Olive H.

Fireside Friendship

My heart was pounding like a hammer. My feet were pedaling fast and my mind was going even faster, as I produced more and more questions in my mind. Finally, I had made it back, turning the corner with a sigh of relief. Panting, I stepped off my bike, walking over to where soon the campfire would be lit. I could see the grill nobs turn as they started to produce heat for the food my friends, and I would soon eat, with each other when they got back.

 I couldn't wait, for them to return from the bay where they were getting washed off in the cool water. Every minute that passed felt like an hour but it really was only ten minutes. The smell of dinner started to slowly arise off the grill and spread into the air around me. And then I heard something from far away, the sounds of my friends I could just make out all of them Lucy.W., Ella, Charlotte, Ava, Mary, Helena, and Lucy Z. They got louder and louder until they peddled right into the campsite.  With glee, I jumped out of my camp chair and skipped over the roots and bramble to see them. “How was the water?”, I asked.

It had only been an hour since I had seen them last, but so many things happened in that hour it could’ve been a month. I could tell by their facial expression they had something they wanted to say to me, and if I had to guess, my facial expression was probably the same.  I eagerly shared with them what happened.  “Earlier on, I was at our fort all alone.  I heard a mysterious  voice through my walkie-talkie.  This was a voice that I did not know, and on our secret channel.  It made my hands start to shiver and my heart start to beat harder and harder. I jumped on my bike, and headed back to the campsite. I pedaled like I never had before. Bike gliding, and turning where there needed to be turns. My level of fear was high, and all I wanted was you guys my friends to be there with me.”  I was shocked to hear they wanted to tell me that they heard the mysterious voice as well.  They were worried about me being alone.  It made me feel so good to feel that I was not alone and they were worried about me too!!

 The smell of dinner was even stronger now, and our stomachs were as loud as an angry mob about to attack their prey.  I realized that as soon as my BFFs were back at the campground that my breath returned to its normal pattern and so did my heart.  Waiting for dinner, our minds reeled with questions to ask each other and games to play.   I drifted away into my memory of the past day as it came in play. We were all gliding with the wind in our faces . Our hair made a color pallet floating in the air.  Then, next thing I knew my bike was tilted, getting closer and closer to the gravel until it hit. Wet tears filled my eyes like they were meant to be for a whale. “Ow” I said as my face turned splotchy red. I went to cover my cut that was oozing blood as Ella ran for help.  Lucy grabbed the first aid kit and began to apply a Band-Aid,Helena offered help with my cut. Ava went with Ella to go get my dad, and Mary and Charlotte and Lucy Z. pulled me to my feet. Limping they helped me back to the campsite while Lucy grabbed my bike.

“Earth to Olive”, Ava said, bringing me back to real time.

 “We are a team in every way” I said, “even with our ups and downs”.

“No friendship can be perfect but we certainly are close” Helena said.

My thoughts were broken as I heard Charlotte say, “Dinner smells so good, let's eat!”  As we stuffed the marvelous food into our hungry mouths, we could not stop talking about the incident with the walkie talkies. We talked about it until there was no more to talk about.  Then, we got a plan together. We looked for our walkies and listened to what they were saying for a while. Eventually getting bored we asked a question to the mystery person who little did we know was about to reveal himself. No need to worry, we were careful about what we asked and what we answered.

             As it started to get dark, we learned that the mystery was coming to an end and he proved his case he was not bad, he was just trying to scare us and pull a prank.   Boy-oh-boy did it work.  I thought of how marvelous my BFFs are and how thankful I am for them. We all are quite different but that is what makes our friendship fit together so well. We are just like a puzzle that has been mended together by our friendship. The world is a tough place but with them anything is achievable.  The heat of the fireside was warming my hands and feet, I take a good look at my friends, they were all sitting beside me, as happy as can be.