The Princess and the Plague (Life after Camp Kumoni) By Anistasia Allread Edited by Nick B Flashbacks of the lake at camp erupted before his eyes as water enveloped his head and torso. He flailed about and came up sputtering.

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“Come on Eric, you’ve been sleeping all day.” His mother banged on his door. “Don’t make me sing the song.”

“I’m getting up.” Eric complained.

“If you aren’t up by the time I come back, I will sing the song,” she threatened. “Come on, we need to go run some errands, including getting your dad a birthday present.”

“Can’t we just get him a gift certificate for the sporting goods store like we did the last two years? He seems to like it.”

“Three years is too many times to pull that stunt. We need to come up with something good. We also need to find you a jacket for school.”

Eric pulled the covers back over his head. “Argh!”

“I’ll sing…” Mrs. Martin warned as she left.

Eric stretched and tossed back the covers. He trudged to his shower and sighed as the hot water poured over his body. He took his razor and shaved his face, then began shaving his legs before he realized what he was doing. He shrugged at his absentmindedness and finished getting rid of his body hair.

He pulled on some ‘skinny’ jeans and a ‘Panic at the Disco’ shirt before pulling on his black Converse. “Mom? How long until we are leaving?” he called out.

“Twenty minutes.”

Eric typed his password into his computer and jumped online. He went to his email account and was pleased to see that he had received email from some of Erika’s camp friends.

Hey Erika,

How’s it going girlfriend? Or is it just friend, now? I hope things are going well for you at home. Have you convinced your parents that you are better as a girl? I just wanted to thank you again for helping to hook Derek and I up. We went on a date the other day. It was wonderful. He is such a sweet guy. My parents met him and think he is just as wonderful as I do. Thank you for so much.

Let me know what’s going on with you and the other Columbine girls.

Dani

Eric thought he has missed Dani, but until this, he didn’t realize just how much he had missed her. He went on to another.

Hey Eric, or whatever you’re calling yourself now,

Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I arrived home safely. Two guys on the bus weren’t so lucky. They were picking on one of the girls at camp, so I taught them to pick on someone their own size and then taught them that they didn’t know the meaning of pick. lol.

Dad had to go off again on another trip. He left me a credit card though, so I’m going school shopping. ; )

I know that we have had our differences this summer, but I just wanted you to know that I’m glad you were in my cabin. I’m going to miss all of you

Keep me up to date on how Krystal is doing with her exercise and dieting.

Rachel

Eric smiled to himself. Rachel was tough, but she had a heart that once softened was as loyal as any he had ever known. He then came across another email that had an address that he didn’t recognize.

Dear Erika,

I hope you don’t mind me emailing you. I’ve been writing a lot on my novel, thanks a bunch to you. You have no idea how wonderful it is having a sketch of my characters near my computer to glance at. You are such a gifted artist I can almost see the glimmer of my character’s soul through their eyes. I have written five chapters since I’ve been home. I’ve been writing so much my mother thinks I’m depressed and suicidal. I have had to force myself to go for a walk outside, just to make her happy.

I really enjoyed meeting you at camp. Too bad we don’t live closer together, I’d like to have had more time with such a wonderful girl such as you. I miss our long sessions together as I talked, and you sketched. I miss the way the sun light coming through the window made your hair shine, or the way that you bit your bottom lip in concentration as you drew. I just hope that my family will make a couple of trips to your area. Maybe we could meet up. I hope you wouldn’t mind.
Well, I hope this letter doesn’t make me sound like a stalker. ; )

Take care and write back please,

Matt

“Whoa,’ Eric thought as he finished reading the last email.

“Are you ready? Let’s go.” Mrs. Martin stood in Eric’s doorway, “Do something with that mop of yours and meet me in the car.”

“Fine,” Eric sighed. “I’ll be down in a minute,” He logged off and went into his bathroom. Eric wet down his long hair and combed it all down from the top of his head then pushed his long bangs off to the side and looked in the mirror.

