Original Date: 6-9-97

At the beginning of the summer, I spent a few weeks with Kourtnee. It was great. She enrolled me into the Shimmers' Day Camp program. The camp lasted from 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM.

It was 7:30 on Monday morning when Kourtnee knocked on the door. She told me that it was time to wake up. I didn't want to get up because it was just too early in the morning to be getting up during the summer. Since Paula was going to come to pick me up at 8:30, I figured I had better get up.

I got the clothes that I was going to wear and went in the bathroom to take a shower. After I had finished taking my shower and getting dressed, I went in the den to wait for Paula. I played around in the game room. It was 8:45 when Paula got to Kourtnee's house. Both Kourtnee and I were fussing at her because she was late. Paula just looked at Kourtnee and said, "...Now you know that I am always late, so why are you complaining?" Kourtnee laughed and said, "Yea, I know. See you later, LaDawnya." She kissed me on the cheek then Paula and I left.

While we were riding in the car, Paula would not shut up talking. She told me all about the Day Camp. It had been set up in the summer of 1988. The camp consisted of classes, lunch, and some socializing time. Paula told me about Kourtnee's family and things. I kept wondering why she was volunteering all this information. I hadn't asked for it. Paula also told me that I would probably feel a little left out when I was around Kourtnee. People usually focused on Kourtnee rather than the people around her especially when they wanted to talk to Kourtnee. Paula said that she even felt left out sometimes and she was Kourtnee's best friend. Paula told me not to worry. After awhile, I asked Paula if she always talked this much. She said that she always did. Paula was cool. She made me laughed, and despite of all the talking the ride was nice.

When we got to the Shimmers plant, Paula showed me where to go. She took me to the sign-in station. She introduced me to a couple of the kids that were already there. At first glance there were about 60 or 70 kids there. I met two girls. Their names were Shauna Winfrey and LaVelle Walker. Paula asked them if they would show me around and they said they would. After Paula made sure I was signed in, she left. That's when the adventure began.

Shauna and LaVelle introduced me to another girl whose name was Dakini Macins. They told me that Dakini hung out with them. All four of us walked around for awhile watching all the kids playing. There were some guys playing basketball, three of which I was introduced to later on as, Stefun Jones, Thomas Mark (T-Mark) Saddleman, and Kavon Kayprose. There were kids playing all kinds of games and there were kids just running around.

Shauna, LaVelle, Dakini, and I went and watched the guys play basketball. Stefun, T-Mark, Kavon, and some other guy stopped the game, came over, and asked us what we wanted. LaVelle, the most outspoken person of the group, looked at them, "Is there something wrong with us looking at some cute guys play ball?" She was right because they looked nice. T-Mark asked who I was. LaVelle told them my name and that I was Kourtnee's daughter. They did not believe her. I told them who I really was. LaVelle smiled, "Had ya'll going." The guys went back to their game. As they were walking away, Stefun turned and saw me staring at him. He smiled. That boy looked too good.

At 9:30, it was time to begin classes. There were 5 different classes that you could attend. There was only one rule about the classes. You could attend each class only once a day. There was a computer class, where you could learn about computers as well as how to use them. There was a craft class, where you could make things. There was a film class, where you watched a film. You had to write a two-page report about the film. There was a math class. There was also an art class where you could draw stuff. Each class lasted an hour.

When Paula registered me, someone handed me a time schedule. I did not pay much attention to it at the time. I had put it in my pocket. I took it out of my pocket and looked at it.

Shauna suggested that we all go to the same classes. Everyone said okay. She continued to say, "LaDawnya, you can pick the first class. The rest of us can pick the classes that we want to go to later." I said okay and that I wanted to go to the computer class. We went to the classroom. When we got there, we all had to sign a sheet of paper. The lady at the door gave us a sheet of paper. She told us that it was our assignment for the day. Our assignment was to create flyers advertising an imaginary hair care product offered by Shimmers. There were about fourteen kids in the classroom. There were seven computers in the classroom also. We were to break into groups of two and work together. Shauna and I were in one group. Dakini and LaVelle were in the other.

