First Day Of Camp Ever

          The truck passed from pavement to a dirt road freckled with potholes. We slowed down and continued on, leaving a trail of fine dust in our wake.  It was the beginning of a new adventure and of a new me. On either side we were surrounded by vibrant green trees and bushes with white flowers. I rolled down the passenger window letting their sweet scent mixed with the crisp mountain air flow in. I had my mom pull over so I could pick some of the blossoms. We couldn't decide if they were choke cherry or butterfly bushes. There were more butterflies in my stomach than on them. They were choke cherry trees.  The road started to wind around sharp corners, forcing us to go even slower. The road seemed endless. The tires would catch on the potholes and launch us off the ground while we were constantly skidding and jolting from the washboard bumps. My abs, or lack of them, were getting quite the workout from trying to keep me upright in my seat. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of a roaring creek through the foliage. Eventually we came upon a crooked green sign stating that we had four more miles until we reached our destination.  I fixed my eyes ahead and searched for the driveway to my new summer home. After a few minutes of wanting to give up and just take a nap, I spotted it; in fact it was pretty hard to miss. A large log gate announced that we were on the Scout Reservation and the lodge stood just ahead. We turned up the driveway and parked in front of the building. My heart was like an electrified and trapped rabbit, wriggling and writhing in my chest to be let free. I don’t think I have been so full of nervous energy in my life. I jumped out of the truck and was greeted by the crunch of deep gravel.
          I entered the lodge door and was almost run over by three teenagers bounding down the stairs. They asked me my name and I asked where to put my belongings. They motioned at a dorm-like room then went on in laughing camaraderie.  I went back outside and retrieved my tote from the back of the once white pickup. After hefting it in the corner of the room with some other staff members totes, I ventured upstairs. There was a large room with cafeteria tables.  Many staff had already arrived. I had seen a few earlier in the year at a few of the staff meetings we had and vaguely recognized some of them. One girl came over to me and gave me a great big bear hug. My mom seeing that I had found a friend said her goodbyes then left me. I watched her leave through one of the large windows facing the entirety of the Hull Valley.  I had never been so far away from home with strangers. I felt like a small child who had just realized that their parents had moved on in the store and left them. I was lost.
          For as long as I could remember I had been the shy girl on the sidelines of the party or any social circle. I was a classic wallflower. I never had been talkative or popular for that matter. I didn't mind.  Not being an average height I got my fair share of funny looks and stupid questions in my life time. I felt like I was a novelty item to gawk at and not a real friend. So when Elise gave me a hug and said we were going to be best friends I didn't believe her. After realizing that I was completely alone and with strangers I took my place at her side in a small circle of other first years who were trying to figure out what in the world we were supposed to do. I didn't talk very much because I didn't have anything to say. I watched and listened to them.
          Other groups of teenagers who were returning staff were scattered around the room catching up with each other, arm wrestling, playing strange games with plastic utensils and a group was even huddled around a staff member’s laptop watching recorded episodes of Wipe out. Something was different about these people but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Our first year conversation took a turn and was expressing theories of how the basketry merit badge worked. My mind wandered again and I realized something. All the returning staff members were from different social circles. There were cowboys, athletes, nerds, Goths, you name it and they were all talking and playing with one another. I didn't know what to think of it. All my experience with my peers had been in distinct groups that didn't mix often. The threesome that I met at first on the stairs returned with adventure written all over their flushed faces and smiles. One of the guys came over and joined our pathetic circle. After a few minutes of small talk he put his arm around me and invited me to play a game with some of the other staff. I agreed to try it. Around twelve staffers sat in a circle and would send one away while they arranged some plastic forks in a shape, when the staff member returned they would guess the “Chinese” number they had created. I didn't understand it and when it was my turn I was scared to death. I started to get up to leave. One of the girls stopped me and helped me arrange the forks. She turned to me and said something along the lines of “You don’t need to be shy here. We are here to be friends.” That’s when I realized that she was right. There was nothing to keep me from not being shy. There was no one to tease me or make me feel inferior.  I gave in. I gave her a smile then began to laugh, talk, and play the silly games. I realized that night that the happier I was, the more people flocked to me and I was really happy. I have been really happy every summer since then.