LARP Camp with Rebecca Jennings

Summary

Normal Gossip Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title: LARP Camp with Rebecca Jennings
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Host: Rachel Hampton
Guest: Rebecca Jennings

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1. Introduction & Host Updates

Rachel Hampton kicks off the episode by welcoming listeners to Normal Gossip, marking the halfway point of Season Eight. She shares exciting news about taking the show on tour for the first time this September, with stops scheduled in New York, Boston, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Rachel provides details on how listeners can secure tickets through an exclusive 48-hour presale by visiting normalgossiplive.com and using the promo code GOSSIP25 before 10 AM local time on Friday, May 9th.

Notable Quote:

[00:05] Rachel Hampton: "Welcome to episode five of season eight, y' all. We are somehow halfway through the season. Can you believe it?"

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2. Guest Introduction: Rebecca Jennings

Rachel warmly introduces Rebecca Jennings, a features writer for New York Magazine. Rebecca is set to release her book on May 27th titled "Be the Bombshell: A Cheeky, Laugh-Out-Loud Playbook to Navigating Singlehood by Embracing the Absolute 10 out of 10 Proper Fit. Total Bombshell That You Are." The book delves into the popular topic of Love Island, blending humor with insightful advice on singlehood.

Notable Quote:

[02:33] Rebecca Jennings: "I love nothing more than to gossip."

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3. Exploring Gossip: Changing Perspectives

The conversation shifts to Rebecca’s evolving relationship with gossip. Initially finding it a natural part of human interaction and friendship, Rebecca expresses growing paranoia about being the subject of gossip, especially in the context of her upcoming marriage and destination wedding. She shares her anxieties about friends possibly harboring negative feelings, despite evidence to the contrary.

Notable Quotes:

[02:37] Rachel Hampton: "What is your relationship to gossip?"
[03:08] Rebecca Jennings: "This makes me an empath."
[05:03] Rachel Hampton: "I find it very hard to be happy."

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4. Main Story: Ash’s Adventure at Camp Gondor

Rachel and Rebecca dive into a detailed narrative about Ash, a college junior studying fine arts with a specialization in ceramics. Facing the pressure of his last summer before senior year, Ash seeks a meaningful adventure and applies to numerous overnight summer camp counselor positions. Despite a lack of childcare experience, he secures a role at Camp Gondor, an eight-week fantasy live-action role-playing (LARP) camp for kids aged 10 to 16.

Key Points:

• Camp Gondor is a specialized camp offering courses in archery, swordplay, elvish lessons, and medicinal plant identification.
• The camp is transitioning management from its founding "King and Queen" to their son, Prince Wharton, who has an MBA from Wharton and is less passionate about the camp’s imaginative roots.
• Ash meets Jeremiah, a seasoned and charming counselor, sparking a potential romance amidst camp activities.

Notable Quotes:

[13:09] Rebecca Jennings: "Larping is live action role playing. It's like when you are kind of doing improv, but it's a gig."
[15:14] Rachel Hampton: "The Prince does not give a single fuck about his parents freaky little role-playing hobby."

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5. Developing Relationships and Camp Mysteries

As Ash settles into his role, he forms a connection with Jeremiah, characterized by subtle flirtations and shared interests in fantasy lore. Concurrently, Cody, a precocious 12-year-old camper with a deep interest in paranormal activities, uncovers what appears to be evidence of a camper named James Hawkins who went missing in 1934. Cody’s mischievous nature leads him to plant a Ouija board, intensifying rumors of a ghost haunting the camp.

Key Points:

• Ash grapples with understanding Jeremiah’s potential romantic interest while navigating camp responsibilities.
• Cody’s discovery and subsequent actions escalate tensions, leading to interventions by Prince Wharton.

Notable Quotes:

[24:07] Rachel Hampton: "Are you gay?"
[28:07] Rachel Hampton: "Would you let these children play with the Ouija board?"
[37:54] Rebecca Jennings: "Going in for a kiss."

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6. Climax: Unraveling the Ghost Mystery

The situation at Camp Gondor reaches a peak when rumors of Jim the Ghost spread, causing widespread fear among campers and staff. Prince Wharton demands immediate action from Ash and Jeremiah, holding them accountable for perpetuating the ghost story. It is revealed that Cody had fabricated the ghost narrative as part of an elaborate LARPing game, aiming to enhance the camp’s mystique. His actions, while initially disruptive, ultimately rejuvenate camp engagement and lead to increased donations from his parents.

Key Points:

• Ash and Jeremiah work together to dispel the ghost rumors, balancing camp lore with practical solutions.
• Cody’s ingenuity is both a source of conflict and growth for the camp community.
• The story concludes with Ash and Jeremiah developing a lasting romantic relationship, celebrating their union years later.

Notable Quotes:

[43:26] Rachel Hampton: "Ash feels like he's been electrocuted. And not in like a cute, romantic way."
[46:22] Rebecca Jennings: "Oh, my God, this little shit. I am no longer on Team Cody."

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7. Post-Story Reflections and Wrap-Up

Rachel and Rebecca reflect on the narrative, appreciating the blend of romance and mystery woven into the story. They commend Cody’s creativity and discuss the implications of his actions for camp dynamics. The episode concludes with heartfelt sentiments about the characters’ journeys and the enduring legacy of their experiences at Camp Gondor.

Notable Quotes:

[51:19] Rebecca Jennings: "This was such a good story. You're such a good storyteller."
[51:55] Rachel Hampton: "Exactly. This is so cute. We love Cody."

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Conclusion

In this engaging episode of Normal Gossip, Rachel Hampton and guest Rebecca Jennings explore the intricate dynamics of gossip and personal relationships through a captivating story set at a fantasy LARP camp. The blend of humor, romance, and mystery provides listeners with a rich narrative experience, underscored by insightful discussions and memorable quotes.

Stay Connected:
For listeners who wish to share their own gossip stories, reach out via email at [e-mail] or leave a voicemail at 2679 GOSSIP. Support the podcast by becoming a friend or a friend of a friend at supportnormalgossip.com.

