The Camp by the Lake

"Ahem". It was what the Captain usually did. It wasn't much, but certainly it was enough to gain the attention of the troop- mostly consisting of young teenagers and older children (to crudely categorize them), who were very much uncomfortable.

The scorching sun, of course. Mercilessly baking their bare backs. And no, sunblock was not available. Not that it would ease their suffering at all.

"Can we go?" said Sarah, in a very pleading, very urgent, tone. Those who heard her nodded in agreement. The torture was apparent- they were right next to the cool, blue lake. Its waters inviting them. Mercilessly, again.

The only thing between them and the lake was the Captain, who could not be blamed for suspecting imminent mutiny.

So he decided to appease them. "You may swim in the lake." he said, with an air of defeat.

Nobody bothered to say anything to the Captain, nor to express their relief. The only sounds there were? Exclamations of sheer delight (and splashes, of course) as the boys girls jumped into the lake. Where they belonged.

"Ah...water never felt this good!" said Rick, who very much really didn't care how obviously obvious his statement was. He floated blissfully in the water.

***

Mona was laughing. "Hahaha! Didn't go well eh, Captain?" she teased. "Ugh. Never try to call an assembly on a scorching day." replied Adam, the Captain.

"Duh! But yeah...it is an unusually hot day." Mona said. Adam took threw himself onto a hammock, and wondered why he didn't join the children instead. But then, the breeze did offer him a small consolation. Thankfully.

"What's next?" asked Adam. "Well...uh..." Mona flipped through her notebook. "Ah yes, arts craft in the afternoon."

Adam groaned. "We'll still to sort them into their groups."

Mona chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll be much more...compliant after their swim." Adam shrugged. "Whatever you say."

"Yeah, trust me. I'll get Jane to help out." Mona assured Adam, and rushed of.

***

"You know," Quentin said in a hushed voice to Flora, "I wonder why we ever go to such places like this."

Flora gave him a puzzled look, but then she caught on.

"Yeah," she said as she pondered over which colored pencil to use. "Well, there's friends."

"Maybe, yeah, but still, besides friends. What's the point?" And Flora thought for awhile.

"Hey, hey, keep it down. Others are trying to concentrate." Jane said, and put a finger to her lips. Quentin and Flora nodded. They would continue their conversation later. The rest were drawing or coloring their dream houses, or trying to make them. Regardless, it was a rather messy session.

***

Mona, Jane and David took advantage of the weather to tan themselves awhile. Adam, on the other hand, was patiently overseeing the campers, ensuring everyone had their shower.

"Poor Adam." Jane said. David chuckled, and Mona smiled. "Don't worry. He can handle them." Mona reassured them. "Well," David added, "it's our last camp. Adam won't need to be doing this anymore."

"Yeah...kind of sad." Jane said.

"Uh huh." sighed Mona.

These camps were fast becoming...obsolete. People nowadays, well, there were too busy. Or maybe too tied up with city life. The four camp supervisors knew that. Which was why they ensured everyone had a good time. And maybe, they would win some lifetime converts.

***

Quentin lay in his soft bed, blanketed nicely. The sound of insects filled the night. It was hardly a silent one. He whispered to Flora, but everyone else could hear him too.

"Flora!"

"What?"

"I think I know why we go here every year."

"Yeah?"

"Because this place...is different. We're free here. Completely free."

And everyone agreed heartily, and had a long conversation before they feel asleep. In a few days from now, they would go back home, back to routines.

But they would know, this place will always, somehow, be special.