The Second Town Meeting

 

A "Cape Summerland" Story

 

By Thelma Mary Caroline

 

 

 

"You know Sam," Danielle said.  "There's got to be a way to make sure everyone's doing their jobs."

 

I rolled my eyes.  Like she was doing anything.

 

"Like Laken.  Just picking berries and bringing them in."

 

I looked up.  I was seriously hurt.

 

"You aren't doing your job at all!"

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"Tell her, Sam."

 

Sam said nothing.

 

"I hope you go home," Danielle said.  "You're about as much help here as you are at work."

 

"I hope you go home!" I yelled, and walked away.  I wanted to call her names, but it wouldn't be very nice.  And I'd probably get in trouble.

 

 

"Don't be that way," Sam said later, when no one else was around (except Casey and Chico).  "She's a bitch.  Every one knows that."

 

"Yeah, I know," I said.  I didn't really want to talk about it, so I began to walk away.  "She's right, though.  We need rules, and consquences."

 

"I guess I could call a meeting, before we vote.  But let me talk to Patrick and your uncle first."

 

 

A couple hours later, everyone met.  They talked and set up rules, like about noise level, and fighting.  Normal stuff, like they would have in a neighborhood.  But I guessed we didn't need rules like "No murdering."  It was given.  If you broke a rule, you would have to do the chore you hated most for a predetermined length of time.

 

And Danielle and Jessica complained.  I heard them talking behind Sam's back.  It was hard to stand.  I hated it when people talked behind other's backs.  If I ever did it, I hoped someone would let me know, so I could stop.

 

"Well, that's that," Sam said.  "You guys are doing the dishes tonight."

 

I knew they really wouldn't.  "Maybe you ought to go home," I told them in the most thoughtful voice I could muster.  "I mean, you'd be a lot happier, wouldn't you?"

 

The stared at me.

 

Suddenly, there was a loud whistle.  It was time for the meeting, already.  Our own meeting had lasted several hours. 

 

And when Elle Jae asked if anyone wanted to go home, half the people left raised their hands.  So Patrick and Zach were the only two on the Kleaning Klan (or whatever they were called, I'd already forgot).  Archana and Sam were the cooks, and me, Uncle Ham, Megan and Danielle were left on our team. 

 

"All right, you guys!  Let's vote for who gets the prize."

 

I voted the same as the last time, though I didn't say anything.  There was no need to be repetetive.

 

And Elle Jae quickly counted the votes.

 

"Ham!  Zach!  Sam!  Archana! Archana!  Sam!  and a blank piece of paper!  That means Sam and Archana, you get to split the prize!  5 thousand dollars each!"

 

Everyone cheered.

 

It was at that moment I realized it wasn't going to be a very good game show.