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Produced by: Se'era Spragley Ricks and Jae Towle Vieira
Created by: Kelsey McKinney and Alex Sujong Laughlin
Show Art by: Tara Jacoby
Follow Us: Instagram and TikTok (@ormalgossip)

Transcript

[Rachel Hampton]

Hello and welcome to Normal Gossip. I'm your host Rachel Hampton, and in each episode of this podcast we're gonna bring you an anonymous morsel of gossip from the real world. Welcome to episode five of season eight, y' all. We are somehow halfway through the season. Can you believe it? I can't. I know that strikes fear into some of Yalls heart because it means the end of the season's approaching. But I've got some great those of you who want even more normal gossip, which I hope is all of you. This fall, Sierra and I are going on tour for the first time this September. We are bringing Normal gossip to nine different cities. We are stopping in New York, Boston, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Chicago and Minneapolis. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, May 9, but if you're listening to this episode before then, I've got some extra special news. You can buy your tickets right now in an exclusive 48 hour presale if you go to normalgossiplive.com and use the promo code GOSSIP25 before 10am local time on Friday, May 9th. I know I just tossed a lot of numbers at you, so let me say it again. If you happen to be listening to this episode before 10:00am on Friday, May 9th and you wanna guarantee you get a ticket, you can buy your tickets early in an exclusive presale if you go to normalgossiplive.com and use the promo code gossip25. If you're listening after that, have no fear. Tickets are on sale to the [e-mail] starting Friday, May 9th. This is my very first live tour. It is a year of first for me and I am so so excited to take this show on the road and meet some of y. That is all the housekeeping business I got for today's show. Now onto the main event. Today I'm so so excited to be joined by Rebecca Jennings. Rebecca is a features writer in New York magazine and she's got a book coming out on May 27th that is all about one of my favorite topics, Love Island. Rebecca's book is called Be the Bombshell and it's a cheeky laugh out loud playbook to navigating singlehood by embracing the absolute 10 out of 10 proper fit. Total bombshell that you are. Rebecca. Hello. Thank you so much for joining me.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Thank you so much for having me. I love nothing more than to gossip.

[Rachel Hampton]

Wow, you guessed my first question which is what is your relationship to gossip? It's almost like this question has been asked Before.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my gosh. Recently, gossip has been making me really paranoid. Like, every time I hear people gossip, like, 95% of me is like, oh, my God, yes. Like, this is what human beings do. This is what human communication is. This is what friendship is. And then the other 5% is like, well, if they're saying this about one person, like, what are they saying about me?

[Rachel Hampton]

I think that's real. And I would say that is you empathizing with the subject of the gossip.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, this makes me an empath.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. Let's flip it around. Let's reverse it.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Thank you so much. Yeah, but. But it's like, I feel like this is a newer thing with me. Like, it just is making me really anxious and paranoid a lot. So I'm glad that we're talking about this in a safe space where gossip is being condoned and entertainment for all.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, it sounds like your relationship with gossip is changing over time. That at first it felt kind of just like, this is fun, and now. Is it. Do you think you're, like, at a more public time in your life? Like, do you think there is more in your life to gossip about than maybe previously?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. And this is because I am about to get married. I know that there are all these group chats that don't involve me about, like, people. And it's also, I'm having a destination wedding, and everyone, like, on TikTok all the time, I see people like, if you're. If you have a destination wedding, you're a shitty person. And I'm like, oh, cool. Love that. All my friends probably hate me. But no, it's like, you know, people planning about when they're arriving and what they're doing and which is totally normal and fine, but meanwhile, it's making me like, oh, my God, everyone's so mad at me for having a wedding. And meanwhile, it's like they're doing the kindest thing in the world by, like, showing up for me and celebrating me. And that just makes me like, oh, my God, they all secretly hate me. And so, you know, like, whenever you're at a time in your life where people are constantly saying, like, congratulations to you, you're like, oh. And then there's. There's a side chat, like, outside, because they're like, oh, my God, she is being obnoxious again. She's being whatever. And this is completely in my head.

[Rachel Hampton]

Rebecca, I think we might share some of the same head. I understand exactly where you're coming from in that I find it very hard to be Happy.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Which is.

[Rachel Hampton]

Something I've talked about with my therapist.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yep, yep, yep.

[Rachel Hampton]

But the hard thing in the world, quite frankly, is to actually just embody being happy and people around you being happy. Because my little rat brain is just like, something's going wrong. And if the actual events aren't going wrong, then something's going wrong with the people involved.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yes.

[Rachel Hampton]

And it's that they hate me because I have expressed a need and an emotion.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yep. And sometimes even when I haven't, like, I haven't expressed anything, but I'm like, but that I should have, or like I should have done a different thing. What would that other person have done? And this is also I was reading How Should a Person Be? Which is an entire novel of this woman just thinking that the whole time it's like, I should be more like her. No, I should be more like him. No, I should be more like her. And I'm just like, yeah, I relate.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Wow, I get it. This feels like therapy.

[Rebecca Jennings]

I know. I have a tendency to do that.

[Rachel Hampton]

You sound like a perfect gossip when.

[Rebecca Jennings]

It can never get back to me and when it doesn't involve me and when it's like mostly like fun. Yes. Love, love, love, love.

[Rachel Hampton]

I mean, speaking of being a perfect gossip, a little birdie told me that you have some gossip for me.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay. So I asked one of my group chats, I was like, yeah, like I'm going on normal gossip. What should I say? I'm going to steal one of my friends bathroom stories. So my friend, we'll call her, we'll call her Claire. She was known in college for like only ever taking a shit at her own house. Like she would never ever take a shit anywhere else. And so she's about to graduate and she goes to this like, graduation party and it's like, at this like crappy college house. And she's like, okay, like I'm, I'm about to graduate. Like I, I need to be an adult and actually like take a shit somewhere that isn't my personal toilet. So she goes into this bathroom and you can probably guess where this is going. The shitty pipes, it does not flush. And she's freaking out. There's someone banging on the door outside and she's like, oh my God. Freaking out, freaking out. She like does the thing because like any like person who's shy about that, like, that's this is their worst fear and they will like study how to, what to do when this happens. But nothing was working and she leaves and she's like someone's banging on the door and she leaves and she's like, no, no, don't go in there. Like someone. I was. I was trying to fix it, but someone like took a shit in there and they were like, ew, who would do that? And then like, they got the host over and they're like, oh my God, that's so crazy that someone would do that and just like, leave it there. She's like, yeah, I know. And the host was like, well, I know it wasn't you because you never take a shit anywhere else. And so she was like, y. She was like, oh my God, I just got away with this. And to this day, her friends have no idea that it was her. And I think that if she ever like gives a toast for someone's like, birthday or wedding or something, she should be like, and by the way, that shit was mine.

