Page 46 of Mr. B

She let go of his hand and cocked her head. “I have a question. If he had left it up to you, would you have hired me?”

“Um…no.”

“Because?”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Are you going to replace me at the end of the year? Stu said this was a one-year gig unless you choose to keep me on.”

“I think we’ll need to see how the year goes. But…” He shrugged. “Ask me again in the spring.”

“Fair enough.”

Wes checked the time on his watch. “Dinner is in thirty minutes.”

“Is the head counselor going to be giving a speech?”

“I’m afraid so.”

She patted his arm. “Good thing you’re so good at it.”

“Lots of practice.”

A few minutes before five, Wes and Cassandra walked to the mess hall together. The students were all headed that way, chatting and laughing. Wes held the door for several of them, then he and Cassandra went in and made their way to the table at the front of the room.

Lester was already there, and he smiled at Cassandra. “Are you ready for this, Dr. Jordan?”

“I am. But please call me Cassandra.”

“Will do.” He shook hands with Wes. “Another year.”

The large room had ten tables, and each cabin was assigned one table for the cabin counselor and four to five students. By the end of camp, as friendships formed, the kids sat wherever they wanted, as long as they maintained a ratio of no more than five students to one counselor.

Meals were served buffet-style, with one table at a time going up to get their food. The rotation changed with every meal, but Wes, Cassandra, and Lester went last.

Cassandra nudged Wes. “Seems like we should be first, not last.”

Lester laughed. “I’ve been telling him that for years.”

“Camp is about the kids.”

The food was as good as it could be, given the amount needed to feed fifty-one people. Wes was hungry, having eaten only snacks all day, and he ate a plate of fried chicken, country-fried potatoes, and peas, then resisted the urge to go back for seconds. Dessert was chocolate cake, and May brought three slices to the table.

“You should get the first shot at dessert.”

“Thank you, May.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Buchanan.”

Cassandra watched her head back toward the kitchen. “I think May has a little crush on you, Wes.”

“Neither she nor June has ever married.”

“Maybe she’s waiting for you.”

Lester laughed. “She probably wouldn’t mind snagging a younger man.”

Wes looked at him. “What about you? You’re single.”