III - A Flaming Passion

Team Ixora was hurriedly ushered inside one of the many buildings in the area. It appeared similar to all the others on the outside, but Arianne could tell that this one was reserved for the staff and used for large gatherings, as there was a sizeable hall with a stage area, and arena-fashioned seating at the back. The full works. They took their seats around a wide circular table, and were met with many silent eyes from the other participants, who were already seated and waiting. The hall was impressively decorated with numerous paintings of nature, probably of Forres Park, Arianne deduced. There were paintings of clumps of rare trees, streams, clearings of land like this one they were in, and a myriad of animals that made the Park their home. Atop the backboard of the stage, their was a sign in gold lettering: 'Forres Park - Mahogany Hollow'. O'Nella followed Arianne's eyes. "Yup, this is Mahogany Hollow, and there are three more just like it, named after the trees forming the pretty borders. Isn't it perfection?" O'Nella gawked. Arianne agreed.

The head table on the stage was populated with five very important-looking people, including Mr. Fox. He rose from his seat and approached the podium in his usual slowness. "Welcome all, to the St. Amy's Summer Camp for Girls! Every year, I am most thrilled to have Forres Park be the venue of choice for this truly one-of-a-kind camp. Sadly, this year Amy Charles herself could not be here to host the camp, as she has an extremely important matter to attend to. She extends her sincerest apologies, and is most saddened since she probably enjoys the camp more than anyone else." Confusion erupted across the room by the participants.

"How could Amy not be here? It's her camp!"

"We signed up because Miss Amy would be leading us!"

"She's been doing this for the past fifteen years!"

"Now," Norman Fox stressed even longer than usual on that word, silencing the chaos. "I understand your concerns and frustrations, but I have appointed extremely capable substitutes for her, who will ensure that you all have fun and make the most out of your time here. Let me introduce the members of the head table. You will be seeing, interacting and learning from them through the duration of your stay. From my right, Mr. Kenneth Stoll, the Head Park Ranger, Dr. Susan Hardy, the one responsibile for all the beautiful designs using nature around the Park, Miss Jennifer and Janet McCullum, who will lead the operations of the Camp."

He invited the members of the head table one by one to say a few words, and by then Arianne was already bored, and she could see that most of her companions were as well. "How old do you think she is?" Questioned O'Nella. She was referring to Dr. Hardy, who had a hunched back, a head of silver and large wrinkles on every inch of her brown skin. It sounded as if she was competing with Mr. Fox to see who could speak more slowly. "She has to be more than seventy," remarked Arianne. "It's a wonder she's able to do her job so well."

"This Park is full of wonders," replied O'Nella.

"Yeah, too much."

Finally, Norman Fox was back on the microphone to brief them on the day's proceedings. The rest of the afternoon would allow for all the participants to intermingle and become more familiar with each other, while an organised ice-breaker session would begin by late evening going into the night. Team Ixora gathered soon after to acquaint themselves. In just a few minutes, Arianne and O'Nella knew they had a lot in common with Ashli, who actually looked like O'Nella's twin. She had the same freckles, large glasses and shoulder length hair. Arianne thought she was seeing double.

Since they were allowed to roam around Mahogany Hollow, Ashli suggested that they head outdoors. As soon as they opened the door, Arianne bumped into two other girls. "Watch it!" A slim dark-skinned girl with long braids exclaimed with disgust. "Hey, I recognise you all!" said the second girl, dressed in a yellow and black dress with matching sandals to boot. She was of Chinese descent, with silky straight hair and a face full of all the sass in the world. "You're the bus that arrived late and kept everyone waiting!"

"At least we're not dressed like a school bus," retaliated Ashli, glancing up and down at the girl's garment. The girls' confident looks vaporised into embarrassment. Arianne liked her even more now. Ashli had three older brothers with whom she always got into verbal arguments and would always win, so she always had a witty comeback at the tip of tongue. Coupled with a flaming passion to win at every little thing no matter how petty it may be, she would be a tough customer for anyone up to no good to deal with. The girls brushed Ashli aside and bustled inside with their heads facing the floor and their tail between their legs. Ashli chuckled. "I'd love to learn their names so I could take more cracks at them."

"That's the kinda spirit we all need to come out on top," said Arianne, "but keep it for the actual events!"