First Time for Everything

First time for Everything by Amanda Stogsdill

The woods are nearly silent. A soft light rain begins to fall. This isn't so bad, I smile. I'm gazing at two squirrels chasing one another up a tree. Examining a hollow log, I se ants crawling around inside. Fascinated, I squat on the soft ground and watch, enjoying the quiet.

Glancing up, I realize I can't find the others. I yell for Jessica, Lannah, anyone, as loudly as I can; I hear only the sounds of the woods. Not wishing to become drenched, I start back along the path — or so I think. With the rain quickly becoming a downpour, I want to return before the storm grows worse. Each step I take feels like I'm walking deeper into the dense forest. An owl hoots nearby, making me jump. Animals skitter out of my path. Probably to avoid the storm. Where to go? No shelter anywhere.

How on earth did I land in this mess in the first place? Wait, I know! My stupid parents believed camp was what was needed before school began. I suppose I'd better fill you in on how everything started. ...

Boarding the camp bus, everyone was very excited. There was my thirteen-year-old sister Joy, my twelve-year-old brother Daniel, and me. I'm Beth, and let's just say I'm not looking forward to my first trip away from home. First time for everything! Mom had said before we boarded.

Being the youngest kid stinks! You never wear anything new, your teachers already know who you are before school even begins, and your parents expect you to be perfect. "Joy got an A. You should try harder. Daniel did great in basketball. You should be more like him." Mom naggs. She's never praised me on the art projects I bring home. "It's a waste of time." She constantly reminds me. Only Dad's on my side, saying I'll catch up someday, and telling Mom to lay off. My only bragging right is one of my paintings hangs in his office!

Anyway, there I was, off to camp. And you guessed it — everything I'd packed had been passed down. My clothes were in Daniel's old camp bag, I was wearing Joy's old camp T-shirt. The only positive side to camp was I'd have my own counselor. Or so I hoped she hadn't been Joy's last summer!

As we piled out on to the campgrounds, counselors in bright yellow, green, and orange shirts cheered and waved excitedly. Well, here goes!

"Beth, Dianne, Lannah, Jessica. Hi there." A beaming woman greeted us, speaking quickly. I noticed one girl with glasses eyeing her.

In our cabin, I sized up my cabin mates. Lannah had long dark hair and wore thick glasses. Jessica had the largest ears and the most freckled face I'd ever seen; you could play connect the dots. Dianne wore bracelets and this cool necklace with a charm shaped like a cabin. Staring at one another, none of us wanted to break the ice.

The counselor said, "Greetings campers. I'm Kate, the head counselor for your cabin." So much for me having my own counselor! I thought bitterly. "The others will be here shortly."

"I call top bunk." Lannah yelled, dragging her case beside it. No complaining from me, I'm afraid of heights! I selected the bunk next to the window. Dianne claimed the bunk above mine. Maybe some peace! I smiled; I'd always hated it when Joy talked in her sleep.

By this time, the other counselors had arrived, and had introduced themselves. I have my own counselor after all. Her name was Chrystal, from Texas. The others were Sophie, Tammy, and Rose.

"Dinnertime." Kate announced, "It's pizza!"

"I hope it's good." Jessica remarked.

"Yeah. My brother says camp food tastes like cardboard," Lannah added, "I bet he was joking."

The dining room was large and noisy, with each cabin assigned their own table. I noticed a sign which said, Cheetahs. During dinner, Daniel and I waved to each other. At Joy's table, all the girls were talking and having a great time!

"Have you been to camp before?" I asked Dianne as we walked to the bathroom. She nodded, saying this was her favorite. Her parents send her to camps most summers. After showering, we joined the other cabins for our first campfire.

Log benches were scattered around a firepit; branches were being added, sending up brilliant sparks. Boys were jostling each other, trying to get near the blaze. I hung back' not being a fan of fire. Even the stove scared me. Dianne and I found seats close enough for warmth, though.

Everyone gathered to roast marshmallows. Chrystal roasted mine, it became slightly black. S'mors are the best treats ever, crunchy graham crackers, melty chocolate, and goey marshmallow!

"Welcome everyone." A counselor beamed at us. Beside her, another counselor held a battered guitar. "Is everyone having fun?" Cheers answered her. "Great. We want this week to be fun for old and new campers alike." After singing songs, the campfire broke up.

Eagerly, I took my doll from my suitcase, laying her on my pillow. "A doll," exclaimed Lannah, “Dolls are for babies!"

"Her name's Sabrina. She's special!" I answered, defending my favorite toy.

"Yeah!" Jessica chimed in with a laugh, "I never sleep with dolls any more."

I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment. Why hadn't Joy warned me?

"Girls, that's enough! You were new campers. Remember?" Rose interrupted sternly. Both apologized, but I could still see laughter in their eyes.

"I have a doll, too. This is Tina." I saw a doll's arm dangling from Dianne's bunk. Yanking on it, her doll landed beside mine. "Wow! Earrings, and a necklace! Mom won't let me play with her makeup." Okay, I'll admit it, I was jealous.

