Mark hurried down to the hall where they had been told to assemble. Quietly she entered. People were talking up on a stage.
Heather was up there along with 4 other adults. Including the man and woman who had greeted them as they got off the bus.
Mark looked around and spotted Anna seated near the back. She was with her charges, the 14 to 16 year old girls she had caught the bus with. Mark tried to quietly worm her way to Anna. There was a vacant seat beside Anna that Mark was eyeing off.
'Hi' she said when she finally got to the seat.
'Shh' replied Anna 'You can't sit here. Get down to your own girls. They have saved a seat for you'
Indeed she could see Heather on the stage trying to get her attention. Heather pointed to two vacant seats at the end of the front row. Little Alice was in the adjacent seat. Mark vacated the seat beside Anna and made her way down to the front. Just as she was about to sit down. Heather took the micro phone 'And while she is taking her seat I would like to introduce you to Anna King our leading girl. Anna is a veteran at this camp and I'm sure could offer anyone advice if they wanted a younger ear' Everyone gave Mark a clap. She could feel herself turning red from embarrassment.
She looked up and saw the real Anna starting a clap. The apparent "Jennifer" actually gave a very loud wolf whistle and yelled out 'Go you good thing' It seemed the whole room then started applauding her.
The man who had greeted them off the bus had the microphone back. 'Obviously Anna is a very popular girl. If I remember correctly Anna also has the most beautiful singing voice. If we are lucky we might be able to to entice her to sing for us around the campfire later this evening' There was more applause. Again Jennifer was amongst the most vocal. Mark was dying of embarrassment and just sat down hoping that the meeting would move on.
Next to take the microphone was Heather's equivalent from the other buses. Evidently they were sharing the camp with two bus loads of girls from Philedelphia. The leading girl from the other group was introduced and applauded but without the equivalent of a "Jennifer" leading the cheering her welcome seemed subdued.
Next were introduced the camp counsellors. These were mostly young professionals who would be leading activities. Most were young women. But there were also 4 young men. They were introduced by name but Mark didn't take the names in.
The older man took the microphone again. Mark had missed his introduction but gathered he was in charge of the camp. He told the audience how the camp was structured. Each morning there would be activities which the girls would do in their groups. After lunch there would be optional activities, which the girls had already nominated. Mark could remember that when Anna nominated "Jennifer" online she had put down his list of preferred activities. Mark could remember archery, sailing and bushwalking but not what else Anna had put down. The Man said this was the girls last chance to change their preferences. Mark glanced around and looked up to Anna, but she was talking to an Asian girl beside her and she could not get Anna's attention.
The man then went on to explain the rules of the camp. They were pretty strict about bed times and lights out. It also seemed that they would be woken very early each morning. Breakfast would be at 6 am.
One of the younger woman then took the microphone and said that orientation walks would be taking place that afternoon. These orientation walks were optional so returning girls did not need to attend. Girls who wanted to be part of an orientation walk needed to gather outside 10 minutes after this meeting finished. Otherwise girls could use the games area and swimming pool this afternoon.
Lastly each girl had to find her own envelope from a table. They were arranged in alphabetical order. In it was the list of optional activities the girls had nominated as well as their schedule of compulsary activities.
When the meeting closed there was a great rush to the table of envelopes. In the chaos Mark lost track of Anna. When Mark finally found the envelope for "Anna King" Jennifer was nowhere to be seen.
Indeed the real Anna had been leading the rush. She quickly located the "Jennifer McKenzie" envelope and left the hall. She wanted to avoid telling Mark that she had left the medallion at home.
and the girls had to nominate which ones they would do.