Anita, the camp director shook her head, sympathetic, but emphatic. “I know you were looking forward to work with the older girls this summer, but circumstances have changed.”

Bette struggled to retain her composure, and but for a brief second, a dejected pout curled her pretty lips downward, her eyebrows knitted in consternation.
Anita gave the girl a minute to collect her thoughts. She had seen Bette grow from a gangly, quiet child into a tall, confident young woman over years she had been coming to camp, but she knew there was still a lot of insecurity behind the bravado.

“Look, Bette, this is not a punishment. It’s a vote of confidence. You know we would normally have one of the college girls as the Chipmunk counselor. But Jamie broke her leg and won’t be able to be here this summer. You’re mature, you’re responsible…”

“But Anita… they’re six years old! What if they cry? What if they…” Bette fell silent as thoughts of bed-wetting and visions of broken, tiny limbs crashed through her mind.

Bette raised her gaze to meet Anita’s, her eyes overbright, as if with tears. “What if I can’t take care of them?’

“Aw, sweetie, you’ll be fine. I know you don’t have much experience around young children, but you’ll be great. You’re a natural authority figure; they’ll listen to you and know they can depend on you. Since this is their first time away from home, they need that, someone they can look up to, someone they can trust.”

Anita slung an arm around Bette’s shoulders and walked her toward the door.

“Plus, don’t forget you’ve got Alice to help you. I’m sure she’ll be very…entertaining for the girls.”

Bette sighed and Anita felt the girl’s tense shoulders sag. “I’m sorry Anita, I didn’t mean to whine, I just…I just want to do my best, you know?”

“I’m sure you will sweetie, I’m 100% sure you will. Now, I don’t mean to kick you out, but you’ve got some little girls to tend to. And I’ve got a meeting in a few minutes.”

Bette nodded, and managed a small wave as she let herself out into the hallway.