I run back to the bunkhouse after breakfast to just work the frizz out of my hair. The sun is shining widely, no sign of the rainstorm of an hour ago. Gotta love the country.

A few squirts of dry shampoo, a little brushing, and I’m back in business. I throw my reflection a quick smile and bounce out of the bunkhouse, running smack into Debbi and Zeesy.

“Ouch,” I say.

Debbi grabs my hand. “Ohmigosh, are you okay, hun?”

I squint at her. “You’re in a better mood.”

She laughs. “Sorry! You know I hate bad weather. It totally brings me down.”

I love that about Debbi, that she can be so honest about how she’s feeling. I’m always worried how I’m coming off, how I’m appearing to the world, and she just is.

Zeesy shivers. “And I’m still cold. I’m literally never going to get used to this. The sun is different here.”

I crack up. “Zeeeeeesy. Let’s review science, shall we? Tell me, bubbeleh, how many suns are there?”

She lifts her nose snootily. “Just so you know, Oh Genius One, there is more than one sun.”

I roll my eyes as we march off to Activity. “And how many suns does Earth orbit?”

She jabs me in the ribs. I jab her back and pretend not to see Shan Davis hurrying after us.

I plop onto my bed, soaking wet and not caring. “Can’t. Move. A Muscle.”

Debbi groans from somewhere on my left, Zeesy sounds like she’s crying in the upper bunk.

Shan cracks up. “You guys are such kvetches. That was a blast.”

Zeesy joins in. “I know! But I’m freezing for a change. And those freshies were way too hyper.” I hang off my bed, peering up at Zeesy. How does the girl look amazing after being dunked in a lake?

I better go shower. My Ashreinu shirt is plastered to my skin. I poke Debbi. “Psst. Should we change into our Tuesday shirts after showering?”

She sits up, hair standing on end, eyes wide. “Yes! Ohmigosh, yes! I’m psyyyyched!”

Zeesy hangs off her bed. “What are we psyched about?”

Debbi blinks at her innocently. “About shiur! I’ve been looking forward to learning hilchos lashon hara in depth.”

I bite my cheek. “Me, too,” I say breathlessly. “I really can’t wait.”

Zeesy looks a bit bewildered. “Wow, that’s so special guys. Uh, me too. Me too.”

I can’t hold it in anymore.

“Zeesy, you are a tzadeikes. I mean, hilchos shemiras halashon are amazing but we were actually talking about our Tuesday shirts.”

She looks relieved. “Okay, that makes much more sense. Ohmigosh, me too!”

We laugh until we can’t breathe.

Of course, everyone is plotzing.

Shan Davis can’t handle. “You guys are literally too much,” she says. I do a slow twirl so she can see the front and back of the shirt.

“Obsessed,” she declares. “Like why waste suitcase space?”

“Egggzackly,” we chorus.

She raises her eyebrows at us and smiles. For a second I feel bad. The Cricut idea was heaven but maybe a bit exclusive? Like, we might as well be wearing shirts that say “Three Best Friends,” no?

I think about saying this to Debbi and Zeesy but I don’t want to rock the boat. We are three best friends, right? So does it matter that we announce it?

But I look back at Shan, still watching us, and I can’t help it; I feel bad.

Maybe that’s why I sit with Shan at dinner. Or maybe it’s because I really want to hear more about what it’s like to be the principal’s daughter. Or maybe it’s because Zeesy and Debbi are laughing about something in that airy uncomplicated way they have that makes me wonder if they ever had a genuinely hard day in their lives.

Either way, I slide in next to Shan. She’s deep in conversation with Faigy Shoen but she turns and gives me a huge smile. I’ll just wait then. I bite into my pizza bagel, eyes closed in bliss. This is the life. Outdoors all day and then good wholesome food. Shan turns to me and I suddenly pray that I don’t have tomato sauce on my face or basil in my teeth.

“Tell me about your mother,” we say at the exact same time.

We stop, look at each other.

And then we laugh so hard tears slide down our faces.

I know Debbi and Zeesy are staring at me, but in the moment, I don’t really care.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Teen Pages, Issue 956)