One day early in the spring, a big box arrived at the Continuum, addressed to Carlisle. He recruited Carin to help open it.
"Oh, look at that gorgeous green color," said Carlisle, pleased.

"What is it?" Carin inquired.
"It is the fabric for the sleeves of this year’s Croc Camp shirts," explained Carlisle. "They dyed it just the way I requested, too." He delved down into the box and came up with a sheet of transfers. "Here are the transfers for the fronts. The croc picture reminds me of my mother."
Carin pondered this. She had never considered Carlisle’s parents before. "Are your parents still living, Carlisle?"

"Dad passed away some time ago and went to that big swamp in the sky, but Mother is still doing fine." Carlisle carefully set the transfer sheet back in the box.
"What is her name?" Carin asked.
"Celeste," Carlisle replied. "She lives at the Philadelphia Zoo. I had her moved there not too long ago."
"But I thought animals did not like being confined to zoos," Carin pointed out, carefully folding the fabric so it would fit back into the box.
"Well, Mother is getting older and just not as quick at catching the antelopes or the occasional zebra. The zoo was kind of like going into assisted living if you are a senior citizen. There I know she will get good care and a good meal every day. Plus it isn’t far for me to go to visit her."
"We Emmas will have to pop down and visit one of these days," Carin said. "Meanwhile, I will get this fabric and the transfers in to the sewing department."
"Thanks, Carin," said Carlisle. He was already reviewing in his mind all the preparations that had to be made before Croc Camp opened.
Meanwhile, Carin had an idea and chuckled to herself, having thought of a way to tease Carlisle a little bit. Even though everyone loved Carlisle the Emmas occasionally enjoyed giving him a hard time.
Carin had a little chat with Kerry, who agreed that she could help put Carin’s plan into effect. Kerry loved to sew and was never happier than when she was at the sewing machine with her scissors and thread.

She was much admired in Twinn circles because she could adjust MT clothes so they would actually fit, and she even knew how to make buttonholes so the Twinns could avoid that deadly velcro that seemed to haunt their lives. Unfortunately, Kerry had a bit of a problem reaching the foot pedal of the sewing machine so she would have to recruit another Twinn to assist her. Corky was usually willing to help. She would put an old bandanna over her hair to prevent all the little threads and tiny fabric scraps from getting into her curls. Corky had figured out a way to read while she worked so she was quite content to assist.

The spring days sped away and practically before anyone knew it, summer had arrived. Everyone was working diligently to prepare for the opening of Croc Camp until the big day finally arrived. Finally, it was the morning of the camp’s opening, and Carlisle took a tour of the camp to be sure that everything was just about ready for the big day.
First he met Taryn, who was practicing her bugle for the flag raising. Ssid the Snake was hissing along. "Good morning, Carlisle," said Taryn, after a final flourish.
Carlisle blinked his eyes. She couldn’t be wearing orange, could she? "Good morning, Taryn," he said. "Good morning, Ssid. I am happy to see that everybody is loking so sprightly and eager again this year."

Ssid rattled his tail in greeting. "Good morning Carlisle. We’re trying to decide whether Reville sounds better with the rattle or the hiss," Taryn explained. "Want to listen and help us decide, Carlisle?"
"Thanks, but I have a lot to do. You and Ssid can decide and I’m sure it will be fine," said Carlisle. He continued on his way. "I shouldn’t have let Cavendish talk me into that last root beer at Ye Olde Croc and Keg," he mumbled to himself.
"Hey, Carlisle," called Cathy, from where she was picking raspberries. "Have you seen my recipe for ranger cookies? I can’t find it anywhere and I wanted to make them for the opening today."
Carlisle was glad to see that Cathy was wearing green. "Uh, are they the ones with the sunflower seeds?"
"Yes, sunflower seeds, nuts, and lots of healthy stuff, no real rangers though." Cathy replied. "Don’t you wonder why they call these yellow raspberries when they really are orange?"
Carlisle was not quite in the mood to think about orange at that particular moment. "Look in the file under B and you should find the recipe. It’s under B for bird seed," he explained.

"Oh, OK," laughed Cathy. "Why didn’t I think of that?"
"Carlisle," called Kerry from the sidewalk, "We got a whole bunch more registrations." She indicated the envelopes in her basket. "Where should I put them?"

