Day 12: The Ending

To the east of where we had set up camp there was a creek. Michael had told us never to cross it. However, today we found out that on the other side of the creek was the summer camp for older kids run by one of his friends. Our final task was to sneak inside their headquarters and steal their three mascots. The mascots were taxidermied heads of wolves that hung in the foyer of the building.

Just as we were about to leave, Linda tapped me on the shoulder.
"There's an unlocked window on the left side of the building. Give it a good push".

Sure enough, there was the window. I climbed inside with 2 other guys while the rest kept watch. It took a few minutes to find our way to the lobby but we knew we were in the right place when we saw the three heads. As quickly and quietly as possible, we each took a head and made for the window. We didn't stop running until we had reached our campsite.

We were given oars for the paddle back to the other side of the lake. At 3pm, dad was waiting in the parking lot. In the past 12 days I felt I had died and come back to life.

Oh and dad said that starting Monday I will be working with him at Olympus.

Day 11: I hate boats

When we woke up (or rather, got woken up abruptly) this morning, a large boat had docked on the island. Michael handed each of us a sponge and told us to wash it. Linda joined us for a while and actually made the task more bearable. By the end of the day my hands were filthy and I suspected that I was growing an ecosystem under my nails.

Day 10: Bleh

It rained again today so Michael decided to send us for a run. We were given phone privileges in the evening so I gave my dad a ring. He said some comforting words and I walked back to my sad tent.

Day 9: The three sisters

Today I found out that the kind lady from reception is called Linda. I learned this when Michael announced our 9th task. Linda and her two sisters, Alice and Rachael were guarding a box of golden scarves and still in our groups, we were instructed to retrieve a scarf without being caught by the three sisters. It took a while and we had to sacrifice a few group members to act as scapegoats but we finally got it!

Day 8: Will the Botanist

Michael separated us into two groups. We were given 2 hours to find a list of items and to bring it back to him. Most of them were plant species that looked really similar. Thank goodness we covered a bit of botany in school last term.  The team that finished second would have to prepare dinner. Fortunately, my team finished first. Unfortunately, the losing team was made up of bad cooks.

Day 7: Row, row, row your boat

In the morning we were told that the rest of our tasks would be completed at the island across the lake. We packed our bags and walked over to the lake to board our boats. Michael made us paddle our way to the island. He didn't give us any oars. Guess whose hands are pruned again?

Day 6: Laundry Day

I've done laundry before. I used to enjoy it because it would make my house smell like fresh laundry. However, I should have predicted that laundry day at Lake Waterloo was a little bit different. We weren't given the luxury of washing machines or dryers. After lunch, we were told to take our clothes and bedsheets to the lake and wash them there. Water was cold. I was sore from squatting by the lake. Out of nowhere, Michael brought out a HUGE pile of dirty laundry. Man, was it dirty. By the late afternoon my hands were pruned.

Day 5: Dirty Work

Ok, I get that fields need to be weeded, toilets need to be cleaned, and food needs to be made. But today's task benefits absolutely nobody. We had to move a pile of dirt 10m away from where it was. I don't even know what the pile of dirt was doing there in the first place. I have a feeling they had it delivered just so kids like us could do pointless, tiring physical labour. Each of us were given large cardboard boxes that were awkward to carry, On top of that, the boxes had holes in them! The kind lady from reception stopped by and suggested that we cover the holes with the giant leaves from the maple tree behind the administration building. 3 hours later, we finished with dirt under our nails AGAIN.

Day 4: Cafeteria Duty

Michael isn't so bad compared to the grumpy chef in the cafeteria. He actually scares the crap out of me. All day long I washed dishes and took out the trash. Sometimes he would ask me to help with cutting vegetables. I've never cut an onion in my life before. Frankly, big knives intimidate me.

Day 3: Flushed

The group was split up and each of us completed different tasks. I was assigned to scrubbing toilets. Unfortunately, there was a toilet that wasn't working properly and when I flushed, the water started rising. I ran out, yelled for help and the kind lady from reception took pity on me and left that toilet for the custodian. Bless her soul.

Day 2: Weed, but not the kind I'd like to smoke

Normally I don't mind the rain, but not today.

Michael dragged us out of bed to do some weeding in the pouring rain. At first he told us there were 9 plots of land to weed but as soon as we finished one, he would add another plot for us to work on. The ground was cold and my fingers were frozen even though I had put on two pairs of gloves. After a long shower, the mud still remained under my finger nails. How in the world did mud get through two layers of gloves?! That will probably remain a mystery for the rest of time.

Day 1: Initiation

It appears that Rebecca has finally had enough of me. She's my step-mother. I'm pretty sure she hates me.

Last night during a very heated argument, I pushed over her favourite vase. It smashed into a million pieces. This morning I was informed that I would have to pack my bags for summer camp at Lake Waterloo. Everyone knows that Lake Waterloo is where you send your naughty kids to.

Lake Waterloo was a 2 hour drive from our house. Dad dropped me off at the parking lot right outside the administration building. He looked at me and sighed. "Rebecca says you can't come home until you get through all 12 days of the program.". CEO of Olympus, one of the most successful banks in the world, yet somehow he can't deal with his wife.

A kind lady at reception showed me the way to my room. This can't be that bad, I thought. How wrong was I. As soon as I dropped my bags off in my room, a man by the name of Michael showed up at my door with a clipboard.

"You must be Will. Drop everything and come with me".

For the next hour, I ran laps around the campground and got yelled at every time I stopped. When the hour was finally up, I was escorted into a room of about 15 boys around my age. All of them looked exhausted. Michael stood at the front of the room with his clipboard.

"You have all just completed your first task. You have the next 11 days to think about what you did to land you here".

Friends: this is my way of letting you all know that I'm alive and well. 11 more tasks in 11 more days. Pray to the gods and wish me luck.