Finders Keepers

Chapter One

Bailey
July 6th, 2014

     "Welcome to Red River Hell Camp!" That's what the sign above the entrance said. Or at least, what everyone thought it should've said.

     The large lobby of the camping lodge was filled with teenagers being hopelessly corralled by adult camp staff. Every year the Lake Murray State Park Lodge & Resort plays host to Red River Drum and Auxiliary Camp.  Basically, a specialized camp for marching band kids in Oklahoma who are either
A) Conductor / Drum major,
B) Drumline,
or C) Colorguard / Flag corps.
And I fit the C category.

     This was my first year attending. A starry-eyed little freshman at fourteen years old. Five-foot-nothing, skin as pale as paper, mousey brown, waist length hair, eyes that won't decide on a shade of blue, and sudden unexplainable beginnings of curves. Aka awkward. As I was about to start my first year as a member of the "Pride of Antlers - Colorguard", I was required to go. I wasn't alone, luckily. I was accompanied by three more freshmen and a junior. (One of which would go on to be my best friend) Looking back, I don't think I realized what an impact that summer would have later on.

What I remember from that day:

     I remember standing in line for my name tag that read
"Bailey Woods
       Antlers
    Cabin #306".

I remember thanking God for the fact  that I had put on as much sunscreen as I had because it was 98° and we practiced outside.

I remember being relieved that Taylor Breshears (one of the three freshmen I came with) asked if I would share the pull out couch with her. She knew as well as I did that Katie and McKinley (the other two) would have literally taught us over the single bedroom in the cabin.

I remember dinner on the first night because we had nearly been too tired to wait in line for a tray of food.

I remember when they told us that after dinner we were required to stay on the lawn for games until they were over even if you didn't participate.

I remember falling asleep on the phone with my mom and crying a little because I was scared to spend a week there with these girls I barely knew.

     I now, a year and a half later,  remember that the first day was the hardest. And the best was yet to come.