Chapter 47 – [Sunday, June 23, 2002 – 8:07am]
The bad news about camp classes had been minor for Jordan compared to what happened during breakfast that same fateful Sunday morning.
Each individual Girl’s and Boy’s cabin always had to sit together during meals with their assigned counselor. Other than the weekly ‘dance and banquet’ on Friday nights, this rule was unassailable. However, campers routinely routed their way around the policy by situating their tables adjacent to cabins made up of the opposite sex. Inevitably, campers who were ‘couples’ sat close to each other even though they were at separate tables — able to lean back, talk with one another, or even turn their chairs and face each other for jokes and conversation. It wasn’t the same as getting to at the same table, but it worked for the conservative Christian kids who didn’t really know any different.
This arrangement had been the norm for the ‘Dragonflies’ and Joey’s cabin, accommodating Jordan and her special friend. But on the third Sunday morning of the summer, the tall teen immediately noticed that although Joey’s cabin’s ‘normal’ table was open right next to where her girls had already sat down for breakfast, when the boys entered the mess hall, they passed right by and sat in the far corner. To her dismay, Joey didn’t even make eye contact. Cold as ice, he hugged the far wall all the way around to their seemingly pre-chosen table. His whole cabin didn’t hardly look their way, except to let on to the fact that the choice had been intentional.
Immediately Jordan turned to Alex who appeared as mystified as she felt. Next her eyes flashed over to meet those of Riley, Georgia, and then Cindy. It was Georgia’s who hinted at some hidden awareness of the explanation to the boys’ odd behavior. She stared right back at Jordan with a degree of sympathy on her face. Her brown eyes then looked down. Jordan could see her dark curly hair move as she shook her head gently back and forth.
No. Jordan instinctively thought. You’ve gotta be kidding me. He’s not breaking up with me at camp…right in the middle of summer…is he?…He couldn’t! He wouldn’t!…Would he?
“I’m sorry Jordie.” Georgia mouthed from across the table almost silently. Every set of eyes around it was set gazing at her — so the feigned effort to establish a private conversation between the two of them was a pipe dream. “Derek told me Joey just doesn’t…I mean…” She looked around nervously, finally noticing the fact that what she was saying probably wasn’t best for everyone to hear.
Jordan’s eyes began to water.
The gravity of the dramatic moment began to dawn on everyone, Kari included, who came to sit down with her Dragonflies just as Georgia had begun her monologue.
“…It’s just…” Georgia continued, “He says he still wants to be friends and stuff Jordan….”
That was all she got out before the only author at the table knew how her story with Joey was going to end. She fell immediately into a full-blown puddle of tears and the other Dragonflies sitting around her quickly and impulsively gathered closer to rub her back and offer support.
The Junior High drama was immediately thick. Counselor Kari, to her credit, empathized fully with the grieving octet of girls complete with back rubs, hugs, and impassioned agreements about justice. Even Amber and Nicole had grace enough to act as if they felt bad for Jordan in her pain. Any breakup for a thirteen year old is difficult — Jordan felt as though her world was crashing in around her in a whole new way.
Why?…she thought to herself, half out loud, half in her mind, Why would he do this to me? Why wouldn’t he just come and talk with me? Why would he tell it to me through Georgia? How could he act like we don’t even know each other now?
A lump formed in the upper part of her chest and its weight simply hung. Jordan was drowsy with sadness. But the day’s misery was only just beginning.
—————
[June 23, 2002 – 3:27pm]
That afternoon, long after the highest emotions had stabilized and after what seemed like would be cataclysmic had calmed to a whimper, Alex led the way as Riley and Georgia followed her back to the Dragonfly cabin from the administrative building where the indoor classes were held. Jordan and Cindy were following not far behind, talking about Joey and how his lame excuse that Jordan wanted ‘to be together too much’ was absolutely insane. The two were headed across the field as they exited the woods after their previous class out in nature. Not one of the girls had any idea what Amber and Nicole had done while they were out.
