The Camp Of The Willows - Chapter 2
by Barbara Lynn Terry

(Author's note: I call this story The Camp Of The Willows, because I was fortunate enough to have gone there. This is not the real name of the camp. The camp is no longer there and it has been reforested. But while it was there, I had a lot of fun and learned quite a lot about who I am. ~Barbara~)

When I walked in the door, Sharon was sitting on the sofa talking on the phone. I heard her say, "all right, Miss Loretta". She saw me and hung up the phone.

"I thought you were going to come to the 'Tower' and join us."

"I was, then I got this phone call from Miss Loretta who owns the Camp of the Willows, and we had a nice talk. We actually talked about you, and I told her about the pranks you like to play. So dear sister, she is forewarned."

"Sis, if I tell you something, just between us, will you keep it a secret?"

"Yes. What you tell me, nobody needs to know."

"Even mom and dad?"

"Even mom and dad."

"Where are they?"

"Daddy is still at work, and mom went to store to get a few things for dinner. What is it you want to tell me?"

"When mom and daddy were telling me the rules I have to obey and that I have to go to this camp with you, I was only protesting for their benefit. See, sis, I don't want to be your sister just for the summer, I want to be your sister forever."

She looked at me to see if this was one of my panks. When she was satisfied that it wasn't because of my voice and sad face, she told me to continue. Sharon hugged Rachel in a tight sisterly hug. Rachel then broke down crying.

"Sis," Rachel said through her tears, "it isn't fair that I was born like this. I'm not really a man type boy, I'm more like a girl type girl."

Rachel was really crying and the tears from her eyes were dripping on Sharon's shoulder. Sharon held Rachel's head to look in her eyes, and saw the red and puffiness you get from crying too hard and a lot. It was then that their mother came back from shopping. She looked at Sharon as if to ask what was going on, and Sharon just shrugged and held her new found sister.

Their mother took the groceries in the kitchen and put them away. Then she want back in the living room and sat on the other side of Rachel.

"Rachel, what is wrong? Did something happen at the White Tower?"

"N..no...moth...er. It hap..pened here...here."

"Well, I will tell you what. Your father will be a little late tonight. One of the turbines broke down at the plant, and he has to be there until it is fixed. Why don't we all go in the kitchen, and have a nice glass of very sour lemonade, and talk about what is bothering you."

"All...All ri...right."

Cameron (Cammie) Davies was thirty six years old, had nice light brown hair with sparkling highlights. Her disarming demeanor and genuine smile was what made her a lot of friends. Not only because she wasn't snoopy, but she listened well to others, including her own children. When she told Rachel that morning to put on clothes that normally a girl would wear, he was secretly saying yes, while lightly protesting out loud.

They went in the kitchen and Sharon got out the lemonade, while their mother got three glasses. After the lemonade was poured, Cameron Davies asked Rachel what was the matter.

"Mom, I...I'm not...ever...going to wear my...my old...old clothes...again. I have this...this...inner...feel...ing that I... I should have been born a...a girl. I...I talked to my...my friends at the White Tower about this. But not letting on...that my body is male. Mom, did you ever have such a turning point in your life, where you knew the past was gone, and it was the first day of the rest of your life?"

"Yes, dear, I have."

"That is what I had today. When you told me this morning to take a bubble bath, and put these clothes on, I was verbally protesting, but inside I was jumping with joy. I am now a girl with my parents approval, even though my parents think it is a punishment.

"Mom, I know I have a lot to learn, and maybe by the end of camp, I will know what I need to know about being a girl. Will you love me as your youngest daughter forever, instead of the son I really can never be?"

Cameron Davies hugged Rachel in a tight motherly hug.

"Of course I can, sweetie. You just do your poor old mother a favor. You be the best girl you can."

"What will daddy say, when he finds out. He's liable to hit the roof and start yell...ing."

"I promise I won't yell, punkin," Richard Davies said, as he came in the kitchen.

Rachel ran to him and hugged him. Richard Davies looked in to Rachel's eyes.

"Punkin, you be whomever it is you want or need to be. You know, sweetie, it is every man's dream to be surrounded by beautiful women, and I have three of the prettiest women right here. But, I have one question. How do the other kids see you?"

"When they saw me at White Tower, Marie, she's the waitress and cook, told me it was about time I shed my tomboy image. Everybody said something like that, too. Louise Stark asked me if I am a girl and my name is Rachel, then why were my teachers calling me Roger. I said I didn't know but I bet it would be taken care of by the start of next semester."

"Well, your mother and I will see what can be done. Now, one more question. Is this what you really want?"

"Yes, daddy, it is. Today is the first day of the rest of my girly life." Richard hugged Rachel again, promising her that her name mixup would be taken care of.

"Sweetie, I will make an appointment with my doctor. If you are going to be a girl, you may as well get used to going to an OB/GYN. I will call tomorrow. You need a physical for camp anyway. So, you sir Richard, can head off to the wonderous land of the living room, while Rachel, Sharon and their mother get out all the things for dinner."

Tonight was burgers, cheese, french fries (baked), and lemonade made from the sourest lemons they could find. Cameron Davies never bought the cheese slices because she never considered it real cheese. She bought the brick of sharp cheddar, and sliced it with a wire cheese slicer. Sharon sliced the cheese, while Rachel buttered the buns and placed them on their electric grill to get nice and brown. Rachel then went in the living to ask her dad a question.

"Daddy, how many burgers are you going to want?"

"I think two will do it."

"Thank you, daddy."

She went back in the kitchen, and told her mother, who put five quarter pound burgers in the huge fry pan. Sharon sliced five slices from the brick of sharp cheddar and placed them on a saucer and set the saucer down on the stand next to the stove. Rachel heated up five hamburger buns, and set them on a platter. Her mother will place the cheeseburgers on the buns and let everybody make theirs the way they wanted. With the fries done at the same time as the last burger was, Cameron Davies called dinner, and set the lettuce, tomato, onion and Miracle Whip on the table.

Since dinner was just your basic cookout inside, they talked of camp.

"Rachel, you will love being there. Betty will be your cabin counselor, and I will be working with her. Betty's sister's name is Mary, and they divide the cabins between them. Miss Loretta helps out now and then, but she is busy with the administration of the camp. Now listen, sis, this is very important. There is a crafts contest every summer. The girl who does the best craft gets a free trip to camp the next year.

"When we get to the camp, I want to show you the rock garden that was made by one of the girls, several years ago. She got the whole camp to help her find rocks for the rock garden. They not only found the best rocks, but everybody had a hand in placing the rocks on the board and gluing them on. This rock garden not only got the girl who thought of the idea a free trip to camp the next summer, but the whole camp got to come for free too, because they helped make the best craft there was.

"See, sis, this camp doesn't care if you have a male body, as long as you act like the girl you are supposed to be. I don't know who the other girls in the cabin will be, but we have to ask them if they will be embarrassed having you in the same cabin with them. Some girls don't like male intrusion, even if you are going to be a girl for the rest of your life. If you had your surgery to make you female, then they wouldn't care. But they object to that gross thing that shouldn't be there."

"I understand. I will be the best girl I know how to be."

"Great."

"So, Rachel, dear, we need to go shopping again. I forgot that you will need good hiking boots. When I went to camp, we hiked through the woods, and we had to be careful, because the sides of the path were covered with poison ivy. So, I will get you a decent pair of hiking boots for those hikes, I know you are going to take."

"Actually, mother, they aren't hikes as such, but nature lessons. We learn about the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool. We learned the differences between poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac. We learned the different kinds of birds that are always around the camp. If we're lucky, Rachel, we will actually get to see a hummingbird. They are little birds, and you can barely see their wings flapping. They go from flower to flower drinking the nectar.

"You're going to love this camp. They also have swimming lessons, too, and you need a gaff for your swimsuit. That way nothing embarrassing shows.

"Mom did you get her any camp clothes, yet?"

"No, not yet. I know she will need at least one party dress for the end of camp party. She will need shorts, and light tops, so she is cool when out of the cabin. It is funny, though. We called our cabins tents when I went to camp. She will need stockings for the party dress, light knee high socks and maybe a few pairs of shoes."

"Mom, they provide a uniform for the campers. that is shorts, and a light tee shirt. Both the shorts and the tee have the camp logo on them."

"Okay, I only need to pay for the camp uniform then as far as the shorts and light shirt goes. She still needs the rest though. Tomorrow we will go shopping. Sharon do you want to come along?"

"Yes, mom. I think Rachel is going to need at the support she can get."

"Yes, Rachel, we are here for you. Your father knows he has us to take care of him."

"Wait a minute!" Richard Davies exclaimed. "I thought I was the one taking care of you three."

"You are, dear, you are," Cammie Davies winked at her two daughters. Richard Davies didn't see the wink, so as Rachel said, he was clueless.

"Well, are we done?"

"Yes, mom," both girls said, in unison.

"Yes, dear," Richard Davies added. "For once I am full."

"Are you sick, Richard? Would you like me to call the doctor?"

"Oh! Funny, really funny. You outdid yourself, I could hardly taste any grease."

"That's because we boil the fat out of the burgers before we fry them. Just like mostly all the grease is gone when you cook them on the grill."

"I see. How do you boil hambrugers?"

"You places the raw burgers in boiling water, and let them cook until the fat comes to the top. You scrape away the excess fat, and fry them in a fry pan using nonfat cooking spray."

"Well, I will leave all the kitchen work to you ladies, since you know what you're doing."

"Honey, tomorrow Sharon and I are taking Rachel shopping for camp clothes. I'm going to need your credit card."

"Just don't buy the store out." The girls all giggled.

"I promise I will leave a few items for someone else." There were more giggles.

"I will leave it on the counter when I leave for work. You also need to get her school clothes, too."

"We will do that when she comes back from camp. She may lose a few pounds while she is at camp."

"That is true, dear. How long will you be at the mall?"

"Well, I was thinking of making a day of it and just taking our time. You can meet us at the food entrance, and we can go to a restaurant to eat. We have to stop at a theatrical store, too, and get Rachel about seven or eight gaffes. She is going to need gaffes for her swim suits, her jeans, her shorts, and her panties, when the girls are just relaxing in the cabin."

"Wait! He's going to be around naked girls at this camp?!"

"SHE is going to be around other girls in different stages of dress or undress and, yes, some of them may be nude. Is this a problem for you, dear?"

"I'm sorry, that just kind of got me off guard. I'm sorry, Rachel."

"That's alright, dad. Maybe there is a women's camp you can go to, so you can learn what it is all about."

"Uhm, no, that's fine. You just go and enjoy yourself.

"Are you sure, dad? I wouldn't want you to think I had an ulterior motive for wanting to go."

"Ulterior? Isn't that a big word for you?"