[Rachel Hampton]

That is incredible. Both that she got away with it, that she tried something new, and that this probably created gossip for that community for a while. Oh, totally. Where it was like, you who clogged the toilet?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I know this party and I really hope that one of them is listening right now because that would just be really fun.

[Rachel Hampton]

We know who it was. Well, that was some phenomenal gossip. And now I have some for you. Are you ready?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, I'm so ready.

[Rachel Hampton]

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[Rebecca Jennings]

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[Rachel Hampton]

Today. Our friend of a friend is named Ash and there are three important things to know about Ash. The first is that he has just finished his junior year studying fine arts with a specialization in ceramics. The second, which is related to the first, is that he's having a hard time finding a summer job. The third and the most important fact about Ash is that Ash is so hyper aware that this is his last summer, that this is the summer before his senior year of college, before he has to be an adult, before he has to worry about taxes. He's like, this is it. Do you remember this summer?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. We had a bedbug and so like, both like me and my roommate had to like move in with like the dudes we were seeing at the time. It was horrible. One bedbug ruined my life for like several months.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh God.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Never get bedbugs.

[Rachel Hampton]

God, that is my worst fear.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, it was bad. This was like back when the bed bugs were like the number one issue facing New York City. Now there's others, but.

[Rachel Hampton]

But a simpler time.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, Ash is determined to have a capital A adventure that hopefully does not include bed bugs. He has spent every summer since he was 15 working at the Dairy Queen in his hometown, which is fun in its own way, but it doesn't give like, capital a adventure. Which is how Ash finds himself applying to a bunch of overnight summer camp counselor jobs. Our friend Refend told us, quote, it felt like that was the best way for me to get paid like a grownup while being able to live out the feral child summer of my dreams.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Love that choice.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, what do you think of our friend or friends logic here?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I think that's so fun. I've always wanted to do that, having never gone to a sleepaway camp or a summer camp like that. I'm like, oh my God. Parent trap. I want that. So I totally get this same.

[Rachel Hampton]

I love parent trap.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

So Ash applies to at least a dozen camps, but he has no child care experience, which means he isn't a super qualified candidate. The one camp Ash hears back from is called camp Gondor. And camp Gondor is an eight week long summer larping camp for kids from age 10 to 16.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, for Lord of the rings, I.

[Rachel Hampton]

Assume it's a fantasy camp. But for our listeners who might be unfamiliar, could you tell me what larping is?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, I thought you were gonna say tell us what gondor is. Larping is live action role playing. It's like when you are kind of doing improv, but it's a gig. Sort of like D and D, but you're wearing costumes and you're like running around and stuff and like sword fighting.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. And as you correctly guessed and is perhaps obvious from the name, which for legal reasons is spelled G O N E D O O R. Oh, okay, Jesus, we are not getting sued by Tolkien here. But camp Gondor isn't just a larping camp. It is specifically a fantasy larping camp. So there are courses on archery and swordplay. There are afternoons spent learning elvish and how to identify plants with medicinal qualities.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, I'm so jealous. I'm jealous of Ash. I want to do this so bad.

[Rachel Hampton]

This is basically a camp for parents trying to get their video game addicted kids outdoors and doing a physical activity.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, it's like how to not raise incels but still meeting them where they're at.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. Ash doesn't have any history with fantasy larping. His specific form of nerdery comes in the form of Greek mythology. But he feels like there is enough adjacency, you know, like swords, gods, gay type shit for Ash to get read in fairly quickly. Whoever was reading the applications that summer was like, yeah, close enough.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, this is who you want at your fantasy larping camp. You want Ashley, the Greek mythology guy.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Ash is offered a position as an assistant prop master for camp Gondor. Do you think larping as a camp counselor at larping camp is a good idea?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I mean, yeah, that's kind of how you have to approach it. It's like you're kind of doing immersive performance art. Like I love that choice.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's avant garde actually.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, what he's giving, like these kids should be paying for. I Mean they are paying for it? I guess.

[Rachel Hampton]

So he's included in the price.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

So some important things to know about Camp Gondor. It was founded 50 years ago by a couple that we will be referring to as the King and Queen. And the King and Queen poured their hearts and souls into Camp Gondor. They're in their 70s now and slowing down. And a few years back they turned the day to day operations of Camp Gondor over to their son, the Prince.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

The Prince does not give a single fuck about his parents freaky little role playing hobby.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh no.

[Rachel Hampton]

The Prince also got his MBA from Wharton.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh no. He's gonna like private equity the shit out of this camp. Oh my God. These poor little incels. Babies.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. The Prince unironically identifies with Kendall from Succession.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay, okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Camp Gondor makes pretty good money, so he's fine running it.

[Rebecca Jennings]

I would watch an HBO Sunday night show about succession of Camp Gondor. Just saying.

[Rachel Hampton]

Same someone call me. So this is the situation. Our friend or friend is entering succession at Camp Gondor. Do you have any concerns for him?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I have a lot of concerns because I feel like these kids, and including Ash, are too gentle for Gondor. Kendall.