The two masterminds watched from a short distance away, trailing Jordan and her friend, careful to remain behind. More or less in plain sight (but anonymous because of the crowds of kids), the two had a difficult time keeping coy smiles off their faces. To every-day passers by, they might’ve appeared to be normal, happy-go-lucky campers in swimsuits with snorkel gear over their shoulders. The truth was that they thought they had ruined a young social competitor’s life and they felt victorious.
Alex, Riley and Georgia were the first to arrive at the steps of the cabin followed by the eighth girl in their clan who was not from Seattle. Jordan and Cindy walked up the steps just as the first four disappeared into the doorway. Kari was still at the pool lifeguarding as she had been in between the previous two periods.
Once the six were inside, Amber and Nicole knew what they would find.
Through the main doorway lying in the landing area on the floor, was a large plastic purple diaper. It had been unfolded from its normal trifold from the package, flattened out, spread wide, and re-folded in half at the crotch to intentionally make it to look more like a diaper. Horrifically, it had the letters brazenly scribbled in black marker across it’s front, “J-O-R-D-A-N-’-S”.
A muffled shriek could be heard 15 yards away fromm the steps as Amber and Nicole continued to walk toward the scene of their crime.
Further inside were strewn out several more purple diapers in like manner with similar identifying markings clearly scrawled across their fronts. One was placed in the hallway, impossible to walk around without noticing. Another was on the counter in the bathroom, draped carefully over part of one sink and the vanity light left on so there could be no doubt what the item was. Two more were on top of one another on the floor just outside Jordan and Alex’s cubby area which had had it’s curtain pulled back and secured open. The remaining three were opened up and spread out on the lower bunk. Each with the same identifying marks written all over them. Jordan’s diaper rash cream was also laying out in plain sight on the bed, some of it even smeared on her sleeping bag.
As the two who had sought to destroy the young author’s life neared the front steps only loud rapid footsteps and hushed voices could be heard outside. Then, all of a sudden, Jordan, the object of their torment, burst through the front door. Her face was dark red, splotchy, wet with tears, and had makeup running. She clutched a trash bag which clearly contained the diapers and she rushed past them, hardly paying them notice. As she got to the bottom, her shoulder and Nicole’s bashed sending Nicole crashing into the side rail. The instigator didn’t have the gall to protest the slight as she watched with happiness (and yet a tiny bit of guilt) as Jordan rushed off toward the administrative building, obviously in major distress.
All the other Dragonfly girls were outside on the porch in a heartbeat and their eyes immediately went to Amber and Nicole, the only two who hadn’t witnessed precisely what had taken place inside.
“YOU!!!” Alex screamed as she made a move toward Amber, who herself was every bit the athlete Alex was.
Amber faked surprise, doing all she could to keep the smile in her heart off her face. “What the hell are you doing!?” Amber barked back as Alex lunged for her bounding down the stairs, hand outstretched to grab hold of something, anything.
“YOU FUCKING BITCH! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO HER!!” Alex demanded not slowing her pursuit.
Amber backpedaled, now genuinely afraid of Alex’s furor. “Alex! Calm down! I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do what?” Amber’s lies were easy to see through but she at least had to try to put on a show in front of the others.
“YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID! YOU TOO YOU LITTLE HARLOT!!” Alex turned toward Nicole and spat the insult, slowing her pursuit. “Fucking assholes! You’ve been nothing but complete pricks all year to her. You jealous sons-of-bitches…” Disdain was on her face, “What? You can’t handle a little competition in your little ‘cool contest’? You can’t handle taking second fiddle once in a while? You can’t handle that she’s actually got talent and you’ve just got intimidation?”
Alex’s righteous indignation was hit the roof — any romantic feelings she might’ve actually wanted to explore with her long time friend were much beside the point. A line had been crossed and she wasn’t gonna stand by and just allow it.