"Dad, please, I'm going on thirteen. How old do I have to be to know how to read a dictionary and know the meanings of the words?"

"You're right, I'm sorry."

"Dear, before you finally realize you lost this argument a long time ago, why don't go in your den. I'm sure you can't get in to any trouble in there."

"I suppose you're right, Cammie." He got up and gave Cammie and the girls hugs and left for his den.

The Camp Of The Willows - Chapter 3
by Barbara Lynn Terry

Part I - After dinner and a new outfit .

"Well, ladies, let's make this kitchen and dining room neat and clean," Cammie Davies told her daughters.

Cammie Davies was wondering what happened to make Rachel admit that she wanted to stay a girl, because she thought this is how she should have been born. Cammie Davies was also thinking that this could be the ultimate prank being played on them by her son, Roger. But, she thought, she isn't acting like Roger, and she definitely has a different air about her. It is almost as if her son left the house dressed as a girl, and came back as a girl named Rachel. Something was definitely amiss, and she thought she would keep an eye on Rachel in the mall, when they went shopping.

Sharon Davies was watching her new sister with caution, just in case this was one of her brother's pranks. Of course, if it was a prank, it was the ultimate prank, because right now, her brother Roger seems to be nowhere around. There is this girl named Rachel with the same last name, but she seems like a stranger; wait! She is a stranger, because until today, nobody, including Rachel, knew that Rachel even existed. It is like when Roger left the house that morning, he walked in to a vapor and at the same time, Rachel walked out of the vapor. It is the only explanation. Since their father was in his den, both Cammie and Sharon Davies sat down in the kitchen after it was cleaned up and talked with Rachel.

"Rachel, honey," Cammie Davies started. "What brought this on? I mean, did your decision to be a girl forever have anything to do with the clothes you have on?"

"No, mother," Rachel Davies answered her. "It was while I was with my friends at the White Tower. When Lou asked me if my name was Rachel, why were my teachers calling me Roger. I told her I didn't know, but it would be taken care of by the start of next semester. Then we made an excuse and went walking on Mitchell Street. We went to Goldman's, but on the way there, we looked at all the bride's gowns in the windows. I thought to myself, if only I could wear something like that at my wedding.

"I found this really nice navy blue a-line skirt and a top to match. But I didn't have enough money to buy it. The skirt was sixteen dollars and the top was only six dollars. I was kinda sad that I couldn't get the outfit."

"Well, young lady, what are we waiting for. Let's go and see if it is still there."

"You mean, you will actually get me my own outfit to wear to the mall? I won't have to wear my sister's hand-me downs? Thanx, mom, I really do love you."

Mother and daughter hugged, and then Cammie said they should be going. From where they lived it didn't take much time to get to Goldman's. Cammie parked in the parking lot, and they all went in the side door on tenth street. That was were the little restaurant in Goldman's was at.

Rachel led her mother and sister over to where she saw the skirt, and as luck would have it, it was still there. Then Rachel looked for the top and found that, too.

"Honey, why don't you try them on. I would like to see how the whole ensemble looks on you."

Rachel went in the changing booth and took off her sister's dress. She put on the shirt, as it was made to be tucked in. Then Rachel stepped in to the skirt, and fastened it around her. She stepped out of the booth to show her mother and sister.

"Oh my gosh! You...you are...are beautiful. While we are here, let's find a couple more skirts, some underthings, and a few more tops. Rachel, when we get home, would you like me to do your nails for you?"

"I would love that, mother."

After paying for the clothes, they went back out the same door to the parking lot. Cammie Davies saw what she needed to see in the store. Rachel was definitely her daughter, but the end of camp would tell her more. Rachel was looking forward to going to this camp. Tomorrow, they will go to Southridge in Greendale, and do their shopping for Rachel's camp clothes. There were a few sporting goods stores in the two story mall. But tonight, Cammie Davies was going to send her husband out of the house, so the girls could have a girls night in. She wanted to show Rachel just how much girls have bonding with each other.

When we are children, a girls night in is called a sleepover; when we are teens, it is a spend the night; and when we are adults it is a girls night in. Cammie Davies was going to start the girls night in by doing Rachel's nails, and telling her exactly what she was doing and why. Cammie wanted Rachel to feel comfortable as one of the girls.

Cammie Davies parked in front of the house, and they took Rachel's new clothes to her room.

"Come girls, we need to get rid of your father for about twelve or fourteen hours, maybe more." Sharon and Rachel giggled. Sharon had seen her mother do this a few times, when she and her mother had a girls night in.

Cammie and the girls went in to the den, and stood there looking at the man behind the easel. Richard Davies looked around the easel.

"May I help you ladies?"

"Yes, dear, you can. Would you go fishing for a day or two. Me and the girls need a little bonding time."

"A little bonding time. For a day, or maybe two. So, when I bring the fish back, which one is going to clean them?"

They all looked at each other, then they looked at Richard Davies.

"You are," The girls said together.

"I was afraid of that. Well, all right then, I suppose I can go fishing. You don't suppose maybe I could take a lunch with me for a couple of days."

"Of course, dear," Cammie Davies answered him I will fill the medium cooler with lunch meat, bread, crackers, a few packets of instant chicken soup broth, and maybe a few snacks. I will fill the small cooler with soda, and give you your thermos with coffee in it. Will there be anything else?"

"How about a young blonde, curvy..." Richard didn't get to finish as Cammie threw one of the couch pillows at him that was on his love seat.

"Come in the kitchen, dear. We will get your food. Better take an extra change of clothes, too. After you clean those fish, I want you to put your dirty laundry down in the basement. Where will you be, in case we need to get a hold of you?"

"At Perch Lake. I thought I'd go fishing for lake perch."

"That sounds good, dear."

Cammie and the girls made up the two coolers and took them out to the car. She kissed her husband, and he drove off to catch his fish. Cammie and the girls waited until he was out of sight before they went back in the house. It was a good thing that Richard Davies kept his tackle box in the back of his Range Rover.

"All right, ladies, the house is ours for at least a day. But I bet that your father will take the whole two days. Perch Lake is his favorite fishing place.

With the man of the house gone, the ladies were free to indulge. Cammie Davies went to get her kaboodle that had all of her nail supplies in it, plus makeup.

"Girls, before we start, Go and change in to something a little more comfy. I'm going to get in to my nightie, slippers and robe, and you both should do the same."

They went to get changed in to their girls night in clothes, and then the fun would begin. Cammie Davies didn't understand what came over Rachel all of a sudden, but if she was serious, then Cammie was going to hep her as much as possible. This girls night in was one of the things that made being a girl, with girls, a way of dealing with an otherwise tedious life.

Not that Cammie Davies had any reservations about being female, she just wished there was a better way for her gender to be able to exist in an otherwise male world. Of course, most men listened to their wives, sweethearts, finacées and female friends, because it was the decent thing to do.

Part II - Girls Night In.

When all three were in their nighties and pajama sets, Cammie told Rachel to come in the living room.

"All right, Rachel, I'm going to do your nails. The first thing I am going to do is give you a manicure and a pedicure. Now, you are not used to having your cuticles pushed back, so it may hurt a bit. But it is a necessary evil, if we want the nail polish to be uniform. I am also going to give you acrylic nails, like you would get when you go to a nail salon." She took out a large emery board. "This is for smoothing and shaping the finger nails. But first, let's push those cuticles back."

Cammie Davies took out a metal thing she called a cuticle pusher. She told Rachel that it will push back the cuticles.

"Honey, since you have never had this done, this may hurt a bit. Don't worry, though, me and Sharon have had this done countless times. So, if you are ready, let's get started."

Cammie Davies took Rachel's right arm and told her to open her hand all the way. Then she took the cuticle pusher and started pushing back Rachel's cuticles.

"Ouch!" Rachel yelled, pulling back her hand.

"Come on! What are you a girl or a mouse?"

"Uhm, a mouse?"

"Nice try, young lady."

"After a few hundred times, you don't even hardly feel it any more. But, dear one, you have to start some time."

"Sis, I did the same thing when mom took me to get my nails done the first time. You are not alone."

"It isn't that I feel alone, it's that it hurts."

"After a few cuticles, you won't even feel it. Besides the finished product will be well worth it."

Cammie Davies was continuing with Rachel's cuticles as she talked.

"This is some of the things we go through to look nice, and even go a little further for our men. Now, I am going to buff your nails, then I am going to glue on these tips. I will smooth those down, and then I will start with the acrylic. I think one quarter inch will be good enough for now. After you have had your nails done a few times, you can pick the length and style you want."

"Sis, when mom is finished with the acrylic, I will polish your fingernails, while mom gives you a pedicure and polishes your toenails. This is all part of a girls night in. Then you have to let the polish dry, and we will tell you when it is dry enough. This polish is fast drying, so it shouldn't be long. By the time mom is finished with your toenails, your fingernails should be dry.

"I am going to teach you how to put makeup on, because mom is just a little old fashioned in what she wears. We girls today, have a whole different look, we can make our eyes seductive without being trashy; we can create a smokey look, that can match certain outfits. The bad thing about that look is, you can't wear it to school, or they will make you wash it off.

"While we are doing all of this, we will watch "chick flicks". We can start with Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and go from there. So, little sister, what should we watch?"

"The Princess Diaries?"

"I love that movie," Cammie said, with enthusiasm. "Sharon, put it in."

Cameron Davies was done pushing back Rachel's cuticles, and smoothing and buffing her nails. Now she was ready to start with the plastic tips. She took each tip and matched it to Rachel's fingers. It was a good thing that Rachel's hands were feminine and her fingers long and slender. After Cammie Davies set the plastic tips in a row, she got out a small bottle of glue. She dabbed a little on each tip, and set them on Rachel's fingers. She got out what looked like a dentist's drill, only smaller.

"Now, Rachel, I'm going to buff the tips, and then I will start putting on the acrylic. Once your nails dry, they will be on there permanently, and the only way they will come off is if you let them grow out, or cut them but the acrylic will stay on. They do have a remover, but it would be a waste to use it after going through so much effort to get them just perfect."

Cameron Davies reached in her kaboodle and took out a plastic tray with indents on it. She place Rachel's fingers in these indents, and began smoothing and buffing the tips. Then she took the acrylic mixture and started on Rachel's fingers.

Rachel watched with fascination at how her mother did this so effortlessly. Cammie Davies put a clear paste like mixture on Rachel's fingers, and then shaped the mixture. After a while, when all ten fingers were completed, Cameron Davies started on Rachel's toes, while Sharon put nail polish on Rachel's fingernails.

Cameron Davies cut Rachel's toenails straight across and buffed them. She placed cotton balls between Rachel's toes, to separate them. Then she put on a clear liquid she called a base coat. When she was done with one foot, she started on the other. Cameron Davies had put on a light pink polish on her toes, like Sharon did with her fingers. When Sharon and her mother were done with Rachel's finger and toe nails, Cammie Davies took out a small fan she had in her kaboodle.

