Page 27 of Give Me a Sign
After going over the rules, Ethan reminds the lifeguards of a few basic signs he taught them during training week, namely “no and “stop.” Finally, we’re released, and the campers descend upon the beach.
Isaac flags down Ethan, who asks the lifeguards something. Then Oliver jogs back to the shed attached to their cabin and returns pushing a beach wheelchair. He holds it steady while Isaac helps one of his campers transfer from their usual seat to the bigger-wheeled, more sand-friendly chair. Isaac nods a quick thank-you to Oliver, then hurries off.
On the beach, Ethan divides us all into teams, and the games begin.
The rope scratches against my palms. Couldn’t we wear gloves or something during tug-of-war? The relay races we started with were more my speed.
Ethan tried to form six evenly matched teams, but of course Blake decided she had to be on my team, so one of the older boys took her place. I don’t want to say we’re the weakest team, but most of us are tiny humans. And the other team, which Isaac is on, is easily going to drag us across the finish line.
“Is anyone else even pulling?” Bobby shouts from a few feet behind me. He’s standing in the loop at the end of the rope, trying to step backward, but he’s sliding in the sand.
“Ah!” I shriek when Bobby accidentally pulls on my hair.
“I don’t want to lose!” Blake shouts, stomping her feet.
“Then pull,” I shout back.
The beach is chilly. Most of the campers put on jackets, but I thought my long-sleeved shirt would suffice. Paired with shorts, it’s not the warmest style, but it’s my favorite summer camp look. At least it’s protecting my arms from rope burns.
My team inches forward. With each pull, my hands end up painfully sliding back. There’s maybe only a foot left until our tape marker crosses the middle line, deciding our losing fate. Ethan is standing by, waiting to declare the winner.
But the rope slacks, and I stumble backward. Somehow my team gains a few steps.
“Whoa, who hulked out?” Bobby shouts. “We’re back in this thing!”
Isaac has released his grip on the rope and is now running to our side. He squeezes between me and Bobby and starts pulling for my team.
“What are you doing?” I shout, turning my head back to look at Isaac.
He just smiles and nods for me to face ahead.
“Let’s go, team!” Bobby barks out, shaking the rope for emphasis.
We’re holding on and making gains, but my hands are on fire. I can’t take it anymore. I have to let go, throwing my arms up in the cool air.
Our opponents go in for a big pull right at that moment. My team flies forward across the line, and Isaac’s face makes direct contact with my elbow. We collide and fall to the ground.
There’s sand all over me. Clumps of damp sand everywhere. It’s in my shorts, up my hair, and on my face. I spit out a few grains at the crease of my lips.
The other team is celebrating its victory, and everyone moves aside to make room for the next match. Isaac gingerly inspects his forehead, which is bright red. He stands, extending one hand to help me up while the other holds the side of his face.
“I’m so sorry,” I say and sign before reaching up to accept his hand, but I recoil as the scratched skin on my palms stings on contact.
Oliver climbs down from his chair. “Oi, do you need some ice?”
“I-c-e?” I sign to Isaac, wincing as I form the letters with my burning hands.
Isaac nods and follows Oliver inside the lifeguard station. I want to go with him, but Blake grabs my arm and Natasha beats me to it.
“Come over here with me,” Blake begs, pulling me to the fence where the rest of our team has already found a seat.
“Um, in a minute. Let me go check on Isaac.” If the pain in my elbow is any indication, Isaac’s head must really hurt.
They return quickly enough, with Isaac holding a ziplock bag full of ice to his forehead while Natasha walks circles around him, attaching the bag to Isaac with several feet of plastic wrap.
Oliver walks straight up to me, carrying something in one of his hands. “Here, hold this,” he says, reaching out and placing a few small ice cubes in my palms.
“Ahh, that’s so cold.” A shiver goes down my back.
