War of the Wings

I Meet My Destiny

I flopped down on the bench at a mess hall table. This had been my first break of the day from the 7-year old girls I have been assigned to for summer camp at Camp Swamp Frog and I ask myself, 'Why did I ever think I was cut out for this? If I can't get my own dog to sit still, why in the world did I think I could do this?'

"Why didn't I sign up for kitchen duty? Or even horse stables! Anything but being the shepherd of some reckless sheep!" I muttered under my breath as I rubbed my eyes in frustration.

"Natalie?" I felt a giant tug on my corny shirt that said, 'Camp Swamp Frog! Where we leap into action to save the environment!' I looked down to see a little girl, one of my own campers, Jane, looking up at me. "Can we go out in the woods to look for Fairies?"

"Fairies aren't real." I said. "Besides, it is way too late at night and we can't leave until they ring the bell and say 'Frogs, Leap away!'" Again, I can't strain this enough, this camp is so corny, I swear I would claw my eyes out if it weren't for what the camp owners are paying me. Wait, are they paying me?

"Please?" Jane pleaded. When my other girls came over too, I realized they had been stalking me the whole time. Now I was in trouble. I can deny one puppy-eyed kid. But not 10. Just I was going to open my mouth and admit defeat, I heard the bell and a voice say, 'Frogs, Leap away!'

Every little kid screamed with delight at once and started to crowd out the door, leaving their counselors behind. I don't know why they were so eager to get ready for bed, but maybe they just want to get out of this putrid smelling room like every other frog in this camp.

Since the sun was still out because of the summer solstice (stupid summer), the girls weren't tired yet. The cabin has soundproof, no night sounds could get in. But that also means that no sounds that go on in the cabin can come out. I couldn't stand their non-stop chattering anymore.

"Shush up!" As my face was turning red with rage, I swear by the look on the girls' faces, I looked like a bull getting ready to charge. And I think I was about to too.

"Get in your beds, or none of you get a bedtime story!" I was screaming so hard, my head was popping out like a peacock. And with my hands spreading out with rage, I'm sure if it weren't for those darn soundproof windows, the wild peacocks would be barging in like a crowd of Beatles fans.

But the only stomping that was going on was the girls running to their beds to save the life of their bedtime story. 'Finally,' I think. 'Why didn't I try that trick before?' Once again, the girls were staring at me, but this time, they had pulled their covers up to their chins.

"Ok. So." I started to stall until I could think of a story that would put the rascals to sleep.

Then, it came to me.

"Once upon a time, there was a girl who couldn't stop yawning. She tryed and tryed but she couldn't stop," I yawned. Then I continued, hoping yawning would deepen the effect. "Then, all around her, her friends started yawning too." And just like the story said, Jane yawned. Then Summer. Then Marcia. Finally, everyone was yawning and falling into a deep sleep.

"Yes," I whispered. I could finally go to bed. I climbed into the top bunk without changing into my pajamas. I flopped down on the plastic mattress, and as soon as I did, my breathing slowed down to a minimum. Maybe I put myself to sleep with that story.

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    I woke up shivering and sweating at the same time. I glanced at my watch.

1:37

    Great. Now I know I won't be going back to bed tonight. Might as well check on the girls, I thought. I climbed off the top bunk, careful not to wake up Marcia who slept on the junky bottom bunk. She had pulled the covers over her head, and it seemed like she had pulled her legs up too, because the lump under the covers was short and gibbous. I don't blame her, I thought.

You'd think the campgrounds were in antarctica, I added. I slowly pulled off the covers to check up on her when...

    "SQUAWK!"

    "AHHH!" I screamed at the peacock in Marcia's place. "WHAT?!" I said dumbfounded and freaked out. I backed up, bumping into another bunk bed. I felt a peck at my lower back, leaving a scratch. I whip around. Jane had morphed into a big, annoying, bird too. Slowly, every camper in my cabin woke up as peacocks,and squawked all the way to me. I was cornered. Closer, and closer they came. My breathing became rapid, my heart thumping. Out of no where, Summer as a peacock leaped out to peak my to death.

    "AHHH!" I scream back in my bed. I jerk up. Everything is as it should be. I was dreaming. I was fine. I went down the ladder to go to the bathroom. I needed to check for the scratch that 'Jane' made.

    The light overhead blinded me temporarily. Once my eyes adjusted, I lifted my shirt and held my breath, hoping that the injury that I had received during the night.

    "Phe-oo!" I exhaled. No scratch. But I might as well check on the girls anyways, just to be sure. I muffled the sound of the door as I creeped out. When I heard the click indicating a lock, I let go of the handle. I walked softly to Marcia's bed. I hold my breath as if the birds only appear if I breath. I grip the same covers in my dream, hoping a girl will be under them. I am going through the ways to pull away the covers. Slow or fast, be a woos and do it with my eyes closed, or just do it? Just do it, I thought. Ok. Here goes.

    There was no peacock under the covers. But, there was no camper either. In her place this time was, a pillow.

    "Sooo, now she's a pillow?" I asked myself. "Why do my dreams involve transformation of 7-year olds?" Then I realized, this wasn't dream. Marcia was not a pillow. She was somewhere else.

    "Oh crap," I grabbed my coat and a flashlight and went to hunt for the girls.