Dianne climbed down and sat beside me. "Actually, Grandma talked Mom into letting me have this!" She pointed at her own necklace, "Tina came with all this." She continued, plucking at the doll's earrings. As we talked, we discovered our dolls had been presents on our fourth birthdays; I was glad not to be the only girl with a doll.

"All right, bedtime. Busy day tomorrow!" Kate flashed the lights, and the cabin was plunged into total darkness.

Now, I'm okay sleeping in my bed at home, but this was different. The night sounds were terrifying; crickets were chirping, and something was walking across our roof. We live in the city; I hear cars and people, not animals. Joy said there were wolves nearby; I hope I wouldn't meet one, I thought. Listening to the soft wind blowing against the cabin, my eyes slowly started to close.

Owwww, owwww! Startled, I sat up quickly, listening, my head brushing against the top bunk. Wolves, Joy was right! Another howl answered the first, then silence. Burying my head under the blanket, I clutched Sabrina tightly and waited. Hearing nothing, I poked my head out. The cabin was silent, why hadn't the others reacted to that eerie sound?

Sleep must have gotten to me, because next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake. "Beth, time for breakfast." Chrystal smiled.

Confused, I blinked, wondering where I was. Oh yeah, spooky camp! Dianne and the others were already dressing, I quickly followed. We mumbled good morning; I am not much of a morning person. "Do I have to make my bed?" I asked, stifling a yawn.

"No, just don't leave clothes lying around." Kate answered, "Let's go."

"Will you bring your dolly?" Jessica teased, pointing at Sabrina resting on the pillow. I glared at her.

Our first activity was swimming. There were butterflies in my stomach as we changed. Maybe, I could hold on to the sides, I thought.

The pool was wide with a diving board at one end, with a rope separating the shallow end from the deep. I can't swim! I started to panic. Chrystal must have seen my face, because she pulled me away from the others. "Don't worry. You're not the only beginner here." She reassured me. I nodded, but wasn't convinced I could handle the deep end. "You ready?"

Hesitantly, I nodded. Stepping into the shallow end, I squealed as the cold water reached my knees. Shivering, goosebumps appeared on my arms and legs. Good, I can touch. "Now, lie on your back." Chrystal instructed.

"No. I'll sink." I protested. The water was now lapping gently at my waist. But still ...

"No you won't. Trust me." With her hand gently supporting me, I floated on the water. "Now, kick." I kicked, the water splashing softly. Around us, little kids were swimming using life jackets or floaties. This isn't so bad. I heard cheers as Daniel did a cannonball into the deep end. He was always a showoff.

"Little sister, you didn't sink!" Daniel jeered as we were leaving. Ignoring him, I hurried to catch up with Dianne.

After lunch (hamburgers and fries), we had music and art. I enjoyed both, appreciating how the counselors never called out our mistakes. I painted a zebra, my favorite animal. Making each stripe a different color, I could finally relax. Lannah splattered her painting with grays, browns, and blacks. When asked what her picture was, she snapped, "None of your business."

In music, we discovered Dianne had a beautiful singing voice, and signed up for the end-of-camp talent show. It was noisy, with everyone banging on instruments.

In our cabin before bed we discussed families. To my joy, I realized I wasn't the only youngest child. Chrystal had been the youngest of six sisters. "I noticed your clothes were kind of worn." She said. "When we were kids, we slept three to a bed."

Lannah came from a family of boys. "I hate being the only girl!" She grumbled, "And with Mom gone, it's worse. I have no one to talk to about girl stuff." She added softly. We waited for her to continue, but she didn't. So, that explained her rotten mood!

Afterward, I fell into a deep sleep. I wasn't even bothered by the scratching on the roof, or the howling outside. Who knew swimming could make you so exhausted!

Tuesday, our cabin was assigned games and horseback riding. I've never been near a horse, so was dreading it. I'm not much of an athlete either, soccer wasn't for me. We teamed up with some boys. Dianne and Lannah were awesome, kicking the ball swiftly down the field, scoring several goals each. The boys played rough, fighting for posession of the ball when it came near their goal.

After lunch was the dreaded horseback riding. I noticed Lannah was nervous, but trying not to show it. Standing next to those tall, powerful animals with their ears pulled back, long tails, and powerful hoofs made me feel small in comparison. What if mine decided to step on my foot? She was a gentle mare called Buttercup,; her brown coat looked soft enough. When I gently stroked her, she didn't flinch.

The instructor handed out helmets, and assisted us into the saddles. Trying not to look down at the ground below, I watched the others. Jessica sat proudly on her horse, hands on the reins. Dianne was already walking, Rose beside her. Lannah, like me was still terrified, gripping her horse's mane tightly.

"Come on you two." The instructor walked between us, explaining the commands for stop and go, and how to use the reins. By the end, Lannah and I had successfully mastered a slow walk. I noticed Lannah showed no enthusiasm for any of it. I was thrilled Buttercup never bucked me off.

During dinner, we compared horse stories with the Ravens. Joy, always the expert, told how she could jump in a nearby paddock. Another girl said she'd been kicked by a horse when she was younger, so wasn't thrilled to ride one again. As usual, Lannah kept silent, scraping at her meatloaf.

