I believed I’d be happy at Wallumwahpuck too I really did
The day before camp began my mom and I packed up together I read aloud from the camp list Two flashlights I read with batteries One moment my mom said She searched through shopping bags and pulled out two flashlights and two packs of batteries Marker please she said I handed her a permanent marker and she started writing my name on a flashlight Because the camp list said to label everything
Next she said One sleeping bag I read My mom pulled my sleeping bag into her lap It was so much thinner than hers had been I saw that without checking the photo on the wall by my bed Because I already knew that picture by heart Your sleeping bag must’ve been so much softer I said to my mom This one’s plenty soft she said writing my name on my bag And remember what Natalie told us She has practically the same one Natalie is my nice babysitter who has beautiful hair I know I said
But I still like yours better Mmm my mom said She’d gotten distracted She sat very quietly for a second with the bag in her lap thinking What is it I asked her She smiled I was just remembering how beautiful Wallumwahpuck is she said You’re going to have such a nice time Then she set my sleeping bag aside and said What’s next Seven pairs of underwear I read from the list Get them please my mom said So I opened a dresser drawer
