Mysteries of Sparrow Lake Camp

Chapter two

The clock on the wall seemed to crawl as the minutes passed toward noon. Finally, as the hands lined up, I grabbed my backpack, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day I would finally head to Sparrow Lake Camp.

As I hopped into the car, the bustling streets of Toronto rushed by. Yorkdale Mall loomed ahead, its towering glass glittering in the sunlight. The thought of the adventure ahead made my heart race. I could hardly believe I was going to spend a week in the great outdoors, away from the city.

When we arrived at the mall, I spotted Amelie almost immediately. She was standing near the entrance, bouncing on her heels with her own bright red backpack hung over one shoulder. I waved, and she dashed over, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"There you are! I was starting to think you'd bail on me!" Amelie teased, her smile infectious.

"Not a chance! I've been looking forward to this for ages," I replied, matching her enthusiasm. Together, we wandered inside the mall, the air buzzing with the voice of shoppers and the scent of pretzels from the food court.

"Have you heard about the campfire songs?" Amelie asked, her eyes wide. "I heard they're legendary!"

"Definitely! And I can't wait for the canoeing!" I replied, my mind racing with all the possibilities.

Just then, a glance at my watch reminded me that our bus was supposed to arrive soon. "Hey, where's Angelique?" I asked, scanning the crowd. "She should be here by now."

Amelie shrugged. "Maybe she got stuck in traffic or something. Let's just wait by the bus area."

We made our way to the designated pick-up spot, where the excitement in the air was visible. A big white and blue bus was parked nearby, its doors wide open, ready to take us on our adventure. We dropped our heavy backpacks onto the bus, and then I couldn't shake the feeling of worry for Angelique.

"Do you think she's okay?" I asked, glancing at Amelie.

"Of course! She's probably just running a little late," Amelie reassured me. "You know how she is-always last minute!"

As we waited, we chatted with other people and ate snacks that we packed. The bus driver called out for everyone to board, and as we shuffled toward the bus, I felt a wave of anticipation wash over me. Just as I was about to step inside, I spotted Angelique rushing through the parking lot, her backpack bouncing wildly as she sprinted toward us.

"There you are!" I called out, waving her over. Relief flooded through me as she reached us, breathless but grinning.

"Sorry, sorry! I thought I was going to miss the bus!" she exclaimed, hopping onto the bus just as the driver began to close the doors.

"Looks like you made it just in time!" Amelie said, giving her a quick hug.

With all of us finally together, I felt so happy to be here. The adventure was about to begin, and I couldn't wait to see what Sparrow Lake Camp had in store for us.