going to have Wi-Fi or something?” This came from another of the guys, dressed in camouflage. His head was shaved and she could see a jagged scar running along his skull. It was red and angry looking.
“Ed, I know you’re concentrating on all the hunting and fishing we’re going to be able to do out there, but you’ve got to remember that we’ll need security and communication capabilities. Smoke signals and guard duty just aren’t going to cut it,” David said.
“I guess. It just seems everything is getting real complicated. We’re twice as big now as when we first started talking about this.”
David looked satisfied at that. “Yes, we are. And that’s a good thing. Everyone at this table is bringing something unique—some skill or ability that contributes to the life of the camp. Maddy here is bringing some awesome computer skills.”
The room was quiet. Kristi got up and brought the coffee pot over and poured for everyone. She looked Maddy in the eye and gestured to her with the pot. Maddy lifted her cup for a refill.
“I’m Kristi,” she said. “And the only thing I do with computers is play games.”
She sat back down and looked happy to have cleared that up.
David reached around and pulled an envelope out of his rear pocket. “Here’s what else Maddy’s bringing to the table.”
He took out the $20,000 check and placed it carefully on the table.
“This puts us over the top for our down payment so we can go ahead and purchase the land. It’s all going to happen for real.” A big smile crossed his bony face. “Do any of you have a problem with Maddy joining us?”
All eyes were on the check and all mouths stayed shut.
“All right, then!” David shouted, slapping the top of the check with a loud whap. “Let’s get ready for Idaho!”
Maddy looked around as the others erupted in whoops and high fives. The other woman in the room, a pretty blonde, launched herself into David’s arms and gave him a big kiss. Then she turned to Maddy and stuck out her hand.
“I’m Diane,” she said. “And we’re really happy you’re going with us.”
Maddy stood as the others came up to shake or give her a hug. Kristi bumped her fist against Maddy’s and grinned. The last of the group, a handsome boy named Tom, pumped her hand.
“I know some about programming. Maybe we can talk about what you’ll be working on.”
She saw David give her an encouraging look. “Sure,” she said. “I’d love to work with you.”
There was a first time for everything, they say.
*
The school principal, Mr. MacBride, was a six-foot-five beanpole. His Adam’s apple stuck out like a chicken wing. Jan and Peet looked up at him standing in his office.
“Of course, I want to do what I can,” he said. “I’m afraid I don’t know Maddy at all, which some people take to mean she simply hasn’t gotten into trouble. But, really, by junior year I usually know students for one reason or another—grades, clubs they’re in, athletics, something. But I actually couldn’t have picked Maddy out.”
“It’s a huge school,” Jan said. “I’m not sure what you’re saying necessarily means anything.”
“True,” MacBride said. “But we do know she’s not really involved in any activities. I’ve looked at her record. Her grades are average, mostly Bs and Cs, but all As in math. Teacher comments tend to run along the line of ‘not performing to potential,’ and ‘very quiet student.’”
“That jibes with what we’ve heard,” Peet said. “Can we get a copy of that record? The parents will authorize it if you need to get permission.”
Jan and Peet each took an office to interview teachers and students who knew Maddy. Jan was in the vice principal’s office, staring at a family photo on the desk when she heard a soft knock at the open door.
“I’m Natalie Towne, Maddy’s social sciences teacher.”
Natalie Towne was teacher crush material. She was youthful and elegant and had Jan
“Ed, I know you’re concentrating on all the hunting and fishing we’re going to be able to do out there, but you’ve got to remember that we’ll need security and communication capabilities. Smoke signals and guard duty just aren’t going to cut it,” David said.
“I guess. It just seems everything is getting real complicated. We’re twice as big now as when we first started talking about this.”
David looked satisfied at that. “Yes, we are. And that’s a good thing. Everyone at this table is bringing something unique—some skill or ability that contributes to the life of the camp. Maddy here is bringing some awesome computer skills.”
The room was quiet. Kristi got up and brought the coffee pot over and poured for everyone. She looked Maddy in the eye and gestured to her with the pot. Maddy lifted her cup for a refill.
“I’m Kristi,” she said. “And the only thing I do with computers is play games.”
She sat back down and looked happy to have cleared that up.
David reached around and pulled an envelope out of his rear pocket. “Here’s what else Maddy’s bringing to the table.”
He took out the $20,000 check and placed it carefully on the table.
“This puts us over the top for our down payment so we can go ahead and purchase the land. It’s all going to happen for real.” A big smile crossed his bony face. “Do any of you have a problem with Maddy joining us?”
All eyes were on the check and all mouths stayed shut.
“All right, then!” David shouted, slapping the top of the check with a loud whap. “Let’s get ready for Idaho!”
Maddy looked around as the others erupted in whoops and high fives. The other woman in the room, a pretty blonde, launched herself into David’s arms and gave him a big kiss. Then she turned to Maddy and stuck out her hand.
“I’m Diane,” she said. “And we’re really happy you’re going with us.”
Maddy stood as the others came up to shake or give her a hug. Kristi bumped her fist against Maddy’s and grinned. The last of the group, a handsome boy named Tom, pumped her hand.
“I know some about programming. Maybe we can talk about what you’ll be working on.”
She saw David give her an encouraging look. “Sure,” she said. “I’d love to work with you.”
There was a first time for everything, they say.
*
The school principal, Mr. MacBride, was a six-foot-five beanpole. His Adam’s apple stuck out like a chicken wing. Jan and Peet looked up at him standing in his office.
“Of course, I want to do what I can,” he said. “I’m afraid I don’t know Maddy at all, which some people take to mean she simply hasn’t gotten into trouble. But, really, by junior year I usually know students for one reason or another—grades, clubs they’re in, athletics, something. But I actually couldn’t have picked Maddy out.”
“It’s a huge school,” Jan said. “I’m not sure what you’re saying necessarily means anything.”
“True,” MacBride said. “But we do know she’s not really involved in any activities. I’ve looked at her record. Her grades are average, mostly Bs and Cs, but all As in math. Teacher comments tend to run along the line of ‘not performing to potential,’ and ‘very quiet student.’”
“That jibes with what we’ve heard,” Peet said. “Can we get a copy of that record? The parents will authorize it if you need to get permission.”
Jan and Peet each took an office to interview teachers and students who knew Maddy. Jan was in the vice principal’s office, staring at a family photo on the desk when she heard a soft knock at the open door.
“I’m Natalie Towne, Maddy’s social sciences teacher.”
Natalie Towne was teacher crush material. She was youthful and elegant and had Jan
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