Chapter - First day at camp

	Chapter - First day at camp
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"Now you be good. No detective work. No more meetings with police."

"Sure, Mom. No problem."

"Right then. Bye, son."

"Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Fred."

"Bye, Dad."

No tears for Fred, just a formal hug and a worried frown from his mom, and a handshake from his dad.

"Hi, I'm Joe. I'll show you to your cabin." Joe's T-shirt said "Camp Staff".

"Hi, I'm Fred."

"OK. What's your last name?"

"Rideway."

"OK. Fred R, then. There are 8 boys in each cabin. 4 bunk beds, so you can choose top or bottom, front or back, left or right.

"The camp rules are posted outside the kitchen door. The daily schedule is posted on the other side of the door. They're not too strict about the lights-out times, but if you need to leave the cabin, except to go to the washroom, get permission first.

"The 'modern networked learning facility' is over there, by the staff cabin, so you can't use it at night without permission or you'll get caught.

"The rules for the beach and kayaks are posted down there. There are marked trails to the soccer field and archery range at that end of the camp. The washrooms are there and there.

"And here's your cabin."

"OK. I don't know if I can remember all that."

"That's OK. It's all in this brochure with the map. Meal times are in there too, but I didn't have time to mention them. Any questions?"

"Do you play Planetarion?"

'No, but one of the other counselors does. I'd rather be canoeing." Joe looked longingly down at the beach.

"No problem, Joe. I met one of the counselors here in the game, but I don't know his real world name."

Joe looked up at Fred, then back at the beach, then at Fred. "OK. Well, if you're all set, I'll be off after the next batch of campers."

"Bye."

Fred chose a top bunk and put his clothes away. Then he checked the day's schedule and went to the computer room to see if he could send an e-mail to John and Rodney. There was a girl wearing a "Camp Staff" T-shirt sending an e-mail.

"Hi"

"Oh, hi," said the girl, looking up with a smile, "I'm Angie"

"I'm Fred. Do you play Planetarion?"

"No, but I've heard of it. If you want to play from here, you'll have to have an account. Can I set one up for you? The rules are over there on the wall."

"Sure."

They set up an account and Fred read the rules.

Angie had gone and Fred was just finished he e-mail when another guy in a "Camp Staff" T-shirt arrived.

"Hi," he said, holding out his hand. "You must be the Planetarion player who's been asking about me."

"Yes, I'm Fred, Fred Rideway." Fred reached out his hand.

"Fred C."

"You're Spanish?" Fred asked, puzzled.

"Ha ha ha. No, I'm Fred, same as you. Fred C. C for Cantelbury. At this camp they 'break the tie' for people with the same name by using the first initial of your last name."

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