Float

All of the Red Maple boys write life lists and start checking things off. Murphy feels particularly enthusiastic about having new experiences. On Friday evening, the campers play capture the flag again. It starts raining just as the game is about to begin, and Emerson assumes they will have to cancel it, as he has “never been out in the rain for more than a few seconds, usually sheltered under [his] mother’s umbrella while she squeal[s] about her hair” (103). But, the game continues, and everyone gets drenched. Emerson strays into another team’s territory, gets caught, and is put in their jail, which means standing in a creek. Anthony soon joins him. After half an hour, Hank, who is invisible except for one of his toes, arrives and frees them.

The boys run back toward their territory. On the way, they meet Zeke, who has managed to get another team’s flag. All of them make it back into their territory safely. Hank reappears naked, as his clothes do not disappear when he does. If he wants to be undetected, he has to take them off.