My Summer at Camp Kickapoo
Chapter Three
I volunteer as a Tribute!

Four days into a fourteen hitch and most of us already looked less like a troop of Boy Scouts and more like the shattered remains of an Confederate infantry regiment that had been chewed up and spat out by the Union Army on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Many of my fellow scouts had given up bathing, the water was just too damn cold, many were also starting to suffer from dehydration because the water was almost unfit to drink. The camp's washing machine had broken down too, so we had no way of really washing our clothes. And so many of my fellow scouts discarded their underwear  and tossed them into the campfire and  burned them. Since one could wear a pair of shorts without underwear. 

And I still had ten days to go. Most only had three more days left in this rustic hellhole. It also seems the pump on the well had broken down and the camp was still searching for a repairman to come out and fix it. And for food, well for the past four days we've been living on boiled corn mush and berries and tree roots collected from the woods. Because you see the camp's kitchen had lost power during that recent thunderstorm a few nights ago and most of the frozen food had thawed up and spoiled. And yes, the camp's cooking staff had tossed the spoiled food away, I'm sure the local wildlife ate good that night and for several nights afterwards.

And so we were in pretty tough shape when they called us into formation. Also I failed to mention the diet of just boiled corn mush, berries and tree roots had turned us inside out and our bowels ran water. So picture that, fifty broken scouts standing in a ragtag formation in the middle of an overgrown field when three teenage girls appeared in our midst. It was like God himself had looked down on our suffering and decided to send us an angel.

The first of the three girls was a brunette with shining green eyes. The second one was a blonde woman with eyes that shined like bejeweled sapphires. And the third was also blonde and her eyes also shimmered like blue jewels. All were dressed in white short sleeve blouses that were tucked into forest green skirts.

“Good afternoon.” The brunette said with a small smile. “I'm Emma. And I'm a Junior Scoutmaster at the girl scout camp that's located just across the lake. And these two lovely ladies are my two best friends Joanne and Dee! All three of us are Junior Scoutmasters.”

The two blonde girls waved. I could not believe my eyes. They seemed so unfazed by such a ragtag group of boy scouts.

“Anyway.” The first blonde, I think she said her name was Dee, stepped toward us. She looked around and I think for a brief moment I caught a ghost of a frown on her face. Maybe she was fazed by the sight she was taking in. But she seemed to collect herself quickly enough and soon she resumed smiling.

“We are hosting our first annual “Camp Pocahontas Womanless Beauty Pageant' our goal is to raise at least twelve hundred dollars for St. Jude's Children's Hospital in nearby Memphis. Our region's only children's hospital  that is devoted to the care, treatment, and finding possible cures for childhood cancer. As you know families never get treatment at St. Jude's never get a bill. Mostly because of fundraisers like the one we are putting on right now.”

“And now.” The second blonde stepped toward us and said. “I'm sure you, a lot of wonderful fellows, are wondering what a 'Womanless Beauty Pageant' is. Well it's a beauty pageant where guys, such as yourselves get put into pretty frocks and get made up. And people pay to see how pretty you can be. We'll also be selling our world famous cookies at this event too. So our scouts would get the chance to earn their 'FundRaising' Merit Badge and their 'Cookie Selling' Merit badge. And older scouts would get a chance to earn their 'Money Management' Merit badge too! Plus they'll be earning money to help their camp. And you boys would get a chance to wear a pretty gown and get all dolled up!”

A mummer ran through the crowd.

“Now! First off, we need only one boy to volunteer. Second we'll provide the gown, the make-up and everything else. Now for the third point, and this is the most important point. We want this to be in good taste. So if you're selected. Please, go into this with the thought of giving it your best! Our scouts are going to pour a lot of effort into this and we want you boys to pour just as much effort into it.” The brunette who was named Emma said.

“The Local JROTC Naval Unit has already selected their volunteers.” Dee added.

“And many others!” Joanna chimed in.

“So any volunteers?” Emma asked hopefully.

I don't know what came over me. I guess if I ever got around to drawing that manga based on my time in scouts this would make a nice chapter or two. That or I just wanted to volunteer before somebody else did. And so without giving it much thought I used my last ounce of strength to shout out.

