My Short Short Camp 28 Story for the Day

 

I tried to focus on what they were saying, but the haze was clouding my mind. I just wanted to close my eyes for a minute but every time I did, Shane would squeeze my hand. I opened my eyes to see him smiling at me. Cinder was pacing and talking but I couldn't focus on her words. Eventually Jonas returned with some people and they loaded me on a stretcher and carried me back to camp.

 

 “It's definitely broken. We're going to have to take you to the hospital.” The nurse said. “And we need to call your parents as well. They can meet you at the hospital and take you home.”

 

 “No!” I yelled in panic. “We still have one more day. I can't go home yet.” I turned to Cinder pleading with her.

 

“Does she have to have a cast today? Can't you give her something for the pain and she can go to the hospital tomorrow?” Cinder looked from the nurse to the director and back to me. “Please. It's just for one more day.”

 

 “Please.” I said. “I don't want to go. Not until after the show. Please.”

 

The director looked to the nurse and they stared at each other for several moments. “Is there anything you can do?” He finally asked.

 

 “Well, if she's very careful, then...” The nurse began.

 

 “I promise. I'll be careful. I'll do whatever you ask.” I said.

 

 “Ok, ok.” The director smiled. “Do what you need to do.” Then turning to me, he continued. “Come see me after. We still need to talk to your parents.”

 

 “Ok, I will.” I released my breath. “Thanks.”

 

"Swallow this.” The nurse said handing me a pill and water. “It'll make you feel better.”

My Short Short Camp 27 Story for the Day

I landed with a thud and the pain shot through my arm. I knew something wasn't right but I couldn't seem to think straight.

“Melina? Melina?” Cinder was kneeling next to me. “Can you sit up?”

I stared at her dumbly wishing the fog in my brain would clear. “Huh?”

“Come on, we have to get her back to camp.” Shane was kneeing on my other side now.

“I'm ok.” I pulled myself to a sitting position and nearly passed out. “Whoa. Maybe not.”

Jonas was standing in front of me. “I'll run back to camp and get help.”

“Yeah. Go ahead. And hurry.” Cinder said. “It's ok Melina. Just relax.”

Jonas took off running and I closed my eyes. What happened? I tried to piece it together but the pain was too much and now I was feeling sick to my stomach. I just wanted to be home in bed.

“Her arm is definitely broken. We should check to see if anything else is.” Cinder's voice was full of confidence. I had always admired her take charge attitude.

“Ok. We shouldn't let her sleep either. Should we?” I could feel Shane's hand touching mine and I so desperately wanted to enjoy it.

“Yes, you're right. Did she hit her head? I can't remember.” Cinder touched my cheek. “Melina, open your eyes.” 

My Short Short Camp 26 Story for the Day

I stretched up reaching for the nearest branch and braced my foot against the tree trunk.  With a heave I pulled myself up and started to climb.  I concentrated on my footing and handholds ignoring how high up I was getting.  After several minutes I was to the top.  With a proud smile on my face I looked down.

“Woohoo!”  Cinder yelled waving her arms.

Shane and Jonas both were smiling and clapping as well.  I felt great.  My heart was beating strong but not from fear.  I did it.  I made it to the top.  Silly curse.  What did they know about it anyway.  I looked around at the beautiful view.

“Hey Melina!  Come on down now!”  Cinder waved to me.

“Ok.  Ok.  I’m coming.”  I said full of confidence. 

I grabbed the tree trunk and stretched my foot down to the nearest branch.  Once it was firmly in place I stretched my other foot down and moved my hand as well.  Reaching I grasped the next branch and again stretched my foot down.   As I settled my foot I stretched my hand and a sudden crack preceded the feeling of floating.  I didn’t even have a chance to grab at anything.  It all happened so fast.

My Short Short Camp 25 Story for the Day

The guys led the way out of the mess hall with Cinder and I close behind.  We stopped just outside of camp and Jonas pointed out where we were headed.  When we started walking again Cinder and Jonas were ahead, talking animatedly.  I walked next to Shane and kept sneaking looks at him.  There was so much I wanted to say but I was too nervous.  We had been getting along so well, so why did I still feel so nervous with him?  Time was running out and there was a lot I didn’t know about him.  Where did he live?  Where did he go to school?  Would he write to me?  Would he forget me?

As these thoughts were running around inside my head Shane took hold of my hand.  I looked up in surprise.  He gave me one of those grins that caused a thousand butterflies to take flight in my stomach.  I smiled but quickly looked away hoping the blush wasn’t too obvious. 

Too soon we reached the tree.  It was gnarled and twisted, looking like something from the scary part of a fairy tale.  We stared up at it for several minutes. 

“Ok, who’s first?”  Jonas said looking to each of us in turn.

We all stood in silence until I couldn’t bear it any longer.  My heart was pounding so hard but I felt this sudden urge to do something out of the ordinary.  I stepped forward.  “I’ll go.”

“Are you sure?”  Cinder stepped up next to me.  “You’re a great climber and all but this tree is…is…weird.”

I smiled.  “I don’t believe in curses Cinder.  I’ll be fine.”

My Short Short Camp 24 Story for the Day

Friday was our free day this week since Saturday was the big show and Sunday we were all heading home.  Early Friday morning Cinder led us to the boys table.

 

“So, are we getting together today for one last adventure?”  Cinder asked.

 

“Yeah, definitely.”  Jonas said.

 

“Any place in mind?”  I asked.

 

“Well, I heard about this crazy old tree that nobody has managed to climb.”  Shane said.

