Jack at Summer Camp

Sample story

The smell of pine needles and wood smoke hangs thick in the evening air. Jack stands at the edge of the clearing, staring at the enormous banner strung between two towering oak trees: WILDERNESS COOK-OFF — MAY THE BEST CABIN WIN. His stomach does a backflip. All around him, campers are whooping and high-fiving, but Jack grips the straps of his backpack a little tighter. He's only been at Camp Pinecrest for three days, and he still feels like a puzzle piece jammed into the wrong box. The other kids can tie knots and identify animal tracks. Jack? Jack can julienne a carrot in under thirty seconds. "Cabin Seven!" shouts the head counselor, her voice echoing across the forest. "Your mystery ingredient is waiting at the river. You have exactly two hours." Jack's cabinmate, Dev, turns to him with wide eyes. "Dude, do you actually know how to cook over a campfire?" A slow grin spreads across Jack's face. The campfire crackles. Somewhere above, the first stars blink awake through the canopy, and Jack steps forward...