Copyright–Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Here we are once again gathered around the virtual campfire, ready to share our original stories and prove our creativity. This group is the Friday Fictioneers. Our challenge is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to include a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt supplied for the week. The gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, is the hostess of this gathering. The prompt this week was also supplied by her. Thanks Rochelle. The link to Friday Fictioneers is as follows:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/5-september-2014/
Genre: Nonfiction Humor
Word Count: 100 Words
FOR THE LOVE OF CAMPING By P.S. Joshi
Our son loved Boy Scouts. In his freshman year of high school, he decided to go winter camping at the scout camp nearest us.
It was Christmas holidays, but instead of snow, we had rain in North Carolina–lots of rain. The boys could spend the day inside, but had to camp out at night in their tents.
When we drove to get him and bring him home, everything he had was soaked. Water leaked inside the tent.
“Mom,” he said, “I was reading when I fell asleep. When I woke up, my paperback was floating beside the sleeping bag.”
Musings on Life & Experience 
Full marks to your son for seeing it through, despite the awful weather. Pity about the poor book though … 😉
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You have a rare gift of narration. Very well done.
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I remember a scout trip like that… I had to go up at 4 am… but still I learned that you have to have a good tent 🙂
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I feel as though I have read a tiny part of a memoir that I didn’t want to end. You write to well, you should consider writing one
Well done
Dee
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Oh, the memories that brings! Been there as a kid. “Don’t touch the sides of the tent, it’ll leak!” and all of that.
Thanks! Fine story.
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A good book can make you forget about the rain. Smart kid. Well done!
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Thanks Caerlynn.It’s what I would have expected of my son. He was, and still is, an avid reader.I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Oh, the joy of interacting with nature. I wish we do that more, instead of spending our time surrounded by modern gadgets. A very nice story.
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Thanks Lore. I can enjoy an afternoon outside, but I’m not the camper my son is. He takes after my dad who loved the out-of-doors. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Good for him for seeing it through. Pity about the book, though.
janet
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Thanks Janet. Yes, he wouldn’t be the first to quit. He loves camping. I don’t remember what happened to the book. I’ll have to ask my son. 🙂 —Susan
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Man! I KNOW, without a doubt, I’ve been on at least ten camping trips just like this one…. Thanks? for reminding me!!! Really great story. Alicia
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Thanks Alicia. I’m not a camper myself. My son must take after my dad.My dad loved being outside and had gone on camping trips. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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memories are made of this. 🙂
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Thanks Plaridel. That’s very true. I’m glad you liked the story. 🙂 —Susan
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Dear Susan,
My eldest was a boy scout. Your story put me in mind of a cold, rainy cookout we went to. “Never again,” I told my husband. Sorry about your son’s book.
Nice one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think he made a good memory there, even if he probably didn’t have a good night’s sleep.
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He’s made of sterner stuff than I am. I swear I must be made of salt. I dislike getting drenched 🙂
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A wonderful snippet of those sweet times in childhood… when even a rainy tent can’t entirely ruin the adventure! Nice one Susan.
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Dear Susan, A wonderful memory and you’re still talking about it! That’s awesome! My boys had to go on so many overnights. Once the tent had (and I am not exaggerating at all) had at least 500 Daddy Long Legs on the inside of the tent – it was unbelievable. They don’t sting you but just the thought of them crawling all over me at night was enough to keep us wide awake! Good story and I wish the best to you and your son- good memory! Nan 🙂
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Poor lads! He sounds quite upbeat about it, though. A bit of an adventure 🙂
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What a beautiful slice of life. I can’t recall many camping trips where it did NOT rain. On one trip to the Mulberry River, the guy next to us set his tent up in a low spot. It came a downpour and the water was 8 inches deep in his tent. Our’s was on high ground and everything stayed dry.
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I’ve had nights in the woods exactly like that – too many, in fact. Well done.
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aww a sweet slice of real life. thanks for sharing 🙂
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And I bet it’s something he never will forget. That’s the thing about camping, you can never predict the weather. Nice one!
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Good one and well narrated. Sorry about the book though!
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Cute story which brings back memories of my two kids and summer camps and other excursions. BTW, I miss having little kids around but I do not want to be a grandpa. Maybe I could rent some?
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Oh Susan! This brought a chuckle and a pout…Like you, I’m not a camper either. This memory sounds like why I’m not 🙂
Ellespeth
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Very reminiscent of one of my own, long ago, camping trips. Well done.
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That rain’ll get you every time! The image of the floating book just stays in the mind, drifting past his sleeping head… cool!
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That’s a lot of rain.
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What a nice story. For the love of camping (and reading). 🙂
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Dear Susan, I enjoy your writing a lot – simple and warm. I want to keep reading… Have a great day. Helen
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Thanks Helen. I’m glad you like my stories. I like your writing also. You have a great day also. 🙂 —Susan
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What a great story — sad but at least it ended well – presumably with warn clothes and something satisfying to eat. Reminds me of when I was in CEGEP (US equivalent College) and one of my chosen Phys. Ed. courses was bicycle/camping. Our final outing, counting for the bulk of the grade, had us cycling and extra 30 kilometers for the day (and it was an absurdly long outing to begin with – took an extra 3 hours instead of the 6) and then, overnight, weather forecasts be damned, we awoke to pouring rain —- not only achingly sore, exhausted and cold – but then, despite no leaky tents – drenched. Thankfully – the teacher deemed it completely unsafe for us to be cycling back in that miserable late Fall weather – and there were no complaints at all. My butt still aches at the memory of it!
Great read and response to the prompt!
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Thanks for taking me back to my own soggy camping days… I remember when I was 10 we hurriedly built a little island of all our gear in the centre, around the pole, with our towels laid down to form a barricade, as the waves rolled in… 🙂
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you told a wonderful story and my guess is that young man will always remember his treasured moment camping out during the winter. i enjoyed your story.
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