[Rachel Hampton]

So to be fair to Ash, he didn't know about the royal family of Gondor until he arrived on the campgrounds in early June. He has just finished a self administered crash course in fantasy novels. Like he has reread Fellowship of the Ring for the first time since he was 10. He's purchased a set of dice and he has brushed up on his paper mache skills. So when Ash arrives at the beautiful lakeside campgrounds of Camp Gondor, he feels as prepared as he possibly can be. He's studied and he is ready for his capital A adventure. Which is great because almost immediately after arriving at Gondor, Ash is introduced to Jeremiah. Jeremiah is 23. He is a counselor for the 13 year old cabin. This is his fourth year as a counselor at Camp Gondor. So he's extremely knowledgeable but also super chill about it. Ash told us that Jeremiah was tall and lanky in that adorable gangly way.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

And that as soon as Ash saw Jeremiah galumphing across the field with his long legs like Shaggy from Scooby Doo, I was a goner. And that's a direct call.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. I ship this so hard. But I know it's not gonna end the way I hope it does.

[Rachel Hampton]

Did you have any cartoon crushes?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Mufasa? And the hot cats. And the Aristocats.

[Rachel Hampton]

The tomcat. Yes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

He was so odd.

[Rachel Hampton]

He was. He was. These are all phenomenal choices. So Jeremiah is assigned to give Ash a tour. And Jeremiah is not just a pretty face. He is also a phenomenal tour guide. What kind of stuff do you think a camp like this would have?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. This is, like, my dream camp when I was that age. So I hope that it has, like, a little, like, a shire. Like, a little area where, like, it's all you do is, like, run around and, like, dance. And obviously their kids said that they can't drink, but probably have, like. That's probably where, like, the food is. And, like, cool, like, forest stuff. Like tree houses and cool rocks that you can pretend are castles, rivers, and, like, old statues that look like they were there from, like, a previous age, like, crumbling around you from, like, the Numenoreans. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

I'm getting the vibe that you would be a great counselor at Camp Gondor.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, you're giving me great ideas for the summer.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah's giving this tour guide, and he's like, here's the cabin. There's the lake. That's the mess hall. Normal camp stuff. Then he's like, this is the computer lab. The kids are only allowed in there for an hour a week.

[Rebecca Jennings]

An hour a week. Oh, my God, these kids are gonna die.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah's like, that field is for practicing archery. That field is for swordplay. He shows Ash where the cape closet is and where they store the stockpile of SBF 75 for their very pale campers. Jeremiah's like, here's where the EpiPens are. We have a lot of kids with allergies here. If the younger kids want ponies, here's where the broomsticks are at.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, that's so gentle.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah also clues Ashton on all, like, the rules and lore of Camp Gondor. Jeremiah's like, the king and queen were a little overconfident in their ability to repair things. So stuff's a little janky. And he's like, there's something else you should know.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

The showers can suddenly go ice cold without warning. The beds creak more than you would really like them to. Sometimes they even creak when no one's near them. Ash is like, what? And Jeremiah kind of just rolls his eyes and is like, yeah, honestly, it's a really good idea for you to keep an eye out for stuff like that. We have a lot of overactive imaginations around here.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God, is he. Wait, was he, like, in this moment, was he. Like, it's kind of haunted, but I don't know, like, almost, like, trying to do improv a little bit. I hope so.

[Rachel Hampton]

Not at this point.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cause he continues to explain that, like, a lot of camps, Camp Gondor has just a bunch of camp superstitions. There's a door in the mess hall that no one uses because it's bad luck. And Jeremiah's like, I'm pretty sure the door was just broken and they didn't feel like repairing it. But also, I don't believe. Believe in any of that shit. But also, don't use the door. It's not worth the trouble.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Would you ask for any more information about these strange happenings?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I would want to know, like, what lore these people have. Like, the bed creaking by themselves. That's what. That's what interests me. Like, what are the kids? Like, what are the king and queen thinking about that? Because they seem like real freaks. Like, I need to know. Like, I need to know everything about these people. And, yeah, I bet there's some good lore there.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Ash is, unfortunately, too caught up in how cute Jeremiah is to really be paying much attention to anything specific he's saying. What Ash does hear are the rules Jeremiah said that Prince Wharton instituted for summer staff when he took over. The rules are as follows. No drinking booze on campgrounds. No personalization of the uniforms, and most importantly, staff members are absolutely not allowed to date each other.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay. This has all the makings for a forbidden romance. And it sounds like a movie. Like, I love this.

[Rachel Hampton]

What do you think of these rules?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I mean, I think the no personalization thing is the thing that is the weirdest. Because, like, if this is a camp where people can be little freaks, like, don't you want your counselors to also be little freaks? Like, that doesn't make sense to me. The no boost thing I get, it's like, there's kids, then the no dating. I mean, I get it on a level where it's like, you know, you could have a situation where a kid walks in on two people fucking, which is not great.

[Rachel Hampton]

Not great, no.

[Rebecca Jennings]

In theory, like, I do get it. But, like, once you tell people, like, you're not allowed to date, that then you're just gonna develop crushes on everyone that you work with. I'm sorry. Like, just don't even have the rule.

[Rachel Hampton]

You might as well encourage them to date each other, because then they won't want to. So Ash isn't a fan of any of these rules, but especially that last one, because Jeremiah only gets cuter as the days go on.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, whenever any of the younger campers have nightmares, Jeremiah is the first counselor they go to.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God, that's so sweet.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah's hair is growing floppier by the day.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash is in so, so deep.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

There's just one problem with this crush. Two problems, if you count prince warden's rule about staff not dating each other. But for that to even be a problem, Ash needs to know whether or not Jeremiah's even queer. Which brings us to a third problem. The story takes place in 2007.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash had only recently come out himself and has no idea how to ask someone if they are also queer.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, so it's 2007. You're Ash. You're pretty sure a cute boy might be interested in you, but you need to be absolutely certain before you make a move.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

How would you go about being absolutely certain?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Ugh, man. So here's the problem is that there's no alcohol in this camp, because that could be solved night one real quick, have, like, three drinks and then being like, so you're gay, Right?

