By Susan Sundwall –
“What a way to spend my birthday,” Kelly said out loud to nobody. She and her dad were helping with the fall clean up at Camp Crossroads. Evan Lange was supposed to be helping her, but he was nowhere in sight. She kicked the bright October leaves as she walked to cabin number four. She opened the door. The odors of stale sneakers and gum wrappers hung in the air. “Might as well get to it,” she mumbled.
Camp Crossroads was one of her favorite places – in the summer. Now it seemed deserted and all the fun times forgotten. She finished quickly and decided to walk ahead to the next cabin, but found it was shuttered. One of the other volunteers must have beaten her to it. Maybe she could catch up with them and they’d clean the last cabin together. She headed into ever-deeper woods. When she turned onto the path that led to the cabin, she saw someone in the distance holding a bag.
“Hello!” she hollered. Was it Evan? The person’s head popped up. Then they darted away behind the cabin!
Kelly’s heart did a quick- thump. Had the person heard her? She stood stock still…listening. It was eerily quiet.
“Kelly.”
“AAHHH!!” Kelly whirled and swung. Evan Lange ducked.
“Hey!”
“What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled.
“Trying to catch up with you for the last ten minutes,” he said. “You sure walk fast!”
“You snuck up on me!” Kelly was shaking.
Evan grinned.
“I’m sorry I swung at you,” she said, still puffing a little. “I was trying to see who it was that dashed behind the cabin.”
“Really? Any ideas?” asked Evan.
“Nope, no clue. I only saw him for a few seconds.”
“Let’s find out! Two against one,” said Evan. His smile was full of fun and challenge. He kicked up some leaves and charged ahead.
Kelly scowled and followed him into the dusk. As they approached the cabin they saw that it had also been shuttered up. What was going on?
Thunk!
“What was that!” cried Kelly.
“Uh…I didn’t hear anything Kel,” said Evan.
“It was a huge thud!”
“Ooooo…..gonna getcha!” He swirled his hands in front of her face.
“This is creeping me out! I’m outta here! This cabin is done.” She looked back to see if he followed. “Well, are you coming with me?”
“Nope.”
“Evan!”
“I want to see what’s going on. Somebody’s up to something.” He ran ahead.
She crashed through the leaves behind him, too scared to go back alone.
Something winged and black swooped low and barely missed her head. “Ahhhhh!” she screamed and pummeled the air with her fists.
“It’s a little brown bat,” said Evan.
“Ack! A bat. I hate bats! ”
“Boy, you are one big clucking chicken aren’t you?” He took her hand. “Come on. We’ll walk around the cabin and if everything looks okay we’ll head back. Okay?”
Evan marched her firmly up to the cabin and climbed the three wooden steps. The door creaked open as he moved to go inside.
“You’re going in?” asked Kelly. Her breath came in short nervous puffs. Looking down, she noticed plops of something red trailing up the steps. Evan turned around when she gasped.
Evan let the door slam and leaned down to examine the plops. “Mmmmm….okay,” he said. He ran his finger through the red stuff and licked it. “It’s not blood.”
“How do you know that?”
“I watch a lot of crime shows.” He was being smug and a show off. “Aw….now what?”
Kelly’s eyes brimmed with tears. She was really scared and wanted her dad. She was twelve today, but right now she felt like a kindergartner.
Evan sighed. He touched her arm and smiled. “Who made the darkness Kel?”
She wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. She thought of the fireside song they’d sung only a few weeks ago. “I know,” she said. “He’s got the whole world . . .”
“That includes little brown bats and these great orange leaves!” Evan grinned a goofy grin that made her laugh. ” I’ll give a quick look inside, lock the door and then we’ll go. Okay?”
Gosh, thought Kelly, he’s really a nice guy. Then she thought of their campfire praise songs and feeling safe in the Lord. She knew He was with her even out here in the dark woods. She mouthed ‘okay’ to Evan, pushed back her hair and smiled.
Evan jumped the three stairs and went into the cabin. Kelly didn’t hear a thing for almost five minutes. She took a deep breath. The sun was barely visible now and the colors on the trees were deepening into murky oranges and purples.
Thud!
Kelly whipped around. It was from inside the cabin. Now what? She couldn’t leave Evan in there, but she was frozen in fright.
“Kel!” yelled Evan.
Without thinking she flew up the steps and jerked the door open. Light flooded the cabin and she staggered back. A strong arm caught her and the next thing she heard was…
“SURPRISE!!”
There stood all of her friends from camp with her dad and Evan.
“Happy birthday Kel,” he said.
“Oh!” It was all she could think of to say.
“We all trusted Evan to get you here Kelly,” said her dad. “I know you thought we’d do something at home tonight, but they talked me into this!” All her friends crowded around and started to jabber at once.
Her bunk buddy Casey, told her about the cranberry juice on the steps. Jim Buncie threw stones when he got bored waiting for everybody. That was the thuds in the leaves. Brandon had ducked behind the cabin when he saw her coming up the trail. He had presents in the big trash bag.
“You guys!” Kelly nearly collapsed with relief. She bounced into the middle of the room and sat in the chair decorated with bright balloons. Someone handed her a cup of punch and she held up her hand.
“Who wants a ghost story?” she asked. “We can each add a part as we go along.”
Wow, this was almost like being around the campfire again. Everyone nodded and Kelly began.
“Once this place was called Camp Creepy. This very cabin is where an ancient treasure was buried and right beneath these floorboards…. ” She paused long enough to look up and catch Evan’s eye. He grinned his goofy grin. I’ll get you for this, Evan, she thought, but she couldn’t help smiling back.
the end.
Question Time
1. Why was Kelly at Camp Crossroads?
2. Why was Camp Crossroads more fun during the summer?
3. What kind of animal scared Kelly?
4. What happened when Kelly ran into the cabin after Evan?
