This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to real people or places is purely coincidence.

Tuesday:

I again rolled out of bed with the sun, well before any but Marie, and got changed quietly, I put on a purple t-shirt with a rainbow on it and a skirt jumper Penny had convinced me I could try yesterday and then went and sat on the porch enjoying the calm, quiet cool morning air.

Marie returned, again in her staff polo, a pair of short khaki shorts and hiking boots and socks

Well good morning Carly she said and smiled, glad to see I’m not the only early riser around

This is so not me, at home I would be asleep for several more hours… but I will admit it’s nice in the morning, quiet

It is that she said, congratulations on Juliet by the way, I know you will do great

Thanks. I’m nervous, it’s not an awful lot of time to learn the lines

Don’t worry too much, we shorten the plays we do significantly, like not even half as long, but Claire does a good job with it

So, you were in a play?

Yup! Different director a decade ago, not quite as affirming as Claire, he liked to do things like gender swap and have actors play genders they weren’t and weren’t comfortable with, he wasn’t doing it out of malice, but perhaps a bit misguided

And that’s what caused you to come out?

Yup, so who’s to say it was all bad. Penny was right, that jumper is cute on you

I blushed, thanks, I’m a bit nervous about it too, never worn a skirt before

Do you like it?

I nodded

Thats good, any idea what you are doing today?

Studying the script?

It wont be that bad, the play really is quite shortened, anything else? I think todays canoes

Oh? I know how, family owns one, although we havent taken it out in like, five years

Trust me it will be fun!

I don’t have a swimsuit

Well if you don’t horse around you wont tip, and you will be wearing a life preserver even if you do

I mean, I can swim, I just would worry about getting my clothes wet

Marie laughed, its just a thing that happens sometimes, don’t worry too much, clothes dry

But they aren’t mine

Anything you like from the closet is yours to keep

Thanks

I think theres also an option for all day canoe trip + picnic at one of the little islands after the introduction lesson

Oh, that sounds neat

It is! I do it every once in awhile, when my schedule aligns

So, is this the only camp here?

Well, this specific program has a week, and theres also a couple different options for disabled kids, and other special needs, everything here is more or less accessible as we can make it, ramps, all the facilities are sized properly, etc

And you work all of those?

Yup! I started here with this as a camper, but all of the programs are really great and I really enjoy helping with them, and all of them are LGBT friendly, if not quite as focused on it as this week, but LGBT disabled kids exist too!

Yeah, I hadn’t looked at it that way.

We also do off season camps and I’ll come out and work those when I can, usually special theme groups, we had a group book us for Star Wars weekend once, everyone was in costume most of the time, it was kind of awesome

I laughed picturing it

Oh, and weddings are popular in the fall, with all the leaves turning

That must be lovely

It is! And we of course cater to a queer crowd, and a few campers and staff have met their partners here, and occasionally a staff member or former camper has their wedding here

Oh that’s really nice

It is, this is a really wonderful place

A slow but increasing trickle of campers and staff were walking by, on their way to the showers, or otherwise

I should probably go help set up for breakfast Marie said

Ok, need any help? I asked getting as she did

You absolutely do not have to, and you can only help in the dining hall, no kitchen stuff, food safety is something we take seriously

I don’t know what else I would do, might as well

All right then, come along she laughed, I can count on one hand the times any camper has asked me if they could help setup for food

I’m just used to helping out when I’m not hiding, keeps my brain off things and keeps adults from prying too much

You really were thinking a lot about how you hid weren’t you?

I said quietly, yeah, couldn’t let anyone know anything

Do you at least have some friends?

Not really, not since grade school

What happened if you don’t mind me asking she asked as we walked up the steps towards the dining hall

It’s not that I mind, it just wasn’t much, moved states after grade school, never bothered to make new friends

Ah, yeah, my parents let me go to a different high school than I would’ve normally, but there I got to be me, and actually met friends who cared about the whole me

That sounds nice

She held open the door for me

Oh hi Carly Liz called, and good morning Marie she said smiling big at Marie

Carly here offered to help set up for breakfast,

Oh wonderful! That’s pretty rare

There isn’t tons to do, but there’s a squirt bottle and a rag to wipe the tables down with and a broom to sweep with

I’ll run the broom if that’s fine

Absolutely

I ran the broom while they took care of putting chairs down and wiping tables off, I helped reload the napkin dispensers, and then they told me to go get in line on the inside before the others showed up outside

I looked at them funny, really?