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash is like, 65% sure that Jeremiah's flirting with him. Jeremiah is always the first to volunteer to help Ash carry the heavy wind shields back to the storage shed at the end of the day. The other day, they were practicing swordplay, and when Jeremiah corrected Ash's form, he was just, like, a little bit touchier than he needed to be. Like, think that pottery scene from ghost, but with the wooden sword.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Okay, love, do you think Jeremiah's flirting? Is it possible that this might be in Ash's head?

[Rebecca Jennings]

No, I think he's flirting also. It seems like in my head, Jeremiah is the kind of guy that, like, flirts with everybody. Like, flirts with anyone, no matter what gender they are, how old they are. Like, just kind of a flirty, like, sweet, kind of golden retriever esque person. So I think that makes it actually a little more difficult to figure out whether that's real flirting or, like, the kind of golden retriever flirting that guys like that do with everybody.

[Rachel Hampton]

That's so real. Luckily, Ash has an incredible opportunity to gather some more evidence. Okay, so one week, Jeremiah's co counselor is out sick with a stomach bug. During their camper is assigned one hour a week in the computer lab. So when Jeremiah asks if anyone would be interested in helping him keep track of his campers, Ash jumps up just A little bit too fast. The only reason he hesitates at all before volunteering is because of Cody. Have you ever met, like, a really precocious child?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh, yeah. And they've never been named Cody, but continue. Cody is, like, the class clown.

[Rachel Hampton]

That's real. How would you describe the vibe of, like, a super precocious child?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Dakota Fanning, in, like, every movie before, she was, like, 12. Like, a mini adult who's, like, really uptight and loves to be right and likes to win and likes to be the center of attention, but not in a way that, like, they want people to think through the center of tension.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. So Cody is one of Jeremiah's campers. And before there was the master of spiders in Game of Thrones, there was Cody. Cody is 12, but he is way older than his years. He is an only child, so he has spent a little bit too much time with adults.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yep, yep, yep, yep.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's been going to Camp Gondor since he was nine years old. Mm. He was such a talented D and D player that he was allowed to start a year earlier than was technically allowed.

[Rebecca Jennings]

I love this kid. I hope that I, if I ever have kids, that I'm a weird D and D prodigy.

[Rachel Hampton]

I will say his parents also made a sizable donation to Camp Gondor that year.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

All of this could have made Cody obnoxious, but he's more of a chaotic good on the alignment chart. The counselors have, like, a love hate relationship with him.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

Mostly love because he's pretty funny and he's so charismatic that if he's on their side, then he makes it easier to kind of, like, corral the other campers sometimes hate. Because it is very clear that Cody loves knowing more about what's going on at camp than the counselors. He loves knowing all the gossip. And Cody also has a tendency to just go a little too far sometimes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

What kind of obsession do you think a child like this would have?

[Rebecca Jennings]

The child, like, that wants to be an adult and, like, wants to, like, do whatever the adults are doing. Know about, like, dating and crushes. I'm sure if you're 12, you already care about that. But especially if it's like, if you're obsessed with adults, you want to know, like, who's fucking and also, like, you know, wanting to, like, tell the other campers what to do and finding ways to get that. Yeah, I'm rooting for Cody.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cody's current obsession is, like, paranormal shit.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

He has started spending his designated hour in the computer lab Researching the history of the campgrounds, looking for stories of campers who have gone missing.

[Rebecca Jennings]

This is a journalist, and I hope wherever he is, he is like an investigative reporter.

[Rachel Hampton]

He is so deep into this that he has brought the rest of his cabin into this obsession. So that's what they spend their hour at the computer lab doing. Do you think it's wise to let children with overactive imaginations look for dead children?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Normally, no. But for Cody, yeah. Cody's, like, doing work. Like, Cody is, like, contributing to the science of paranormal studies.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash is just happy that they are all quietly occupied because this gives him time to chat up Jeremiah. What kind of questions would you be asking if you're trying to figure out if someone liked you?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I mean, first of all, I would want it. Like, I would want to know their dating history. I think I'm like, are you dating anybody? Like, is that weird to ask? I wouldn't feel weird about asking that. And then kind of slowly move into, like, what's your type and who you're into? Yeah, like, just go for it.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash asks all of these and more. Okay. He's asking about celebrity crushes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's a good one.

[Rachel Hampton]

He thinks he might be getting somewhere because Jeremiah has just admitted to being more of a Legolas guy than an Aragorn guy, which I feel like is a clear sign if, you know that means you're gay.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Rachel Hampton]

But just as Ash feels like he's getting somewhere, Cody finds a Ouija board.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

Do you let these children play with the Ouija board?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Hell, yeah. Again, let Cody cook. Well, I was playing with a Ouija board when I was, like, 14. I don't know.

[Rachel Hampton]

I just don't fuck with ghosts on such a deep level that I'm just like, I will not be involved in the horror movie because you would not have even gotten me to the house in the woods.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yep, yep, yeah, yeah, yep, yep. Get it? Yeah, we get that. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah just sort of rolls his eyes. Cause he's chill. He's like, yeah, sure, whatever. And Ash is ready to do whatever Jeremiah is doing, obviously. So they watch, as at first, the campers mostly use the Ouija board to spell out butts and fart.

[Rebecca Jennings]

See, that's beautiful.

[Rachel Hampton]

But eventually Cody's like, knock it off. We have to take this seriously. Cody asks Jeremiah to lower the lights.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Jeremiah's like, oh, my God. Yeah, sure. And he turns down the lights. When he rejoins Ash, he stands close enough that their arms are brushing.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, My God.