"Now, Hold your hands in front of the fan, like so." Rachel's mother showed her what she meant. "After a few minutes, take your index finger and lightly wipe across the nail. It should be dry on both hands. I will make sure your toes are dry, too.

"Now, ladies, what say we order something to watch our movies with?"

"Sounds good to me," Sharon Davies replied.

"Me, too," replied Rachel. "Pizza!"

"All right. When the pizza gets here, your nails should be dry. I will show you how to pick up a slice of pizza, using the pads of your fingers, instead of your nails."

Cameron Davies called Moretti's Pizza Place just three blocks down the street. They had a pizza special that had three different meats of the customer's choice, as well as onions, mushrooms, sweet banana peppers, green peppers and black olives. She ordered it for delivery, and was told within the hour. As they pretended to watch Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Sharon suggested that she should do Rachel's hair. Rachel said okay, and Sharon went to get her kaboodle that had all her hair things in it. Rollers, clips, bobby pins, barrettes, hair ties, brush, hair dryer, curling iron, flat iron and a cloth to place over Rachel's front, so none of the hair products gets on Rachel's pajamas.

Sharon started brushing Rachel's hair. She spent almost ten minutes brushing Rachel's hair.

"All right, sis, now I am going to roll your hair in these rollers and put some of this gunk on your hair to hold the curl. Are we ready, sis?"

"Yes."

Sharon started with the big rollers for the top of the head and the small rollers for the sides, back and bangs. She had a small mirror that she let Rachel watch, as she did each roller.

"Are you watching me? Because this is all a part of the experience. What you need, besides this kind of pampering, is a day at the spa. You get your hair and nails done, you get waxed and massaged, you get a facial, and then for the coup d'grá¢ce, they do your makeup. This whole experience can last for the whole morning, the whole afternoon, or the whole day. "

The doorbell rang, and Cameron Davies went to answer it. It was the pizza delivery guy. Besides paying for the pizza, she gave the young man a two dollar tip. She took the pizza in the kitchen, and set it on the table. She got out three paper plates, and set two slices on each plate. Then she poured a gin and tonic for herself, a ginger ale for Sharon, and a Dr. Pepper for Rachel. She took two of the pizza plates in to the living room and went back for the other plate and the tray with the drinks on it.

"There we go ladies. Rachel, your nails should be done. Just use you index fingers to wipe lightly across the tops of the fingernails. If it feels smooth, and doesn't smudge or chip, that means it is dry." Rachel followed her mother's instructions, and found that the nails were indeed dry. "Now Rachel, hold out your hands, palms down." Cameron Davies sprayed something across the tops of the nails. "This is a hardner that keeps the polish from chipping.

"Now, let me show you the way to pick up a slice of pizza without ruining the polish or getting grease all over your nails. Slide your fingers under the pizza slice like this," Rachel watched. "Lift up the crust end of the slice up, take your other hand and lift it up. Use both hands to eat it, like this."

"That is a lot better, mom, than I have seen some of the guys do. I mean, they just grab a slice of pizza any old way, and gobble it down like they're starving, or something."

"Yes, dear, most boys and men do that. They think it is the 'manly' way of eating, having no clue that it is disgusting. Well, we missed over half of the movie, want to watch another one?"

"No, mom, let's just sit here and talk. I'm having fun...a lot of fun."

"Well, dear, what would you like to talk about?"

"I'd like Sharon to tell me more about the camp. I have never been to a camp before, girls or boys."

Sharon sat on the floor, cross-legged, and started talking about the camp. She even shared a little camp legend with her mother and sister.

"This girl, that did the rock garden, stayed in the same cabin you will be staying in. On the camp files, it is cabin 3 or as the campers call it, cabin Bambi because it has a deer above the door. Anyway, there is one more opening, and Miss Loretta said she is going to wait for me to call her to say we found someone. Do you know someone who wants to go to camp?"

"Yes, let me call her." Rachel called Louise Stark. "Hey Lou, Rachel, my sister Sharon says there is one more opening at camp. Do you want to go? She's asking her parents."

"Let me talk to them." Rachel handed the phone to Sharon. "Hello? Oh, yes, I'm Rachel's sister Sharon and I was asked by the camp owner if I could find someone who wants to go to camp. Rachel is going, so Lou would have at least one person she knows there. She can? Great. Camp starts July first and goes til the end of the second last week in August. The cost? It is fifteen hundred dollars per camper. That pays for everything, unless maybe you leave her some money in her account so she can get a pop, an ice cream or some other kind of snack. Well, she can leave with us, and she needs to be here by seven thirty in the morning. I have to be there as soon as I can because I am going to be a junior counselor working with Rachel's cabin counselor. You will? Great Mr. Stark and thank you."

"Lou's dad said she can go."

"YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

"Rachel, you aren't excited about Louise going to camp, by any chance. Are you?"

"Not at all, mom." All three giggled.

When Rachel let out her yippee, Cameron Davies smiled to herself, at the feminine way Rachel let out her exuberant response. She thought that if Rachel wasn't a girl before this punishment, she sure is now. Cameron Davies also noticed that she referred to Rachel in the feminine, because it is really difficult to think of her as anything but her sweet, loveable, Rachel.

Sharon put The Princess Diaries in, and they sat back and watched it. But, before the movie was even half way through, Cameron Davies looked at Rachel and noticed that she was asleep. She motioned for Sharon to take a look.

"Mom, you need to use my phone and take a picture. This is definitely a Kodak moment."

Cameron Davies got Sharon's cell phone and took a picture of her youngest daughter sleeping so peacefully on the sofa. After the picture was taken, Cameron Davies went and got a blanket and a pillow. She placed the pillow gently under Rachel's head, and covered her with the blanket. Then she kissed Rachel on the forehead.

"She looks so...peace...ful. Like an...an...gel.

Sharon Davies kissed her sister on the forehead, then went to her bedroom to print out the photo of Rachel. She would have her mother get a frame for this, because it was so cute.

The Camp of The Willows - Chapter 4
by Barbara Lynn Terry

(Author's Note: The places and events I put in my stories may no longer exist, but let's say for sake of argument, that they still exist today.

Everybody on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was sad to see Goldman's department store close on Polish Grand Avenue (Mitchell Street) and even though White Castle, Inc. (owners of the White Towers) still exists and is in business in Illinois and other states on the east coast, they are no longer in business in Wisconsin. A lot of companies have left Wisconsin because of high taxes, including the machine division of Eaton Corporation. ).

Part I - It is two days away from going to camp.

"Morning, Rachel," Cammie Davies said, with a smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, mother, thank you. Mom? I only want a slice of jelly toast, milk and orange juice."

"Are you feeling okay?" Cammie Davies asked, feeling Rachel's forehead.

"Yes, mom, I feel fine."

"Then what is with the eating like a bird routine?"

"Mom, I'm a girl, I need to watch my weight."

Cammie Davies understood, and made Rachel her toast, while Rachel poured her milk and juice.

"Are you sure you don't want any eggs, or sausages with your toast?"

"No, mother. Just the toast with jelly on it, please."

Cammie Davies was not used to Rachel being polite. If this was another of Roger's pranks, it was one Cammie Davies couldn't see through. Was Rachel really serious about living as a girl forever? She was going to see, because the day after tomorrow is when Sharon and Rachel left for camp.

"Honey, you will have to pack your suitcase that you are taking with you for the summer. You will be at this camp for seven weeks, and you need a change of lingerie every day, especially your panties. No girl wears her panties two days in a row for hygiene reasons. Sharon is going to be a junior counselor there, and she said she will be working with Betty, who is your cabin counselor. If you are unsure of anything, just ask Sharon or Betty. Maybe even the girls in your cabin will help you, too."

"Mom, what if the girls in my cabin don't like me? What if they make fun of me?"

"Then you will just have to grin and bear it. Adults do that every day of our adult lives. There are things that disappoint us in life and we just have to take it. It is part of life. But, I have a feeling that the girls in your cabin will be asked about you being there. But, if they do as you are worried about, then we can deal with that. Honey, since you told me you wanted to stay a girl, I have noticed a remarkable change in you."

"Thank you, mom. I'd better go and pack my suitcase so it's ready."

"Dear, why don't you wait and I will help you. There is a certain way to fold a skirt without wrinkling it. Plus, there are things I will show you, that you need to put in your suitcase, too. You have the attitude, and this camp will see if you have the discipline. Sharon, Betty, her sister and mother are not going to show you what discipline you need. That is up to you to figure out. Rachel, this camp will be your lessons in girlhood and your admission in to a very exclusive club called womanhood. Not everybody gets to be a member of this exclusive club. So, go in the living room and I will be in when I am finished here."

Rachel went in the living room and sat down. She took one of her mother's Cosmopolitan magazines, and started reading. She saw different ways to do her hair, a nice way to do her nails. She even saw fashions that were being advertised, too. Cammie Davies came in the living room.

"Are you ready to go and pack?"

"Yes, mom. I was reading about how to do my nails, without being messy."

"Did you understand the article?"

"Yes, and they showed a Jacquard dress that looked very pretty."

"Honey, those dresses cost a lot of money. I'm not spending $200 dollars just for a dress. A prom gown, a semi formal, but not an everyday dress. I think we should get you a nice dress to go to camp in. The dresses and skirt outfits you have, we will pack in your suit case. You can wear jeans and cami tomorrow. I know, we can go to Sylvia's, she always has something nice for a decent price. You will see the difference in good quality dresses and skirts even if they aren't a Jacquard."

"I was just reading the articles, and on the page where the story began, there was this model that had on a nice pair of black pumps."

"Did it say how much those shoes were?"

"Yes, they said $125 dollars."

"Honey, you can get at least four pair of decent quality pumps for that price. Those companies that advertise clothes in those magazines, need a lesson in how to get the general public interested in their designs. I have seen purses, too, in those magazines that sell for $200 dollars. That is outrageous. Anyway, you have good quality clothes just like any other girl your age. Now, let's get you packed. Watch how I fold this skirt, then I want you to do one.

"Take the skirt and fold it in half, and then in half again turning the waist down toward the hem. Set it gently in the suitcase. Now you do one."

Rachel folded the skirt like her mother had shown her. "That was good. Now for the shirts. Take the arms of the shirt and hold them, folding the shirt in half, length wise, take the arms like so and place them against one side of the shirt. Fold the shirt in half again, and then in half again, so the collar shows on top. Now you try it." Rachel didn't do quite as good with the shirt as she had done with the skirt. "Try it again."

This time she did it almost perfect. "Here, let me show you." She took the shirt and with deft hands, folded it neatly. "Now, you try again."

