Chapter Fifteen - A Real Scout

The water tasted foul as it filled my mouth and stung my eyes. What was Nate doing? The water was gross and soapy, how long was he planning on keeping me in the disgusting sink? I tried to scream, only gurgling bubbles formed around my lips to Nate’s laughter. Wasn’t anyone going to stop him? Was there anyone who could? I flailed my arms in mortal panic, trying to grab something to push myself out of the sink, but just a second later Nate let go.

I collapsed onto the ground, dish water dripping from my hair as I wheezed and coughed out the soapy liquid with a hacking wheeze. My eyes still stung as I tried to wipe the water away, still coughing and trying to catch my breath.

“Dude.” James said, stunned. “There's no way you’re getting away with that.”

“Like I care.” Nate spat. “Look at my shorts!”

“What is going on here!” A girl's voice filled the room, it was Kianna, the Scout Kim.

Finally I opened my eyes. Val and Kianna were standing in the doorway. Val was leaning over with his hands on his knees, looking as if he’d run a marathon.

“Little Cooper here had an accident.” Nate told the girl, looking down at me with disgust. “He has a lot of them apparently.”

Kianna ignored him completely and knelt down right in front of me, helping me into a sitting position. I took a few deep breaths and she moved my wet hair out from in front of my face. I blushed as I looked at her. She was maybe two years older than I was; with soft features, deep brown eyes and a soft smile that made me smile back as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder. She was a real scout. Maybe I was delirious from my dunking, but some mad part of me wanted to tell her my real age right then and there. I wanted to be her friend, and hang out all the time, and do all the things that kids my age were supposed to do. She seemed so kind. I never wanted her to let go. “Cooper, are you okay?” She asked sweetly.

In the end, I couldn’t form any words - overtaken by a torrent of confused emotions. I just nodded, and she nodded back. Kiana helped me to my feet, my hair dripping water onto my shirt and vest. Looking around the room, everyone still seemed in shock - no one quite sure not sure what was going to happen next. Kianna fished my missing beaver hat from the sink, ringing it out on the floor before she handed it back to me.

“Cubs.” She snapped authoritatively. The four cub scouts in the room snapped out of their shock, standing up straight and listening like obedient soldiers. “Finish up the dishes for the beavers” She demanded . “I’m going to take them to Taylor.” She took my hand and then reached down to help a whimpering Laurie off the ground too. She led the two of us out of the kitchen, Alex and Charlie following closely behind.

Outside, Brad and the Cub Scout Leader were engaged in a full on screaming match! It was quite the sight. Brad, usually so calm and mature, was red faced and practically frothing at the mouth - shouting right in Akela’s face. Trying and failing to moderate their furious exchange, even the level-headed Taylor looked at the end of his tether - unable to get a word in edgewise. Strangest of all, usually so stoic and strong, Zach was standing just a little distance away supporting himself on a tree - shoulders heaving as he just barely held back tears.

“I can’t believe you!” Brad was yelling “I didn’t do anything wrong. Nate was making fun of Zach right in front of you and you just ignored it!”

“I’m warning you, young man.” the cub scout leader spoke over him, hovering a warning finger inches from his face “If you don’t calm down right this instance and apologize…”

“Apologize!?” Brad practically screeched.

“Bradley, Nicola - please.” Taylor begged.

“You let him get away with anything!” Brad barreled on “Just ‘cause he’s your nephew. It’s totally…completely…bullshit!”

The adults both fell silent. There was a pregnant pause, only the sound of Zach’s labored breathing as he held back sobs alone by the tree interrupting the suspenseful scene. Taylor let out a defeated sigh. Brad bared up, an uneasy half-frown betraying just a tinge of regret. The cub leader - Nicola - stared him down, looking ready to explode. Before anyone could react however, Kianna piped up - alerting them all to our presence.

“Taylor?” she inquired, indicating the little squad of beavers trailing behind her like ducklings behind their mother.

“Yes, Kianna. What is it?” Taylor whispered, sounding completely exhausted.

Kianna cringed a little, clearly remiss to burden the long-suffering beaver leader with yet another crisis. “There was a bit of a scuffle in the cafeteria.” she reported unhappily, drawing me a little closer to her side and stroking her hand softly through my soaking wet hair to draw attention to it. “Nate um…dunked Cooper’s head in the dirty dishwater.”

“He did what?” Taylor exclaimed, rubbing his eyes “Oh give me strength.”

“He’s alright.” Kianna assured, ruffling my hair. “A proper trooper - a real scout.” She cuddled me close, making me tremble all over.

“Nate was making fun of him as well.” Alex growled, staring daggers at the cub scout leader.

