Let's Go Camping: The Clearing

Chapter 1: Meet The Brothers

Thirty-four miles north of the busy city of Seattle you'll find the quiet neighborhood of Graham, Cameron and Ian. These three brothers have lived here as long as they can remember. They live far enough away from Seattle to never hear the city noise or it's crowded highways. But they do live close enough for their parents to take them to a baseball game once or twice a year, or a visit the zoo. Their family is truly content where they live and never think of living anywhere else.

Like most brothers, these three brothers have...well, I’ll put it this way, disagreements. Sometimes they have major disagreements; disagreements that can last for hours. They will even make up stories to try to absolutely, and positively, convince everyone they are right. At times, the stories are so far fetched, and so hard to believe, that the stories themselves will start an argument. Sometimes these arguments became so complicated, so confusing, and so tiring, that they forget what started it.

However, there is one thing these brothers have never argued about, and that is camping. If someone says, Let’s go camping! The others will agree with all the enthusiasm in the world, and yell out Yeah! and Good idea!

Graham is the oldest of the three brothers. He is glad he is the oldest and seems to enjoy all its advantages. He often plays jokes on his two younger brothers, or entertains them with his sense of humor. There is also a serious side of Graham that makes him feel a little protective. He feels bad if one of his brothers is being punished or put on restriction. He will even try to talk his parents into letting them get off restriction, and give a pretty good argument why they should. Graham is also quite the artist. His friends and family, especially his brothers, think he can draw anything. Graham doesn't plan on becoming an artist when he grows up; he is content to think he can draw anything he set his mind to.

Cameron is the middle brother. He doesn’t think it's fair that Graham always gets to do things first just because he is older. Cameron realized that every time he had a birthday and became a year older, Graham will have a birthday too. Cameron doesn't like the idea that Graham will always be older, but he always has fun with him anyway.

Ian is the youngest brother. He doesn’t care who is older or who gets to do things first. He just wants to be included with anything his older brothers are doing, no matter what they are doing.

These three brothers, different ages, and involved in different school activities, share that one strong common interest. They like to go camping more than anything. Even with their many differences, they enjoy each other’s company the most when camping. They talk about camping. They plan imaginary camping trips. They even draw pictures of all of them camping. Camping is truly their very favorite thing to do.

These brothers also shared the same disappointment. It seemed like every time they asked their parents to go camping, they were given a reason why they couldn't go. It was usually, either their dad had to work, or their mom had already made plans for the weekend. The answer had always seemed to end the same - maybe next time.

Chapter 2: The Plan

One Saturday afternoon the boys were sitting around Graham’s bedroom. They were trying to think of a way to convince their parents to take them camping. Let’s go camping by ourselves, suggested Graham. Do you mean by ourselves, without Mom and Dad? Cameron asked. Ian sat quietly and listened. Graham explained how he thought they were old enough to go camping by themselves. Graham figured if he was old enough to baby-sit, he should be old enough to be in charge at a campsite. At first Cameron wasn’t sure about having Graham being in charge. Especially for this long awaited camping trip. But the more Cameron thought about it, he began to think that maybe Graham’s plan might work. Maybe their parents would agree with it. Cameron would rather go camping with Graham being in charge, than not go camping at all. Besides, Cameron thought he wouldn’t have to really mind Graham if he didn’t want to.

Ian looked out the window at the big cedar tree and began thinking of all the camping equipment he could bring. He remembered the drawings he had made of camping trips. Ian didn’t care who was in charge. He was just happy to be included in his older brother’s plan.

Cameron spoke up, Graham, you go ask Mom and Dad if we can go, Graham thought for a minute before answering, Maybe we should all go together to ask. Cameron replied, You always want to be in charge all the time anyway, you should do the asking. Graham listened and thought about what Cameron had said. Without saying a word, Graham stood up, walked out of the bedroom and down the hall to find their mom and dad. It wasn’t that Cameron was afraid to ask, he just knew how Graham could argue with the parents. For a serious matter like this, a question that had never been asked before, Cameron thought Graham should ask by