Rachel did it perfect on the third try.

"Your dresses we can hang in the suitcase. That is what this zippered compartment is for. Just take your dresses and hang them in here like this." Rachel then packed her clothes. "Now, you need your toothbrush, tooth paste, hair brush, curlers, hair ties and clips, soap, soap dish, and some perfume. Let me see. I am forgetting something, I know I am. Oh! We can't forget stationary and pens. We also should pick you up a couple of disposable cameras while we are out tomorrow. All campers want pictures of their memorable camp experiences."

"Mom, what about the hair on my legs and underarms?"

"Oh, how careless of me. Yes, you will need a ladies razor and I will get you a ladies Gillette complete with blade cartridges. Yes, that should do it, then. Close your suit case, dear. The clothes you have on now, will go in the wash tonight, and you can wear your jeans and a cami tomorrow. Then, tomorrow we will go to Sylvia's and get you a nice summer dress to go to camp in. Maybe even go to Denny's after."

"Who's going to Denny's?" Sharon asked.

"Well, I am going to take Rachel in to Sylvia's for a nice summer dress to go to camp in. Then I thought we could go to Denny's for a little lunch."

"I want to come, too."

"I think that is a good idea. It is too bad your father has to work, or I would ask him to come along, too. So, tomorrow's agenda is full. We know what we want, where to go to get it, and then have a three martini lunch afterwards." The three women giggled. "Rachel, what are your plans for the rest of today?"

"I thought I'd go to the Tower and hang with the crowd."

"May I come with you, Rachel?" Sharon asked.

"Yes, sis, I would like that."

"You said that Andy Prichard tried to 'cool' talk you in to sitting with him?"

"Yeah, and it is funny, too. He kept at me when I kept saying no, so Doug Reynolds told him to leave me alone. Doug looked like he was ready to kill Andy."

"Then I do want to come along."

They gave their parents hugs and kisses and said they would be back by dinner. Cammie Davies just smiled, because she knew Sharon wouldn't let Rachel get in any trouble or even start any.

"Have a nice afternoon, girls." Cammie Davies busied herself with straightening up around the house, and pretending this or that needed to be dusted. After she was finished pretending she was doing housework, Cammie Davies went in Richard Davies den.

"Dear, may we talk for a bit?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"It's about Rachel. You were at work last night when Rachel, I and Sharon had a talk. Rachel told me through genuine tears, that she wants to stay as Rachel forever. I thought this was another of Roger's pranks, but Rachel shows all the signs of femininity without a trace of male anywhere."

"That fits, because the first day we started the punishment, Rachel gave me a hug before she left and then whispered 'you have no idea what you have done'. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now what you just said, that is probably what she meant. By the way, where is she?"

"Her and Sharon went to the White Tower restaurant by South Division High School."

"Cammie, do you think making Rachel as a girl that first day was the catalyst that turned our little caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. Rachel has never dressed like this before we made her, that I know of. Now, we have Rachel forever."

"Well, truth be known, Cammie, I will take Rachel over Roger any day."

"I will, too, Richard. Tomorrow I am taking her to Sylvia's Boutique on Main Street. I want to get her a new dress to wear to camp. I am also going to pick her up a pair of shoes to go with the dress, and a couple of 24 exposure, disposable cameras. Maybe new lingerie to go with the new dress, too."

"Would you like them to tow the store over here and put it in our back yard?"

"Oh, Richard." They both laughed.

As Sharon and Rachel walked in to the White Tower on the southeast corner of South Twelfth and West Mitchells Streets, Marie was already making up their Cokes and fries.

"Do you girls want anything other than a Coke and fries?"

"Yes, Marie," Sharon said, smiling. "I'll have a cheesburger."

"I will have the same, Marie," Rachel said, kind of demurely.

"Well, hey Sharon. Long time, no see. Wanna go out with me this Saturday to a movie?"

"Well, Andy, since you mentioned it, no."

"Awww c'mon baby, it's just a movie."

"Andy do you remember when you were just a stupid freshman?"

"Yeah, I do. Why?"

"Well," Sharon continued, "you may not be a freshman any more, but you are still stupid."

"Oh, c'mon, baby. Just a movie."

"Well, Andy, you're at it again. Why don't you leave the ladies alone, before you and I go outside for some wall-to-wall head banging.

"Doug, can't I even get a break? I was only asking Sharon if she wanted to go to a movie, this Saturday night."

"Andy, get lost."

"Yes, Doug."

"Hey, Sharon," Doug said, in a friendly manner. "I hear you're going to be a junior counselor this summer at a girls camp. Are you kind of excited?"

"Yes, Doug, I am. I not only get to go to camp, but I get paid for it, too."

"So, what are you going to do with all that loot?"

"I'm putting it away for my college. Mom and daddy said if I make an effort, they will help me get in to college."

"Hey, that's great. Just what we need around here; another brain."

"Oh, Doug," Sharon said, in mock indignation, hitting his arm lightly.

"Hey, if Andy bothers you again, let me know. He has been trying to hit on every girl that has come in here, lately."

Sharon looked over at Andy, who had his back towards her. She thought that if he cleaned up his act, he could be a decent guy. But as it is now, Andrew Prichard is just a jerk.

Louise Stark, Janet Crane and Emily Watson came in.

"Hey, Rach, hi Sharon, it is good to see you. May we sit down."

"Yes, I was saving these seats just for you," Rachel fibbed.

"So, Rachel, we leave for camp day after tomorrow. I can't wait to get there. Seven whole weeks of not being bored."

"For sure. Hey, tomorrow, my mom and Sharon are taking me to Sylvia's to get a new dress to go to camp in. Could you guys meet us there?"

"Hey, sure," Louise Stark answered. "Then we can actually make sure you get our kind of fashions instead of what your mom picks out."

Everybody giggled.

"Hey, my mom is cool. She knows what we girls like today, and she hems and haws a little, but she gets them for me any way."

"That's great, Rach," Janet Crane added. "I have to fight with my mom just to get a skirt at mid thigh."

"You know we are like almost twenty years younger than our parents. I suppose that back in the 80's they wore granny dresses." Everybody giggled, again.

"Emily, that is funny. I keep telling my parents about what I supposed it was like for them in the olden days. My dad says, 'old, hey, I'll show you old'." The girls giggled again.

"Okay, kids, this is not a hang out. If you're not eating or drinking whatever beverage, you have to leave." Irene was the Iron Maiden, when she said leave, and you didn't leave, she stood over you, glaring right through you, until you left.

"It's a good thing we have the fries to nibble on. Marie, two more orders of fries, please."

Marie made the fries and brought them over. Irene came over by their booth.

"Girls, you actually behave yourselves in here. It is mainly the boys that come in and lounge around their girlfriends and don't order anything. Sharon, I haven't seen you in a while. What are your plans for the summer?"

"I'm going to be a junior counselor at the Camp of the Willows. Rachel is going to camp, too."

"If your name is Rachel, why has everybody been calling you Roger? I mean, I always wondered why they would call a girl by a boy's name."

"I don't know, either, but my mom and dad said they will find out. Maybe the teachers are dyslexic."

"Maybe, but, it is good to see you as you instead of that frumpy tomboy that has been coming in here."

"Irene, you never talk to us. You just seem to do work, then leave."

"Well, I just wanted you to know that this group has never been a problem here."

"Thank you, Irene." Irene smiled and went back to her job.

As Manager of this White Tower and the one on North twelfth and West Wells Streets, she was always running between the two. Rachel thought that Irene spends more time at this one, because South Division Senior High School is just two blocks away. The high school kids like to hang out at this White Tower.

As the afternoon wore on, Sharon Davies looked at her wrist watch and told Rachel it was time they started for home. After making sure their friends would meet them at Sylvia's the next day, they left for their house. On the way, Sharon and Rachel talked.

"Sharon, are you angry with me?"

"No, sis, what ever gave you that idea?"

"Because this started out as a punishment, but I want to live this way forever. Are you angry at me because I don't want to be Roger any

more?" Sharon Davies smiled at her sister.

"No, sis, I am not angry at you. I may be a little baffled by this change, but I think it is a nice change."

"Do you really think so, sis?"

"Yes, sis, I do."

"Thank you, sis, I was thinking that because I want to stay as Rachel, everybody was disappointed, especially dad."

"I'm sure that if you ask him, he will say that you are very pretty just the way you are. Men are like that, sis. They give us compliments all the time when they don't know what else to say. Like, I remember the time daddy forgot their anniversary. Mom didn't say anything, but a week later he brought home a box of chocolates and a dozen white roses. So, don't worry, sis, I'm sure daddy will like you for whomever you are."

"I hope so," Rachel said, not believing it.

"Well, well, well, now that Doug ain't around, how about we take up where we left off, Sharon."

"Yes, well, where we left off was me telling you to get lost."

"I may, then again I may not."

"Listen creep, get away from us, or I will blast this horn so loudly, the neighbors will come out to see what is going on. Is that what you want,

Andrew Prichard?"

"Hey, I just wanted to go to a movie with you."

"Well, this Saturday, I am going to be at camp and so will Rachel. One other thing, Andrew Prichard, if you ever come on to my sister again, I will make sure that Doug tries to make you a part of the sidewalk. Leave us alone, creep. Rach, I think when we get home, we will daddy what this creep has been up to."

"Why can't I ask Rachel out to a movie?"

"Because she is only twelve years old. She won't be thirteen until August. You, Andrew Prichard, are seventeen. You lay one hand on my sister, and you will wish you had stayed home that day."

"Oh yeah, and just what are you going to about it?"

"Not her, Andy. Me!" Doug said, as he let is presence be known. "I thought I would tag along when I saw you go out after these ladies left.

You just don't know when to stop. Now I have a challenge for you, Andy, if you think you are 'man' enough to handle such a challenege."

"I'm all man," Andy Prichard said, flexing his non-existent muscles.

Sharon and Rachel began giggling.

"What's the challenge, Doug?"

"See if you can act like a gentleman, at least for one day. Do you think you can do that?"

"That isn't much of challenge. That sounds like a sissy thing to me."

"Andy, come with me, I want to show you something." Doug Reynolds and Andy Prichard went in the alley, and Sharon and Rachel continued toward their house. They could hear shouts of "no, Doug, no". The girls looked at each other and stifled a giggle.

"That will teach that creep. I hope Doug didn't hurt him too much."

Douglas Reynolds was a sophomore at South Division Senior High School. He was on the wrestling team, he was part of the weight lifting club, and he was also doing track during physical education class. He was decent toward the ladies. If he asked a girl to a movie and she said no, Doug Reynolds let it drop.

As they walked in the door of their house, they saw their father sitting in his recliner.

"We're back daddy," Rachel said, giving her father a hug.

