Chapter 5

So my offering was a success, a huge success. Colin must’ve stuffed down half of the trail mix. Mike ate all of what I thought was a two week supply of cheese and crackers. Faiz made PB&J sandwich after PB&J sandwich. Colt, who I remembered wanted potato chips, ate all three of the extra large bags.

They probably put back on all the weight they lost this week. I wasn’t penalized if they didn’t lose weight, but I still felt like a bad person for doing this.

As happy, and full, as all the guys were I was on edge. I could be fired for doing what I did. “You went off campus?” Colin asked after they devoured every last bit of food I had brought back with me.

“Well, yeah. I work here, so I have my day off on Sunday. I can leave for personal time then.”

“I have an idea.” All four of us looked over at Colt, who I was extremely shocked had done anything with his brain. “What if we don’t lose any weight this summer? What if we even gain a few pounds?”

“What?” Colin asked, a hint of laughter in his voice. “How do you expect us to do that?” Colt looked directly at me, giving me a really bad feeling. Colin looked at me too. He smiled as well. “You wouldn’t mind helping us out, would you?” He asked so nicely. I felt like he might actually have liked me.

“But, I can’t afford to…and…and I might lose this job…” I really did want to help, but if I lost this job my mother would be devastated.

“We all know how poor you are so I didn’t expect you to pay for it. I’d pay for everything you’d bring me, and a bonus or something for your trouble.” Colt said.

“I’d pay for my own stuff too.” Said Big Mike, still in a non-grouchy, blissful state from all the food he had just eaten.

“Me too!” Faiz and Colin exclaimed in unison, both boys smiling broadly. I could do it. I really could.

“God, to see the look on Coach Hill’s face when he sees me even bigger… please Rory.” Faiz just used the word please. I had to do it. I had to figure out a way to keep the food coming throughout the week and we had to make sure it was well hidden. I could sneak out after lights out…well, I could freely leave after lights out because I wasn’t a camper, but I’d be ridiculously tired the next day.

“Can you pick up some weight gain powder?” Colin asked. “That would really pack on some serious weight.” I nodded.

“Can you only go on Sundays?” Asked Mike, who was full of gaiety at no longer having to deal with a growling stomach.

“I thought I could possibly go every night, although I won’t get back until a little before 2 in the morning.” Colin looked a bit unsure about that part. Colt was beaming because he thought he had conceived the best plan in the history of mankind.

They all carried a ridiculous amount of money with them for people staying at a camp where they have to pay for nothing. I took about forty bucks from each of them and left that night after lights out.

I drove back to the same store and bought way more than I did last trip. I paid and took my two cart-full of bags to my station wagon. I filled up the entire back and some of the back seat with the bags. I’ll admit it; I went a bit over the speed limit on my way back, excited to see them stuffing their faces when they should have been losing weight.