All of us worked for about 30 minutes on the computers. The lady, who was teaching the class, Mrs. Douglas, told us to finish. She then asked each group to show their work. We all showed our work to the class and then the class voted on whose flyers were the best. Two guys from another group won first place. Shauna and I won second place. This brother and sister team won third place. The prizes were Shimmers hair care products. I gave my stuff to Shauna because I couldn't use mine anyway. Shauna asked, "Why are you giving me your stuff?" "I know the president of the company. I can get them any time I want to," I said with a smile. She said, "Well then you can hook me up." I replied, "Yea, all right." It was time to leave. Mrs. Douglas told us that we could leave.

Dakini got to pick the next class. She wanted to go to film class, but Shauna and LaVelle wanted to go to crafts' class. I didn't want to go to either of the classes, but I went to film class with Dakini. Shauna and LaVelle went to crafts class. After we signed in, we entered the classroom and saw Stefun and T-Mark. Stefun invited us to sit with them. I was glad to go sit by Stefun. Dakini and I sat down in desks by them.

A guy named Charles walked in the room. He told us that the film we were going to watch was called "Teenage Crisis." It was a film about a guy and a girl that were facing the question of sex. Charles said that the film would last about 45 minutes and then we would discuss it after it was over. We watched the film. When it was over, Charles began the discussion. He asked a few questions and let us answer them. I hadn't said anything during the discussion so Charles asked me a question. He asked, "If a guy asked you to have sex and you didn't want to, what would you do?" I didn't want to say anything, but I had to. I said, "I would explain to him that I was not ready to make that kind of commitment. I would also tell him that I wanted to wait. If he couldn't wait, he could just leave!" The girls in the class started clapping. Dakini said, "There you go. That's what I'm talking 'bout. Tell the boy to step." T-Mark chimed in, "Why it always gotta be like that? You girls are always tripping." Before any of the girls could say anything Stefun said, "Why is it the guy that is always putting pressure on the girl? How come it can't be the other way around?" That started a whole different discussion. After awhile, Charles interrupted the conversation and reminded us about our papers that were due by the end of the day tomorrow. Dakini and I left the room and met Shauna and LaVelle. Dakini told them about how I told the guys off. I hadn't really told anyone off. They thought I had done something wonderful so, who was I to argue.

After we met, LaVelle decided that we should go to the math class. When we got to the classroom, we signed in and were given four sheets of paper and a pencil. Two of the sheets of paper had problems on them. The other two sheets were blank. I looked to the front of the room and I saw Paula. She was the teacher. Later, I found out that one of the requirements of the Shimmer's executives was that they had to participate in the Day Camp. They could teach a class, register kids when they came in, or something else. After everyone had gotten in the classroom, Paula told everyone to do one of the worksheets. It had ten algebraic problems on it. It was a quiz.

When everyone was through, Paula took the sheets up. She went to the front of the room and told us to look at the second sheet of paper. She explained the problems. She worked some and she let us work some. When the class was over, she took up the pencils and told us that we could leave. Shauna, LaVelle, Dakini, and I left the classroom and we headed for the cafeteria with LaVelle leading the way.

When we got to the cafeteria there were kids and grown-ups in the cafeteria. There were more kids in the cafeteria than grown-ups. The grown-ups were taking their lunch break. Some of the kids were running around and acting like kids would normally act. The grown-ups were sitting in a corner of the room far, far away from us kids.