Got to get that good bacon first! Marie said,

Also usually they give the few kids that help out a bit extra Liz winked

I gaped, but why wouldn’t more people help then?

They don’t know, and its not that much more or different Liz admitted

I laughed, ok, went and leaned against the wall by the pickup windows

So how are you doing Carly? a whole day now as you! Marie asked as she passed by pushing a cart of various supplies to the back room

I uh, Im doing ok, it has some ups and downs

It really does, that first year I was out was just rough, but it does get better, I promise

Ok kiddo Liz said walking by, we will be serving this morning, see you in a bit! we have to go get washed up and then start prepping plates

See you in a bit

Claire came in via a side door toting a large stack of paper

OH! You’re here! Our Juliet! Here! Take one she said and I took one off the top of the pile that took both hands to hold

Don’t read it just yet! we are going to have a brief meeting at breakfast to go over some things, and do a read through of the first scene!

Sure, those tables in the corner! Oh! I need to get the theater flags!

She set the ream of paper down and ran back to the offices and came running back carrying a box and started placing flags out on several tables and counting seats

Yeah ok that should be enough! she said

So sit at one of those?

Yup! See you in a bit and she rushed back out

Outside the kids had started lining up and it was nearly time for breakfast

I heard the serving window door rattle as it rolled up and out of the way and Marie poked her head out, oh that was Claire! I told you it was Liz Marie said

You are as ever, correct

Penny came in from the back room, oh, its past time she said looking at her watch, you ready back there?

Yup!

Oh and someone was a helper today, thats uncommon, thank you!

I blushed, thanks Penny

Enjoy the extra good bacon

She went over to the doors and opened them and the line started filing in behind me and I walked up to the counter and grabbed the plate Marie handed me, extra, just like I promised she stage whispered and winked

I took my plate and went and started to grab a glass of OJ and saw Claire run back in to the room and grabbed the mic off the stand, hello campers! can I have all my cast and crew here at the tables with the drama masks on them this morning? This morning only! you get to sit wherever you want any other day!

I got my drink and headed over and sat down at the table, and various cast members filtered over, and Lily came and sat next to me, oh there you are! you weren’t around at the cabin this morning so we were wondering

I offered to help setup for breakfast I said, pouring some syrup on my waffles and crunching on some bacon

Thats nice of you, I slept til like 10 minutes ago, I had to RUSH through getting ready

I laughed, so any interest in canoeing this morning? Possibly today? I hear they offer an all day excursion to an island with a picnic

Well certainly I want to try it! I’ve never been on a boat before, much less a canoe

Never?

Nope, just never came up

Hope you don’t get motion sick

I do ok in cars, and on roller coasters

Oh you like coasters? So do I! Wind in my hair

Yup! And l o l, yes, exactly!

As kids around the tables finished breakfast, Claire started passing out the scripts, ok everyone, the top sheet is a schedule, be there tonight and tomorrow at 7, be there at 6:30 on Thursday, and don’t worry, there will also be a cast party afterwords, performing can be hungry work!

The scripts aren’t highlighted, I literally finished copying them right before breakfast, but I did proofread it first! There are highlighters on the tables, please take a moment and run through and highlight anything with your part, and if you see any mistakes in pronouns or gender for anyones lines, let me know asap!

That’s about all I’ve got this morning, but I would like us to try and read through the first scene before you rush off to activities!

We did a quick read through, which was hampered a bit by other kids being noisy, but I managed my lines with not too much blushing, and I managed to get most of my lines highlighted but Lily was telling me we had to go.

Excited about canoeing?

A bit

I’ve done it before, my family owns one

Oh that’s neat! Do you take it out very often?

It’s been awhile, it’s a bit of a pain to get on top of the car, haul it to the lake or river, then repeat that after wards

I can see how that would be hard

We took our buddy tags and hung them together under the canoe section

George was down at the beach, to one side of the docks with a bunch of canoes pulled up on shore

Howdy campers! Who’s excited to go canoeing?