"I see and thanks for the hug, punkin. I hope you didn't get filled up at that restaurant, because we are having BBQ ribs for dinner. I'm making them on the grill, and bringing them inside. This way we can enjoy them without the uninvited ants." Rachel giggled.

"Ants have to eat, too, ya know." Sharon and Cammie Davies giggled at what Rachel had said.

"Well, I am going to make the salad, while your father barbecues and maybe even a side of mac and cheese."

"That souds delicious, mom," Rachel added.

"Would you girls like to help cut up the vegetables for the salad and shred the lettuce?"

"Yes, mom," Sharon and Rachel chimed in together.

"Well, Let's get started," Cammie Davies said, with a smile.

As the girls went in the kitchen and got everything out that they would need, Cammie Davies looked at Rachel in the female environment. She was thinking if this was a prank, then it was a prank on Roger, who should have been born Rachel. She shook the thought from her head and smiled inwardly. It didn't matter who she was before, but she is Rachel now, and that is all that counts.

While Cammie cut the onion, black olives, tomatoes, cubed the Colby Jack cheese, Sharon was shredding and rinsing the lettuce. Rachel was making the macaroni and cheese. This was made from scratch as the Davies family didn't believe in packaged meals, when you could make it fresh at home, and have it taste better. Besides, fresh made meals were better for you because they didn't have all those pacgaging ingredients that added to the product. While the water for the elbow macaroni was heating up on the stove, Rachel took the bell shaped shredder and shredded two cups of sharp cheddar cheese to put in with the macaroni when it was done boiling and drained. With the cheese shredded, a half of a stick of margarine, and a one quarter cup of milk, Rachel Davies would have the mac and cheese done by the time her father brought in the BBQ ribs.

With the dinner prepared and placed on the dining room table, They stood around their chairs while Rachel said grace.

"Thank you, Lord, for this food, this family, my friends, and letting me find myself. I will not disappoint you. Amen." They all sat down and passed around the food until each had their servings.

"Rachel, that was the best grace yet, that I have ever heard. It was humble, genuine and from the heart. You're going to be just fine."

"Thank you, daddy. Daddy, would you like to come along with us to Sylvia's tomorrow to my new dress?"

"I wish I could, punkin, but, I have to work. I'm one of the supervisors, and I haven't asked if I could trade days with someone. When you ladies make plans, make them in advance so I can ask one of the other supervisors if they would like to trade days. Women!"

"Men!" All three girls exclaimed.

"All right, I guess I deserved that," Richard Davies said, in mock defeat. There were giggles and laughter. This is what it means to be a family.

"So, are you girls excited about going to camp?"

"Yes, daddy," Sharon and Rachel said together.

"Daddy," Sharon Davies continued. "I talked to Miss Loretta and she said that Cabin Bambi is for girls Rachel's age. Cabin Bambi has another reason, too. It is a cabin that Miss Loretta has reserved for male to female transgnedered males. There will be half transgender, and half genetic girls. Miss Loretta told me that this year, with Rachel being there, that Cabin Bambi was full. I told her I wanted to show Rachel the rock garden that another girl like Rachel had started and then had the whole camp help put it together.

"Miss Loretta said that just so nobody would argue over who did the most work on it, she decided to put it in the administration building's trophy case. When we get there, Rachel, you can read the card in front of the rock garden. When I first saw it, I marveled at how well it was constructed and was awed by the colorful rocks that were found to make it. Miss Loretta said that this rock garden was the best original craft by a, or all of, the campers. Those campers got to go back to camp the next summer for free, because everybody chipped in finding the rocks and gluing them to the board.

"So, Rach, you are going to have fun. There is hiking, or what Miss Loretta calls nature walks. On these hikes, we will learn about ferns,

mushrooms versus toadstools, we will learn about poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, we will learn about reeds, grasses, insects, animals, we will even have a class on the different types of clouds. There is a sewing cabin, where if you're lucky enough, you can get in to make a dress, skirt, blouse, or whatever. The girls all use the sewing machines in the sewing cabin. So, if you can't get in the first time, keep trying. There is a commissary where you can buy snacks. Now, you won't be able to carry money with you, but when you go to the commissary, you give them your name and birth date, and they look it up and deduct the cost of the snacks you are buying, from your account. This is going to be a wonderful experience for you, Rach. I am glad that you are my sister." Rachel and Sharon hugged for what seemed like an eternity.

"Girls, it seems that everybody is done with dinner. Come and let's get this dining room and the kitchen cleaned up, while your father takes care of the grill."

The three went in the kitchen where they put aprons on over their clothes. Rachel took a serving tray and went to clear the dining room table of the left overs, and other things. After shaking the table crumbs in to a waste basket, Rachel took the tablecloth, and the serving tray out to the kitchen. There was a hamper in the hallway just outside the back kitchen door. Rachel put the table cloth in the hamper, and went to wash off the dining room table. Sharon and Cammie Davies were washing and drying the dishes. When Rachel was done with the table, she then started on the dining room floor, making sure that it was swept and mopped.

The Swiffer Wet Jet was perfect for making sure the floor was not only mopped, but disinfected as well. When Rachel was done with the dining room and the Swiffer Wet Jet was put away and the dirty pads were in the garbage, the three settled down in the living room, and turned on the television. There was nothing good on, so Sharon, Rachel and Cammie just sat and talked.

"Mom, I think I'm going upstairs and get ready for bed, them come back down and we can talk some more."

"Why don't we all get in to something a little more comfy and then come back down?"

"Sounds great, mom," Sharon added.

Each one was gone maybe fifteen minutes, when they came back down and sat in the living room. As they sat down, Sharon suggested they

make popcorn later when they would watch a movie. Tonight's movie is A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court with Bing Crosby. They had seen the movie many times, but always watched it when it came on. During the school year they didn't have much time for television, what with homework and such. So they talked about camp and how much fun it was there. Sharon dominated the discussion, because she had been to camp every summer since she was seven. Now, this year, she is going to camp as a junior counselor. Sharon said the counselors had just as much fun as the campers did. She also said that Rachel was goingto have a lot of fun, because "she will learn how to be quite the girl".

"What do you mean, she will be quite the girl?"

"Mom, think about it. Rachel asked to talk to me and told me and you, when you came home, that she wants to stay Rachel forever. She won't have any formal lessons, but just being around the girls, being accepted by the girls, and having fun as a girl, will make her into the Rachel she wants to be. When she comes back from camp, she will have gone through experiences you and I spent years learning. Rachel picks up on things quickly. So, when she gets back, you won't see anybody but Rachel, and she will do it all by herself."

"Well, then this camp should be a wonderful experience for you, Rachel. Do you agree with what your sister said?"

"Yes, mom, I do. Sis, I have a wonderful idea for a camp project, too."

"Like what did you have in mind?"

"We could get the whole camp involved looking for sticks and ferns and cut the wood into small sticks and make a village of thatched pole huts. We could even put some of the sticks in the center of the village for a communal fire pit."

"And you want the whole camp involved in this?"

"Yes, sis. You gave me the idea when you said that other girl years ago had the whole camp involved in finding rocks for a rock garden. Well, since the rock garden thing has already been done, I figured we could all build a small village."

"You know, dear, that sounds like a wonderful project. It is original and creative. It will give the campers a sense of accomplishment."

"Thanks, mom. I am just wondering how big of a board we would need to make a good sized village. Well, I will talk to my cabin roomies when I get there and Miss Loretta and Betty, too."

"Okay, you brat, just who are you and what have you done with my sister, Rachel? Are you an alien body snatcher?" They all giggled.

"Why do you say that, sis?"

"Because, brat, do you know how responsible and grown up that is? You want to try and get everybody a free trip to camp, next year with this village project. You're only my little sis in age, but your mind has grown quite a ways in the last two and a half weeks. I am very proud to call you my sister."

"Thank...thank you...sis." Rachel started crying, because now she knew that she should not have played those pranks on Sharon. "Sis, can you ever forgive me for being such a jerk?"

"Sis, when you said you wanted to be Rachel forever, and that you wanted to be my sister forever, I forgave you right then. Cheer up, sis, everything will be all right."

"Thank you, sis." Rachel laid her head on Sharon's shoulder, and cuddled up on the sofa.

"I'm going to make some popcorn. Rachel, why don't you find the movie we want to watch. I think it is on HBO."

"Yes, mom, it is." Rachel turned on the television and waited until her mother brought in the popcorn.

They sat and watched the movie laughing at Merlin trying to light a match that already burned out. They laughed at King Arthur when he went out among his people to see how they really lived. "Me thinks these clothes are inhabited", he said, scratching his upper body. It was hilarious when Bing Crosby put a "spell" on the moon to cover the sun, and when they begged himto set the sun free, he says, "Olly Olly oxen free, this is Sir Boss, you can come out now". Then at the end when he takes the tour of the castle, he makes comments about the displays and then is invited to the castle owner's private residence. He is told it is beautiful in the garden, and when he looks out, he sees the woman he saw in his delirious dream.

When the movie was over, and there was still almost a full bowl of popcorn left, Cammie Davies noticed that Rachel was sound asleep.

"I hate to wake her," Cammie Davies whispered, with concern on her face.

"Mom," Sharon Davies added. "I could get her a pillow and a blanket. To tell the truth, this sofa is more comfortable to sleep on, than a bed at the Camp of the Willows." They both giggled softly.

"Well, I suppose it will be all right for one night. Maybe she will get up and get in her own bed. The only things we have to do tomorrow is go to Sylvia's for Rachel's dress and things. Then the day after that, you both go to camp. I am counting on you to look after your little sister."

"I would do that anyway, mom. Nobody is going to hurt my little sister." Cammie Davies smiled, as she and Sharon said good night and kissed Rachel on her forehead. Then Cammie Davies and Sharon both went to bed.

The Camp Of The Willows - Chapter 5
By barbara Lynn Terry

Cammie Davies went in to Rachel’s room to wake her up. It appeared that sometime during the night, Rachel had gotten in to her own bed. But, when Cammie Davies went in Rachel’s room, she found Rachel wide awake. She was just finishing getting dressed, when her mom walked in.

“Well, I was going to wake you up, but it looks like you beat me to it. Is everything ready for camp?”

“Yes, mom, I heard Sharon just a bit ago, I think she is ready, too.”

“You know, dear, with Sharon there with you, I won’t worry too much about how you are getting along. Remember, dear, Sharon has already been to this camp. She has talked with Miss Loretta and her two daughters about you. So, she knows there will at least be two others in your cabin just like you. If the genetic girls don’t like you, Sharon has told me that Miss Loretta will have them moved, space providing. Not every camper there will know about you, just the ones in your cabin. Sharon has told me that the girls will be warned not to spread anything about you and the other transgender campers. If they do, they will be asked to leave when their parents pick them up. But, I don’t think you will have any problems.”

