Chapter II "First day of camp worries"
John had never been away from home before. He was too busy helping his mom tend to his baby sister. Yes- his mom was pretty lucky to have him around and she knew it too- She was always telling him what a big help he was -getting the bottle out of the refrigerator or pushing the stroller on afternoon walks. (He hardly ever bumped into the curb anymore, and most of the time managed to stay clear of puddles and bumps, too) .
His favorite job was choosing the cereal on grocery trips. It took a special talent to narrow all those choices to 1 or 2 and he had to do that every week!
John was a little worried over leaving his family this week. Even though Camp Redbird was only a few hours each day- he was wondering if his mom would be able to manage alone. Watching his little sister, Lanie, was a tricky job at times. He hopped out of bed, grabbed the clothes and shoes he wore yesterday off the floor and tiptoed into his mom’s room.
John peeked into his mom's dark room. He saw that she was sleeping, and from the look on her face, she was in the middle of a very good dream. He wondered if she was dreaming of swimming upside down in the neighborhood pool. Pool dreams were John's favorites, but it always seemed like he woke up wet.
John’s mom was dreaming of sitting in the stroller while John and his little sister strolled her down the aisle at the grocery. In her lap were all her favorite cookies, then the check out girl came over and looked closely at her and said, “Mom can you help me?” The girl spoke so loudly that John’s mom woke up.
When she opened her eyes John said again, “Can you help me?” and he plopped his clothes right down on the bed beside her.
“Ahhhhh” sighed his mom when she saw that it was her son John and not the check out person from her dream. She laughed out loud and gave her son a big morning hug. “Well, good morning, John, you are up early- excited about Camp Redbird?” She looked at the clock by her bed and saw that it was 5 o’clock in the morning!
John shook his curly brown hair and said, “Well, yes, but I was thinking if we go early, then maybe I can come home early and take care of you and Lanie- Can you help me get dressed?”
John’s mom yawned and scratched her head, “Well, the thing is that Miss Monday won’t be there until the sun is up, so why don’t we snuggle until my alarm goes off?” John smiled and hopped into the big four poster bed- he fell asleep in an instant and dreamed of being at camp with about a million people he didn’t know- marching all day in the hot sun and having no fun at all.
When the alarm, (which looked and sounded a lot like his noisy sister Lanie) went off, it was 7:30 and the sun was shining.
Mom helped John get dressed and gave him a bowl of cereal. John ate his breakfast quietly while she got Lanie ready. He was having second thoughts about going to camp. When his mom said it was time to go, his head was hanging low and his feet were dragging and his funny tummy feelings weren’t feeling very funny.
John’s mom leaned down and looked him right in the eyes. “A kiss on the cheek, ‘cause you’re so sweet” she said as she planted a smack right on his cheek. “Bet you’ll have fun with out even trying today.”
They climbed into the car and were off.
His favorite job was choosing the cereal on grocery trips. It took a special talent to narrow all those choices to 1 or 2 and he had to do that every week!
John was a little worried over leaving his family this week. Even though Camp Redbird was only a few hours each day- he was wondering if his mom would be able to manage alone. Watching his little sister, Lanie, was a tricky job at times. He hopped out of bed, grabbed the clothes and shoes he wore yesterday off the floor and tiptoed into his mom’s room.
John peeked into his mom's dark room. He saw that she was sleeping, and from the look on her face, she was in the middle of a very good dream. He wondered if she was dreaming of swimming upside down in the neighborhood pool. Pool dreams were John's favorites, but it always seemed like he woke up wet.
John’s mom was dreaming of sitting in the stroller while John and his little sister strolled her down the aisle at the grocery. In her lap were all her favorite cookies, then the check out girl came over and looked closely at her and said, “Mom can you help me?” The girl spoke so loudly that John’s mom woke up.
When she opened her eyes John said again, “Can you help me?” and he plopped his clothes right down on the bed beside her.
“Ahhhhh” sighed his mom when she saw that it was her son John and not the check out person from her dream. She laughed out loud and gave her son a big morning hug. “Well, good morning, John, you are up early- excited about Camp Redbird?” She looked at the clock by her bed and saw that it was 5 o’clock in the morning!
John shook his curly brown hair and said, “Well, yes, but I was thinking if we go early, then maybe I can come home early and take care of you and Lanie- Can you help me get dressed?”
John’s mom yawned and scratched her head, “Well, the thing is that Miss Monday won’t be there until the sun is up, so why don’t we snuggle until my alarm goes off?” John smiled and hopped into the big four poster bed- he fell asleep in an instant and dreamed of being at camp with about a million people he didn’t know- marching all day in the hot sun and having no fun at all.
When the alarm, (which looked and sounded a lot like his noisy sister Lanie) went off, it was 7:30 and the sun was shining.
Mom helped John get dressed and gave him a bowl of cereal. John ate his breakfast quietly while she got Lanie ready. He was having second thoughts about going to camp. When his mom said it was time to go, his head was hanging low and his feet were dragging and his funny tummy feelings weren’t feeling very funny.
John’s mom leaned down and looked him right in the eyes. “A kiss on the cheek, ‘cause you’re so sweet” she said as she planted a smack right on his cheek. “Bet you’ll have fun with out even trying today.”
They climbed into the car and were off.