“I need mascara,” he told his reflection. He paused for a moment to think then threw open the cabinet door, pulled the mascara out from inside the towel and deftly applied a layer to his upper eye lashes. He put the bottle back in its hiding spot and looked in the mirror. It didn’t look too obvious, he had dark eyelashes to begin with–the mascara just kicked them up a notch but something about that act, that touch of feminism felt right.

“Maybe we should get your hair cut while we are out today,” his mom suggested as he got into the car and buckled up.

A panic shot through his body, turning his blood to ice. “Not yet,” he tried to sound nonchalant, “I kind of like my hair long. It’s how a lot of guys are wearing it today.”

“What guys?” Mrs. Martin pulled out of the driveway.

“You know, the skaters, the emos, even some of the jocks are wearing their hair long.”

Mrs. Martin rolled her eyes and drove to the mall.

“What are we getting dad this year?” he asked.

“I’m not sure, that’s why we are going to the mall. He is hard to buy gifts for.”

Eric’s mom parked the car and they entered the mall.

Eric was slightly surprised at how busy the mall was. It seemed like everyone was out in force, buying clothes for school. But then, he only went to the mall when dragged by his mother.

“Let’s try and stay away from sporting goods this year,” Mrs. Martin suggested.

“Good luck with that,” Eric said sarcastically.

They walked slowly through the mall, looking at each of the stores, trying to decide of any of them were worth entering on their mission for the birthday gift.

“Let’s try this one.” Eric’s mom steered him to a store entrance.

Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, “Go on in, mom, I’ll join you in a sec. I want to check something out.”

His mom looked at him then around the mall. “You kids and your video games,” she sighed.

Eric blinked then smiled sheepishly.

“Don’t be too long.”

“Yes mom.” Eric started over to the video game store. He turned halfway there and checked on his mom. She was already engrossed in her search. He changed directions and went to the store he actually had in mind. He went to the display and picked up a display model of a pair of flats. “These are cute,” he muttered to himself, “They’ll go good with my khaki capris, and two of my skirts.”

“May I help you?” a voice asked.

Eric almost dropped the shoe when he heard the voice, “Umm, what other colors do you have these in? My girlfriend said that she has been looking for a pair of flats like these,” he asked, adding the ‘girlfriend’ part to make it look as though it wasn’t actually him that wanted them.

“Those come in black, white, red, silver and gold,” the salesperson offered smiling.

Eric turned the shoe over and found the price, “Thank you.” He tried not to flush and retreated quickly to the mall. He glanced over at the store his mom was in and could see the back of her head towards the back. He quickly crossed to the video game store and started looking at the video games.

“Hey, look, Its ‘The Plague,’” a voice laughed.

“Crap!” Eric muttered. He picked up another game box and tried to ignore the baiting.

“Hey Plague boy, aren’t you supposed to warn the public when you leave the leper colony?” the voice continued.

Eric tried to ignore the taunt.

Something hit him on the back of his head. “Hey Plague, I’m talking to you.” Another object caught him on the back of the neck. Eric blinked hard trying not to flinch as the game box landed on the floor next to him.

“They’ll let anyone breed,” he muttered.

Another box hit him harder. Eric spun and glared at Tyler. He put the game back on the shelf and walked out of the store.

“Bye Plague. Can’t wait to see you at school,” the jock snickered.

Eric’s fingernails dug into his palms as he stormed across the corridor to the store that his mother was in. He took a few deep breaths and calmed himself down. “Find anything?” he asked his mother hoping that she didn’t hear the stress in his voice.

“Not anything that he needs or has to have.” She frowned. “Let’s try another store.”

They walked out of the store and started down the mall again. Eric glanced around trying to locate the bully but couldn’t find him.

His mom led him into a department store. “Let’s see if they have a jacket for you in here.”

They walked to the winter department and began picking through the coats.

“Stay less than one hundred and fifty.” His mother instructed.

Eric moved to another rack of jackets. He pulled out his cell and text Samantha.

Mom and I are shopping 4 jackets. What color? What style?

He tucked his cell back and pulled out a black one that he liked. His phone buzzed.

White is best, Black, blue, will work. Most any style. Long wool pea coat good 4 skirts.

