Robyn Vanderwest

Camping fun

“I choose this stick!” Sofia said to Andrew, picking up a long, skinny stick from the

woods near our campsite.

We were making hot dogs for dinner and Sofia and Andrew were looking for sticks in the

woods. Sofia being the younger sibling and the most excited picked up every stick in sight until

Andrew said that the long stick she has would work. He was looking forward to making hot dogs

too and ended up picking one that was shorter but then the same width. Their parents were

already at the firepit chatting and had the condiments and buns ready for them on the picnic

table.

Sofia and Andrew roasted their hot dogs and afterwords had help from their mom putting

together their hot dog. Sofia put so much ketchup on hers that you almost couldn’t tell there was

a hot dog under it all. Andrew says he likes a nice crunch to his dog, so he burnt his.

“Mom, Dad want to play volleyball in a little bit?” Sofia asked, ready for the next

activity.

“Slow down there speedy Gonzalez!’ Mom laughs, ‘Shouldn’t we let our food settle

first?’”

Sofia finishes her hot dog with a defeated look on her face.

“I was thinking that we could all go on a bike ride and maybe stop for some ice cream!”

Dad exclaims from his seat, breaking Sofia’s mood.

“Yay, yay yay!” Sofia cheers.

 Thirty minutes later, Sofia, Andrew, mom, and dad were on their way with their bikes.

There was a bike trail nearby that was a loop and halfway was an ice cream shop. Everyone had

great spirits during their adventure. Sofia, being the newest to riding without training wheels had

a little oopsy moment but got right back up again because she was excited to get ice cream. The

ice cream shop came into view and the talk started about what flavor to get as they parked their

bikes.

“We’re all getting a small, but you may get any flavor,” mom declared putting her bike in

the rack.

It was such a nice day out and everyone was happy, especially when they got their ice

cream. Mom got butter pecan, dad got moose tracks, Andrew got vanilla, and Sofia got Mackinac

Island fudge. There was a picnic table nearby where they sat chatting. There was talk about

favorite movies, what the plan is for the next day, and who likes hot tubs, pools, or lakes better

and why. Everything and everyone are doing great until dad looks at Sofia and notices half of

her ice is on the pebbles and is about to start crying.

“WAH,’ Sofia screams in extreme sadness, ‘my ice cream!’”

To not cause a greater scene than the one that has already started, Andrew, being a kind

and thoughtful brother goes up to the window. The woman behind the walk-up window, sees the

distress and ice cream that is quickly melting on the pebbles. She jumps up and tells Andrew that

she will make another one.

“Sofia, the nice ice cream lady said she would make another one for you.” Andrew tells

his sister in a calm voice.

 Sofia sniffles and perks up as she sees as the ice cream lady comes out and gives her

more in a cup with a spoon.

“Thank you,” Sofia manages to blubber out as she wipes away her tears.

The ice cream lady smiles, says you’re welcome, and goes back into the shop.

Sofia is still sad that her ice cream isn’t in a cone, but willingly eats it all. With a happy

family and full bellies, they ride back to their campsite. By the time they get back, Sofia is

talking away and happy to be with her family. This was a successful day even with the

misfortune of Sofia’s ice cream.