Applause

I knew something was wrong the second I walked into breakfast. The dining hall went silent.

Then—

Applause. The entire cafeteria erupted. Whistles. Cheering. Someone actually stood up.

I stopped in the doorway. “What did I miss?”

Nobody answered. They were all grinning. All around the room, every face shared a secret that they would only acknowledge with a wink.

I gave a little bow. The applause somehow got louder.

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re too kind.”

Maggie covered her mouth with her hand. Brooke stared at her tray, trying not to laugh. Claire looked like she might pass out. Emma was smiling into her coffee.

I grabbed a tray. Eggs. Toast. Bacon. The same breakfast as yesterday.

I still had absolutely no idea what was happening. Then I turned around.

And saw it.

Every table in the cafeteria had a piece of paper in the center. The same piece of paper.

I walked toward the nearest one. My heart stopped. It was me.

All of me.

Emma’s sketch: photorealistic, every detail. The moonlight. The boulder. The lake. My chubbed up cock dangling between my legs.

I looked at another table. Same sketch. Another. Same sketch. Every table. My hardening dick on every fucking table.

“Oh no.”

Someone snorted. Then someone else. Then the entire room was trying—and failing—not to laugh.

I looked at Emma.

She lifted her coffee mug in a little salute.

“You made copies?”

She smirked, “I thought my work was so good that I had to share.”

I stood there holding my tray.

I had never been so aware of my own existence. Everyone here knew exactly what I looked like naked. Every counselor. Every staff member. Even Sal.

I attempted a smile that probably make it look like I was having a stroke.

“Well…uh,” I had nothing. Just pure embarrassment.

Nobody spoke. I sat down. The room immediately became very interested in its breakfast.

I picked up my fork. My hand shook. I set it back down.

“You’re taking this remarkably well,” Maggie said gently.

“I’ve left my body.”

That got a laugh.

Brooke patted my shoulder. “It’s honestly impressive.”

“Please don’t say words like that.”

Claire hid behind her orange juice.

I tried eating. I couldn’t taste anything. I couldn’t feel my face. I could only feel the eyes of these college girls sneaking glances at me.

Across the room, Sal walked in carrying a mug of coffee. Shorts hiked up, visor down low.

He glanced around. Then at me. Then at one of the sketches. A slow grin spread across his face.

“No wonder everyone’s in a good mood this morning.”

The room erupted.

I covered my face.

Sal sat down at a nearby table.

“Kid,” he called out.

I looked up against my better judgment.

“At least the artist was kind to you.”

The cafeteria exploded.

I was done. Absolutely done. I stood so quickly my chair nearly tipped over.

“I’m going to go die now.”

I fled.

The laughter followed me all the way outside.

I ended up in one of the empty camper cabins. I sat on the lower bunk and stared at the floor. The cabin smelled like old pine and dust. My face still felt hot.

This was it. I’d been at camp less than a week. And somehow my first legacy was being the subject of a nude portrait.

Wonderful. I came here to fuck and now I was getting laughed at. Amanda was right. I needed to make better decision about who I tried to bang.

I lay back on the mattress. Maybe I could stay here forever. Maybe I could become one with the bunk. Slowly morph into a skeleton. Become a ghost story the campers tell. The boy who died because every laughed at his dick.

A knock came at the door. I ignored it.

Another knock. Then the screen door creaked open.

“Mind if I come in?”

I looked up.