He glanced around the racks but didn’t find any white jackets. He found a bright blue one with black trim and added it to the one he had. His phone buzzed again.

Have fun bonding with mom

Be more fun with U ;) he texted back.

Miss U 2 she texted.

He texted her another message. Found flats 4 $35 at Shoe Barn, lots of colors. Check them out.

Thx. I will tomorrow

“Find anything?” Eric’s mother asked.

“These two,” Eric held up his find, “Did you see any white jackets?”

“White?” Mrs. Martin looked puzzled, “White is for girls, Eric.”

“Oh.” Eric shrugged. “just thought it would look good with all my black.”

His mother held out four items for him to try on. Eric took them to a mirror and tried one on after another.

“I like this one,” he said turning to see himself in the mirror. He wondered how it would look with his girlish curves as well as with his skirts.

“I thought you might,” his mother smiled.

Eric took the jacket off and handed it to his mom. “I think this one is the keeper.”

The mother and son walked out of the department store with a bulky bag in hand.

“Are you getting hungry?” she asked.

“Yes, I didn’t eat breakfast.”

“Let’s get something to eat.” His mother led them to the food court and looked around. “What do you fancy?” she asked.

“I think I’m in the mood for a taco salad.”

As they ate their lunch, Eric caught sight of Tyler across the food court. The Jock was with two other friends and a girlfriend. They were all looking his way, laughing. Eric felt his face flush with embarrassment but tried to ignore them the rest of his meal.

“I think I want to check out the Things Remembered store,” his mom decided.

The two walked down the mall to the store.

“I’m going to sit out here, if that is okay.” Eric told his mom. She took a long look at him then nodded before entering the store.

Eric sat down on the edge of one of the water fountains and set his drink next to him. He thought about what he and Tricia were planning for the coming day. Samantha was going to pick him up at the time he would be leaving for school, take him to Tricia’s and have him change. They were going to time everything to see how much time it was going to take so that they could plan for it once school started next week.

Eric’s vision went black as something big pushed into him. Flashbacks of the lake at camp erupted before his eyes as water enveloped his head and torso. He flailed about and came up sputtering. He wiped water from his face and looked around. He found himself sitting in the water fountain, soaked from head to toe as people all around him laughed aloud.

Kids with their parents snickered and pointed as mothers with smiles on their faces tried to redirect their kids. Old ladies hid their mouths with their hands as their eyes sparkled in mirth. Over it all, Eric heard Tyler and his friends standing off to one side of the mall corridor laughing. He and two others had their phones out and were snapping pictures of the prank they had just engineered. They put up their phones and ran off down the mall, their laughter echoing like evil clowns from a horror movie.

Eric’s mom came out of the store and looked around to see what the commotion was about. She ran over to Eric, “Are you all right? What happened?”

“Some kids from school pulling a prank.” Eric closed his eyes in embarrassment.

“I’ll call mall security.” His mother pulled out her phone.

“Don’t bother, mom, it will just make it worse.” Eric hauled himself out of the fountain and wrung water out of his T-shirt. “Just leave it be. I’ll wait in the car for you.” He picked up his bag and stormed out of the mall.

“Don’t let them see you cry,” he told himself. “Don’t let them see you cry.”

Once out of the mall, he sprinted out to his mother’s car. He pulled a throw blanket kept in the trunk for emergencies out and laid it on the passenger’s seat before sitting.

He bit his lip, trying to divert his emotional pain into physical pain. “Don’t let them see you cry…” It had become his mantra for the past year and a half.

Eric’s mother got into the car and glared at her son. She dug a small package of Kleenex out of her purse and tossed it at Eric.

“What’s this for?” he asked, still angry at having been the target of yet another prank.

“Look in the mirror, Eric.” She said quietly, purposely avoided looking at her son.

Eric flipped the sun visor down and looked into the mirror at the dark smudges running from around his eyes.

“What are you doing, wearing makeup, Eric?” she asked in a measured voice, “No wonder you were pushed into the fountain. You promised me that you leave the dresses and makeup at camp and here you are looking like a panda.” She revved the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. “I'm disappointed, Eric; very disappointed.”

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To be continued…