Hot, Tired, Bug-bitten and Having the Time of My Life

On a sunny Sunday morning in the parking lot of Calder’s Market, hundreds of kids waited anxiously. Their eyes lit up as they saw the buses pull in. All year they had been counting the days and crossing them off their calendars. Today, campers, a few crying, but most thrilled, said goodbye to their parents and loaded onto the buses.
    Rachel busted onto the bus first, running and laughing. She nearly knocked over the woman standing in front of the door, but that didn’t slow her down.
    “Give me my sunglasses back!” Brittany yelped chasing after her.
    “They look cuter on me!” Rachel insisted, her eyes pleading to Brittany for permission to borrow them.
    Caitlyn and Sammy trailed in next. “Girls, wait!” a voice demanded. They turned around to see the woman, clutching her clipboard with authority. “I need your names.”
    Rachel and Caitlyn simultaneously heaved a sigh. Rachel, because she felt it was too soon for the fun to be put on hold, said. “Rachel Thomson,” and went to her seat in the back of the bus. She played with the sunglasses, occasionally sticking her tongue out at Brittany for added pleasure.
Caitlyn sighed because she hated getting in trouble.  She said, “Caitlyn Sanders.” Then she sat down as well, and tried to calm down her nerves.
After Sammy Haimes and Brittany Jacobs checked in, “We’re all set,” Sharon announced and the bus pulled out of the lot. With their parents out of sight, the girls could already feel the freedom. Caitlyn was too distracted to absorb it and enjoy in the same way the others did. She took out her journal and began to write.
Dear Journal,
It’s not that I’m not excited to leave for camp; it’s just that something is different. For the past 4 summers, my sister has been there. I know we’re in the 14’s this summer and I shouldn’t need my big sis to watch after me anymore. But it’ll be the first summer we’ve spent apart for as long as I can remember. My stomach is killing me; I’m already so stressed, so much for summer supposedly being relaxing. Lots of excitement, but also worry because I never know what to expect or what surprises I’m in store for.

 Before long Rachel had gotten tired of her Game Boy and jumped up in her seat to look over at Caitlyn sitting in front of her. “You’re writing in your journal already? We’ve only been on the bus for 20 minutes!” she exclaimed.
Caitlyn sighed. “It’s a school project,” she explained, as if that were the only reason she wrote in it.
    “And only you, my reading, writing and studying obsessed friend, would start a school assignment on the first day of camp.”
    “It’s not my fault you’re such a procrastinator…” Caitlyn insisted.
    “And you’re using big words, too,” Rachel accused. “It’s summer, and you’re hurting my brain!”
    “I’m not going to let you jeopardize my vocabulary,” Caitlyn joked.
    “It’s like she’s speaking another language,” Rachel whispered to Brittany.
 Before Rachel could go in for another attack, Sammy, always trying to be the peacemaker, quickly pulled her headphones from her ears. “We still have 3 hours until we get to camp. At least wait until we’re half way there to start fighting.” The mood lightened and Rachel and Caitlyn quickly returned to their magazines.
“So…” Brittany began, “Any good ideas for raids?” She reached in and took a handful of mini Oreos from the half empty bag on Sammy’s lap.
     “Is that all you think about?” Caitlyn asked.   
“No she thinks about clothes, too,” Rachel joked.
    “And parties,” Sammy added.
    “Oh!” Caitlyn thought of another one, “and guys!” Brittany knew all of the comments were true, but decided to elbow Caitlyn anyway, “Ow!”
    “Girls…” Their counselor, Jill shot them a dirty look from the front of the bus.
    They ignored her, and Brittany continued on, “So… any ideas?”
    “Don’t look at me,” Sammy said.
    “Of course not,” Brittany said. “We’d never expect you to break the rules.” Usually Sammy was proud of her reputation, but for once took the comment to heart.
    They glanced towards Rachel and it didn’t take them long to recognize the evil grin commonly found across her face. “I’m prepared,” she said. “Water balloons, shaving cream, all the basics… and a Marshmallow Shooter.” Rachel, sensing their confusion, went on to show them.
She pulled out an object that resembled a water gun. She excitedly reached into her backpack underneath the seat in front of her. She loaded the colorful, plastic gun with marshmallows and aimed for Brittany’s mouth. Her scream of surprise turned into one of delight. They laughed and Rachel concentrated on her target practice as the others enjoyed the fluffy treats.
“So who do you think will be in our bunk?” Sammy asked.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as the four of us are together,” Caitlyn replied.
“They’ll probably put us with Anna and her friends,” Rachel said disappointedly.
“I don’t think Anna even came back this summer,” Brittany said.
“I know who did come back…” Sammy said signaling Rachel for her cue.
“Tyler…” Rachel said, stretching out his name.
“I’m totally over Tyler.” Brittany went on to say a more accurate statement. “Besides, I’m dating Jack.”
“Jack?” Caitlyn asked.
“From school,” Brittany explained. The other three exchanged uncertain looks. None of them had faith that Brittany could keep her hands off Tyler this summer.
    The bus continued along the way and eventually turned onto the road leading into camp. Loud cheers broke out as the Camp Seneca sign was spotted, and the bus pulled onto the dirt road next to the soccer field.