[Rachel Hampton]

And he speaks low enough that Ash has to lean in even closer to hear him.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Jeremiah's like, are you afraid of ghosts? And Ash was raised Catholic, so he's like, a little bit. And then Jeremiah smiles and is like, don't worry, I'll protect you.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. Okay, also, shout out to Cody for, like, wingmanning this whole thing, right? That's an ally.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash almost passes away.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aww.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, there's gonna be a ghost on this property. It's me. I'm dead right now.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's so cute.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's saved from having to respond by Cody calling for silence in the room. And then Cody says, if anyone is here, please tell us your name. It's quiet for a moment. And the little triangle thingy, which I've learned is called a planchette, it starts moving before traveling to the letter J. Okay. And then it drifts to the letter I before finally landing on M. Jim.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

And it's quiet for a second. And then Cody whispers, jim, there's a ghost here and his name is Jim. And then, as if confirming that, the little planchette moves to yes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

There's silence for a moment. And then one of the campers starts to cry.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw, okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

And that's when Jeremiah's like, okay, I think it's time to go to bed. The crying camper is like, but what about the ghost? And Jeremiah's like, there is no ghost. And then he's like, ghosts only haunt places where they've died and no one's died here. Huge news. Our dowager queen Kelsey McKinney wrote a new York Times best selling book of beautiful essays about gossip. It's called you'd didn't hear this from Me. Mostly True notes on gossip. And I am obsessed. It's about how we use gossip to learn about ourselves. It's about Britney Spears and West Elm, Caleb and Gilgamesh and Picasso. It's so fun. And not to be biased, but I kind of think it's pretty excellent. It's out right now in a hardback and a super sexy audiobook, which Kelsey narrates. You can buy wherever you buy your books. You can Also go to KelseyMcKenneyBook.com to see all retailers. One of the things that I recently learned is how the smallest step forward can make a huge difference in your finances. It feels like sometimes you need a huge windfall or a mysterious inheritance from a second cousin you've never heard of. But there are some easier steps you can take to get one step closer to a better financial future. Like opening a Chime checking account. Chime Checking accounts have no maintenance fees. They have a fee. Free overdraft up to $200 and you can get paid up to two days earlier with direct deposit. Learn more at chime.com gossip I overdraft my account more than I'd really like to admit. It's less of an issue of money and more of an issue of not knowing when things are coming due. But there's nothing more annoying than paying an overdraft fee when you have the money somewhere else. That's why it's so great that Chime allows you to overdraft up to $200 with no fees. Make progress toward a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in 2 [e-mail] gossip that's chime.com gossip chime wheels like progress banking accounts and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank NA or Stride Bank NA members. FDIC Spot Me Eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. These applied out of network ATMs. MyPay eligibility requirements apply. Credit limits range $20 to $500. $2 fee applies to get funds instantly. Chime checking account required. Go to Chime.com disclosures for details. Luckily, this is not Ash or Jeremiah's immediate problem because they have the next day off.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay, great.

[Rachel Hampton]

Every week, the staff gets a randomly assigned day off, and this is the first time since camp started four weeks ago that Ash and Jeremiah are assigned to the same day. So they squish six people into a sedan and they head off to go camping for a night. They have cases of PBR. They have two handles of Fireball.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. 2007. This is beautiful.

[Rachel Hampton]

Someone brings out a handful of very badly rolled joints. This is their day off without children. This is the only time they're allowed to drink. And these 20 somethings are amazing.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yes. Oh, that's so beautiful.

[Rachel Hampton]

They're taking shots on the hour every hour. When's the last time you had Fireball?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Probably years. I think that's one of those drinks you can, like, get at the grocery store, right? Cause it's like barely alcohol.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's definitely a lot of sugar.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

I have a secret fondness for Fireball because I love a sweet little drink.

[Rebecca Jennings]

I'm just like, I support you.

[Rachel Hampton]

Shots should be more fun. And what's more fun than Fireball?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, I do love a shooter. Like when it's like they put a little juice in it or something that's fun.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. Exactly. So by Ash's third shot of Fireball, he has finally worked up enough courage to join Jeremiah on his blanket. The conversation turns to that summer's staff D and D campaign. And this is Ash's first real campaign of this magnitude with. With some very skilled players. So he's a little bit intimidated and he doesn't really feel like he's done that well so far.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's having a little trouble understanding his character sheet still. But the thing is, being kind of bad at something can work to your advantage when you're flirting 100%.

[Rebecca Jennings]

And Jeremiah is the type to help.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah is patiently explaining the difference between history and investigation.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay, love.

[Rachel Hampton]

The sun is setting and they're sitting by the fire. Jeremiah pulls out a little red velvet bag from his book bag, and inside is his favorite set of dice. They're gold plated and they're like glinting in the light of the fire. Jeremiah hands ash a 20 sided die. And his hands are warm. And when Ash looks up, Jeremiah is staring deeply into his eyes. So Ash squeezes Jeremiah's die for luck and Ash goes in for a kiss. And he's met halfway by Jeremiah also.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Going in for a kiss. Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yay.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, that's so sweet.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash is like floating on a cloud.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Later that night, Jeremiah picks up his sleeping bag and deliberately brings it over next to Ash's and like squashes himself down next to him. So they're next to each other while they go to sleep. They fall asleep holding hands.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. Jesus Christ. Yeah, that's beautiful.

[Rachel Hampton]

The next morning, Ash and Jeremiah are trying to be as discreet as possible. They're both in their early 20s though, so I really doubt it's discreet at all. Yeah.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

But no one says anything. And Ash is honestly pretty sure he saw another set of counselors sneaking a kiss before they head back to camp.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, they're fine.

[Rachel Hampton]

Astral's life, his secret's pretty safe. Do you agree with him?

[Rebecca Jennings]

If I were there, I would have clocked it, but that's because I'm nosy. So it depends on the drunkenness and the snoopiness of the other counselors.

[Rachel Hampton]

I guess the first moment Ash starts to get just like a little bit worried is when they get back to the campgrounds. And it's because the vibes are decidedly off.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's kind of eerily quiet for a camp full of children, even nerdy children. The kids they do see are acting pretty fucking weird, which is saying a lot for these Kids.

[Rebecca Jennings]

These are already weird children acting wicked weird, okay?

[Rachel Hampton]

Some of them are scurrying between buildings like they're being hunted.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. Okay, are they just larping?

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, a lot of them seem to be staring at Ash and Jeremiah. Okay? And just then, Prince Wharton comes out of the administration building, and he makes a beeline for Ash and Jeremiah. How would you be feeling?

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's homophobia. So I would be feeling righteous anger and concern.