Lily said I am! And so did a few others

Great! So some of you may know that we do a brief morning intro, an hour or so, then there’s the offer for those who want of canoeing to that island there off in the distance and having a picnic lunch on the beach

So let’s get started, there’s a rack of life jackets over there and Rachel and I will help you find one that fits

A bit of shuffling later we knew our sizes and had our jackets on

Ok, so, canoes are pretty simple, you have a boat, you have a paddle, there’s a couple basic strokes, put paddle in and pull back with the blade perpendicular to the boat. Can also back up although it’s a less efficient motion often than turning around, can also push away from the side or draw in, there’s also the J stroke that the back person will need to know to keep steering going straight.

Rachel’s gonna demo them real quick, and Rachel went over to a smaller canoe then the rest and pushed it in to the water and got in in one practiced motion, and don’t worry about getting in/launching, we will help with that!

Rachel demo’d various strokes and maneuvers, then ran the canoe up on to the beach and hoped out.

Now, I know a lot of your faces and names and those of you who have done this in past years, any freshman have experience?

I raised my hand, I do, and I know how to do the J stroke

Great! George looked and pointed and was clearly counting This actually works out great, two campers to a canoe except one that would only have one and I can do the back paddle for one, no extras

They helped each of us get arranged, Lily took the front and I the back and they pushed us out in to the water

Lily and I managed, her stroke was maybe a bit awkward at first but I called some tips from the back and soon we were maneuvering fairly well. Other campers had varying degree of skill and ability, some better than us, some much worse. And yes one pair did manage to tip their canoe.

George and Rachel managed to help get them back in it, swamped though it was and helped them get back to shore and bailed out.

I hope we don’t tip Lily said from the front, clearly nervous

I don’t think we will, your doing great and if you want to do the picnic I think we could

Lily cheered, yay!

George managed to get us all to head back to shore

Ok, so, anyone can come to the island if they wish, and we’ve got a couple little electric outboards we take along in case anyone gets too tired coming or going, and also tow ropes

A few said they just wanted to stay here and do other things at camp, but a lot of us did want to, and it worked out to an even number of campers

Oh, and there’s the kitchen staff with our picnic supplies, perfect timing.

George put most of the supplies in his canoe that he would paddle solo, but also decided we had shown promise and put some of them in ours, and the electric outboards went in Rachel’s canoe.

I did put my script in a water proof baggy and take it with us, as they said we would enjoy the island and not come back right after we were done eating.

We headed out, and I admit, paddling the canoe with the extra weight was a bit harder, but we got there, George and Rachel were leading songs to paddle to, and all of us joined in, including me

We got to the island fine, and George and Rachel both rammed their canoes in to the beach hard enough without help that they could hop out without getting too wet and then helped each of us get ours beached and , and they quickly set about attaching the canoes to anchors even though they were mostly on the beach that they tied to some bigger rocks on the shore, then we all helped unload George’s canoe, and Lily’s and mine.

Blankets had gotten put in various other canoes and we spread them out on a grassy bit overlooking the beach we had landed at. The island wasn’t terribly big, maybe 100 yards across but it had a hill covered in pine trees, and it was really quite lovely.

Lunch was sandwiches and chips with some brownies for desert. There was also some pop in a cooler, and a bottle of tea, but I just drank from the water bottle I had brought along.

Lily and I went and walked around the island and then collapsed on the hill where we had eaten lunch enjoying the sun

Your jumpers cute btw

Thanks, its the first time I’ve worn anything with a skirt

Lily laughed, it showed a bit, you may have flashed me getting in the canoe

I squeaked out a tiny meep and blushed hard, sorry

It’s fine! girls have to learn eventually, and its always a risk, and Im pretty sure Im the only one who noticed

oh, the script, I should be reading it! I jumped up and ran over to the canoes and found the water proof baggy there and took it back up the hill

I sat down next to Lily and we ran through it with each other. Marie an Lily were right, they had cut a LOT out, it was still a fair bit, but I could manage, just.

