Part 10 (2/2)
Ma.s.sie heard Layne giggle and shot her a You're-so-dead look. Layne popped open a GoGurt and took a hearty sip. Claire backed away.
Mr. Myner took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. ”I'd like everyone to gather around the fireplace for a quick meeting.”
”This can't can't wait.” Ma.s.sie could hear the panic rising in her voice. ”We need to send for help immediately.” wait.” Ma.s.sie could hear the panic rising in her voice. ”We need to send for help immediately.”
”You will need more than help if you don't do what you're told.” Mr. Myner no longer sounded like ”cool teacher.” He had switched into ”strict parent” mode right before her eyes.
Ma.s.sie stood. She would have put up a bigger fight if her geography grade didn't already suck so badly, but it did and she needed Mr. Myner on her side. While he led the way to the fireplace, Ma.s.sie quickly zipped up her Tumi and wheeled it with her. She refused to leave her disabled wardrobe in the back of the cabin to die alone.
”Don't worry, you can borrow anything of mine,” Claire said to Ma.s.sie when she sat down on a pile of colorful pillows.
Ma.s.sie chuckled, like Claire had actually said something funny.
While Mr. Myner started the fire, everyone offered to share clothes with Ma.s.sie, like she had recently become homeless.
She accepted their charity with grace, but deep down inside, she was still in mourning. Derrington would never get to see the ah-dorable rustic combinations she had dreamt up. Instead he would see Alicia's Sevens or Claire's turtlenecks. Unless ... Kristen would be willing to do a quick shop-and-FedEx run for her. As soon as Myner left she would make the call and place her order.
Mr. Myner lit a match and tossed it on the tower of newspaper and logs he'd built in the middle of the pit. The tiny flame quickly became a crackling fire that shot flecks of orange embers into the air. The girls shuffled across the pillows on their b.u.t.ts until they were close enough to feel the heat on their outstretched hands and feet.
Mr. Myner lifted his leg onto the marble ledge of the fireplace and rested his arm on his bent knee. He looked like he was posing for the cover of Outdoor Life Outdoor Life magazine. magazine.
”I have an exciting few days planned for you girls,” he said. ”By Wednesday you will know how to read maps, navigate using a compa.s.s, build igloos, and survive on little more than your wits and ripe berries.”
Ma.s.sie raised her hand.
”Yes, Ma.s.sie,” he said with enthusiasm. Mr. Myner loved it when his students partic.i.p.ated and asked meaningful questions.
”Does FedEx service this area?”
”I believe so,” he said, his smile fading. ”Why?”
”I'm just trying to solve my clothing crisis,” Ma.s.sie said. ”Thanks.”
Mr. Myner lowered his leg and ran his fingers through his thick black hair. ”Which brings me to my next point. You girls packed like you were going away for a year, not three days. And that's not going to fly with me.”
Everyone looked at each other, wondering what he could possibly be getting at.
”You are here to learn how to survive in the wild, and the first lesson you are going to learn is called 'living light.'”
”That's the name of my mom's favorite spa in Boca,” Alicia announced.
The girls instantly perked up, thinking they were about to spend the day getting spa treatments.
”Well, my version is about doing away with excess,” Mr. Myner said. ”You'll be surprised by how little you need to live a happy, meaningful life.”
”Princ.i.p.al Burns needs to give the poor guy a raise,” Dylan whispered to Ma.s.sie.
Ma.s.sie bit her lower lip to keep from laughing.
”So I want each one of you to pick out two pairs of pants, two sweaters, two long-sleeve jerseys, three pairs of underwear, and one pair of boots. The rest of your stuff will be taken away and locked in the bus until it's time to leave. And oh ...” Mr. Myner let out a small smile. ”Try to avoid white or anything with stripes, because I'm told they don't look good on camera.”
Dylan hid her face in her hands and shook her head.
”Sounds cool!” Strawberry blurted out. Her excited expression changed the instant she realized she was the only one in the room who felt that way.
”No, it doesn't!” Alicia shouted. ”Not only are we going to be on TV wearing the same outfits every day, but there are guys guys here. Why should they see us in the same clothes day after day? It's not fair to here. Why should they see us in the same clothes day after day? It's not fair to them them.”
”I a.s.sure you, they will be following the same rules,” Mr. Myner said.
”This is a Board of Health issue,” Dylan protested. ”It's not sanitary.”
”You will be taught to wash your clothes in the lake with Ivory soap. It's biodegradable, you know.” Mr. Myner held up his index finger. ”And I a.s.sure you, there is no fresher water source in the entire state.”
”Most of my stuff needs to be washed in warm water, and that lake is freezing.” Livvy s.h.i.+vered as she bit down on her bottom lip.
”How are we supposed to explain this to the clothes we leave behind?” Olivia asked. ”They're going to be so upset.”
Everyone giggled.
”What about all the money we spent buying new wardrobes for the trip?” Alexandra asked. ”Will we be compensated for that?”
”Your parents got a newsletter that explained all of this.” Mr. Myner stroked his mustache.
”Puh-lease, no one reads those.” Ma.s.sie rolled her eyes.
The girls nodded in agreement.
”Whatifsomethinggetsstainedorsoiledormuddythenwhat?” Carrie shouted.
”What?” Mr. Myner sounded frustrated. ”Ladies, this is a survival trip, not Fas.h.i.+on Week. You'll see it's very liberating. Trust me, at the end of our time here, you'll thank me.”
”How does he know about Fas.h.i.+on Week?” Alicia whispered to Ma.s.sie.
”My mom,” Dylan suggested.
Layne tore the top off another Go-Gurt. It must have been her fifth one of the day.
”Which reminds me,” Mr. Myner said. ”I will be collecting your food stashes. Not only does stuff like that attract bears and rodents, but also an endless supply will keep you from feeding off of your existing fat stores in case of a crisis.”
”The only fat store I know about is Lane Bryant,” Ma.s.sie said.
The whole cla.s.s burst out laughing. Even Mr. Myner smiled.
”Seriously, though,” Dylan shouted above the laughter. ”What if you don't have any fat stores?”
Ma.s.sie and Alicia rolled their eyes.
<script>