Emmy
could feel the knot in her stomach tighten. She pressed her face to
the bus window, searching one more time. There they are! She forced
a smile as she waved back to her mom and dad. This time you’ve
really done it girl! All her pleading had landed her a seat on the
bus headed for Mustang Camp, and all she wanted to do right now was
get off this bus and forget the whole thing. Emmy was thinking that
from now on she would be more careful about what she asked for! She
was nervous, even a little panicky, and she really wasn’t sure
why. How bad can it be? Oh, just having to live with a bunch of strangers
in a cabin in the woods far from home for a whole week - that’s
how bad it can be! What if I get sick, or hurt, or even worse - LOST
in the middle of nowhere? “Hey, you OK?” Emmy looked up. “Ahhh,
what?” she mumbled. “Are you OK? You look kind of upset
or something,” said the tall girl in the sunglasses. “My
name is Brit. What’s yours?” the girl said as she flopped
down in the seat next to Emmy. “Emmy. My name’s Emmy.” “I
bet this is your first trip to camp, huh, Emmy? I’d know that
first-time face anywhere,” Brit smiled. “I’m not
scared,” Emmy snapped. “That’s OK, Emmy, I was scared
my first time, too,” Brit replied. “I am NOT scared!” Emmy
insisted. “Yeah, whatever!” grinned Brit. “I’m
11. My birthday is June 28th,” Brit changed the subject. “How
old are you?” “I’m 10,” answered Emmy. “But,
wait a minute, you mean you’ll turn 12 this week while you’re
at camp? That’s awful!” Emmy said. “Awful? No way,
Emmy, you just don’t understand. Having your birthday at camp
is a total blast. I begged Mom and Dad for the same week at camp last
year. They were really bummed out at first, but when they heard how
much fun
was for me, well, they settled down and even let me do it again this
year!” “So, what makes it so great?” Emmy asked. “How can being away
from all your friends on your birthday be fun? It’s not even my birthday
and I don’t know how I’m going to get through the week - a whole week
without my friends, TV, movies, or even video games!” “Emmy,” Brit
cut in, |
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“
I really love Dakota,” said Maggie
as the girls finished their sandwiches. “I feel safe when I’m riding
him. What’s your horse’s name, Emmy?”
“Leelight,” answered Emmy. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“OK ladies, let’s mount up. It looks to me like it’s going to rain,” Rainna said.
Back in the saddle, the girls continued to follow the trail back to camp. Single
file they moved slowly down the hill.
“Wow, it’s getting darker,” said Taylor to Maggie. “I hope these horses can see
in the dark!”
“Horses see very well in the dark girls,” Rainna said. “They see much better
than we do.” As the raindrops started thumping off the leather saddle, Rainna
told them to stay close together and walk their horses back to camp. As the storm
broke and the wind whipped cold rain against their faces, the girls worked as
a team toward their goal of getting everyone safely back to camp.
That night as the girls joined Brit’s birthday party, it seemed like everyone
was talking at once. They traded stories about the ride in the thunderstorm and
how it got pretty scary out there! Sticking together as a team proved to be the
best thing to do. The girls had learned a lot about themselves and how to overcome
their fears. That night as Emmy got into her bunk, she thought about how scared
she was on the bus ride up here and how much fun she’d had since. Maybe
next
year she could have her birthday at camp!The next morning as the girls packed their gear, they started to talk about all
the fun things they had done together.
“I wish we could do everything one more time. I loved the rope course and playing
Marco Polo in the pool,” said Maggie. “I loved the basketball games, archery,
and the scavenger hunt in the dark,” chimed in Taylor.
“How about the campfire plays and sing-alongs?” said Christy. “And marshmallow
fights,” reminded Tina as all the girls giggled with joy. The girls all hugged
each other before they climbed on separate buses for home. They knew they would
miss each other, but they also knew they would keep in touch. Emmy couldn’t wait
to get home and e-mail all her new friends!
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