Created By

CSLimeWriter

Rate this Story

Embed

            Kali sighed with contentment. She’d barely managed to sneak away while her girls went off whispering and was looking forward to some quiet time by herself. Her break had actually started fifteen minutes ago but one of her girls had a question and the young counselor had the perfect answer.

            This was Kali’s first year as a camp counselor at YMCA Camp Potawatomi and she loved every moment of it. Her cabin, Tecumseh, consisted of four 13-year-old girls; though it was the smallest cabin at camp Kali figured they were plenty enough.

            Most of the time they behaved, but other times when Kali would walk up in the middle of their conversations they’d either change the subject or stop talking altogether. Sometimes the counselor wondered what they talked about but she rarely bothered to ask; she remembered exactly what it was like to be a teenager with secrets.

            As she walked on the path through the woods Kali thought about her girls; how special they were to her. There was Kelley, the I’m-all-for-a-challenge one; Ruby, the girl who loved to talk and had earned the name Spaz; Joey, the one who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind; and Katy, the shy but somewhat friendly one.

            She’d only been with them three days and already Kali felt like she’d known them their whole lives.

            Ah, here it is, she thought as she came upon a small clearing veering to the left of the path. The leaves and plant life on the woodland floor were still a bit thick but that didn’t matter because she wouldn’t be sitting on the ground. Now she stood in front of two big tree trunks that were leaning against each other, forming an X. The perfect spot to sit and read.

            Legs crossed, dark curly hair pulled back loosely with a hair band, Kali put all her focus on her book. The minutes ticked by, she was so transfixed in her book; The Secret of the Forest; that she nearly fell off the trees when she heard a twig snap.

            Jerking her head up but not turning it, Kali searched with her eyes as far as she could see to the right and left, heart beat quickening.

            Before she could do or say anything Kali was suddenly pulled off the tree and a hand covered her mouth. Instinctly her hands flew up to her mouth in an effort to uncover it but then she was twisted around and found herself staring into familiar, dark brown eyes.

            John was grinning all the way up to his sparkling eyes as he whispered, “Gotcha.”

            Rolling her eyes and feeling stupid for falling for the trick, Kali pushed his hand off and said, “How did you find me? The path is way over there.” She pointed to her right.

            Amusement twinkled in John’s eyes.

            “Don’t forget that I was a camper here for six years before I became a counselor; so there are lots of secrets in this forest that you don’t know about.”

            Blushing, Kali looked at her book which lay by her feet, the pages face down. Before she could pick it up, though, John swiped it up and opened it. “What part are you at, anyway?”

            Kali’s unsmiling face glared at him as she tried to grab the book but John held it above his head.

            “Oh, come on, John,” she said, trying again and again to take it from him but getting frustrated. “John! I was at an unnerving part so – John!”

            He just laughed. “Unnerving?” he repeated the word. “Hmm, that’s one I haven’t heard before. What does it mean?” Of course he was just doing this to buy time; he stepped over various sized sticks and branches with Kali stumbling behind him.

            Finally his time came; she tripped over an unseen tree root and he leaped over her, ducked under the leaning tree trunks, and ran towards the path. The wind blew back his wavy brown hair, along with his laughter.

            Kali picked herself up and, not caring to wipe the dirt from her jeans or top, flew after him. She intended to get her book back; Even if I have to tackle him to the ground. The chase lasted ten minutes, until Kali finally caught up with him.

            “Give-it-here!” she said with short gasps of breath between each word. She was close enough now that she reached forward and almost nabbed the book but her hand got tangled in John’s arm.

            Laughing again, John managed to yank his arm away but didn’t expect her to trip and fall on top of him.

            It surprised Kali as well, and showed clearly on her face as they landed with a thump. After landing on her back, Kali stared up at the sky right before spitting some dirt out of her mouth, sitting up, and snitching her book back. “Thank you,” she said sarcastically.

            John also sat up, and then stood. “No problem.” He gingerly helped Kali up and without warning swiped the book again and took off running, an evil grin plastered onto his face as he looked back to laugh at her.

            Kali looked about her and, assured that no one was around, screamed, “John Dehr – you are dead!” Only two thoughts raced through her head as she sprinted after him. I’m so getting fired for this; I hope none of my girls are watching!