Mysteries of Sparrow Lake Camp

Chapter three

The bus jolted slightly as we hit the road, and a happy feeling swept through me. I settled into my seat next to Amelie, with Angelique across the aisle. The hum of chatter filled the air, a mix of laughter and stories as we all settled in for the journey ahead.

"Okay, who's ready for some fun?" I grinned, pulling out the scavenger hunt sheets I had prepared. "I made us a scavenger hunt! We have to spot things along the way-like a red barn, a house, or a cow!"

Amelie's eyes lit up. "This is perfect! Let's see who finds the most things!"

For the next little while, we scanned the scenery outside, marking off items on our lists and giggling at our finds. I was surprised at how quickly the landscape changed, the city giving way to open fields and rolling hills. The three of us were in our own little world, shouting out, "There's a red barn!" or "Look, a cow!" as we crossed items off our lists.

After a while, though, the initial thrill of the scavenger hunt began to fade, and I noticed a familiar weariness creeping in. Outside, the train tracks ran alongside us, stretching into the horizon. The rhythmic sound of the bus tires rolling over the pavement became soothing.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get a little bored," Angelique admitted, leaning back in her seat.

"Me too," Amelie said, glancing out the window. "How much longer until we get there?"

Just then, a girl sitting behind us popped up, her voice full of excitement. "Oh, I think we're near the camp! I can see the train tracks, and that means we're almost there!"

My heart skipped a beat at her words. Excitement pulsed through me, and I turned to Angelique and Amelie. "Did you hear that? We're almost there!"

Suddenly, the bus was alive with chatter. Everyone began talking about what they were looking forward to at Sparrow Lake Camp-canoeing, hiking, campfires, and late-night ghost stories. The energy around us was electric, and I felt a gush of happiness wash over me.

"Let's go talk to some of the others!" I suggested, and we all stood up, making our way down the aisle. We introduced ourselves to a few campers we didn't know, sharing stories and swapping camp expectations. It was thrilling to see how many of us were in the same boat, all eager for the adventures that lay ahead.

Before long, the bus began to slow, and the driver announced, "We're almost at Sparrow Lake Camp!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the campers, and I felt my heart beat as we rounded a bend. Through the trees, I caught a glimpse of sparkling water. We were finally here!

As we pulled into the campgrounds, the sight of colorful cabins nestled among the trees filled me with joy. The bus came to a stop, and we all jumped up, eager to disembark.

"Welcome to Sparrow Lake Camp!" the camp counselor greeted us as we stepped off the bus, the smell of fresh pine and lake water filling the air.

I looked at my friends, and we shared wide smiles, ready for whatever awaited us in this new adventure.