I was just starting my third reread when George called out at the top of his lungs OLLY OLLY OXENFREE. TIME TO MEET BACK UP AND PACK UP TO GO BACK TO CAMP!

Campers started coming out of the woods, and back down the beach, and we came down the hill. George had already repacked most things.

George did a quick headcount, we were all there thankfully and unharmed

Anyone feeling too tired to make it back?

Lily timidly raised her hand, paddling the canoe with the stuff in it was harder than I expected

Thats fine! thats why we brought the motors, alternatively, can swap in to another canoe

They got one of the motors out of Rachel’s canoe and quickly attached it to ours, and showed me how to run the throttle on it. We got in and George pushed us out on to the water

Wait for the rest of us to get launched! we will all head back over together, it wont be dark for quite awhile and we will be back in plenty of time for supper, but sighting on the camp can be a bit tricky at this time of day!

George and Rachel got the others launched then quickly launched their own and joined us out on the water, George took the lead, with Lily and I following under the motors power, which wasn’t too bad to control, and Rachel hung out towards the rear of the group to keep an eye on everyone.

The trip took a bit longer than going out, the wind wasn’t as friendly, and Rachel put the motor on her own canoe out there in the middle of the lake and tossed a tow line to a struggling pair of campers and hauled them behind her, but we all made it back safe and sound.

It was a bit before 5, so we had time to hit the shower’s and oof did I need it, I didn’t realize how sweaty I had gotten, and went back to the cabin and changed in to some clean shorts and a tank top before heading over to the dining hall.

Lily saw me come out of the bathroom in the cabin and said aww, I liked your jumper

I held it up to her nose

Oh geez oh wow, no, put that thing away she grimmaced

Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad I laughed taking a deep breath myself and then joking at passing out

Lily was laughing uproariously now and I went and put it in my laundry bag

We walked together towards the dining hall, and Lily was still laughing once in awhile

We got in line, chatting with other campers.

Supper was fried chicken sandwiches, with chips and some coleslaw and it was VERY good

When we got our food, Billie waved us down and we went over to their table

Good evening ladies Billie said, and how was your day?

It was really lovely I said

I had an amazing time! First time canoeing!

Excellent, did you do the day trip?

We did Lily said, although we used the motor on the way back

Hey, motors are good and helpful, don’t feel bad about

And you, Carly, our Juliet! So happy for you! Looking forward to seeing it!

I blushed, I hope it will be good, got rehearsal tonight

Well don’t do any of those silly nervousness reduction techniques like ‘picture everyone in their underwear’, they don’t work and only make you more nervous, just remember to breathe and that will help so much

Have you been in any of the plays they do here Lily asked?

I did one the last couple years, I got to be Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream

Oh nice!

It was VERY gender affirming to be honest, played them as a very gender ambiguous fairy was amazing

I bet, I said, Midsummer is a fun play

You’ve done it?

Just read it in school once

The costuming they do here is really something for a camp that isn’t focused on theater, so either of you ever done other camps before?

Lily nodded, yeah, I went to one last year, it didn’t go well, and it was right before I came out

Oof, thats a hard time

Yeah

And you Carly?

I went to a boy scout camp 2 years ago, it had ok moments but it rained most of the week and I was alone and miserable and didn’t fit

Yeah, get that, did scout camp once, that was a bummer

And last year I did an independent camp, like this place in activities and stuff, only horrible, bullies were common and I was an easy target

Oh, that sucks

Yeah, my parents somehow convinced me to try one more though

And what a one it is

Yeah, I smiled a bit, I still don’t really get how they knew

They may not have! and it doesn’t really matter, you are here, and you are you, and Im so happy that happened for you one way or another

Thanks Billie

Eventually we finished supper, Lily and I sat on a pair of chairs on the porch overlooking the lake and went through our scripts again until it was time to head over to the theater

We arrived a bit before most apparently and there wasn’t anyone at the gate, but Claire saw us and said come in come in! join us on stage, and Millie was already there, as was Marie, and a couple of the kids who had signed up to be crew

We walked down the amphitheater’s center aisle to the stage and hopped on stage, I sat down next to Millie and Lily sat down next to me

Well hello Juliet! Claire said, welcome! You look nervous

A bit

I have never once put on a bad show, and I’ve got faith you can do well. Been going over your scripts?