“I'll volunteer as a tribute!” I shouted. My voice echoed across the field and a few seconds later all heads swiveled toward me and soon fifty three sets of eyes brought me into focus.

Emma, Joanna and Dee forced a little laugh and turned toward each other.

“Okay, we'll play.” Joanna said.

“What is your name scout?” Emma said smiling.

At this point I don't think I had two brain cells in my head to rub together. I'd spent the hour before this formation debating and fighting both tooth and nail for my Law Badge. Which after only two sessions I earned meaning I was free to devote some of my remaining time on my 'Art Badge' at last. Anyway what came out of my month was not my name but.

“LAW!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. “Is common sense, plus plain English!” I paused. “Law seeks to settle domestic disputes using logic and reason and avoid combative conflict!” I paused again and instead of saying my name for the third time I shouted. “LAW!” I took a deep breath. “Is a collection of guiding principles or core values that a group of people have decided to apply to themselves and be governed by. The Ten Commandments is one such list of guiding principles that according to the Book of Exodus was handed down from God to the twelve tribes of..” I cut myself off.

“Okay..” Emma said as she looked at Dee who shrugged her shoulders. Joanna just stood there lost as a goose.

“Okay.. but your name?” Joanna asked.

“SARAH ELIZABETH PERCY!”

All three girls took a step back. My fellow scouts just looked at me. At this point they were just husks of boys. All their strength had been sapped from them. The pressure of earning their merit badges had cracked their sanity. Many were broken and many were just counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds before their week here was up. Unlike me, who had decided to stay for two weeks and who might stay for an extra week to help clean the place up. And use the extra seven days to earn both a few more merit badges and rack up some volunteer points toward the next step on my quest for the fable 'Eagle

“Okay..” Dee said before giggling a little. “That's totally a Southern name.”

“Yep, that's a double name right there. Totally a Southern name.” Joanna then walked up to me and then leaned in a little closer. I could feel her eyes peering into mine. I was scared. I was scared she was going to either bite me or Or at that very moment my bowels would turn to water and come running out, flooding the seat of my shorts and then running down my leg onto my socks.

“So what was with all that 'Law' talk earlier? You sounded unhinged.” Emma said as she walked up and stood almost shoulder to shoulder with Joanna.

“I just earned my 'Law' badge.” I said blushing. “I did it in two four days instead of six.” I paused and then I noticed something that made me blush even harder. Both Joanna and Emma were taller than me, not by much, but they both had a few good inches on me.

“So.” Dee said, smiling a little as she looked me in the eyes. “If we can ladies, can we get back on topic.” Her voice was smooth as velvet and echoed refinement. “Sarah, sweetie. Can you remove your ponytail holder.” She said, giving me a smirk.

Blinking, I slowly reached up and removed the black band that was holding my hair in place. Soon a cascade of black hair started running down my neck. A collective breath was taken. And Emma, Joanna , and Dee quickly turned to each other and soon all three just nodded there heads.

“Okay.” Joanna said smiling. “We'll accept you as tribute.”

“Tomorrow morning. Get a shower, shave the best you can, wash and condition your hair. And meet us at the front of the camp at eight o' clock sharp.” Emma said.

“We'll pick you up and take you into town to get fitted for a gown, get your hair done, nails, make-up, shoes and all that good stuff. The pageant is tomorrow evening so that leaves the morning and the whole afternoon open. Plenty of time, we just gotta make sure we don't waste much time. So it's important that you be at the front of the camp at eight o' clock sharp.” Dee added with a firm nod of her head.

“Can you do that scout?” Joanna said, turning her once toward me.

“Yes ma'am!” I was too afraid to say no.

“Good.” All three said together.

And so that's how I volunteered. I mean after all, how often does the chance come around to volunteer for something like this. And maybe this would prove once and for all that I have “True Grit”. And maybe because I felt like deep inside of there was really a girl named Sarah inching to come out. I can't explain it. But at that moment I was really looking forward to wearing a fancy dress. I was looking toward going into a salon and getting my hair dressed by a professional stylist. I was looking toward getting dolled up and made pretty. The thought of having a dozen girls fuss over me while they applied lipstick, eyeliner, and all that other good stuff made my heart flutter a little.

And that is how I'm going to close this chapter.

Four days in and ten more to go before my stint here in this hellhole is done.