“I know she won’t, mom,” Sharon said, coming in to Rachel’s room. “Miss Loretta runs a tight ship, as the saying goes. The girls in Rachel’s cabin will be the ones who accept transgender people. So, remember, sis, act like a lady at all times, and everything else will fall into place. So, if we are ready … Oh! Is daddy up?”

“Yes, he is Sharon, and he is getting the car all packed with your suitcases. So, ladies, without further ado, I say that we get going.”

The Davies women left the house, and went out to the car. Everybody put their seat belts on. Richard Davies never put the car in gear until the seat belts were fastened. Besides, he hated that beeping, every time someone didn’t fasten their seat belt. Once, everyone was settled in, Richard Davies put the car in gear, and they were off to The Camp of the Willows. It took them ninety minutes to get to the camp, but, Betty saw them first.

“Mom, they’re here.”

Miss Loretta, the owner of the camp, came over and greeted the Davies family.

“Hello Sharon, it is nice to see you again. This must be Rachel. You are assigned to Cabin number 3, or Cabin Bambi, as we like to call it. That is because there is a wooden plaque of a deer over the doorway. Anyway, after check-in, why don’t we all go to my office, and we will talk. Mr. And Mrs. Davies, Rachel, maybe Sharon would like to show you around the camp. Check-in is going to take a while.”

“I would love to show them around, Miss Loretta. I think they will find it very interesting. I especially want to show them the rock garden that Allison got the whole camp to help make.”

“That is a good idea, Sharon, you can start in the administration building. You can then show them the ‘safe’ trails, and the ones to stay away from.”

“I will do that, Miss Loretta. Mom, dad, sis, let’s begin the beguine.”

Sharon took her family to the administration building and to the trophy case. This case was filled by projects that have been done by past campers, and some current campers. Rachel did not see anything that resembled her idea for a camp project. And it would take the whole camp to help with the project, so it would be done by the project judging, which is the second last day of camp.

“There is the rock garden that Allison Kingston started, then got the whole camp involved. They looked for rocks that had color to them, or fancy design. The whole camp took turns gluing the rocks to the board. The finished project is what you see there. The whole camp got a free summer camp the next year.”

“I don’t see my idea anywhere in there, sis,” Rachel said to Sharon.

“Neither, do I, sis. That makes your idea original. We can talk to Miss Loretta and Betty and her sister tomorrow. Let’s go over by the cafeteria, where the commissary is. I will show you where and how everything works.

“As you can see, we have picnic table-like benches where the campers sit and eat. Over here, is the commissary, where you can buy potato chips, popcorn, candy bars, hard candy, toothpaste, even a small bottle of perfume, for a small fortune, of course. While we are here, let me show you the swimming pool.

“This is the shallow end, where, dear sister, you will be, until you can show Miss Betty that you can swim the length of the pool. You have to swim, to one end, then back again. If you can do that, you will be permitted to use the entire pool. Let’s go over by the playing field.”

Sharon explained that the playing field was used for baseball. It had two tennis courts that were fenced in, so that a stray ball couldn’t hit the tennis players. There was also a badminton court, and that was also fenced in. Sharon then took them by the nature trails.

“These two trails here are called the ‘safe’ trails. You can learn a lot about the differences in a toadstool and a mushroom and a poisonous mushroom. You can learn about the different flowers, different kinds of trees. You can have fun here, as well as learn a few things. We don’t have time go down even one trail, as check-in is almost over. Let’s go back by the group.”

Sharon took her family back where they first saw Betty. Check-in, indeed, was almost over. There were only a few more girls that needed to be checked in and given their cabin assignments. Betty saw them coming back.

“Rachel, Sharon, if you will get your belongings, you can put them in your cabins. Sharon, you will be in the counselor hut, next to the admin building. We have daily meetings every morning, just before breakfast. The counselors, including Miss Loretta eats with the Campers. We do not have a special table, because Miss Loretta says the campers will feel better about their counselors, when they know the counselors actually sit at the same table as they do.”

“Rachel, you will wait with me, as I have to make sure that nothing has changed about you and the two other transgender girls. Sharon, when you are finished unpacking, please come back and help some of the other girls get settled in. Mr. and Mr. Davies, let’s go my office, so we can have a little chat. Then you can come along while we get Rachel settled in. How did you enjoy the tour?”

“We enjoyed it very much. I heard you have fun and have a chance to learn, too. But I didn’t realize the extent of the fun these girls can really have.”

“Not only that, Mrs. Davies, but we also have dances here on Saturday nights. There is a boys camp about five miles from here. Only the boys that behave get to come to the dances, as well as the girls that behave. So, yes, Mrs. Davies, these girls can have a lot of fun.

The got in to Miss Loretta’s office. Betty and her sister were there.

“Rachel, your sister is a junior counselor here this year. She has enjoyed many summers with us. She doesn’t need any training, except to learn how to make out the daily reports for her cabins. Each counselor has three cabins to watch over.

“Sharon will participate with your cabin in all of your activities, except the camp project. That, the campers must do themselves. I told your parents that we have dances here on Saturdays … But, only the girls that behave themselves, get to go to these dances. There are demerits you can accumulate for various different camp infractions. Sharon will go over those with you, so that you can better understand what they are. Are there any questions?” Nobody said anything. “Then, I guess we are through.

“Thank you for coming and staying while we checked the girls in. You may visit on Sundays, if you wish. The girls are all encouraged to write you at least once a week about their camp experience. We never read these letters. The girls seal their envelopes and place them in the mail box just outside the main office door. The mailman comes every morning to deliver and pick up the mail. See you next week, then.”

Mr. and Mrs. Davies got in their car, and left the camp. Cammie Davies was looking out of the back car window as they were leaving.

Betty went back by the waiting Rachel. “Rachel come with me.” Rachel picked up her suitcase and followed Betty to Cabin Bambi.

“Girls, this is Rachel, and she is going to be with us for the summer. She is a transgender girl, just like April and Flora. So, how do we feel having the cabin set up this way?”

“I think it’s great,” Sonya Reading said with a genuine smile. “There is so much we can teach them that they weren’t allowed to know growing up. But, Miss Betty, we will teach them.”

“That is a good attitude, Sonya. Does anyone else have any objections?” Nobody said any thing, except Darlene Riggs.

“I say the same thing Sonya said. These girls are in for girl training 101.”

Betty just nodded her head, smiling. “All right, girls, I will let you all get acquainted, while I go and train a new junior counselor. Have fun, ladies.” Betty left, knowing that Rachel and the other two transgender girls were in good hands.

Sonya Reading was twelve years old, and she knew quite a lot for her age. Her favorite book is Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged International Dictionary. If she didn’t understand a definition, she would talk to her parents or teacher about it.

Darlene Riggs was also twelve years old, and she liked to ice skate in the winter and roller skate in the summer, plus she was always listening to how the adults talked to each other, and tried to mimic them, leaving out the cuss words. Darlene never understood why adults have to cuss so much.

Carla Sanchez was eleven, going on twelve years old, and she liked to cook. She would help her mother every chance she got. Her father was killed in a drive by shooting one year ago, when he was coming home from work. Since then, Carla’s mother had to go to work. She found a nice job, in a factory, where she was earning fifteen dollars an hour. She operated a fork lift, as was her job before she got married.

Susan Scott was twelve, going on thirteen, and loved reading as much as she could. She loved murder mysteries, science fiction, romance, and adventure books.

Angel Domiquez was thirteen, and this would be her last year in Cabin Bambi. She loved indoor ice skating in the summer, and was practicing Olympic style moves. Her trainer was right there in case she fell, and then told her to take her time. He showed her what he meant. Angel was a sweet girl, though, and she loved making friends.

This is the makeup, this summer, of Cabin Bambi. The girls were all talking to Rachel, and they asked her if her mom let her wear any makeup.

“She let’s me wear mascara, and that’s all. She said I am too young for even lipstick.”

“What about colored lip gloss?” Angel asked.

“Not even,” Rachel said to Angel. "My mom said only colorless chap stick.”

“So, what is she, then?” Asked Darlene. “Is she a prude.”

“Darlene …”

“Just call me Dar, Rachel. Everybody else does, especially my friends.”

“My friends just call me Rach.”

If you have ever been to camp, you know you make a lot of friends, but you also make a few enemies, too. Rachel, however, was a rare exception to that rule. She seemed to make friends where ever she went.

“So, are we friends, Rach?”

“Yes, Dar, we are. Everybody in this cabin are my friends. We live in the same cabin, and we need to be friends, because we need to do things as a group, at times, not all the time.”

Just then, Sharon came through the door.

“Hey little sis. Girls, tomorrow is project idea day. We are having a meeting with all of the campers in the cafeteria. The camper that comes up with the best project at the end of camp, gets a free summer at camp the next year. Does that sound like a good idea?”

There was a thunderous roar of “right on!” from all the girls at once.

The girls began talking with one another, after Sharon left the cabin. Betty actually did not need to train Sharon, as Sharon knew every facet of what a counselor does, and should do for the campers. Sharon knew that counselors were there for the campers, as well as supervise them. But, a good counselor, she found, not only just supervises the camper, but gets involved with them as they do their activities, except for the campers projects. The projects have to be done by the campers themselves, or they don’t count in the judging.

Rachel was keeping her project a secret until the project meeting in the morning. She was going to ask the entire assembly if they wanted to help build the wooden village. She had envisioned a nineteenth century village with a surrounding stockade wall. This project was probably going to take all summer to make, but should be done by the end of camp.

“Rachel,” Sonya started the conversation. “What do you like to do, when you’re at home?”

“I like to do a lot of things. I like to put jigsaw puzzles together, but, they have to be one thousand pieces or more. I like to sew …” Rachel did know how mend a tear with a thread an needle as she has practiced over and over, when she was with her friends. “I like to read, I like to do this and that. I like to do a whole myriad of things.”

“Rachel, what does myriad mean?” Asked Sonya.

“It means many. I heard my dad use it once when he was talking to my mom. So, I looked it up in the dictionary. It said “Myriad: Many or varied kinds. Varied, used like this, means different.”

“So,”Angel said curiously. “Are you saying that if you don’t understand a word, you just look it up?”

“Yes, if I don’t already know what it means. Girls, we have got to learn these words, so we know what our parents are saying. Then after we are grown up, we won’t sound like we just came out of the sandbox. I …” Rachel giggled … “heard my dad say that once, too, when was talking to some of his friends.”

In each cabin there was refrigerator, where the girls could keep sodas, chocolates, or anything else that needed to be cold. The refrigerator even had a small freezer where they could keep ice cream, and even make ice cubes.

