The Ginger in The Plaid Shorts

Summertime Baby!!

"What time is it?! Summer time!! It's our vacation!" We all sing.

Oh and by 'we', I mean Troy, Gabriella and the rest of the gang. Well and me, singing along. Yes that's right, I'm starting off my summer with a high school musical marathon. If only there was a Troy in my life. Ah well, singing along with Troy and Gabriella is about as good as it can get for today.

My phone vibrates and I pick it up to see who has texted me. It's my friend Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn: Hey Regan are you excited for the volleyball camp next week?

Me: Yes I'm so excited! I am going to master my serve.

Kaitlyn: Yes me too.

"Regan dinner's ready," my mom calls down from the kitchen.

I pause the movie. Don't worry Troy, I'll be back soon.

When I get upstairs I smell the amazing scent of fresh pizza. Mmm. I take a seat at the table and my mom hands me a big slice of pizza.

"Thanks mom," I say, inhaling the mouthwatering smell of pizza.

I take a big bite, savouring the delicious taste. This is some of the best pizza I have ever had.

My mom starts wrapping up the rest of my-I mean, the-pizza, most likely for my brother and dad when they get home from the movies. I hear footsteps and look down at my feet.

"Hey Chunk, you like the smell of the pizza, eh?" I say petting my beautiful doodle retriever.

After finishing my pizza I return to the basement and I get myself comfy on the couch. I press play and continue to sing along with the High School Musical cast. I told you I would come back Troy.

After finishing all three High School Musical movies I decide it's about time to get ready for bed. After this weekend, my volleyball camp starts. I'm really excited. I wonder if I'll see any girls I know from camps in the past, or if many girls from my volleyball team will be there. I know Kaitlyn will be there for sure, but I wonder if any of the others will be.

I guess I'll find out on Monday, until then I better enjoy the...what was I saying? I could really use some jellybeans right now. Too tired, my eyes keep shutting on me. Is that Gabriella?

***

BEEP BEEP BEEP
I slam my hand on my phone and press the off button, silencing it and the loud noises it was making. 5:00. Why is my alarm going off so early? Oh right, I have to get up early, my family is going camping this weekend and I still need to pack.

I pick out some clothes and get my new swim suits out before neatly folding them and placing them in my bag. I really hope my mom bought marshmallows to roast over the campfire tonight.

Once I've finished packing I bring my bags upstairs. It's silent when I get to the kitchen. Why isn't everybody else awake? I go to my parents bedroom and see that they're both asleep.

"Mom!" I whisper-yell. "Why aren't you awake? You told me we are leaving at 6:00."

My mom opens one eye and squints at me, not overly happy to be woken up.

"Regan, I said we are leaving at 6:00 tonight." My mom says closing her eyes.

"You told me to be ready early! As in the morning. You never said we were leaving tonight!" I say.

"Sorry," my mom says too tired to argue. "Go back to sleep."

I cannot believe I woke up so early for nothing. High ho, high ho, it's back to bed I go.

***

BEEP BEEP BEEP
This time when I check the clock, it says 5:40pm. Perfect. Hold up. I've never slept in this late in my life! How did I not wake up sooner? It's a good thing I set an alarm.

When I go upstairs I see my dad and brother loading the truck. My mom is making spaghetti. I go outside and help my dad pack up the truck and trailer.

An hour later, we're on the road. The camp ground isn't far from my house. I'm so excited to go swimming and have a camp fire.
Chunk rests her head on my leg and dozes off. After a few minutes of sitting in the car listening to my music, I can see the campgrounds. I can't wait!

The sun is setting by the time we've got everything set up. My dad bought some firewood and I set up chairs around the fire pit. My dad takes a lighter and sets the wood on fire, my brother adds cardboard to the fire in order to fuel it.

"Hey mom," my brother says. "Did you bring any marshmallows?"

"Yes I did!" My mom says holding up a bag of marshmallows.

Yay! Marshmallows!! I get myself a long pointy stick and put a marshmallow on it. I roast it to perfection, an amazing golden marshmallow. There's one part left that's still quite white on the marshmallow. I roast the marshmallow over the fire again, hoping to get it perfectly golden.

It continues to roast for a few moments, but then the marshmallow starts to fall off of the stick! And there it goes. My perfect marshmallow is gone.

"No!" I say horrified.

"Ha ha, you almost had it perfect. But now you can't even eat the marshmallow." My brother Tyrone says.

I glare at my brother and get a new marshmallow. Second try, hopefully I'll get it right this time.

Moments later, I have a perfectly golden marshmallow. I plop it in my mouth. Mmm it tastes like perfection.

I hear a loud whistling noise followed by a bang. What is that?

I look around and hear another bang, this time I see them. I see the fireworks.

"Mom, dad! Can we go watch the fireworks?" I ask.

"Sure, get a chair and we'll get closer to the action," my dad says.

I grab my chair and start walking towards the fireworks. My brother runs past me with his chair over his head, obviously wanting to be the first one there. We had to leave Chunk back at the trailer. She doesn't like fireworks.

We get to the top of a grassy hill where many campers are sitting and enjoying the fireworks. I sit down in my chair and look up at the sky. I love all of the different colours that light up the usually dark night sky.

We watch the fireworks for an hour before my mom says we should get to bed.

I immediately fall asleep when I get into bed. Hopefully I won't sleep in so late tomorrow.