“I’m not jealous of nuthin’!” Nicole finally piped up and took the bait to Amber’s chagrin. “And you’re the Harlot you little dyke twat! You’re just all in a huff because…you’re girlfriend here’s…” She caught herself before saying something that would incriminate them to their obvious involvement in what had taken place.
The other girls looked at Alex and blushed, immediately believing the innuendo was true and folding under the pressure of the bully’s wiles.
“No – go ahead and finish Nicole. Tell us why Jordan’s so upset. You already know. You did it. Tell us!!”
The two buckled down again — and they did so just as the girl’s director jogged over to break up the fight.
Alex’s heart beat rapidly and she was sweating profusely. Her skin was red and she felt completely enraged at the injustice that had taken place. Within seconds, the girls’ director had shuffled each of them off to their next classes except Alex, who was retained for further questioning and punnishment. This further raised her hackles of injustice.
“What’s going on here Alex? Why are you screaming and cussing like this? It’s not ok at Camp. I think you know that right?” The director asked.
“Listen Miss — um — I can’t remember your name.”
“Miss Jones.”
“Listen Miss Jones. I need to find Jordan…right now. She ran off…”
“Not until you tell me more about what happened.”
Over the course of the next 10 minutes, Alex carefully but rapidly explained the scene that she and her fellow Dragonflies had found as they entered the cabin just a few minutes prior. She explained the past rivalry and bullying at school and how she knew that Amber and Nicole had been the ones to do it. Ms. Jones was respectful but non-committal when it came to her story.
“I’ll talk to them Alex but I’m not sure there’s much we can do in terms of punishment. How do we know for sure if they even did it? And besides, lots of kids have that problem at night anyways. You’d be surprised how many of our campers this summer deal with it the same way. It’s quite common. I’ll ask your counselor Kari to have a talk with the cabin about it tonight. Now — you need to go to your next class.”
As if that would settle everything, she turned to leave.
What the hell!? Kari talking with our whole cabin about Jordan’s diapers! Oh yeah!! That’ll be really great. I’m sure Jordie will LOVE that. Alex was furious, but had given up on trying to get a reaction out of the director.
“Wait! I need to find Jordan and make sure she’s ok — she left in an absolute panic and I don’t even know where she went.”
After an almost undetectable eye roll, the girls counselor gave Alex the go-ahead to find her friend.
—————
Jordan held her face in her hands and she was weeping violently still — even 20 minutes after leaving the cabin. Long croaks emanated from her voice box and snot and tears ran down her wrists. Her whole body shook in terrible gasps, unaware of onlookers.
She sat on the carpeted floor of a small multi-purpose room in the administrative building. The bag of unfolded and grafittied diapers were next to her, fairly obvious to any curious bystanders. Alex entered unnoticed and quietly walked over to her friend and sat next to her, draping her arms around her. The human touch served to produce an entirely new (and heartbreaking) level of sadness, embarrassment, and self-pity; heard only through different sustained notes and staccatos of sobs.
“I’m so sorry Jordie. I’m so, so, so, sorry.” Alex said, not knowing what else to say. She leaned in close and laid her head on her friends shoulder in support. “I wish there was something I could do.”
Jordan continued to cry, unabated.
For a long time they sat together. Sweaty in tears and snot, but with no words shared.
Finally, Jordan spoke up in sorrowful mumbles. “What am I gonna do Alex?” She cried some more before she was able to gasp out, “Everyone’s gonna know I…I…” she couldn’t bring herself to simply say the words that were true descriptors of her medical condition.
Alex didn’t know how to respond. She believed her friend was right — and she knew that the rumor mill would be inevitable with Amber and Nicole at the helm (notwithstanding their denials). “Jordan it’s gonna be ok girl. It’s gonna be ok…”, she lied.
“You can’t just say that Alex!!” Jordan felt her anger rise up a bit, “It’s not gonna be ok. NOTHING’s GONNA BE OK! OK?” She looked at her friend in the eye.