Susan kept a box of thirty six chocolates in the refrigerator. Of course, that number was reduced by about fifteen. But, she went to the refrigerator and took out the box of chocolates.

“Here, Rach, have a chocolate. You know what Forest Gump’s mom always said: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.’” The girls all giggled.

Rachel asked the girls if they wanted anything from the commissary. They all said, yes, and the whole cabin went to get their snacks. Rachel felt like an ice cream, Susan got a small bag of BBQ potato chips, Angel bought a ginger ale, Sonya got a box of jujubes, Darlene was hungry for a large Milky Way candy bar, and Carla opted for a Black Bear black cherry soda.

With their snacks in hand, they went back to their cabin. Each one asked Carla what was Black Bear.

“Black Bear is a soda company in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. My mom bought some when went to visit my grandma. It is a good soda. They don’t sell it in a lot of stores here in Michigan, but there a few that do. It is called Black Bear and they different flavored sodas.”

“Are you from Wisconsin, Carla?” Asked Darlene.

“No, I’m from Michigan, but, my grandma moved to Wisconsin, when my uncle Ted came and talked to her. He works for A.O. Smith in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. See, here in Michigan, my grandma was in a nursing home. My uncle took her out of the nursing home, and had her come and live with him. He has a nurse come in to help her and be a companion. When my uncle found out that she wasn’t being properly cared for, like they claimed they were doing, he took her out of there. Now he knows she is being properly cared for.”

“I figure, when I am too old, that’s where I’ll be is in a nursing home,” Darlene said.”

“Not me,” Susan said to the group. “I like my independence too much.”

“My grandma still lives on her own,” Sonya said to everyone. “She still bakes the most delicious pies. She told me, when I was at camp last year, that she was bringing me a pie. I asked her what kind, and she said it was a surprise. She brought me a Dutch apple pie, and it was delicious. I don’t know what she will bring this year.”

“Does she bring you something every year?” Asked Angel.

“Yes, this is my third time at camp, and every year she would bring me something delicious. The first year I was here, she brought me home made peanut butter cookies. When I do get something, I share with the entire cabin. That is what we mean by being friends, not just cabin mates.”

“That is why I say,” Rachel said in answer to what Sonya stated. “I want to have you all for my friends. I don’t expect you to share anything with me, but, when my mom, brings me something good to eat, I will share it with all of you.”

“All right girlfriend,” Sonya told Rachel, in a chastising tone. “You listen to what we all say. We will share with everyone in the cabin, because that is cabin mates do when they are friends. I want to stay in touch with everyone, so let’s give each other our phone numbers and addresses. This way, we can call or write, or both.”

All the girls wrote their numbers and addresses down. Each girl got a slip of camp stationary with the information on it. Now, the girls were friends, not only at camp, but after camp, too. If they didn’t live too far from each other, then they could also have sleepovers.

“Do any of you have a movie night at your house?” Inquired Rachel.

“I do,” answered Sonya. “We like to watch different types of movies. Like the movie that got me interested in going to camp was, ‘The Parent Trap’ with Hayley Mills. That was a funny movie. I like to watch romantic movies, adventure, some westerns, some war, and murder mysteries. Agatha Christie’s stories are my favorite who-dun-its. Our movie night is Saturdays.”

“Ours is, too,” added Susan. “I like the same movies you do, except for war movies. I think they are too violent.”

It was at this time that they heard the clanging of a bell coming over the P.A. system.

“That’s lunch, everyone,” Sonya told the group. “Let’s take a quick walk/run to the cafeteria.”

Since Cabin Bambi wasn’t that far from the cafeteria, they made it in no time. They were in the middle of the line, but they would get what they wanted. While it seemed that it took more time than it should have, it only too one hour to check all the girls in to their cabins, as well as the tour Sharon gave her family.

So, over a lunch of pasta salad, a hot dog, a glass of milk, and a slice of blueberry pie, they sat and talked as they ate. Rachel wanted to tell the girls about her project idea, but wanted her to bring it up to the camp. A light lunch goes pretty fast, when you’re talking and eating at the same time. They placed their dirty dishes in the wash pans. One pan for plates, one for flatware, and one for cups and glasses. Then they went back to their cabin to digest their food. Rachel said, “I’m filled to the gills, and all I had was one small helping of each.” There was a chorus of “me, too,” from the rest of the girls.

“So, what does everybody want to do until dinner?” Darlene asked everybody.

“I know,” Sonya and in an answer. “We can go swimming.”

“Yes,” Rachel agreed. “We could go swimming. My mom bought me the cutest bathing suit. Wait and I will show you.” Rachel went to get her bathing suit out of her locker.

She brought it out to show the girls, and they all ahhed and oohed at the design. Oh yes, it was a Jacquard. It is amazing how mothers won’t spend two hundred dollars for a pair of shoes, but will buy her daughter a Jacquard bathing suit costing one hundred and fifty dollars. That is truly amazing. It was a black and white alternating block design. It had a skirt at the bottom.

“Rachel, dear, that, that is a, uhm, a Jacquard. How, did you, you get that?” Asked Carla.

“I flashed my eyelids and gave the pouty lip act.”

“Well,” Susan stated incredulously. “However you got it, you got it. That is the main thing. Right?”

“So, let’s get in to our suits and get in the pool. Now, Rach, when you get to the pool, the counselor there will want you to swim the length of the pool her, and then back to where you started. Can you swim?”

“I can swim a little bit, Carla. I don’t know if I can swim the kength of the pool twice, though.”

“Well, we can find out,” Sonya told the group.

The girls headed for the pool. When they got there, Sharon was the counselor on duty. Rachel knew that Sharon would not let her get away with anything. So, she bravely walked to the edge of the pool. She thought to herself that it was now or never.

She dove in the pool, doing a perfect dive in. She started swimming toward the deep end of the pool. It took her about three minutes, and then she turned around and swam back. She did not want Sharon to think that she was winded from the long swim, but she was.

Rachel, you may now use the entire pool, plus you are graded in the shark category. Do we have any more beginners that want to try to swim the length of the pool and then back to where they started?” Nobody spoke a word. Sharon then told the girls to enjoy their swim.

The swim lasted for three hours, before they had to leave to go and get back in to their clothes for dinner. They had about forty minutes to change. As soon as they were dried off and changed, the dinner bell rang over the P.A. system.

They joined all the campers headed to the cafeteria. Dinner tonight was roast beef, mashed potatoes, buttered green beans, milk and graham crust cheese cake.

“Rachel, why did you jump in the pool like that? Sonya asked incredulously.

“Because I knew my sister would tell to. So before she could say anything, I decided to do it and get it over with. I was completely winded after that little exhibition. But, it had to be done, even if I didn’t do it myself.”

“Well, now she’s satisfied that her little sister can swim. You can get a lot of swimming in during the summer. After dinner, we are going on a nature hike. We are going to learn the differences between poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Those are very dangerous plants. They want us to know about them, and we stay away from those plants.”

“There is one thing that we can say about camp. We had to go school and had fun doing it.” The girls just giggled.

Everybody giggled at Rachel’s remark.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Next Chapter: The nature hike and other adventures.

The Camp Of The Willows - Chapter 6
By Barbara Lynn Terry

Part 1 - The camp project meeting.

The girls all woke up and took turns in the shower. When they were finished getting dressed, they all made their beds and swept the cabin and mopped it. When they were done, the breakfast bell rang over the public address system.

The girls went to the cafeteria and had a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon (three strips), toast (if they wanted any), and milk. Sharon sat with the girls today, and listened while Miss Loretta made an announcement.

“Girls, quiet, please. Today, right after lunch, we will have our camp project meeting. Bring your ideas to the meeting, so that we have an idea of what you will do for your camp project. Your ideas will be written down, so that they aren’t copied by anyone else. So we will see you then. Have a good morning.”

“Sis,” Sharon said, talking to Rachel. “Are you still going to do the project you said you were going to do?”

“Yes, Sharon, I am. When we have the project meeting, I will tell everyone what I want for a camp project.”

“Will you tell us, girlfriend?” Susan inquired.

“At the meeting Susan. I think everybody will be surprised at what I want done for a camp project. Don’t get me wrong, but this is a surprise for the entire camp.”

“A project for the whole camp, Rach?” Darlene asked.

“Yes, Dar, for the whole camp. I figure this way, too, everybody in the cabin can take part, as well as the entire camp. There will be separate assignments. Each camper will make a part of my project idea. You will see when we have our meeting after lunch.”

“So, we, uhm, have to wait to find out what it is.”

“Yes, Carla. Wild horses couldn’t drag it out of me.”

“Not even for you cabin mates, Rach,” Sonya said, with a mock pouty lip.

“Not even for all of the gold in Fort Knox.”

“Well, sisters, I guess we’re not good enough to share a secret with Rach,” Angel Domiquez said, in mock indignation.

“Look, sisters, listen …”

“Pffftt!” Susan Scott made the yeah, right sound. “Now we’re sisters, but she won’t share her secret with us.”

“Girls, there is a very good reason why Rachel will not share her secret with anyone. It has to do with security. You all know that there are times when we let something slip in a conversation. Of course, we never intend to let it slip, but it does, nevertheless. I guarantee that at the project meeting, everyone in camp will be delighted. Of course, you can also make your own project, too.”

“Thank you, Sharon,” Susan Scott said. “We we were just giving you a hard time about the project. Even I wouldn’t tell anybody my project idea, either.”

“So, what do we want to do today?” Inquired Sharon.

“I was thinking that we play a little tennis,” Angel Domiquez suggested. “Do you know how to play tennis, Rach?”

“I have never played tennis, but I have watched it on television.”

“Well, the points are simple enough to remember. The first two points are fifteen points each, the third point is ten points each, and the fourth and last point of the game is one point. So there are forty one points to a game. Normally there are six games to a set; and there are six sets per match. This is where we get the phrase game, set, match.”

“Angel, how long have you been playing tennis?” Asked Leigh Anne.

“About two years, Rach. There is a tennis camp I go to to learn how to play the game better. I have a coach that takes me through all the moves. There are aces, lobs, spins, slams. When the two players are hitting the ball back and forth that is called either a rally or a volley.”

“It looks like an interesting game. I would love to learn to play tennis.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go play tennis,” said Angel Domiquez.

The group all went to the tennis courts by the baseball diamond. They got out of the little shed that held the sporting equipment, 3 sets of tennis racquets, and a can of tennis balls. They went inside the fenced in area, and flipped a coin to see who would go first. Angel and Susan were first.

Rachel saw Angel hit the first ball over the net from the opposite side. Sharon called fault. Angel served again, this time the ball was in, they volleyed the ball back and forth for about eight minutes.

“15 - Love,” Sharon called the score.

As they continued to play, Angel go the next point.

“15 All,” Sharon called.

The next serve was an ace.