[Rachel Hampton]

Prince Wharton is like, did you two dummies tell the kids that someone died here?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh. Oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

Apparently, in the 24 hours they had been gone, rumors of Jim the Ghost had spread across the camp like wildfire.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Jim the ghost. That's so good. Ugh.

[Rachel Hampton]

None of this had been helped by Cody, who had snuck back into the computer lab after the Ouija board session and come out with evidence of a child named James Hawkins disappearing from the campgrounds.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. Cody.

[Rachel Hampton]

At first, Ash is like, oh, thank God. That's it. I thought I was about to be fired.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

For canoodling.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

And then to Prince Warden, Ash is like, wouldn't your family know if someone had gone missing from the campgrounds? And then Ash is like, wait, did someone go missing from the campgrounds? And Prince Warden is like, I don't know. The kid was at the camp that existed before my parents bought this place, so they don't know anything about it.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

And then he's like, you two made this problem. You have to fix it. None of the kids slept last night. And if you want to call their parents, pick them up early.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aww.

[Rachel Hampton]

And it doesn't exactly look like the prince slept either, but Ash is like, this is not the time for me to mention that.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

How would you handle the situation?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Well, that's so cute. Okay. I think there's a really cute way to do it where it's like you bring everyone to a campfire or something and you're like, we're gonna say this special song and that drives the ghosts away or something. And then you're like, you have a stern chat with Cody, being like, I know you don't believe in this shit, but you're gonna go along with it because all of your campers are really scared and it's kind of your fault. You treat Cody like the adult that he is, and you get him on.

[Rachel Hampton]

Your side like the tax paying adult that he is.

[Rebecca Jennings]

The tax paying, job having, wrinkle having kid that this Cody is.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah, this is a good plan. Jeremiah goes to track down Cody So he can see this ghost evidence before he really starts to figure anything out. And Ash heads to the prop house to help put together something that might tire the kids out so they'll sleep that night.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's smart.

[Rachel Hampton]

He manages to put together an impromptu obstacle course. So by the time Jeremiah comes and finds him, Ash is like, sweaty and itchy from being covered in sawdust and grass. He forgets all of that though, as soon as Jeremiah says hi to him.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Awesome. Mm.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's only been like four hours since they had last seen each other, but Ash says it felt like an eternity.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw, Ash. Ash is so gentle, so wholesome.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah's like, okay, we have a problem.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, low key. The evidence Kody has is kind of convincing.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Of course it is. This man did his job.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah's like, cody showed me a website he found about the old camp that mentions this kid James Hawkins going missing in 1934.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Also, James Hawkins is a perfect, like, missing kid name in the 1930s. Like old James Hawkins down by the river.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. Jimmy Hawkins. Yes, exactly. Ash is like, I'm sorry, what? And there's just like a little bit of fear in his voice. Jeremiah's like, wait, do you actually believe in ghosts? And Ash is like, I don't know.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Okay, I haven't seen enough evidence either way.

[Rachel Hampton]

Jeremiah kind of smirks and he's like, remember I told you I protect you.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

And then he holds hands with Ash. Ash is ready to vomit at how cute this looks.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. Okay.

[Rachel Hampton]

When they're interrupted by a behind them.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

We're almost at the end of the story. How are you feeling?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I just want things to work out. And I fear it will. Not for anyone. Mainly Cody.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash and Jeremiah turn to see none other than Cody standing there with a shit eating grin on his face.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. He has blackmail evidence.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash feels like he's been electrocuted. And not in like a cute, romantic way.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Aw.

[Rachel Hampton]

His heart is pounding. He doesn't even know what to say. And Cody is the first one to speak. Cody's like, don't worry. And then Cody winks. And then he's like, I won't tell anyone. And then as told us, Cody swans out of the room.

[Rebecca Jennings]

He's like, bitch, cut your ass.

[Rachel Hampton]

Do you believe this child?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, oh. Oh God. I mean, no, I don't believe him. As much as I want to root for him, I don't believe little cody. He's still 12. Even though he's a grown man, Jeremiah.

[Rachel Hampton]

Is Immediately like, don't worry. It's gonna be okay. But he says it in that tone where you're clearly trying to convince yourself. Ash is like, mm. And then he's like, let's not get caught again.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

So Ash spends the next few hours before dinner in a state of just, like, rising panic. The vibes have only gotten worse.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

The kids are freaking out about Jim the ghost. The counselors are freaking out because the kids are freaking out. And Prince Warden has spent the afternoon on the phone with exorcists, which has done absolutely nothing to calm anyone down.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's so funny that he, like, he was like, we need to hire a professional.

[Rachel Hampton]

He's like, Ghostbusters.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah. Yeah. He literally is like, oh. Like, what's the number again?

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash sits down to eat in the mess hall just as Prince Wharton enters. And he motions for everyone to quiet down. And then Prince Warden is like, I've received a lot of concerned calls from parents. They're asking me to bring in a trauma therapist.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

Prince Warden is like, if nights like last night continued where half the camp doesn't sleep, computer time will be revoked for everyone.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Uh oh.

[Rachel Hampton]

The entire mess hall is just full of horrified gasps. And then finally, the prince is like, if anyone here has any information about anything, please share immediately.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, no, Cody, don't. Don't do it.

[Rachel Hampton]

It's quiet for a second. And then Kody stands and is like, I have something to share.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God, this little shit. I am no longer on Team Cody.

[Rachel Hampton]

What do you think Cody has to share?

[Rebecca Jennings]

Well, there's two pieces of things he could say to make it way worse than it already is. One is that two of the counselors want to fuck. And the other. The other one is that he knows there's a dead ghost. There's a child dead ghost.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. Ash immediately starts to panic. He's looking around for Jeremiah, whose eyes are, like, as big as saucers. Cody's like, I know something no one else here knows. And then Kody looks at Jeremiah.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, no.

[Rachel Hampton]

Ash's heart is in his ass.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

And then Cody's like, I planted the Ouija board and I lied to Jeremiah. The website I showed him is fake. I made it. There's no ghost. Everyone can stop freaking out.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, Cody, what an angel. And, okay, did he actually make it up, or did he just say that so that, like, people would calm down?