“MOM AND DAD ARE NEVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER. MINDI AND JEN ARE JEALOUS OF ME AND HATE ME. I’M NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON MY DAD. NO BOY IS EVER GONNA WANT ME LIKE THIS! I’M GONNA NEED THESE THINGS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.” She barked the words in defiance and defeat and kicked the bag of diapers across the carpeted floor. “It’s NOT gonna be ok. Nothing’s gonna be ok!”
She fell back into crying again and Alex felt at a loss.
Just then, the nurse quietly popped her head in the doorway and walked across the room. She sat down next to the duo and ended up ‘taking over’ support for Alex who had really completely spent her energy and was at her wits end. Jordan was at hers as well.
—————
The six foot tall story-writer made her way sheepishly toward the Dragonfly table where the scorned bullies awaited, looking pleasant and peaceful. As far as the camp staff was concerned, there was no proof that Amber and Nicole had done the deed and they of course vehemently denied doing it. In the absence of any witnesses, there wasn’t much that could be done other than pick up the pieces and try to mitigate damage. Kari had done her best, but all of the girls except Alex, couldn’t help but snicker a little bit at the sight of the big purple diapers strewn about the cabin.
In the meantime before dinner, the two girls hadn’t wasted a moment in spreading their stored up rumors about Jordan: everything they had heard about her UTI and diaper rash from the ER visit, the thing Ed had overheard, the incident at Alex’s birthday party (with a few added embellishments now that they had proof), as well as the story from kindergarten about Jordan’s mom diapering her. By the time it food was on the tables, Jordan’s embarrassing secret was well on its way to being spread far and wide.
In fact, as she sat down at the Dragonfly dinner table, Riley herself couldn’t help but ask, “So let me get this straight. You got like a bladder infection from wearing those things? And you went to the hospital wearing one? And you get diaper rash too…like a baby? And your mom changes your diapers?” She raised the edge of her mouth in a mocking smile. “Geez Jordan.”
Jordan’s face immediately burned dark red again, which verified the veracity of the rumors all the more. Kari barked across the table “RILEY! That was rude! Knock it off!” She was already sick of the nonsense and it had just begun.
“Where did you hear that shit?” Alex chimed in demanding an answer, yelling across the table in the din of activity in the mess hall.
“ALEX! WHAT DID YOU SAY?” Kari honed in on the curse word, ignoring the rumor mill and its source.
“Sorry.” Alex replied meekly to her counselor. “Where did you hear that Riley?” She said then with more intensity, glaring back at her, insisting on hearing an answer.
Riley looked down, embarrassed now for being chided and then realizing that she had indeed hurt Jordan’s feelings. She glanced over toward the boy’s at Joey’s table. “I heard it from them.” She said honestly, looking at Amber and Nicole who themselves looked like the cats who ate the canary.
“Oh God. You fuckers!” Alex said looking right at Amber with daggers in her eyes.
“THAT’S ENOUGH!!! GO SIT WITH AT THE STAFF TABLE IF THAT’S HOW YOU’RE GONNA TALK ALEX!” Kari exclaimed. She might’ve been cool, but she was old-school when it came to cussing.
Alex got up and left.
Jordan felt even more alone. The throng of voices melting into a blur of sound.
—————
Over the subsequent couple days, the rumors increased and morphed. Jordan’s bedwetting, diaper usage, and ER visit became well known across the camp as well as her numerous infections and diaper rash problem. Other rumors spread — that she was pushed in a stroller at home and that her mom carried a diaper bag. Kids began to drop little jokes in conversations within her hearing and make mocking and suggestive motions outside the observations of camp staff. On Tuesday afternoon Jordan came into her room to find a small bottle of baby powder carefully laid out on her pillow with a note attached to it that said: for “Leaky”.
It was Wednesday night before the girl who had written a novel couldn’t take it anymore.
