I immediately felt nervous.
Mia’s smile disappeared.
I looked at Denise.
“Is something wrong?”
She hesitated.
“There’s a serious issue we need to discuss before Mia can return next summer.”
My stomach dropped.
For the briefest moment, I imagined every possible explanation.
Had she gotten into a fight?
Had she broken a rule?
Had she endangered another camper?
Had something happened that Mia hadn’t told me?
I looked at my daughter.
She suddenly became fascinated with the gravel beneath her shoes.
That was when I knew there was more to the story.
The Chore Chart
Denise asked me to walk with her toward Cabin Seven.
A large chore chart had been posted outside.
At first, it looked completely ordinary.
There were names beside tasks such as sweeping, emptying trash, cleaning bathrooms, refilling water coolers and helping prepare tables for meals.
Then I noticed Mia’s name.
It appeared repeatedly.
Far more often than it should have.
I stared at the chart.
“Why is she listed for so many chores?”
Denise looked at me.
“That’s what I wanted to explain.”
According to Denise, Mia had completed her own assigned responsibilities quickly.
But instead of going to swimming, crafts, hiking or other activities, she frequently stayed behind.
Then she started doing other campers’ chores.
