Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: FLEXIBLE (07/09/20)
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TITLE: The Vacation | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
07/12/20 -
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I watched as she stomped down the sidewalk to the swing hanging from the maple tree. The same swing she used to fly high on when she was little, giggling the higher she flew. Today she sat at cried.
What was a mom to do? Trying to satisfy the needs of her family was hard. Samantha, being the only girl in a family of three boys wasn’t always easy. But, Samantha had to learn to fit into the family and all the dynamics that went with this family, even if she didn’t like them.
Be flexible I told her. But that wasn’t a choice Samantha wanted to make.
An hour later she came in the house, sat at the table, and pouted.
“Hi honey,” I tried. “Would you like some iced-tea and a cookie?”
“No!” she muttered. “I want to go to the beach for vacation, not on some dumb old camping trip. Why do we have to go camping anyway? You know I hate it.”
“Samantha, we haven’t been camping since you were three. How do you know you hate it? This is the year we promised your brothers we would do something they liked to do. Besides, we have a nice camper we will take with us so it won’t be all that bad.”
“Spending a week - that’s seven days Mom - in a camper with three rowdy boys is going to be torture. I don’t see why we can’t go to the beach like we always do.”
“It will not be torture,” smiled Mother. “Besides, there are lots of activities we can do. Swimming in the lake, hiking, roasting marshmallows over the fire, to name a few. You wait and see. You’ll have a great time.”
“No, I won’t,” uttered Samantha.
“Remember Sam, be joyfully flexible and you will have a great time.”
“Ha!”
Saturday morning arrived, camper was packed, the camping trip was about to begin.
Six people climbed into their Dodge Durango, with camper in tow, and headed for Marshlands Camp Grounds in Northern Maine. Five people were excited, laughing, having a great time singing old camp songs as they drove down the road. One passenger was grumpy, pouting, ignoring them all, and feeling sorry for herself.
Five hours later they arrived at their destination. The day was bright and sunny. They were able to get a campsite on the lake, and the lake sparkled like little diamonds. It was a beautiful sight.
“Can we go swimming Mom?” asked three anxious boys. “Sure, just be careful. Sam, why don’t you join them?”
Sam walked away, leaving a frowning Mom behind.
Two campsites over was another family who had just arrived. Sam stood watching them get set-up. She spotted their kids. A girl who looked to be ten and a boy her age. She did a double take. What a cute guy! Not one to be shy, she walked over to him and said, “Hi, my name is Samantha, what’s yours?”
“Bobby,” was his reply. “Have you been to this campground before?”
“No, this is our first time.”
“Mine too. Hey, you want to go swimming in the lake?”
“Sure, I love to swim. Let me get changed and I’ll meet you by the lake.”
“Mom!” Sam yelled. Where is my swimsuit? Bobby and I are going swimming.”
“Who’s Bobby?” asked Mother
“Oh, just a friend I met two campsites down.”
“Hmmm,” replied mother. “Boy or girl?”
“Boy, does that matter?”
“No, Go and have some fun.”
For the next six days Samantha and Bobby spent all their free time together. They swam. Did some hiking. Laughed. Talked as they walked hand-in-hand. Roasted marshmallows. The two families had a picnic dinner together on two different nights.
All good things come to an end, and so did this vacation. It was time to leave. A tearful Samantha said good-bye to her new friend. A friend she liked very much. A friend who shyly kissed her cheek. Two friends who promised to stay in touch.
Samantha was quiet on the way home. When they arrived Samantha walked with her mom to the door.
“You know Mom, Bobby only lives 2 hours away. I have his cell number. He said to call anytime. I really like him Mom. Mom, this was the best vacation, ever!”
Mom smiled, and hugged her daughter.
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Well done, I enjoyed this.
Blessings~