“Camping Will be Fun,” George Said

 

Photo Copyright: Jan Wayne Fields

Here we are again and this week we’re gathered near a ruined tent in Rochelle’s driveway. We’ve come together to discuss our original stories for the week. This is the Friday Fictioneer’s group. Our hostess for the gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for each of us this week and every week is to write a story with no more than 100 words, not counting the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and be inspired by the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by Rochelle’s husband, Jan Wayne Fields. Thanks, Jan. To read the other stories by group members, just click on the link below, then on the smiling frog. Next, follow the given directions.

16 August 2019

Genre: Humor Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

“Camping Will be Fun,” George said. by P.S. Joshi

“Camping will be fun,” George said.

He’d never been camping but said he’d read about it.

My only defense for being stupid and believing him was my youth. We were seventeen-year-old boys.

We borrowed his uncle’s tent and went to the local park camping grounds. Mercifully, there were no bears there, so we brought our food into the tent in case of rain.

Snug in our sleeping bags, we were drifting off to sleep when I felt itchy. I got up and turned on the lantern.

Ants had smelled our food. In a short time, I decided I’d prefer bears.

FOR THE LOVE OF CAMPING

 

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.”

THE FROG

Coypright–Adam Ickes

This is my story this month of May for Storybook Corner hosted by Adam Ickes. Each story is supposed to be from 300 to 500 words in length, or longer if it’s thought necessary, and be inspired by the photo prompt provided that month by Adam.

http://adamickes.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/storybook-corner-prompt-may/

THE FROG by P.S. Joshi

Buddy Cartland viewed his reflection in the hall mirror. He saw prominent dark brown eyes and a generous mouth. He didn’t think he deserved being labeled The Frog by cruel kids at his school. It was mean. His close friends never called him names so it didn’t worry him. It was just embarrasing to be called that in front of Kathleen Parker, the most beautiful girl in Eighth Grade.

Every time he saw Kathleen it made his heart race. She had short blond hair that shone like gold in the sunlight and big blue eyes.  He hadn’t paid attention to her until this year.

Buddy lived with his widowed mother and her younger, unmarried brother,  John. John was a nice guy but he didn’t like the out-of-doors. Buddy was a Boy Scout and his Scout Master knew all there was to know about camping.

It was a sweltering Saturday and a large crowd was at the civic center pool. The life guard on duty was warning some younger kids about pushing. Buddy spotted Kathleen at the pool edge, her hair shining in the sun like a golden crown.

All at once someone bumped into her and she fell forward, striding the side of her head against the cement pool edge. She tried to get up but fell face down into the pool.

Buddy was the first to reach her. Water nearby was turning bloody from a gash in her head.  He carefully turned her so her face was out of the water.

By that time the lifeguard was there with another man and they carefully lifted her out of the water and onto an inflated plastic float at the pool’s edge. The lifeguard kept pressure on the wound while the other man dialed for help.

Several days later Kathleen’s mother called. Kathleen was home and wanted Buddy to visit her.

He entered Kathleen’s bedroom not knowing what to expect. There she was propped  on pillows with a bright pink and blue scarf tied over the bandage and a blue knit shawl around her shoulders over her pajamas. She was the prettiest patient he’d ever seen. A chair was beside the bed so he sat down.

Kathleen smiled at him and said, “Thanks for saving my life. I could’ve drowned.

Buddy felf his face getting warm and his mind froze. Finally he recovered and Said, “You’re welcome.” He though to himself, “I’m being really lame.”

Kathleen smiled again. “I think you’re great and it’s terrible some mean kids call you The Frog. You have a nice face with lovely brown eyes. You’re in  Boy Scouts aren’t you?”

“Is this a dream?” Buddy wondered.

She continued. “I love the outdoors. We go camping and fishing with our parents and Dad, my brother, and I collect fossil rocks. Maybe you can go with us sometime.

At last Buddy had found another person who had the same interests and was pretty as well. The image of The Frog faded completely.