Lil' Short Stories

Again? Next Year?

This is just the beginning.

"Next!"

My toes are buzzing with excitement. My mom is right beside me and my little sister tagged along. We're in line to sign-in for my first week away from the house and my first week in a summer camp.

I'm not hoping for a Camp Rock experience, but I'm hoping for some fun or else this will be a very long week.

"Hi! Name and phone number, please. And Mama, can I have you do the same on this clipboard?" asks the blonde with a ponytail tucked through her baseball cap.

We lift up our indicated clipboards and fill in our information eagerly. I'm the first to be leaving the house for so long during the summer in my family. My older sister isn't as outgoing as I am, so I'm starting the trends of "doing more" in the household.

The blonde takes back the clipboards once we are finished and points as she speaks, "Alrighty ladies, you're going to follow the crowd and get your t-shirt, a pen or pencil—of your choice, and your lanyard. After you get your lanyard, go to the tall guy over at the end of the line and he'll show you where the dorms are, so you can get your dorm key and start getting settled in. Your lanyard will have your week's schedule, so don't lose it. And if you have any questions just ask someone standing along this line for help," she finishes with a smile. I wonder how many times she's had to say that speech.

I thank her and do as she says. My mom and sister trailing behind my heels, watching me like I'm a child in Disney World. Once I get my shirt, pencil, and lanyard, I show off all my cool souvenirs until I reached the "tall guy at the end of the line".

"Hey, Mr. Tall-Guy-at-the-End-of-the-Line. Can you show me where the Girl's dormitory is?"

He looks down at me with a welcoming smile and laughs, "Is that what Brittany's introducing me as? I'm kinda hurt," he says grabbing for his chest, but quickly recovers. "Okay, so here's a map of all the buildings and this is where you'll be staying at the for the next 6 days," he says pointing out a building a ways away from the campus, but the countryside surrounding it, is said to be beautiful.

I thank him and start for the exit. My mom and sister went ahead of me to start the car going.

"O.M.G.! Is that Leah?"

Is someone calling my name? Last time I checked, I don't remember anyone saying they were going here, so much as knowing this music camp.

"Leah!"

I spin my head around looking for someone to make eye-contact with me. Nada.

"Leah! My gosh, are you deaf?"

I wave my hands around in frustration, "I don't even know who to look for?!"

I give up and continue walking to the doors when I trip on someone's instrument case, making it clatter to the ground, my heart plummets. "I'm so sorry! Is it okay?"

I'm met with gorgeous blue-grey eyes, "It's alright. I got the case for a reason. And I guess I was just waiting for it to be knocked down for putting it in the middle of the way. I'm sorry," his eyes trail down my leg and ends at my feet, his face shows concern and worry. I knew I should've painted them before I left. "Is your toe okay?"

I follow where his eyes lead—and sure enough—my right big toe is bigger, purple, and throbbing. "Uh, I think I might need to see the nurse, if they have one nearby. I don't really know, this is my first year," I say sheepishly.

He looks over his shoulder to who I assume is his dad and asks if he could take me to the nurse's office. The man nods for us to go and Blue-Grey gives me his forearm to use as a crutch. I gladly accept once I find out that any pressure on it makes me wince. "What is your case made of? Asgardian Uru?"