After Shauna, LaVelle, Dakini, and I had gotten our food; we went and sat down at a table. Stefun and his friends were sitting at the table next to ours. When T-Mark saw us, he began to act a fool. He was cracking jokes and acting silly. He was trying to make us laugh. LaVelle and Shauna were laughing. I just kind of ignored him. He was funny. I don't think Dakini liked him much because she called him a dummy. After Dakini said that, Kavon began to join in with T-Mark taunting Dakini. She got mad and threw something at them. Stefun touched Kavon and said, "Ya'll leave that girl alone and act like you got some sense. Fools!" That worked because Kavon told Dakini, "You know we are just playing with you. Chill out, girl." Everything was okay after that. We finished eating in peace. I asked Shauna why Dakini had gotten very mad at T-Mark as we were walking outside. Shauna said, "T-Mark can be a jerk sometimes. Dakini doesn't know how to handle him. If he gets on your nerves just hit him one time, and then he'll leave you alone. He doesn't know how to fight anyway." We laughed. Stefun walked by and pulled my hair as he said, "What are you all laughing at?" I said, "You."

When we got outside, the kids our ages were choosing sides for a kick ball game. There were about 16 kids standing around. Shauna said that we wanted to play. After a few minutes, the teams had been chosen. I was on the team with LaVelle. We ran around kicking the ball for about twenty minutes. It was time to go back to class. The team I was on won the game.

Since it was Shauna's time to choose classes, she decided that Dakini and I would go to crafts' class. She and LaVelle went to film class. When Dakini and I were in craft class we saw T-Mark. He came over and sat next to Dakini. She made the ugliest face I have ever seen. Dakini told him, "Look boy don't mess with me, all right. If you do, I will hit you in your big mouth." All three of us knew she did not mean it. T-Mark got up and sat by me. I didn't know whether to run or just sit there. I sat there. I just hoped that he would not get on my nerves. The teacher came in the room. To my surprise, it was Kourtnee. I hadn't seen her since I had left the house this morning. She told us that we were going to paint some clay items. She told us that we could pick out the items that we wanted. She told us to go back to the tables to paint them. She told us to be careful and not to make a mess. (Kourtnee was a little crazy about cleanliness.)

After all the kids had picked out the item that they wanted to paint, we began painting. Dakini had chosen a flower. I chose a bumblebee and T-Mark had chosen a car. Things were going good until T-Mark needed the red paint and Dakini was using it. She told him that she would not give it to him even if he were dying. He walked over to her and tried to take it away. I moved out of the way because I did not want to get paint all over me. These two idiots were arguing over the red paint, when Kourtnee walked over. She asked them what the problem was. Dakini and T-Mark began talking in unison. Kourtnee stopped them and asked me what was going on. I looked at her and said, "...They both want to use the red paint, but they don't believe in sharing." Kourtnee ask me who started it. I told her that I didn't know. She said, "All right," with a smirk on her face. She told T-Mark to go to a table at the front of the room. Dakini and I went back to doing our work. All while we were working, Dakini fussed about T-Mark. I wanted to tell her to SHUT UP. I said, "He just likes to get attention for himself." Dakini said, "He's a jerk."

Kourtnee said that it was time to go. I was so happy because I would not have to listen to Dakini alone anymore. (I guess misery does love company.) I was too tired of her complaining about T-Mark. Before we left, Kourtnee told us that we could pick up the things that we had painted at the end of the day.

It was time for the last class. Shauna, LaVelle, Dakini, and I were going to art class because that was the only class we had not been to. While we were walking to the next class, Dakini kept on fussing about T-Mark's stupidity. LaVelle finally said, "Girl, if I gotta hear you say another word about that boy, I'll tape your mouth shut." Dakini just quit talking about him after that.

In art class, we drew pictures of the things that we wanted in the future. After class was over, we walked outside and listened to Charles. LaVelle told me that Charles was the director of the Day Camp. He said, "I hope each of you had a good day. You can pick up your projects. See you tomorrow." Everyone picked up their stuff, went outside to the playground, and began running around while they were waiting on their parents. I asked Charles if he has seen Paula. He told me that she had gone to her office. I thanked him and started towards the Shimmers office building.

