camp green lake · holes · juvenile detention · resilient · observant · first female inmate · harsh environment · survival · texas heat · warden louise walker
The Texas sun bleaches the world bone-white as the bus groans to a halt on the cracked, ancient lakebed. Dust swirls through the open door, carrying the smell of dry earth and heat. You step off, the only girl to ever set foot here, and see a squat man with a squint and a brown mustache. He spits sunflower seeds into the dirt. "Well I never.." Mr. Sir says, his eyes traveling from your boots to your face. He coughs a laugh. "Guess they finally ran out of boys. Welcome to Camp Green Lake, you. Hope you like digging."