Our second campfire was like the first, with Kate roasting my marshmallow. A scary story was told, something about a wolf haunting the camp. I remembered the howling I'd heard my first night. Leaning over to Dianne, I whispered if she knew anything about it, but she didn't.

Before bed, I asked Kate. "You probably heard coyotes, or our resident dog." She explained.

We awoke on day three to an overcast sky. "What's on our schedule?" Jessica demanded. We understood by now she had to know what was happening at all times.

"A nature hike!" Chrystal beamed.

"Oh brother!" Jessica grumbled, "All those disgusting spiders and snakes."

"What? Joy or Daniel never mentioned that!" I cried, hating them more.

"Don't be ridiculous." Rose sat down on Lannah's bunk. "There aren't any poisonous insects in these woods. Most snakes are shy, and won't bother us. If you stick to the path, you'll be fine."

Still doubtful, we prepared to leave, packing bug spray, whistles, water and trail food. As we entered the woods, I noticed how dark it had become. The trees were thick, with little sunlight coming through. We stepped on crackly branches, stumbled over hard roots, and ducked under leafy trees. Lannah complained about her hair being caught in the leaves.

Pausing for lunch, we stretched out near a stream. Deciding to be brave, I took a short stroll by the water. Stooping to examine a rock, I was thinking how still the woods were. Sometimes, my chaotic life and a nagging Mom overwhelms me.

Now, here I was, in a storm in the middle of some unfamiliar, terrifying woods. Glancing down, I remembered my whistle. Raising it to my lips, I blew several shrill blasts.

"Beth! Where are you?" Voices were calling me, but from which direction? I started walking, hoping I was headed in the right direction. The downpour was making it almost impossible to see much. Stumbling blindly into more trees, I stopped to catch my breath. Touching my face and arms, I noticed bruises, and there was a small spot of blood on my cheek. Listening, I heard more voices. Blowing the whistle several more times I stayed put, grateful there wasn’t thunder and lightning.

"There you are!" Peering through the curtain of rain, I could barely make out Kate and Chrystal hurrying towards me with flashlights. Relieved, I stumbled towards them. Seizing my hand, Chrystal and I raced back to camp, arriving just as lightning flashed across the dark sky.

"You're drenched and hurt!" Chrystal fussed in the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, my scratched face and arms were suddenly visible. Gritting my teeth, I stood still as Chrystal cleaned them.

Back in the cabin, I answered questions from everyone. Were you scared? How did you find the path? Why were you lost? Finally, exhausted, I put a stop to their questions. With Sabrina in my arms, I was asleep instantly.

After my action-packed day, our cabin decided to take it easy Thursday. We hung out in the art room, me painting pictures of anything that came to mind. Some were ordinary, like animals. Others were without meaning, I filled a whole page with green and orange stripes, dots, and swirls.

After lunch, we returned to our cabin to rest. The conversation turned to school. Jessica would be starting at a newone, so was very nervous. We were all worried our teachers would give tons of homework. Would we have new classmates?

That evening was the talent show. Campers sang, juggled, tap-danced, and even showed off their gymnastics skills. I was amazed watching some teenagers (including my brother) dance to We Are the Champions. Their routine was near perfection, at least to me. The boys did splits, the girls spun, waving their arms. It ended with the boys jumping over the girls who were lying flat on their backs on the floor.

The Ravens did a dance routine to Katie Perry's Roar. Joy was glowing as she twirled and backflipped. Beside her, others were spinning and kicking.

Next, Dianne walked onstage dressed in a long dress with a gold crown perched on her head. When the music didn't start, I realized she would be singing acapella. She sang "Let It Go" from Frozen without any music cues. Not a difficult song, just more beautiful without the music.

After the final act (a cartwheeler), Kate and a male counselor stepped onstage. "That was fantastic. Now, we'll decide the winner." Campers whispered as the counselors discussed the acts. Finally, the whispering stopped, everyone turned toward the stage. "Bryan’s team from the Tiger cabin." One of the counselors announced. The juggling act almost knocked each other over in their excitement. Jumping around, they high-fived, beaming proudly. Their counselor held up their trophy; the boys were given red pins with Winner on them.

Our last bonfire was fun. I decided to try one more new thing. Staring at the fire, I thought how if I can survive a terrifying storm, I can surely do this! Joining the other kids, and grabbing a marshmallow, I stepped up to the blazing fire. Holding the stick firmly, I lowered it to the hot blaze. The fire was warm on my skin as I turned my treat, not hot at all. "Don't burn it!" Dianne said. It was the sweetest s'mor I'd ever eaten.

Our final day arrived with a clear blue sky. Our cabin was cleaned and suitcases packed. I'll miss everyone until next summer, I thought. Thinking back to my arrival, I was surprised how many friends I'd made. Exchanging phone numbers with Dianne, we promised to call each other soon. "Cabin photo. Everyone outside." Kate clapped. Grabbing our dolls, Dianne and I joined the others. After two photos, we hung out until the buses arrived. Waving goodbye out the window I watched as Dianne's bus disappeared around the corner. I couldn't wait to return next summer!

The End