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, apparently, Cody had decided to take his Dungeon Master game to a whole new level.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God. He's doing LARPing.

[Rachel Hampton]

He had been planting clues since the previous summer, including the Ouija board.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

He had spent his free time during the school year making graphic design his passion and made the very convincing website that James Hawkins.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel Hampton]

You can maybe see why Cody's parents had wanted him to get outside for the summer.

[Rebecca Jennings]

No, keep him in there. Like, he should do this for a living. Like, send him to all the camps and have him do this. And then the rest of the time he's at work. He's at work on his computer.

[Rachel Hampton]

You can also maybe see why Camp Gondor received a very large donation from Cody's parents a few weeks after what everyone came to refer to as the Cody incident.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, that's so good. After they'd already given a generous donation to let him in the first time. Oh, that's so good. Oh, my God. I think Cody might be like our age. I actually don't know how old you are, but like, if he was 12 in 2007, like, he's only like, what, like a year? Couple years younger than us.

[Rachel Hampton]

I know. What is he doing right now?

[Rebecca Jennings]

I really need to know what he's doing.

[Rachel Hampton]

I mean, my fear is that he's working at like, DOGE or something, but I'm not gonna put that on him.

[Rebecca Jennings]

He's not giving Republican energy. I will say no.

[Rachel Hampton]

You're right.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Out you're days.

[Rachel Hampton]

You're right.

[Rebecca Jennings]

We can hope.

[Rachel Hampton]

Well, that's the end of our story. Do you think Cody did anything wrong? No.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Cody is perfect and I want to adopt him. As my friend, do you think Cody did anything wrong?

[Rachel Hampton]

You know.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That'S. It's what the camp is for. It's at LARP camp. No, you're right.

[Rachel Hampton]

I think that the rules should have been more explicit about how far to take LARPing.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Well, he was. Yes. And ing. He was using the principles of improv to a to see it.

[Rachel Hampton]

There was nothing in the contract that said he couldn't do this. Exactly. How would he have known?

[Rebecca Jennings]

How would he have known? Talk about an active imagination. Like, this is. This is genius. And we should be encouraging more of this and follow through. God, what really, really impressive stuff. And again, I want to meet his parents. I want to meet him now. We like. I need you to ask this person, like, where's Cody? Like, where is he?

[Rachel Hampton]

I'll do that, but first I have some postscripts for you. Do you want to.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, I would love to.

[Rachel Hampton]

So Cody was true to his word and never said anything about the hand holding he witnessed. Ash and Jeremiah had a long distance relationship for a year while Ash finished his senior year of college and eventually got married in a gorgeous themed wedding.

[Rebecca Jennings]

What? They're married? Oh my God, this is so cute.

[Rachel Hampton]

They're about to celebrate their 18th anniversary.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. How old are they now? Like in their 40s probably.

[Rachel Hampton]

Like, yes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Wow.

[Rachel Hampton]

I can't do math.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh, me girl. Me neither.

[Rachel Hampton]

I can't do math on the spot. That sounds right though if they were 20ish in 2007.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rachel Hampton]

In their 40s.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, that is so sweet.

[Rachel Hampton]

Cody, after signing a contract promising to never run another Stanford prison experiment on his fellow campers, came back summer after summer and eventually became a counselor.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. Ugh. He's perfect.

[Rachel Hampton]

And Camp Gondor got an infusion of new life and money after the Game of Thrones boon in the late aughts. The water and the showers is hot now.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God, I'm so happy.

[Rachel Hampton]

That's the end of our story, Rebecca.

[Rebecca Jennings]

Oh my God. That was such a good story. You're such a good storyteller. Oh, thank you so much. I like that. That was like a fun one.

[Rachel Hampton]

Yeah. I asked for Gossip that was secretly a romance novel and our listeners definitely delivered on this one.

[Rebecca Jennings]

That's so sweet. Like, no, like, it felt so cinematic and I have like characters in my mind for Ash who has blue hair. I'm sorry. Like this is.

[Rachel Hampton]

Oh yes, I'm sorry. Yes.

[Rebecca Jennings]

There's a video game that I play where there's an Ash with blue hair and that's why. And Cody is like your little sniveling prince who secretly got a heart of gold.

[Rachel Hampton]

Exactly. This is so cute. We love Cody.

[Rebecca Jennings]

This is so good.

[Rachel Hampton]

Thank you for listening to Normal Gossip. If you have a gossip story to share with us, email [e-mail] or you can leave us a voicemail at 2679 GOSSIP. If you love this podcast and want to support us, become a friend or a friend of a [e-mail] you can follow the show on Instagram and TikTok ormalgossip. You can follow me on all social media. Heydanay. H e Y y D N A e. This podcast was produced by Sierra Spragley Ricks and Jay Tolviera. The co creators and dowager queens of Normal Gossip are Alex Sujong Laughlin and Kelsey McKinney. Justin Ellis is defectors Projects editor Jasper Wang and Sean Kuhn are defectors business guys. Alex Sujong Laughlin is Defector's supervising producer. Tom Le is our Editor in chief. Dan McQuaid runs our merch store which you can find at normalgossip store. Tara Jacoby designed our show art. Thank you to Katherine Shue, Brandi Jensen, Louise Paz Pumar, Chris Thompson, Jasper Wang, Sabrina Embler, Dave McKenna, Patrick Redford and Ray Ratto for your help on this season. Thanks to the rest of the Defector staff. Defectors Media is a collectively owned subscriber based media company. Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia. I'm your host Rachel Hampton and remember, you didn't hear this from me. This episode of Normal Gossip is brought to you by booking.com listing your vacation rental on booking.com opens the door to more guests booking.com is one of the most downloaded travel apps in the world that makes it the place to list your vacation rentals. If you want to earn more with consistent booking, reach new markets and turn hosting into a steady income. Over the past 25 years, Booking.com has helped more than 1.8 million vacation rental guests find places to stay. So why not help them find yours for the bookings you dreamed of? List your property on booking.com radiotopia.

[Rebecca Jennings]

From PRX.