Innocent Children

Better Than I Thought

    We drove for about two and a half hours up to our remote camping spot in the mountains. Scott went over the rules and safety precautions before we set up our tents. I was lucky enough to be put with Olive, but my luck ran out there. I was also with Jade and Maria.
    Those two weren't much help in setting up. Olive tried to help, but she just made things worse. Somehow, we eventually set up the stupid tent. I walked around the wide circle of tents for a little bit until a came across a group of bickering boys. That's where I found Caleb and Cameron. Over the last week they started to hang out with Olive and I. They were nicer than I would have expected. Cameron and Caleb were pared up with James and Griffon.
    I helped them set up their tent because their attempt was just as much of a train wreck as mine. After a quick struggle everyone grouped up in the center of camp and we met our chaperones. We were told they were all substitute teachers. Our school was so short staffed that nobody who actually worked there could come and watch us, besides our teacher.
    There were five chaperones and Scott. Definitely enough people to watch 20 kids. Scott had us hand in all devices so that we could get to know each other more, instead of using them all day. There was no reception where we were, so I didn't see why anybody would need to keep them.
    We played games for the rest of the day. I was exhausted and could barely walk from running around on steep hills for hours. Unfortunately  I was on cooking duty that night, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it.
    "Damn, my legs hurt! I don't think I'll be able to cook tonight" I said to Olive in a playful way as we sat next a small contained fire that was being built by Riley, James, and Griffon.
    "I could do it for you tonight" She said with a big smile on her face.
    "Thank you so much Olive! I'll take your place tomorrow"
    "No need, I can do both days"
    "Really? I'll feel bad if I'm making you do this"
    "Don't worry about it! I kinda like cooking, so this will be fun! I'll go tell the chaperones I'm switching out" She got up and walked over to a little make shift sheltered area with a camping stove and other supplies. It was getting dark and I could see my long dark brown hair reflecting the fire in the corner of my eye.
     I sat in silence as it got darker, occasionally tuning into other peoples conversations. Olive brought me my dinner, which was a sort of a mixture of rice, beans, ground beef, and vegetables thrown together into a strange mush.
     "I have no idea what we made, I didn't really have any say in what we made" Olive said through a laugh. The food tasted fine, but not what I would choose to eat.
     Once everyone got their food Scott reminded us of curfew, and when we were supposed to start our day. We went over the rules again as well. We had to be in bed with lights off by 9:30 at the latest and be up by 7am. I was fine with these times, I knew that I would fall asleep almost immediately.
    After people finished eating marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers were brought out. I didn't want to eat anymore so I had Olive help me to our tent. I didn't have the energy to change so I just awkwardly crept into my sleeping bag and before I knew it I was asleep.