Camp Wumba-Wumba, Chapter 2

That was a month ago, and every day seemed to drag on forever as the big day approached. Finally, after a night with almost no sleep, Saturday the 14th arrived. Clare and Alexandra were up before the sun and finished packing for their adventure. It was two hours before their mom and dad woke up, and came into their bedrooms, where the girls had fallen fast asleep, exhausted from all the excitement.

After a good breakfast, the whole Purdy family piled into the car and began their trip.

After Clare and her mom had fallen asleep, Alexandra’s mind began to wander and imagine all of the fun things they would do that week, and she began trying to think of a really good ghost story. “Do you believe in ghosts, daddy?” Alexandra asked her father.
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I’ve heard some pretty good stories, but I’ve never seen one. What do you think?”
“If they’re real, do you think they could hurt you?” Alexandra continued.
“Well, they don’t have any bodies, right? And they can float right through walls. So I guess I don’t know how they could hurt you. Are you worried about ghosts at Camp Weeble-Wobble, sweetie?”
“Daddy, it’s Wumba-Wumba. And no, not really,” Alexandra said. “I was just wondering.”


Alexandra joined her mom and Clare in taking a nap, and they arrived at Camp Wumba-Wumba in the blink of an eye. “We’re here, girls,” their dad said gently.

Both girls awoke slowly, getting used to the light and trying to rub the sleep from their eyes. And slowly, very slowly, they remembered where they were. “Camp Wumba-Wumba!” Clare shouted. Her parents looked like they were ready for some quiet time.

Clare, Alexandra, and their mom and dad all got a tour of the camp from their camp counselor, Amy. She was almost as tall as their dad, with long blond hair and a nice face that smiled a lot. “It’s so nice to meet you, Clare, Alexandra. You’re just as pretty as I thought you’d be. Would you like to take a look at the camp before we tell your parents to shove off?” she said with a wink.
“Yeah, let’s.” said Alexandra.
For the next hour they walked around the camp and looked at the cool, blue lake; the campfire site, where they would end each night; and of course the horses. A beautiful brown stallion that looked like he was wearing white socks on his legs came right up to Clare and gently touched her with his big nose, as if to say, Hi there. “He likes me!” Clare squealed with delight.

Finally they went to look at the cabin where Alexandra and Clare would be staying. It was an old wooden building with screens instead of windows and creaky wooden shutters to keep the light out. Inside there was a wood floor and six bunk beds to sleep 12 girls, seven of whom were already there and unpacking.

“Would you like to choose your beds?” asked Amy.
The girls looked around, then walked toward the back and put their suitcases on the bed by the far wall, by a window facing the woods.
“I’ll take the top bunk,” Alexandra said. “It’ll be easier for me to get up there.”
“That’s very considerate of you, Alexandra,” said Amy. “I can tell these are two pretty special girls you have here, Mr. and Mrs. Purdy.”
Both parents beamed in agreement. “We sure think so.”



Turning back to the girls Amy asked, “Well, now that you’re all settled in, do you think you’re ready to say goodbye to Mom and Dad?”
The girls look at each other and nodded. Then ran over and gave their parents hugs big enough to last a week.
“Be good, you two” their mother said, with tears welling in her eyes. “And take care of each other, okay? And have a great time. If you need us Amy knows . . .”
“Honey,” their father interrupted, “they’ll be just fine. Girls, have a great time. Stay up too late, eat too many s’mores, and play all day.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Alexandra. “We will.”
Clare simply buried her face in her mother’s hair and sighed, torn between the excitement of the adventure to come and the sadness of her parents leaving.

And with that, Alexandra and Clare were on their own, ready for a week of fun.

Moments after their parents had left, and as they were unpacking their clothes, a group of four girls came into the cabin and introduced themselves.
“I’m Lisa,” said the oldest one, who was about Alexandra’s age. “And this is Roberta.”
“You can call me Bobby,” said Roberta
“And Candice, sorry, Candy, and Brittany,” Lisa said.
Candy was about Clare’s age, and looked a lot like a friend back home, with red hair in pig tails and freckles that made her look somehow more friendly. Clare instantly decided that she liked Candy.
“What are your names?” Lisa continued.
“I’m Alexandra, and this is my little sister Clare. Have any of you ever been to this camp before?”
“I have,” said Lisa. This is my second year. You’ll love it here. But I hope you’re not afraid of ghost stories. I’ve got some pretty good ones.”
Alexandra and Clare looked at each other. “No way, we’ve got some good ones to tell,” said Alexandra. Clair nodded in agreement.
“Great. Wanna go for a hike around the camp?” said Lisa.
“Yeah, let’s.”

Alexandra and Clare and Lisa and Bobby and Candy and Brittany all spent the day swimming in the lake and hiking through the woods, where they saw three deer and four rabbits. One of them came up and sniffed Clare’s toes, which made her giggle uncontrollably.
“It tickles!” she cried.
She bent down to pet the rabbit, who sniffed her hand to see if she had brought any tasty treats, and then ran away.
I think I’ll have to keep some carrots with me for next time, Clare thought to herself.