"Take them to Libby at the registration table," Carlisle advised. His surprise continued as he noticed Kerry’s Croc Camp shirt was yellow. "What’s going on?" he asked himself as she headed for the other side of the camp, "I think that somebody must have tampered with that root beer I had last night, I keep on seeing things."
"Good morning, Carlisle," called Sally from where she, Clinton, and Corky were setting up the campsites. "Look at the tent we found just for the crocs!"
"It’s very nice," said Carlisle, going to check it out. "Hi Clinton, what have you got there?"
"My fellow Americans, I cannot tell a lie. This big tree was in the way of where we wanted to put the tent," Clinton explained. "I pulled it up."
"Good job, I see it was one of those alien trees too." said Carlisle admiringly. He could pull weeds but was not quite strong enough for a whole tree.
"If you see Randy would you ask him to come with his chain saw?" Corky requested. "We can use the wood later on after it dries out for firewood."
"He’s bringing in the new campers," Carlisle replied, taking in Corky’s purple shirt and Sally’s red one. "I’ll send him over as soon as he is free."
"Thanks, Carlisle," said Corky.

Carlisle went on his way, muttering to himself. He came to the First Aid area where Meko and the Croc Twins were presiding. "Good morning, Carlisle," said Meko. "Isn’t it nice to be out here in the country and fresh air?"

"Yes," said Carlisle, glad to see Meko was in green. "Do you have everything you need, Meko?"
"I think so," said Meko. "Band-aids, insect repellent, sunblock, Bactine for scratches, liniment for aches and pains, and ginger capsules for anyone with an upset stomach."
"Very good," said Carlisle. "The campers will be here soon." He headed over to the registration desk where Libby was checking the roster of incoming campers and Penny was trimming the wick on one of the lamps.
"Carlisle," said Carin, coming up holding the flag, "Have you seen the iron? Our flag got all wrinkled over the winter."

"And where is the extra lamp oil?" asked Penny.
Meanwhile, Randy and Jeremy had transported the first set of campers in from the bus stop. They were chattering away while the crocs were looking on interestedly. "Libby," said Carlisle, "Please check everyone in. Randy, Clinton needs you over in Camping Area B to cut up a tree with your chain saw. Jeremy, would you tell all the Emmas to come to the flagpole area - I need to have a chat with them."

Everyone jumped into action, and soon Carlisle was at the flagpole area with all the Emmas. "OK," he said. "What is going on? I designed the official Croc Camp uniform, a white shirt with green sleeves and a green croc and black shorts and black shoes. What do I see but all of you in all kinds of colors?!"
The Emmas giggled. "Oh, Carlisle, we were only teasing you," Carin replied. "You were so proud of that green fabric and we couldn’t resist having a little fun with the uniforms. But look," She carefully lined everyone up. "If we all line up the right way we make a rainbow with you in the middle for the green!"

"I am so relieved, here I thought I was loosing my mind. My poor dad used to see strange things like pink elephants before he went to the great swamp in the sky." Carlisle explained.
"He did?" Taryan asked.
"Oh yes, and here I thought I had either had too many root beers or was waiting for pink pachyderms to appear. I think that the best cure for it would be some work."
"But Carlisle, nobody works harder at croc camp than you do." Carin said. All the Emmas nodding in agreement.
"Oh not work for me, work for you. I do hereby appoint the Emma's to the position of Offical Croc Camp Dishwashers! I will just watch to make sure that everything is done the proper way."
The Emmas all groaned. "Carin this was all your big idea! you can scrub the stove!"

Later that day, just after lunch, the crocs scrounged a lift with Randy and his wagon and they all gathered at the messhall to watch the Emmas doing dishes. "I say Carlisle old chap, those new shirts really do look spiffing." Cavendish said.
"I agree Cavendish, in fact next year we will have multicoloured shirts made up instead of green."
"Jolly good show, I cannot wait, although us Brits are more partial to the pin stripe suit and old school tie."
"This is croc camp Cavendish, not the civil service. Come, let us adjourn and head off to the pool, I heard the Cookies had challenged the Caities for a game of water polo, and I know that Brits are really big on polo. Bye bye girls, enjoy doing those dishes."

The Emmas watched the crocs head off to the pool in Randy's wagon. "Where is Taryn with that water?" Carin asked.
"I bet she is hiding somewhere or picking blueberries again." Corky remarked.
"Penny, this dish isn't washed properly!" Sally said, inspecting the dish closely.
"Just dry it clean!" Penny said, up to her elbows in water.

Just then Taryn came walking along, her water bucket filled with cold water. "I got the water gang. How is it going?"
"And about time too Taryn, we still have to clear the stove and then there are those huge pots that need scrubbing."
"We must really have a serious chat with Cathy and her cooks, they must stop using so many pots!" Kerry said.
"And what about paper plates? can't we get everybody to use paper plates?"
"And paper cups, we must get some croc camp paper cups!"

And so the Emma's washed the dishes, grumbling and muttering and looking for ways to have less to wash, while down at the pool 8 Cookies had taken on 3 Caities in a friendly game of water polo, and as everybody knows, Caities are expert water polo players, even against such big odds.