Chapter Text
What was the gayest straight thing a Mother could think of? Send their daughters to an all girls summer camp. In 2026, it was perhaps binary to say ‘girls’ but that’s just marketing. For Kimberly, it was freedom from being at home where she couldn’t really be herself. She played into wanting the emotional growth and independence offered by Camp Saddle Rock. Her parents were impressed by the brochure as long as Kimberly wasn’t the only Black girl in attendance. Black women and girls make up a disproportionate amount of missing female cases in America. However, this camp would be only an hour drive away. Kimberly had the latest mobile phone and best data coverage they could afford. Mostly because they tracked her live location.
“Isn’t Liz from your class?” Kimberly’s mother asked, her eyes peered from the passenger side wing mirror.
“Yes.” Kimberly was admiring the mountain view. A bright and sunny morning.
“I trust her. Stick with her.” Kimberly rolled her eyes. Her mother didn’t even know Liz’s last name. Let alone that Liz creates sinful homosexual zines. Kimberly enjoyed the recent issue on Free the Nipple.
Their car halted slowly behind a queue of other cars. Kimberly watched eager parents trying to bid farewell to their daughters for two weeks. Some had quicker departures. After all, it wasn’t a wilderness camp. There were communal lodges with actual beds rather than tents. A total of thirty girls for Kimberly’s cohort. She wished that Shannon was here but she had plans in Denver. Kimberly wasn’t lonely enough to wish for Elle to show up. She did.
“Hi!” Elle’s pink outfit prompted Kimberly to put her sunglasses on. “I know you can see me.”
Kimberly nodded. “Isn’t this camp going to ruin your nails?”
“Yes but it’s totally worth it. I have a top coat, duh.” Elle flashed her perfect nails. They did look nice. “I’ll be back. My dad is still loitering. I think he’s about to cry again.” Kimberly was moved by this image, her last hug was maybe a year ago on Christmas Day. Her family were not huggy people. At least, her dad helped her with unload the suitcase.
“We’re in the same room.” A familiar voice said. Kimberly turned to see Liz. In a striped top which reminded Kimberly of a yellow candy cane.
“We?” Kimberly asked, as she dragged her suitcase against the sandy dirt track.
“You, me…Woods comma Elle.” Liz said, as she held the door open. She gave Kimberly’s suitcase a helpful push.
“I want the bed furthest from the door. Or whoever snores.” Kimberly announced. Elle strutted in, she had opted for a softer overnight bag. The huge ones that athletes carry.
“I know, it’s the same one Simone Biles swore was life changing.” Elle looked at Kimberly and Liz’s blank faces. “I trained with Simone and Suni Lee but gymnastics wasn’t for me.”
***
The camp leader was Ms. Burke, apparently teachers from state schools were underpaid. This was her favourite moment of the year. Being outside and being a positive mentor to girls. Something like that, neither of the girls were paying attention. They were hungry.
Elle was probably the only one impressed with…fruit…salad. Kimberly had packed her sweets and junk food which she will indulge in tonight. After the nightly campfire huddles, hopefully it’s just a metaphor. Kimberly asked if Liz could peel her orange, she hated the smell on her hands.
“The water is amazingly calm today so the first activity will be canoeing!”
Kimberly was unimpressed by the illogical presentation of events. Wouldn’t foraging or chanting positive affirmations be more beginner friendly?
“Lifejackets are so unflattering.” Elle had already put hers on. She wasn’t wrong.
‘It literally saves your life.’ Kimberly thought. Out of nowhere, Ms. Burke slapped a sticker each on Kimberly and Liz. Canoe partners. The teams had to be named after influential women. Kimberly insisted on Indya Moore while Liz rooted for Marcia Cross, both vocal supporters of Palestine. Elle eventually decided on Renee Rapp for them. Team Rapp!
“Please don’t do a cheer routine.” Liz said.
“I’ll do it in my head.” Elle laughed. A part of Kimberly was jealous of Elle’s happiness. Being cheerful was tiring, what really was there to be happy about?
***
“Pivot!” The sound of Elle’s voice made Liz laugh. She needed to work on her paddle technique.
Kimberly and Liz had barely exchanged any words. Despite wanting to talk about boygenius and Glass Animals as well as bands they both liked. Kimberly panicked slightly when Liz adjusted her cap.
“Whoa, keep your paddle steady.”
“Relax…it’s a calm body of water.” Liz impersonated Ms. Burke’s voice. “I can swim.”
“Well, I can’t.” Kimberly gripped tighter onto the paddle with her lower shaft hand. “We’re not close enough to shore…” Kimberly became increasingly panicked. Liz hadn’t seen this side of Kimberly before. Liz had seen other sides: Kimberly being a caring friend guard dog to Shannon, a nonchalant shopper at Bad Vibrations and being insanely gorgeous to the point where she was possibly out of Liz’s league. It was hard to tell if carabiners were a lesbian signal anymore. Or rainbow flags could just be allyship.
Kimberly started to flail. “Which stroke was it for us to go straight?”
“Jay stroke.” The boat spun instead. They did look like they were slightly stranded. The others were busy taking canoe selfies to have travelled this far.
“Hey, don’t worry.” Liz reassured Kimberly. She pulled out a bag of jelly beans. Kimberly somewhat relieved that Liz was a fellow snacker. “One bean, one row.”
A gentle breeze blew a wild salmon into the canoe. Flip. Flop. “Hurry, Liz. Also, I’m not touching that.”