Camping with Cleo

"Come on Eve we have to help load the car, '' shouted Cleo as she pulled her pink overnight bag out the garage door. "But I don't want to go camping." Whined Eve, Cleo's little sister, as she pulled her blue suit case after Cleo. Cleo's family was going on a camping trip for spring break. Everyone in the family was excited, except for Eve, who of course complained loudly about how many bugs and snakes there would be. No one took her seriously because Eve was only 6. Though her parents told her to not say anything Cleo found it getting harder to keep her mouth shut at her little sister's complaining. She got into the car and shut her door. "Are you excited to finally get on the road?" Asked Cleo's mom who was already in the car. She nodded. Just as Cleo opened her mouth to ask if they really had to take Eve; her father opened the other door to help Eve get buckled. The door shut and her father got in the driver's seat and got buckled. "Everyone ready?" He asked, smiling at the two girls sitting in the back seat. "I don't wanna go." Said Eve putting on a pouty face. Cleo rolled her eyes at her sister and said "Yep all ready!" Eve shot Cleo a dirty look and Cleo shot one back. After a few hours in the car Cleo's dad pointed to something up ahead. "Look there's the start of the campground girls." Cleo looked out the window to see a few tents scattered along the inside of the trees on either side of the road. Not long after they pulled up into a relatively empty part of the woods. Once they stopped Cleo's dad opened up the doors and everyone got out. As she left the car Cleo took a deep breath of the fresh air, it was one of her favorite things about camping. "Cleo, come out and put on some insect repellent." Her dad called as the rest of the family applied some on themselves. Cleo took another deep breath before running over to where her dad was setting up the tent. Her mom has left the bug spray on their little folding table outside the tent. She picked it up and put it on. Just as Cleo set the can back on the table a blood curdling scream erupted from the other side of the car. She ran towards the direction of the scream. As she rounded the side of the car she saw Eve jumping about as if crazed, screaming her head off. "Get it off, get it off!" Cleo's mom came around the other side of the car, as soon as she saw Eve she started laughing. Cleo smiled, as soon as she realized what was happening she started laughing as well. Soon Eve stopped jumping about and stared at the two of them in astonishment. "Why are you laughing at me?" She said, frowning at them "That was scary!" Cleo's dad came over and patted Eve's head. Cleo's smile broadened as Eve crossed her arms and stuck her lip out. "It was just a bug sweetheart, no need to be afraid." Her father said as he led Eve to the tent. The entire family helped set up camp even Eve pitched in. "Campfire time!" Shouted Cleo as she punched her fist into the air. "Once you're done with your food we can roast marshmallows." Said Cleo's mom as she handed Cleo and Eve their plates. By the time they had finished their dinner and made a few s'mores it was time for bed. "I want another s'more." Whined Eve as their dad put out the fire. "Come on girls time to get in your PJs while your father cleans up for the night." Their mom said as she came out of the tent to help put away food. Cleo and Eve got dressed quickly and slipped into their sleeping bags. When their parents got back in the tent and zipped it up Cleo, jumped out of her sleeping bag and pulled out a flashlight. "Time for scary stories!" She announced shining the flashlight spookley on her face. "No, no, no!" Cried Eve "No scary stories." Cleo looked at her parents "but it's a family tradition." She said hoping that her dad would take her side like he usually did. Unfortunately this was one of the few times he didn't. "Your sister's right, no scary stories, Eve would have nightmares." Cleo didn't understand, her dad was never concerned about whether or not Cleo would get nightmares. "Fine." She said putting the flashlight away and sitting back down in her sleeping bag. As the rest of her family fell asleep Cleo started thinking. The last time they had gone camping they left Eve with her grandma. During that camping trip Cleo had three s'mores, stayed up late stargazing, and telling scary stories with her dad. The one thing Cleo was really disappointed about was the fact that before they had even left to go on the trip her dad had made it clear that they would not go stargazing because Eve needed to go to sleep early. If they wouldn't stargaze as a family then Cleo was going to do it herself. Cleo might only be 11 years old but she was turning 12 in two weeks and this camping trip was her birthday gift so if she wanted to go stargazing then that's what she was going to do. She got up as silently as she possibly could, and unzipped the tent. She couldn't believe that she was sneaking out! She slipped on her shoes and walked for maybe a minute before she heard sticks snap behind her. Cleo turned around so fast, fast enough to see Eve duck behind a tree. Cleo tiptoed to the tree Eve was trying to hide behind. "Ha got you." She said as she pulled back the leaves her sister was using as cover. "You win, don't hurt me." Eve said as she put her hands above her head. "Why are you following me?" Cleo asked as Eve came out from behind the tree, her head hanging in shame. "I heard you get up and I was curious, so I followed you." She said "I won't tell mom if you don't." Cleo smiled at Eve. She might be annoying but she was brave."Deal." Cleo held out her hand and Eve shook it. "Where are you going?" Eve asked as Cleo looked around making sure their parents hadn't heard them. "We're going stargazing." Cleo said guideing her sister away from the tent as she explained what stargazing was to the wide eyed Eve. After she was done explaining they set off quietly through the woods looking for a break in the trees. It was dark and Cleo jumped at every sound. Remenbing the story of Hansel and Gretel,v Cleo made sure to memorize the path they took so they could find the way back. They soon came upon a small clearing. For a while they both just laid on the grass looking up in amazement at the beautiful sky above them. Of course since they are 6 and 11 year old girls they soon got bored and started to play fairies. Running about the clearing, jumping over rocks Eve and building small little houses. "This was so much fun!" Said Eve placing the last stick to finish the fairy village they had made. Cleo looked up at the brighting sky. "It's almost morning, we have to get back before mom and dad realize we're gone!" Cleo shouted quietly to Eve as she grabbed her sister's hand. They raced through the woods back to their camp site. Luckily their parents were still asleep. Cleo put her finger to her lips to signal to be quiet. They crept back into the tent and quickly but quietly slipped into their sleeping bags. After thinking over the amazing night they had they fell asleep. Not long after their parents woke them up for breakfast. "Did you sleep well?" Asked their mom as they sat around the fire. Both of them nodded. "I was thinking, how about a hike after we finish eating." Cleo's dad said as he added more wood to the fire. After breakfast the group got ready and set off. The path they walked felt familiar. Cleo soon realized it was the same one she and Eve had walked only a few hours earlier. It only took them a few minutes to get to the small clearing. "I wonder who made those?" Asked Cleo's dad pointing out the fairy village. Cleo's mom smiled "Those are simply adorable I would love to know what made these cute little homes" The sisters smiled at each other and Cleo winked at Eve. "Who knows, maybe the fairies made them."