When I got to Paula's office, Kourtnee was there, but Paula wasn't. Kourtnee asked me how my day was. I told her everything that had happened. She didn't have time to say anything because the phone rung. She answered it. She pushed a button on the phone and hung up the phone. She told me that Paula would be back in a few minutes. She said that Paula would take me home. Kourtnee walked into her office and closed the door. I was sitting in the office by myself. It was about fifteen minutes before Paula came back in the office. The phones kept ringing non-stop. It was getting on my nerves. I had seen Paula answer the phone enough so, I answered the phone a couple of times before Paula came in the office. One of the phone calls was from a guy named Mr. Jerry Chambers. It was about a meeting that Kourtnee had that night.

Paula came in the office. She saw me sitting at her desk. She said, "I was only gone thirty minutes and Kourtnee already replaced me." "Yea, with a new, younger model," I replied with a grin. Paula walked over to me and told me to get up. She asked if anyone had called. I told her about the phone calls. I asked Paula about the meeting Kourtnee that had that night. Paula told me that Kourtnee had a meeting with a gentleman. Paula did that evil grin that she does. She then told me that he wanted to talk to her about opening a plant in another state. Paula told me that I was stuck with her for the evening.

At 6:13 PM Paula told me that it was time to go. Finally! I went into Kourtnee's office to tell her bye. She was on the phone. I waved to her and she waved back. She told me that she would see me later. I walked out of the office with Paula. The ride home with Paula was like the ride to Shimmers. She talked and talked and talked and talked.

At Kourtnee's House

We finally got to Kourtnee's house. Paula used her key to open the door. Paula went into the bedroom next to the game room. It was her room. No one was allowed to us the room except her. I went into my room and changed clothes. I watched TV for awhile. After a few minutes Paula came in the room and asked, "Why are you in here by yourself? I ain't gone hurt nobody." I laughed and said, "I am just in here watching TV." She said, "You can watch TV in the game room, now come on." As we walked in the game room, I jokingly said, "You must hate to be alone or something." She said, "Thank you, Dr. Ruth."

When we got to the den, she sat down on the couch and handed me the remote. I turned the TV to the channel I had been watching. Paula said that she didn't like the show. I handed her the remote control. She turned it to the news. As I stood up, I said, "I am going back to my room; if you're gonna watch the news." Paula said, "The news is an important part of life. You should watch the news everyday." I laughed at her and walked over to the pool table and began to play. Paula turned and looked at me, "...I thought I told you to watch the news. How can you watch the news and play pool?" "I'm a genius. I can do fifty things at once," I replied. She did not say much after she laughed. Paula had been QUIET while the news was on. Kourtnee walked in the house about 7:10 PM. She was seen long enough to speak.

I was getting hungry. I asked Paula what we were going to eat. She said, "Nothing!" and laughed. I asked her again and she said that we could order some pizza. I said, "Cool!" Mrs. Jackson was at a church meeting. It didn't matter anyway because she didn't cook on Mondays. It was every man for himself and God for us all.

Paula was flipping through the channels. I asked if I could watch "Glass House." (This was a drama about a school in a rough neighborhood.) She said that I could. I put down the pool cue and sat down on the couch. While we watched the show, Paula asked a lot of questions. I assumed that she had never seen the show before. I was glad when Kourtnee walked in the room at 7:30 because Paula started talking to Kourtnee. She had on a lovely turquoise suit. It had pearls on the collar of the jacket. She had on pearl jewelry that accented the pearls that laced her jacket. She had on turquoise shoes that matched her suit perfectly. She looked good. I wasn't sure if she had a date or a business meeting.

Kourtnee told Paula to make sure the house was cleaned before she got home. Kourtnee then told me to go to bed at 11:00 because I had Day Camp tomorrow. Kourtnee said good-bye and left. Paula called to order the pizza. In thirty minutes, we were eating. After we finished eating, we watched some more TV.

It was about 10:00 when I went to my room. I took a shower and got ready for bed. Paula came in and said good night. It was about 10:55. Kourtnee had come back home. She walked into the room. She said that she was just checking on me. She said good night and left. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about the day and all the occurrences. ...Today was a good day...