Second Thursday, Twelfth Day
Eleven days ago, Mark Schaeffer brought his scout troop to Camp Walker for its annual two-week summer camp. This is his fifth camp as a scoutmaster, and it is the most momentous for him personally and professionally. His decision on the first day to house Julian in the cabin has proven to be a success for Julian, and unexpectedly, for himself. His intent was to shield Julian from extra-curricular encounters. Julian has had an unexpected impact; his own life goals are being examined anew.
Mark awakens early and spends time reflecting on why he has been unable to sleep, and on his recurrent dreams from the past. He has been careful to shield Julian from his personal demons, but has not been entirely successful.
The last three days of camp are packed with activity. Merit badges have to be awarded, competitions held and goodbyes made. There is unfinished personal business to complete, and there are campsites to close. A few new developments manage to find their way into the story as well.
While Mark and the Flaming Arrows plan the last water Polo Game, Julian continues to perform the camp inspections on his own. He is preoccupied with his plans to finish several drawings, and is bent on finishing this duty early. His stop at the Lynx patrol is the last to be made, but all does not go as planned. Paul, the stopwatch partner, tries to trick Julian. His friend Doug, in the Panther Patrol, has told him of Julian’s extraordinary oral talent the day before, and Paul is lying in wait. He plans to pull the same trick. Alex Trent, also in the Lynx patrol, is in camp. Paul is not deterred, and proceeds. Julian outsmarts Paul, and Alex gets the big surprise.
Julian’s fascination with the curmudgeonly camp Ranger continues. He and Sarge develop a special relationship. We get to know more about this man and how Julian has managed to change his outlook on life.
Danny, still substituting for the injured player, makes a winning goal in the final water polo game and becomes a major camp star.
Julian has a good day in Archery: he makes two bulls-eye shots. Afterward, he goes to the lake to do the drawing of Canoeing with Jeremy and Kurt. While there, he asks Leonard to look at the picture he has drawn of Geoff having his foot treated at the first aid station. Leonard is amazed at the quality of the work, and at the impact on himself of seeing Geoff’s image.
Geoff is forced to convalesce during the day, allowing his injured foot to heal. He borrows a pair of binoculars from Sarge and spends the afternoon free period watching Mark coach at the Archery Range. He is determined to makes his late night visit to the scoutmaster’s cabin.
Tom and Nick provide a spectacular finale for Freddy’s Shooting Gallery. Tom performs a unique challenge to nearly thirty spectators to fire farther than he does in a masturbation contest.
After supper Tom and Mark plan the strategy for the last day competitions. Julian works on his portrait of Leonard in the cabin, awaiting Mark’s arrival.
Julian does a large size portrait of Mark in a standing position. Mark is overwhelmed by its character and quality. He and Julian have a very short conference, but it is cut off by the lights out rule.
Geoff has convalesced during the day. He arrives at the cabin just before midnight. He is unaware that Julian sleeps there as well as the scoutmaster of his dreams. He re-injures himself on the way. Mark is appalled that Geoff has arrived, and has to come up with a solution. He decides to carry Geoff back to his camp.
Second Friday, Thirteenth Day
It takes Mark a little over two hours to deliver Geoff back to Hawk camp. In spite of the fact that Geoff weighs 130 pounds, Mark is able to perform the task. Temptations along the way are overcome, but Mark does suggest that after Geoff turns eighteen, things might be different. Julian is unaware of the late night endeavor and helps Mark start the day with enthusiasm and unqualified support.
The last full day of camp is so packed with activity it seems impossible to get everything done in time for the closing activities on the next day.
Danny returns to his regular duties; Julian tells him about the unusual event with Paul and Alex at the Lynx camp, but not about Doug the day before. Doug revises his scheme to entrap Julian a second time and snags Danny instead.
Tom finishes organizing the last day’s troop competition. He is able to enlist Leonard’s silent cooperation.
Julian was able lo leave camp early, and he uses the time to begin his drawing of Uncle Max. He finishes the portrait during the day.
Danny and Tony, for different reasons, skip out on Tom’s time trials for the Saturday competitions. Danny is trying to recover from the humiliating experience that Doug gave him after the inspections, and Tony because he wasn’t paying attention to instructions again. Leonard sees an opportunity to bring these two together and takes delight in serving as matchmaker. He is of the opinion that the conservative Danny needs the anti-establishment bent of Tony to bring his life into balance.
The last meeting of Junior Assistants brings the original Poker Club members together; only Brian wishes to plan a game, the others have moved on.
Leonard sees the portrait of Uncle Max and is stunned by its ability to depict the old man’s innate kindness. Julian completes his portrait of Leonard and presents it as a gift. Its uncanny skill at depicting Leonard’s innate sexuality is a complete surprise to Leonard. He is flattered, delighted, and frightened, lest it be seen. He hides it under his table until he can get it safely away to his cabin.
Geoff gets a good chewing out from the medic for not treating his wound according to instructions. He has to invent a likely story to cover his late night trip to Mark’s cabin. Geoff goes to the lake and revives his plan to seduce Leonard. Leonard is beside himself with concern, not having seen Geoff for several days. He has seen Julian’s drawing of Geoff being treated in the first aid station. Geoff sees Julian’s drawing of Leonard and uses it as the mechanism for setting up his clandestine meeting with Leonard on the next day.
