The first day at Camp Hollybrook slogged on – as the mercury
climbed. And this was only the beginning
of July – I couldn’t fathom what August would be like. Lunch, rest period and a few innings of kickball on the
cactus dust bowl called the “athletic field” led up to the highlight of the day for my tribe – the
afternoon Group Swim. During the morning
each tribe had a swimming and water safety lesson but for the last part of camp day
all the tribes got in the “lake” together. Before our first swim I instructed my Cherokees about the
required procedures for group swimming. Each camper was to choose a “buddy” and were to play and always be
within sight of each other. When the
whistle blew the buddies would hold
hands and raise them high over their heads. After the numerous “lifeguards” scanned the
scene a second whistle blast would mean the swimmers could continue their frigid frolics. Each of the counselors were assigned a swim post. I actually got to sit in a high life guard
chair. Others were on the dock that
stretch out into the middle of the dark water. I was nervous as I took my perch as the official whistle
blower untrained lifeguard. I continuously scanned the
scene and awaited the high sign to blow
the buddy system call to attention. For safety sake this buddy-check was done
every 15 minutes.
200 hundred kids raced down and dove, jumped, fell and some
were pushed into the black water all screaming as loud as they could. I thought this was from joy – I learned that
it was from shock - the “lake” was being fed from an underground spring
bubbling up near the middle of this man made swimming hole. All summer the water temperature hovered around 62 degrees. I wondered why we didn’t see at least one cardiac arrest as super-heated
kids rushed into its depths. But we
didn’t. Kids are much tougher than us their supervisors. I spent the
summer getting in the water an inch of me at a time.
I got the high sign from Big Chief after the first 15 minutes of
ear-splitting aquatic mayhem. I blew a loud trilling whistle salute. To my surprise the campers became totally silent, frozen in
place and two by two clasped hands were raised – I marveled at this creative
system for keeping track of the kids committed to our care for the
day. I started to feel more confident as
a “lifeguard” – even though I did not have the Red Cross life-saving’s badge or
the CPR certificate that would be required in today’s world. Another 15 minutes passed and another Buddy Check – all
was well.
I had nearly completed my first day at camp. I surveyed my kids – most sported blue lips and
goose bumps standing at attention. And
now it was time for the last whistle and I stood and tooted it with real lifeguard
panache. 199 joined hands popped up – all except one lone hand
pointing to the sky. I recognized one of
my Cherokee’s frantically looking for his buddy. Guess who was missing?
RODGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every counselor then started blowing their whistles. Big Chief ran up and down the dock failing his/her arms. The kids immediately were ordered out of the
water. The entire lake cleared in seconds. Kids stood on the beach wringing their tiny
hands. The pond was silent. One seasoned counselor grabbed a long pole
with the hook at the end. Big Chief whistled another long and shrill note. More silence –
except for the never ending sound of the crickets in the nearby woods.
And still no Rodger?
Every face was grim as all the counselors jumped into the water and
formed a human chain and started to walk to the center of the pond which was about neck
high. The water was freezing and black. Unlike a pool one
would never see a kid in trouble on the bottom.
This made me shudder. I thought I
might throw up. My first day had turned into a disaster. The counselor next to
me whispered, “Don’t look so worried, he’ll show up…they always do…usually that is! I prayed she would be right.......? What seemed like an hour was actually less than two
minutes. One counselor was dispatched to
the lodge to call the police which would bring the rescue squad – but it would
take far too long from town for them to reach us in time. Everyone knew that. Some
of the kids started to cry. I was on the brink of bawling myself. And then out of the woods sauntered
Rodger. He yelled, “Hey everybody,
what’s going on?” The entire camp population expelled a breath that caused a breeze
that made the leaves flutter on the surrounding trees. Big Chief, whose face had been ashen a moment ago now flushed to a bright crimson and yelled in a voice that all could hear, “Rodger, where the h&% have you been? You know you're required to stay with your
buddy at all times during group swim.” With a deadpan look Rodger replied, “I had to pee.”
With that my Day One of camp ended – just 41 more to
go!