“30 - 15, Angel is leading.”

The next volley was for a good five minutes. Angel got the point as Susan hit the ball in to her side of the net.

“40 - 15, Angel.”

This next serve was for the game. Angel had to be careful not to mess up. If she could get an ace, she will have won this game. Angel took her stance, and threw the ball up, and when it came down, Angel hit the ball for an ace.

“Game, Angel,” called Sharon. “Girls, please change sides of the court.”

Angel and Susan switched sides of the net, and it was Susan’s turn. Susan served the first ball, but it was a fault. The next ball was in, and they volleyed the ball back and forth for about four minutes, when Susan hit the ball in to her side of the net.

“Love - 15,” called Sharon.

The next serve went way out. Susan served again. This one, too, was out.

“Love - 30, Angel.”

This time, Susan took her time. She served the ball, and they volleyed back and forth for almost eight minutes. Angel hit the ball at a downward stroke, and it bounced off of the net on her side.

“15 - 30, Angel.”

All the while, Darlene Riggs was explaining to Rachel why the score was being called the way it was.

Susan served her next ball, and the volley lasted a whole ten minutes. When Angel returned the ball, it went right by Susan’s right foot.

“15 - 40,” called Sharon.

The next ball Susan served was an ace.

“30 - 40, Angel,” Sharon called.

Susan’s next serve was returned and the two volleyed back and forth for about five minutes. Then on Susan’s next serve, she hit the ball in, but when it was returned, she hit in to her side of the net.

“Game, Angel. Angel, it is your serve.”

Angel served her first ball and found that it wasn’t returned. In fact it looked like Susan was deep in thought.

“Susan, are you all right?” Asked Sharon, concerned for Susan.

Susan fainted on to the court. Sharon ran over to her, and told one of the girls to go get Miss Loretta.

Miss Loretta hurried to the tennis courts, and saw Sharon holding Susan’s head above the pavement.

“What happened, Sharon,” inquired Miss Loretta.

“I’m not sure, Miss Loretta. She was playing tennis with Angel Domiquez, when all of a sudden she fainted.”

Miss Loretta looked up and saw Betty standing there. She told Betty to call for the ambulance. Betty ran to the administration building. She grabbed the phone and called the ambulance. It took the ambulance about ten minutes to show up.

When the ambulance got to the camp, the attendant driving the ambulance asked what happened.

“I’m not sure. She was playing tennis with one of the other girls, when she fainted. She hasn’t woke up, yet.”

“What is your name, Miss?”

“I’m Sharon Davies. I’m a junior counselor here.”

“Alright, we’re going to take her to St. Mary’s. Is anyone going to go with her?”

“I will go,” Sharon said, still concerned for Susan’s welfare.

The ambulance attendants put Susan on to their gurney and then placed her in the back of the ambulance.

“Young lady, you ride up front with the driver. I have to be in the back with the patient.

“Do you know her name and date of birth?”

“Her name is Susan Scott, and her birth day is May 25, 2004. Her phone number is.” She had to show it to him, because she didn’t have time to memorize it.

They got Susan to the hospital in no time flat. They wheeled her in to an exam room, and two doctors, a nurse and a cna were there waiting for her. They started by taking blood and having the cna run it to the lab.

“Tell them, to put a rush on it, and tell them why. Miss James, will you please call radiology and tell them we need an x-ray in exam room four?” The nurse dialed the number, and told whoever answered the phone that they needed an x-ray, stat.

It was a half an hour later when the cna showed up with the cbc results. The doctor looked over the results, and gave a heavy sigh.

“Miss James, call the fourth floor, and have them prepare a room for the patient, Susan Scott. This young lady is suffering from over have ordered a CAT scan, just to play safe. I have ordered her admitted, until she wakes up. I am also going to talk to the doctor upstairs and ask hin to order an MRI. Everything else is normal.

“Right now, your daughter is sleeping. I think she just tried to too much at one time. There is a young lady our in the lobby. She is a junior counselor at the camp. She said your daughter was playing tennis when she blacked out.”

“Are you sure it is only over exhaustion?” Asked Susan’s father.

“Yes, but I have ordered a CAT scan, this will tell us if there is any swelling on the brain. I ordered your daughter admitted just as a precaution. This way we can keep an eye on her. I will talk to the doctor on duty on the fourth floor. That is our general admittance floor. But, I will talk to him about doing an MRI. This will tell us a lot more. Your daughter’s blood tests, pulse, temperature and blood pressure were all normal.”

“Well, we will stay here as long as necessary, until she wakes up,” Mrs. Scott told the doctor.

“Mr. And Mrs. Scott, I am very positive that Susan is only sleeping. She should wake up tomorrow morning, if not before. When she does awaken, get the nurse so she can get the doctor.”

“George, you stay here. I am going to go and talk to the young lady from the camp.”

Ellen Scott left Susan’s room to go and talk with Sharon. She found Sharon sitting alone in a chair, off by the corner.

“Excuse me, I’m Ellen Scott, Susan’s mother. I want to thank you for taking quick action in getting my daughter here. The doctor says Susan is over exhausted. That is what made her faint like she did. What is your name, dear?”

“I’m Sharon Davies. I’m a junior counselor at the Camp of the Willows. Susan was playing tennis on our tennis courts, to show a new girl how the game was played. Then all of a sudden, she just fell out. I rushed to her, and the camp owner showed up with one of her daughters. The camp owner told her daughter to call an ambulance.”

“Well, the doctor says she is going to be all right. He ordered a cAT scan to see if there is any swelling on the brain. He wants the doctor on the fourth floor to order an MRI. He said these examinations are just precautions. He said she will wake up on her own tomorrow morning, or maybe before then.”

“Well, at least she will be all right. I have to call the camp and let them know she will be just fine.”

Sharon went to the nurses desk to find out where was a pay phone so she could call the camp and let them know that Susan Scott will be all right. The nurse told her there are pay phones in the hallway, just behind the E.D.

Sharon went to the pay phones and called the camp.

“Hello, Camp of the Willows, to whom would you like to speak to?”

“Betty, this is Sharon. Susan is going to be all right. The doctor said she is suffering from over exhaustion. She should wake up tomorrow morning, if not before. So, I am going to come back to the camp. I will come back tomorrow after breakfast.”

“Thank you, Sharon, I will tell mom.”

The two ladies hung up, and Sharon went back in to the E.D.

“Mrs. Scott, I am going to return to the camp. If Susan wakes up, will you call the camp and let us know. One of us will come and talk to Susan.”

“All right, dear, and again, thank you for cafing about Susan.”

“It was no problem. If Susan wakes up, just tell her I had to go back to the camp.” The two ladies hugged, and Susan hailed a taxi to go back to the camp.

When she got to the camp, she asked the taxi driver to wait just a few moments. Sharon went in the administration building, and told Miss Loretta that she owed the cab driver fifty six dollars. Miss Loretta went out to pay the cab driver.

Sharon then went in to cabin Bambi and told the girls what the doctor had said.

“So, she will be all right, then, Sharon?” Asked Angel Domiquez.

“Yes, Angel, Susan is going to be all right. I told her mother to call the camp when Susan wakes up. The doctor said she should wake up tomorrow morning, or even before that. She is really tuckered out. I can see that I made it back before the lunch bell. It should ring at any time now.”

The lunch bell rang a few seconds after Sharon was finished talking. Everybody went to the cafeteria and the lunch today was pizza. Every camper could have two slices apiece. This wasn’t frozen pizza like they have in the schools. No, this pizza was home made. That was something Miss Loretta insisted upon. With the pizza was home made garlic bread, with garlic powder in the dough as it was being kneaded and shaped. Then when the garlic bread was done, a garlic butter was spread on top. No electric devices had any part in making the bread, pizza, pies, cakes, donuts, and much, much more.

As the campers ate, word had spread through the camp that Susan from cabin Bambi was in the hospital. The cafeteria was abuzz with all of the conjecture and gossip as to why she was there. That was when Sharon stood up.

“Quiet, please, quiet. Susan Scott from cabin Bambi was taken to the hospital because she was overly exhausted. These first two days of camp, she had tried to do too much. The doctor said that she is only sleeping and should wake up tomorrow morning, if not before. Susan will be all right.”

Sharon sat down, and you could have heard a pin drop in that cafeteria, it was so quiet. Emily Bricker stood up and asked for the campers attention.

“My name is Emily Bricker from cabin Elk. I am going to put Susan in my prayers tonight, just before I get in bed. I am asking everybody here, to please do the same. Thank you.” Emily then sat down.

Miss Loretta then stood up and asked for everybody’s attention.

“If everybody wants to, I move that we extend the project meeting by two days. By then, Susan will be with us, again. How many would like to wait until Susan is back here beofre we have our project meeting?” Everybody raised their hands. “Then, by consent of all the campers, our project meeting will take place right after lunch the day after Susan Scott returns. Thank you everyone.”

Everyone was finished with their lunch, so they put their dinner ware in the proper pans to be washed. They all went back to their cabins to digest their lunch. Nobody was talking except in hushed whispers where the cabin Bambi girls couldn’t hear. Then Emily came up to the cabin Bambi group and told them wht the camp was going to do.

Their impromptu project was to make a get well card for Susan, and have Sharon take it to the hospital. This time, she would use the camp car to get there and back.

The project took three hours to complete, because all the campers wanted something special put either inside the card, or on the outside. When it was done, it was passed around to all of the campers so they could sign it.

This was a huge card, so all the campers signatures could fit on it. When the last signature was on the card, they gave it to Sharon to take to the hospital. Miss Loretta gave her the keys to camp car, and Sharon left for the hospital.

She was at the hospital in less than an hour. It was a good thing the shriff or state patrol was not on this particular highway. Sharon got to the hospital and went directly to the fourth floor. Susan’s parents were still there.

“Hello, Mr. And Mrs. Scott. The girls at the camp made this get well card for Susan.”

“That was very decent of them. Tell them all we said thank you for ourselves and for Susan.”

“I will do that, thank you. Also, one of the girls at lunch told the camp that she was going to include Susan in her prayers tonight, just before she gets in bed. She asked the other campers to do the same. See, Mr. And Mrs. Scott, the girls at the Camp of the Willows consider themselves sisters. So, when one of them falls ill, or goes to the hospital for any reason, they will be there for that girl, even if it is in their prayers.”

“Well, I should be getting back, remember, call us when she wakes up. Our number is on the brochure we gave you when you brought Susan to camp. Oh! There is the doctor. Come on, let’s see if he is going to order the MRI.

“Excuse me doctor, but we were wondering if you were going to order an MRI for Susan Scott.”

“I have already ordered it. Radiology should be up here at any moment. The radiology will read the MRI and the send the results back to me.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Mrs. Scott said, with a weak smile.