring shoes, Matt looked to see if the lunch buffet was being set up yet. It was just getting ready…and so was Katie, ready to throw a fit. She looked spitting mad. Katie, trying to advert the press’s attention as she reprimanded every passing counselor and camper, was getting powered for a on-camera interview. A journalist tried to start the interview with Katie as a camera man adjusted his lights, and the lunch ladies asked Katie for instruction on the lunch buffet, all while a pie smashing contest was going on in the background. Katie looked as flustered as a fish out of habitat.
“Don’t pop those balloons!” Katie yelled when counselors started handing out pins and playing balloon darts on the balloon arc.
“What did you say the camp emphasis was?” the interviewer asked, flinching when a cream pie nearly missed her left shoulder.
“Look, the camp usually isn’t like this…” Katie tried to explain.
“So, there are days you just can’t keep control?” the reviewer asked, peering at Katie with concerned and menacing eyes.
“No!” Katie snapped. “I can keep control, I don’t even know where the kids got this stuff,” Katie added.
“You have random stored away items? You mean you could have, say, dangerous materials in your camp and you don’t even know it?” the interviewer egged on Katie, giving the camera a “look.”
“I know everything that goes on in this camp! I-I…today…listen! This camp was supposed to be repainted, refinished, landscaped, and decorated by today, but it seems like none of that happened. The only thing that got done was the pavement and balloon arcs! It was supposed to be beautiful!” Katie was snapping and loosing her cool.
Meanwhile, Matt saw Martin slowly coming down from the parking lot with Velvet, Yori, and Brody, introducing themselves and asking him questions. They looked anxious. Matt also noticed Jane exit the office, look at the scene below, smile subtly, and then join the others. The buffet was just about set up, as well. The lunch ladies were wheeling their carts back to the office, ripping off their itchy hair nets. Matt quickly grabbed a handful of messy nicely catered and proper spaghetti, meshed it in his hands, and waited for the perfect moment.
“Can I get the camera on Mr. King for a second?” Martin whispered to the camera man, the spaghetti still dripping from his hand. The camera man swung the large camera from Katie to Martin who was coming down, allowing Katie to break for a second. Matt smiled at Yori and launched his long-awaited spaghetti right at his target—Martin’s face. And the camera got it all.
“FOOD FIGHT!!!” Matt yelled and started grabbing handfuls of the nice food, aiming at everyone in sight. Once five people had been hit by Matt and all the counselors and campers were throwing food like there was no tomorrow, Matt took cover by the main office with Jane, Velvet, Yori, and Brody.
“Matt! You are so smart!” Yori praised once they were all safe, watching the commotion like it was a riveting movie.
“I wanted to help some how,” Matt said, shrugging like it was no big deal.
“Martin looks so mad. There’s no way Katie’s safe now,” Yori replied. Martin did look pretty mad. He was wiping his face, ducking mashed potatoes and spoonfuls of peas and corn. He had that upside frown of a substitute teacher when they realize they would be teaching Algebra 1 for seniors.
“Oh, look! Look! Martin’s talking to Katie,” Brody exclaimed, pointing down at the field. Both were standing by a tree, shielding their faces with plastic plates that had Camp Sing-Song printed on each one.
“I ordered those plates,” Jane chirped.
“Did you get the pavement repaved, too?” Matt asked.
“Yeah…that was on Katie’s list. But I only did half the things on Katie’s list, the least expensive ones actually. I figured, if Katie’s gonna be leaving anyway why leave the next camp leader without any money to work with?” Jane responded. That was good logic.
“Look, look,” Velvet commentated. “She looks so stunned.” Martin jabbed his thumb behind him, showing Katie the get-out sign. Then, out of nowhere, a little red robot, went traveling down the main field, ran right into Katie, and knocked her down. Atop the robot was Carl, his hand in a salute. He waved to Matt before he hoped off the robot and ran.
“Thank you, guys, for helping me out with this,” Yori said, wrapping her arms around her friends. “Especially, you Jane.”
“Don’t you mean Jan?” Jane piped up, patting Yori’s hand.
“My bad,” Yori joked, laughing.
“Yori!” a little voice yelled from down at the main field. It was Kristina. “Do you have water balloons? Can we have a water fight?” Yori jumped up.
“Water balloons? I have something better! C’mon you guys!” Yori hollered and led everyone down to the field. After balloons were hunted down, and Yori’s, Matt’s, and Brody’s campers were rounded up, Yori went to what was left of the buffet table, and started filling the blue and yellow balloons with grapes and blueberries.
“This is my idea of a food fight—Achoo!” Tegan cried out, barely catching her nose. Once dozens of balloons were filled with food of all sorts that would mush and mesh when they crashed, there was no ending the food fight. Counselors and campers came around to the table, filling their own balloons, raising the food fight to the next level. Every time a food balloon hit, it was like an explosion. Food would splatter and fly everywhere, the balloon pieces lost in the mess.
“Stupid, stupid kids!” Katie yelled when a food balloon hit her in the back. Katie stormed up to the main office, a second food balloon hitting her heels as she walked.
The roaring camp fire danced off of the shadows on the grass by the lake as a couple of counselors sat around it, quiet and calmed. It was night time and the hullabaloo had finished. The main field was a mess, Martin had left without a good-bye, and all the campers were in bed.
Yori sat alone on a wood log across from the fire, content with the day. The owls hooted and the crickets chirped and the breeze was nice. Matt peeked at Yori from his hiding spot behind a tree in the woods. He was nervous but ready to make the move of his adolescent life.
“Yori,” Velvet called. Yori turned around to see Brody, Jane and Velvet coming down the pavement. Velvet had two pieces of paper and two halves of paper in her hand.
“What’s that?” Yori asked, pointing to the papers. Velvet gave the halves of paper and one of the full sheets of paper to Yori. Velvet held up her one paper and said, “Our suspension papers.” She tossed it into the fire, letting the flames crinkle it up and turn it to ash. Yori proudly threw hers in, too.
Yori looked at the two halves, and before hurling them in, replied, “Forgotten memories.”
“Hey, look,” Velvet said quietly, nudging Brody. Matt turned to look where the others were looking before he made his move. Up by the main office, stood Katie, a black suitcase by her side and cardboard box of picture frames and notebooks. With one final disgusted look, Katie whirled around and marched to her car, yanking her suitcase all the way there.
“Mission accomplished?” Brody asked everyone.
“I would say so,” they all replied.
“Hey, where’s Matt?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know…” Yori replied. “Around five, I lost him in the crowd and haven’t seen him since.” This was it! Matt climbed up the wooden platform that hid in an alcove in the middle of the front half of the lake and made sure he was all buckled in.
“Yori!” Matt cried out. Then jumped. Matt whizzed across the zip line, a robot clutched in his grip. If the robot was functioning properly, it would shoot fireworks that said “Date Me?” The campers and him had been working on it for a while. It would normally have said “Got Boogers?” but Matt had stayed in his cabin that evening, programming it to say something specific to Yori.
Landing softly on the dock, the zip line pulling back a little, Matt set down his robot and waved to Yori. Before he knew it, Yori, Velvet, Brody, and Jane were all rushing towards Matt, smiling and laughing.
“Of course!” Yori yelled and hugged Matt, pushing him over, right into the lake with a huge splash! However, Matt was still on the zip line, so after he fell into the lake, he was pulled right back up, hovering over the lake and dripping wet. Yori, Velvet, Brody, and Jane jumped into the lake, laughing.
And freeze frame.
Four posed jumpers and one goofily hanging over the lake.
Perfect.