“And the rest of us too!” Charlie added, scooting up next to the dejected blond boy. “Tell them, Laurie.”

I looked across, noticing that Laurie was fully crying, weeping and sniffling silently as he clung to Kianna’s other hand like a lost little lamb. He looked up, his voice as fragile as a reed as tried to blubber out his report. “We were just…washing up - and then N…Nate.” he faltered, going back to staring at the ground again.

“It’s okay, sweetie. You can tell them.” Kianna encouraged.

“Nate started making fun of me for no reason!” he wailed, his little voice a devastating mixture of pain, grief, and genuine confusion as to why anyone would ever be so mean.

Taylor growled, marching back towards the cafeteria. “Thanks for telling me Kianna.” he nodded gravely. He indicated to Nicola. “I suppose we should go and sort this mess out.”

Soon all six of us - the Kindies, Brad and Zach, were alone with Kianna out in the trees. Hearing his little brother’s cries, Zach had quickly recovered from his crises - stalking red eyed and ruddy cheeked over towards the group of us with a bitter pout on his lips. “What did he do to you?” he hissed down at his little brother, his voice cracked and hoarse.

Laurie said nothing, just whimpering and cuddling up to Kianna instead. I could hardly blame him. Zach wasn’t angry at us, but his vengeful glare was frightening enough by itself - teeth bared like a vicious old wolf ready to die if it just meant it could get one good swipe at a rival’s throat.

“Apparently they saw someone’s pull-ups in Taylor’s tent.” Charlie reported. “Like bedwetting pants. He was making fun of Laurie… Til Cooper told that they were his.”

Zach gave me a suspicious side-eyes glance, but didn’t say anything - simply breaking away and heading towards the cafeteria.. “Where are you going?” Kianna called after him.

“I’m gonna kick his teeth out!” he snarled, but he didn’t get very far before Kianna dropped my hand and grabbed hold of his shirt as he passed.

“You’re being stupid.” she scolded, rolling her eyes at his ridiculous behavior. Immediately, the bigger boy went as limp as a newborn pup caught by the scruff of his neck - letting out a little high pitched squeak and shrinking back in difference to the Kim Scout. She smiled at him. “It’s over. He’s in trouble. Chill out before you land yourself in it too.”

Zach frowned, pulling himself free with one little tug. “I guess…” he mumbled, shamed into submission.

“Why don’t we all go have some cocoa in the Beaver dorm?” Kianna asked merrily, seizing up my hand again. She cuddled me close against her side, drying my soaking wet hair against her crisp mature scout shirt. “Don’t worry, Coopy - we can get you a nice warm blanket.”

I felt a little flutter in my stomach, going tingly all over. “No one calls me Coopy.” I squeaked, not really knowing what else to say.

Kianna giggled. “Don’t you like it?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s kinda okay…but maybe just from you.”

“Careful Kianna, I think he likes you.” Brad joked - everyone breaking into a fit of laughter at the idea. I blushed bright red, very embarrassed, but for some reason I was still smiling - letting Kianna continue to cuddle me close to her side as the group of us wandered back to the cabin.

I was soon sitting on the edge of the bunk bed with Kianna on my left and Laurie on my right - a hot cup of cocoa in my palms and a snuggly blanket tied around my soggy hair. I looked at each of them, Laurie hadn’t left my side since our encounter with Nate; and Kianna wouldn’t let either of us out of her site. Alex and Charlie were sitting crossed leg on the bunk across from us playing ‘patty-cake’. Brad was laid out on an empty bunk, he and Zach hadn’t talked at all about what happened. Zach himself leaned casually against a wall, watching us all. Taylor had come in earlier, the two exchanging a few muttered words in the corner. Apparently, he was supposed to stay separate from Nate for the rest of camp. That was fine by us.

“Nate’s a bully.” Laurie said abruptly, causing Alex and Charlie to mess up their game.

“He just likes to throw his tantrums.” Zach grunted, unhelpfully.

“He’s like a toddler, making a fuss over everything!” I exclaimed, causing the group to snicker.

“What about Nick?” Brad asked, rolling over to face the group.

“He’s like a little puppy, always following Nate around.” Alex chimed with a grin. We all giggled again

“Then what does that make James?” I asked.

“He’s like a little baby, without any thought of his own.” Charlie piped. All of us were laughing now.

We could hardly put the incident entirely out of our minds, but the news that Nate, James and Nick had been consigned to cleaning the toilets for the morning certainly helped. Zach and Brad still weren’t talking to each other, but at least they weren’t actively avoiding each other either. Whatever activities had been planned for us never did materialize - the whole incident had really taken the wind out of Taylor - but in the end we were just happy to be together, drinking cocoa and telling silly stories.