Happy Trails

Just be yourself. Just be yourself. Maria repeated the words like a mantra as she sat with her cabin mates in a circle around the grass. She had signed up for Happy Acres camp and regretted it. The time was only 6:00 PM and Maria was drowsy. All the other campers were introducing themselves around a huge campfire. The girl sitting next to Maria had a bright face and was named Katelyn, and the girl who sat to her left said she was named Dragon Girl, even though no one believed her. Maria didn't know anyone and really wasn't listening to anyone except Dragon Girl and Katelyn. “How about you young woman?” The camp master was looking happily at Maria.
“Maria,” she said softly, looking at her toes.
“What a beautiful name! I am Sophie, the camp master.” DING DING DING! A bell rang on top of a building that had big bold words on it, reading “MESS HALL”. It was a brick building which was painted yellow. “ Okay, time for a hike, get your gear and meet me here!” A man wearing a straw hat and khaki pants that were too big for him yelled. He was another camp counselor. All the girls were washing their faces and getting their backpacks to go on a hike. After that they went inside the mess hall and had waffles with syrup that looked like they were made in 1990. While she was walking to where she wanted to sit, she hit herself with her fork. “Why did I sign up for this camp,” Maria thought. Maria ate 2 waffles even though she had french toast at home. She got a bottle of water and drank all of it in 20 seconds. Then she went outside  and joined the rest of the group. She was the last girl to be finished eating.  “ OKAY LET’S GO UP THE HILL!” The counselor chanted. They started up a trail that was surrounded by trees. At first the trail was flat and not a slope but as they went on, the trail had bigger slopes. After a long time, they arrived at a big cliff. “Okay, it’s time to climb,” the counselor exclaimed. He gave the girls climbing belts and clipped them on to a rope that was secured into the ground. “Start climbing, Maria first!”  Oh no, Maria thought, she wasn't good at climbing. She got ready and put her hand on a rock that was sticking out. Just then the boys from the boy side of the camp showed up. Their camp counselor did the same thing he did to the girls so they could start climbing. “ Okay, Johnny first,”  their camp counselor said in a calm voice. Johnny put his leg in a gap between 2 rocks and put one hand on the rope and another on a rock and pulled himself up. He kept on finding gaps and rocks that were sticking out and made it to the top in a matter of  minutes. Maria was only 3 feet of the ground! She tried to do the same thing that Johnny did and succeeded. Only thing was she made it to the top in 15 mins! Maria looked grumpily down at the counselor. The counselor stared back and finally yelled, “Cook your lunch, and set up your tent!” Maria didn't want to but she obeyed. By the time she was done cooking sausage and a sandwich with a portable oven , all the others were up the cliff and devouring the food Maria made. After eating her lunch the counselor showed a steep hill and gave the girls bicycles. “RIDE DOWNHILL,” the counselor howled. Maria got on her bicycle and viewed the steep hill.  You can do it. “GO!” The counselor yelled. Maria rapidly raced down the hill she kept on going on a path that led back to camp. The other girls were behind her, except Dragon Girl. She started pedaling and went down another hill. She was speeding. There was a sharp piece of glass on the ground and Dragon Girl didn’t notice. The tire went over it and… POP! Her tire lost air and Dragon Girl lost control and her bicycle went flying onto the trail when the bicycle fell on her. She screamed in pain. Maria wanted to help, I have to, she thought.
Maria pulled the brakes and put both legs on the ground. The bike skidded to a stop, but Maria’s bike had stopped too quickly. She flipped forward and hit the ground face first. Ahh Maria mumbled. The rest of the girls were past her, nearing the end of the hill. I have to help. Maria got up and tripped over to Dragon Girl. She was next to a tree, her bike all messed up. She wasn’t moving. Maria picked her up and lifted her into a fireman’s carry. She started to wobble down the hill. Her arms hurt but she knew she had to save Dragon Girl. The officials won’t get here for some time and Dragon Girl was on the verge of unconsciousness.  The camp guide was far down the hill. Hiking up as fast as he could. Good, the girls informed him.  Maria stumbled. She quickly got up and picked Dragon Girl up again. She studied Dragon Girl’s face. She had a broken nose, 2 big scars, and a lot of bruises. The left arm looked broken. She kept on walking downward. When the camp guide saw her, he had a dose of instant surprise on his face.  Thought I was weak huh? Slowly she kept walking down. Behind her she heard footsteps. The boy from earlier, Johnny, was right behind her. He lifted Dragon Girl up and walked twice as fast down the hill. Maria sat down and examined herself. Her legs were scraped badly, and had multiple bruises on both arms. The camp guide came and helped her up. They both walked slowly down the hill.

That evening Maria was given a reward from the camp master. She was also bandaged up from the nurse. Dragon Girl was rushed to the hospital, and Maria’s  parents picked her up. As they drove out of the Happy Trails camp everybody clapped.  What a day. And just like that, in a single day, so much can happen.