 

“That doesn’t sound too tough.”  Cinder stated.

 

“Ah, but this is no ordinary tree.  It has very few branches and it’s…alive.”  Jonas whispered in a spooky voice.

 

Cinder and I laughed.

 

“No, seriously.  It’s cursed.  Something bad will happen to anyone who tries to climb it.”  Shane said.

 

“No way!”  I said almost believing him.

 

“Ok, don’t believe me.”  Jonas said with a shrug.

 

“Yeah, right, we’ll be there.”  Cinder said.  “Just to prove you wrong.”

 

“Great!”  Shane and Jonas replied in unison.

My Short Short Camp 23 Story for the Day

In the morning Cinder looked like her usual cheerful self but I could see a touch of sadness in her eyes.  I never was good at hiding my emotions so all day I had to endure the same question over and over.

 

“What’s wrong Melina?”  Our soccer coach asked at practice.

 

 “Nothing.  I’m fine.”  I said not wanting the attention.  I did catch Shane’s eye for a moment and he gave me a quick grin that I couldn’t resist and found myself smiling in return.

 

 The next few days were a busy blur with final soccer practices and final rehearsals for the summer end show.  And of course all campers were expected to help decorate the hall for the show.  We were all so tired by evening that we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.  Thursday morning we were up early eating a light breakfast because it was the soccer championship game today. 

 

 The game was close but we won in the end.  Shane made the winning goal with my assist.  Afterwards we celebrated by throwing ourselves into the lake fully clothed.  We changed then ate a quick lunch before heading to the Hall to finish decorating.  Flopping into bed that night, we were so exhausted that even Cinder and I didn’t have enough energy for our usual chat.  Only a few more days until the end of summer.

My Short Short Camp 22 Story for the Day

Sunday we hiked around to the other side of the lake and were sitting on the rocks.  Cinder and Jonas were a little ways away talking with their heads close together.  I looked over once but quickly averted my eyes from their intimacy.

Shane and I were sitting with our legs nearly touching.  I was looking out across the lake when he casually moved his hand slipping it easily into mine.  I didn’t dare look at him for fear I’d blush a deep scarlet red.  He gave my hand a little squeeze after a moment and I looked over.  He smiled without saying a word.  He had a great smile.  I couldn’t help but smile back.  Then we looked out across the lake again, sitting in silence for several minutes before resuming our talk about soccer.  Our fingers remained linked together until it was time to head back to camp.

That night my mind drifted to the afternoon and I thought about the warmth of Shane’s hand as it held mine.

“Melina?”  Cinder whispered.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“We only have a week left.”  She said.

“I know.”  My smile faded away as the weight of it settled onto my heart

“What are we going to do?”  Cinder asked.

“I don’t know.”  I said.

My Short Short Camp 21 Story for the Day

After our hike that day, the four of us decided to meet every Sunday morning and to explore the surrounding area.  The summer was flying by and we were having the best time of our lives.  Cinder and I carefully ignored the fact that she was moving at the end of summer.  We’d be going our separate ways.  I hated the idea so I pushed it out of my thoughts. 

Instead I turned my thoughts towards Shane who was just about the most perfect boy.  He was so cute and taller than me, which didn’t happen very often.  He loved soccer and basketball.  He was a good runner but didn’t run all the time like I did.  That was ok, though, because he ran track and liked it well enough.  And most of all, he actually liked me.  He listened to me talk and shared things about himself.  I’d never spent so much time with a boy.  I even stopped blushing all the time, well, for the most part.

 

Cinder and Jonas were getting along really well, too.  I liked Jonas.  He seemed to be able to match Cinder’s self confidence and wit, which was a first.  Most boys were in awe of Cinder and more than a little intimidated by her quick and clever thinking.  All in all, I was pretty happy as our final week of camp approached.

My Short Short Camp 20 Story for the Day

“That was awesome!”  Shane said moving to stand next to me. 

I blushed as I met his eyes.  “Thanks.”

“What was that?”  Cinder asked coming over to stand directly in front of me. 

“Wow!  I’ve never seen a girl run like that before.”  Jonas said coming up to stand beside Cinder.

“I don’t know.”  I said smiling like a fool.  “I just felt like running fast.”

Cinder stared at me in wonder for another moment then shook her head.  “I don’t know about you guys but I’m starving.”  Cinder said linking her arm in mine and turning me around.  Shane and Jonas grunted in agreement and we all walked to the mess hall.

That night I lay in my bunk thinking about the day.  It had been fun hiking with the guys and even a little exciting thinking about the possibility of seeing some bones.  But when we didn’t find any, I was very relieved.  I just didn’t like to think about death.  The beauty of the view from the cave opening was amazing.  I don’t know why I felt so energized after but the run felt great.  I know I could easily have hurt myself running that fast but for a short time I felt invincible.

“Hey, Melina.  You awake?”  Cinder whispered from the bunk above.

“Yeah.”  I said.

“That was kind of crazy today, huh?”  Cinder said.

“Yeah, it was.”  I said.

“You were running like…like nothing I’ve seen before.”  Cinder said.

“I know.  It was weird, huh?  I just couldn’t help it.  It was like I wasn’t in control.”  I said.  “Like I was watching it happen.”

“It was pretty cool, though.  You kicked butt!”  Cinder laughed.

“I did, didn’t I.”  I said laughing too.

“Shhhhhhhhhh!” 

Cinder and I giggled again before settling down.  I wish I could have seen the expression on Jonas and Shane’s face when I whipped past them but my imagination would have to do.  I fell asleep soon after with a smile still on my lips.