For the first time, Mason saw Trent look uncertain. Not angry. Uncertain.
He placed the keys and radio on the desk.
The director called another senior counselor and instructed him to escort Trent to the staff building. Trent stopped at the door and looked back at Mason.
“You have no idea what you just did.”
Priya stepped between them. “Do not speak to him.”
The director added, “And do not speak to any camper.”
The door closed.
Mason began shaking.
He had imagined telling an adult a hundred times. In every version, Trent denied it and Mason somehow ended up apologizing. He had never imagined the room becoming quieter after the truth instead of louder.
Priya crouched beside him. “You are not going back to that cabin tonight.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Are the other kids?”
“No.”
He looked at the crossed-out letter. “My mom paid a lot for this camp.”
The director closed his eyes briefly. “That is an adult problem. You do not have to protect the camp from what happened here.”
They called Mason’s mother immediately. Priya sat with him while the director explained. Mason could hear his mother’s voice through the speaker even though it was not on speakerphone. At first she sounded confused. Then furious. Then frightened.
“Put Mason on.”
The director handed him the phone.
“Mom?”
“I am coming.”
Mason started crying before he could stop himself. “I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“You saved for camp.”
There was a pause.
“Mason, listen to me. I saved so you could have a good week. I did not buy anybody the right to scare you.”
He pressed the phone harder to his ear.
“I should have told you sooner.”
“You tried. You wrote it down.”
Mason looked at the black marker across his letter and realized she was right. He had tried. Someone had deliberately stopped the message from reaching her.