On his way to finish he portrait of Uncle Max and present it, Julian sees Sarge’s motorcycle and sidecar. Sarge takes him for a brief ride, a treat that no other scout has been given, though he has used it to transport Geoff because of the injured foot. Sarge is speechless by the gift of Julian’s drawing.
At lunch we meet Stan, the runner up in the Shooting Gallery competition. He is a friend of Jack’s, and the two have a scheme to maneuver Tom into a special get together—they had been attracted to each other at the Challenge event.
Merit Badge certificates are presented on this the final day of class. Justin and Julian receive high praise for their Forestry presentation. Justin asks Julian to assist him by introducing him to Jeremy, who he has been longing to meet.
The last afternoon free swimming session is the scene for several key developments. Tom completes his arrangements for the troop competitions, Julian brings Justin and Jeremy together, and Geoff finds the way to guarantee his rendezvous with Leonard on the last day of camp. Tom and Stan have a special meeting out on the platform. Instead of having a sexual frolic as he expects, Stan is schooled by Tom in the realities of romantic involvement, and enlists him to return home as Jack’s support system. Jack is spending his last afternoon in camp with Robin, a secret romance that began at the second poker game.
The last campfire meeting is held. Mark gives instructions about the closing day activities and details about the trip home. Afterwards, Mark and Julian have their last personal council meeting. Mark reviews Julian’s scrapbook drawings; and they discuss what to do with the two large portaits.
Tony pays an after hours visit to Danny. They planned this after their special session in Tom’s secret clearing up the ten mile trail. They were supposed to be at the swim trials, but Leonard had enabled them to forget about that. They discover a connection that is irresistible and controlling. Leonard’s hunch proves to be spot on.
Second Saturday, Fourteenth Day
Many awaken early on the last day. Sarge searches for a special item to give to Julian. He feels a need to give a meaningful token of his deep affection. Mark takes an early morning run. Leonard indulges himself by studying the portrait Julian has given him; it has set free his narcissistic inclinations. Jeremy is awakened by Sid’s private personal activity; he reflects on his own sexual needs and his new friendship with Justin.
We join the Lynx patrol for breakfast. Alex is the morning cook, and he prepares a special last meal at the Lynx Camp. Each member of the patrol is highlighted, some for the first time. We get a better picture of Paul and Alex in particular.
The last day at Camp Walker is busy with competitions of all kinds. Mark requires everyone in Troop Nine to enter at least one event. At the lake, Leonard has devised a means of increasing participation by allowing scouts to enter only one individual water event, whether a boating or swimming category. They can choose to race in their age group, or their rank. This way, no one scout can dominate the competition, no matter how skilled. Tom has placed his troop members where he thinks the most will win. His greatest focus is on the Troop Relay event. A scout may participate in only one leg of the relay. The highlights of the competition are described.
Geoff and Jack are spectators, for very different reasons. Geoff is keeping an eye on Leonard, primarily. But he appreciates watching Troop Nine perform, and reflects a nostalgic sentiment of his connection with them during camp. Jack is there to support Robin, who is the star rowboat contestant.
The awards are made at the final luncheon. Afterward, Troop Nine breaks camp. Julian supervises the return of the featherbed mattresses to the warehouse. Borrowing them had been his idea in the first place, and he didn’t want Mark to be in any trouble for their being borrowed without permission. Mark is kept totally ignorant about them. Julian leads the Flaming Arrow Patrol on a pillow safari to the warehouse. He distracts Sarge while the mattresses are put away.
Uncle Max (Sarge) asks Julian to stay behind, delighted to have an opportunity to present his special gift, a memento from his World War II days: a unique compass/pocket watch made for the British pilots during World War I. Uncle Max gives him a second ride in the sidecar, this time back to the cabin.
While the scouts are watching the final assembly program, Geoff meets Leonard in the storeroom, ostensibly to have a close look at the drawing of Leonard so ably done by Julian. It serves as the perfect device for Geoff to seduce Leonard. He has the mattress storage room all arranged and ready. It is a very rewarding experience for them both.
The Troop makes a formal farewell salute on their way to meet the bus. Mark gives his personal thanks to the staff, including Sarge.
The bus trip home is interrupted by a brief stop for food and rest room use. Brad gets a slug in the arm for letting one fart too many. Mark gives a personal thanks to Nick for mentoring Julian, and Tom has a brief talk with Robin about Jack. He offers his and Nick’s assistance should it be needed.
The last leg of the bus trip is after dark. Lots of last minute activity takes place at the back of the bus. Tony and Danny are first aboard; Kurt and Sid are close behind. They have a last sexual gratification need, as well as a relationship to confirm. Paul and Doug do their standard stopwatch routine as well. There are others whose need is more tentative and preliminary. Justin and Jeremy keep each other company and make plans to play together after they get home. Clint takes the initiative and sits next to Alex. They discover that they are afflicted with the same problem between the legs. It is comical—at this point. Robin and Dick have a conversation at last, and Dick discovers that his friend is in trouble. He is there to help.
Julian keeps the bus driver company and makes a new friend. He shows Mark the watch Uncle Max had given him.
The parents are waiting to meet the bus when it arrives; Mark had called from the rest area and triggered the phone tree system. Francine, Julian’s mother, has had a brief romantic episode while he was away, and is unsure how to share that information. She drives Mark home as well, since he lives only two houses down the block.
Julian rides in the back and reflects on how things stand. He renews his commitment to the long range goal of winning Mark as a life partner. He realizes that he has to face his responsibilities as a son, and that he needs to plan for his career. He is confident that he is up to the task.
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