by Chloe H

It was another crisp, spring morning in Laclede, Idaho. The birds were chirping, and the sun was hanging high amongst a small, quiet brood of thin clouds. As the honey bees buzzed from daisy to daisy, sounds of the geese callings echoed through the wind as a normal morning welcomed. As nature resumed its tasks, the Miller family began theirs. As a usual Saturday morning habit, the kids, Alisha and Benny, woke up with a start. They raided the fridge for breakfast leftovers, finding only a single cinnamon bun. Alisha quickly grabbed the bun and popped it in the microwave. Benny, who wished he had quicker reflexes, poured himself a large bowl of Apple Jacks. As the morning progressed, the parents awoke and began their tasks while Alisha and Benny watched some cartoons. After Mr. and Mrs. Miller had completed their jobs, they told the kids to get themselves ready.

“Why do we have to get ready so early?” Benny complained.

“You’ll see,” Mr. Miller replied.

After Alicia and Benny had gotten ready and completed their chores, the Miller family gathered into the living
room.

“So, kids, do you remember that camping trip that we planned?” Mrs. Miller began.

Unlike Alisha’s disappointed look, Benny’s face lit up with excitement.

“I remember,” Benny stated calmly, even though his heart was racing.

“We are going to be spending a few days at Silver Lake camping grounds!” Mrs. Miller said energetically.

“So go and pack, kids.” Mr. Miller said, “You’re going to need three outfits, toiletries, and your sleeping bags which I set by the door.”

Right as Mr. Miller’s words slipped out of his mouth, Benny sprinted up to his room and started packing immediately. Alisha, on the other hand, slowly walked away with an “I-can’t-believe-you’re-making-me-do-this” face. The disappointed 15-year-old solemnly went up to her room and started packing.

Once all of the supplies, food, and suitcases had been piled into Mr. Miller’s old truck, the excited family (except for Alisha, of course) began their journey to Silver Lake camping rounds.

—

“Look out below!!!”

SPLASH!

After about five seconds, Benny’s petite head popped out of the gorgeous silver lake. From up on the cliffs, Alisha looked down at Benny and his new friends, wishing she had stayed home and watched T.V.

“Alisha,” Mrs. Miller’s voice echoed from behind, “help your father with the tents.”

With a mellow grumble, Alisha sulked over to her dad and began helping. After the tents were in place, she decided to hang out in one of them and quietly wait till nightfall. Mr. and Mrs. Miller weren’t going to let that happen.

“Alisha!” Mr. Miller cried.

“Yeah, Dad,” Alisha answered.

“Mind helping me roast the hot dogs for tonight?” he nonchalantly suggested while holding up the package of hot dogs and a large bag of hot dog buns.

“Sure, I —” Alisha was interrupted by Benny’s loud, annoying voice shouting, “Watch this, Dad!”

Still holding the hot dogs and bag of buns in his hands, Mr. Miller walked over to the edge of the low cliff. While Benny began his underwater somersault, Alisha leaned up against her dad in order to see her brother. Unexpectedly, she accidentally knocked the bag of hot dog buns out of her dad’s hands. As the bag hit the water, Alisha let out a frustrated growl.

“Oh, man! I’m so sorry, Dad,” she apologized.

“It’s all right, Sweetheart,” Mr. Miller said calmly. “They’re probably still OK.”

“Hey, Benny!” Mr. Miller cried, “Are they still good?!”

“No!” Benny shouted with disappointment. “The hot dog buns are soaking wet!”

“Well, go ahead and bring them up!” Mr. Miller shouted back. “It’s starting to get a little chilly, so when you reach the top, go ahead and change.”

“I guess we are having open-roasted hot dogs tonight,” Alisha mumbled to herself.

CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!

The sound of Benny smacking echoed through the forest. While he continued to munch, Mr. and Mrs. Miller started to tell funny stories by the fire. Surprisingly, Alisha was having a good time. As the sky grew darker, the Miller family wearily entered their tents and closed their dreary eyes. Alisha’s excitement for the next day, which included the fact that she didn’t have to share a tent with Benny, made her forget all of her reasons she didn’t want to come.