Millie said, I read it once, it seems good, and I think I can do ok at getting it memorized

I blushed, Im uh, on my like 4th read through

Woah! fast reader, got any of it memorized yet?

Uhh, like I know some of the lines, but connecting them to other peoples lines, and in the right order definitely a ways to go

Thats very impressive, but also, do enjoy your time here!

We did the canoe trip Lily chimed in, that was fun

Oh nice! Yeah the island is neat

Others began arriving, and Claire began us with a couple warmup exercises, ok! Lets start at Act 1, scene 1 and we are just going to read through and do some basic staging!

We ran through the play, she told us roughly where we would enter and exit, and we got through it ok

I noticed Penny had arrived at the back of the theater

So we are going to have you all get some basic measurements for costumes, and Penny and Marie are going to help with that, and I will be working with those of you who volunteered to help with tech stuff to get started on our sets and stuff!

Marie and Penny lead the cast back stage, and in to a storage room where there were racks of various costume bits

We do Shakespeare a fair bit, since some of them are quite amazing to explore gender with, so we have a fair bit already Marie said

They started taking measurements and I had wound up kind of near the back of the line, and Penny noticed and said, Our leading lady can’t be at the back of the line! And she came back to me and said come on silly goose

It’s fine I said, I can wait

Yes, but you need a couple outfits, and I need to make sure we either have or can make them, and not interfere with them being already assigned!

I relented, and she started taking a few different measurements, height, chest, arms, etc

OK. So, should have a couple things to fit you, you should try on one though and she went through the racks and pulled out a gown, here we are, and she hustled me to a changing room in one corner and handed it to me

I managed to get the base piece on, it was just a simple dress, with some elastic so I didnt’ need to zip it, but the bodice, I couldn’t really figure out how to get it closed and I let Penny know through the curtain

Are you decent? Are you ok with me coming in and looking?

I thought, yes

She came in and helped me on with it and helped me get it laced, and tied behind me

She had me do a spin in there

That looks good, good size, good fit, ok, do you want to see it?

I nodded

We stepped out of the booth and there was a set of mirrors there

Oh I said, I like that

You do? Great! That ones your main one then, and I think I have another that will fit you well for the final act

Lily and Millie noticed and came over, omg its great Carly! Lily said enthusiastically

You think so? I said blushing

Absolutely Millie said!

Penny came back with another outfit on a hanger, and undid the bodice enough I could get it off myself, and I went back in and changed really quick. This time the dress was fancier, and I couldn’t manage myself and Penny stepped in again and helped me get it on, holding it for me while I stepped in and then helping me get my arms in and zipping it up

It fit pretty well, it was a perhaps loose in the chest

We can pad that out a bit Penny said noting me looking at it when we went out to the mirror

Millie came over, in a skirt and jerkin, demi girl Romeo at your service m’lady she said taking a bow

I attempted a courtesy, and broke out laughing, and so did Millie and Lily

Millie and I went back and changed, and while we had been changing, Marie and Penny had been busy and gotten through the rest of the cast for measurements, and started sorting through costumes for them all, although most didn’t try them on.

Marie and Penny lead us all back out on stage, and Claire announced

Thank you all for your hard work tonight! We’ve got most of the stage bits in process, and our actors on their way to being outfitted!

Tomorrow, take some time at breakfast, or lunch, whenever, and try and get your lines more or less memorized, you don’t have to be off book tomorrow night completely, but you should at least be close! But remember, enjoy yourselves at the other activities too!

Lily and I walked together back towards the cabin

You were really good during the read through she said, and your costumes are just amazing!

Thanks I blushed

You enjoying yourself? she asked

I am, I didn’t think this was possible

Well Im glad you got to learn it is she said smiling

We got back to the cabin and I changed in to the pajamas and collapsed in bed and read through the script another time before bed.

Marie came in just before the official lights out and quickly changed herself before bed time. Goodnight everyone! she said, and I put my script away and fell quickly to sleep. Today had been long and tiring, but so amazing

Wednesday