Meticulous Nicholas . . . Goes to Camp is a story about a 9 year old boy (Nicholas) who goes to sleep away camp for the very first time. He remains meticulous in his preparation for this camp journey, from color coding his shirts in his luggage, to neatly keeping his camp bungalow clean, that is, until he meets his sloppy soon to be roommate, Butch. Together, the boys participate in various camp activities in which the bold difference in their personalities continue to shock Meticulous Nicholas, from the way Butch eats at the Camp's "Grub Shack", to the way he plays his games in camp. However different they may be, together they form a friendship and learn how to fuse as one to become teammates, roommates, and most of all, friends. Meticulous Nicholas is a good positive role model for children of all ages, and parent's will love him as well!

Meticulous Nicholas ... Goes to Camp

By G.M. RENNA

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 G.M. RENNA
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2784-1

Chapter One

Preparing for Camp

Nicholas bolted out of bed that bright summer morning, eagerly anticipating the day ahead. It had only been a few days since school ended, and he was very excited about packing for Summer Camp. This was a special camp, because it was a sleep away camp and it would be the first time Nicholas would be with the "big boys" section of Camp Bear Mountain, and most importantly, the first time he would be away from home.

"Nicholas" his mom shouted from the kitchen, "Hurry up and come downstairs to eat breakfast" Still in his pajamas, Nicholas ran down the stairs to the sweet smell of cinnamon buns. After eating about 3 hot sticky buns and gulping down a glass of orange juice, Nicholas went to the bathroom, brushed and flossed his teeth, then headed straight to the basement to look for his luggage.

There was so much junk in that basement that Nicholas had to organize everything and put it all in its place. The bikes, rollerblades, skateboards to one side, baseball, football and soccer stuff to the other side, and the important things like video games, computer games, Ipod, DVD's and CD's go in the center, because Nicholas was planning on bringing most of those to Camp. "Mom!" Nicholas shouted "where are the suitcases?". "Look in the closet down there." his mom replied. Sure enough Nicholas opened the closet door and his pair of matching suitcases was there! Nicholas immediately began putting his electronic things in the first suitcase, careful not to forget his favorite CD's. Now it was time to bring the suitcases up to his bedroom to begin packing the rest of his things. His mom bought him all new clothes, sneakers, and swimming trunks for camp, and Nicholas wanted everything to be in order and very detailed. Socks to color coordinate, shirts to be ironed and wrinkle free, everything must be detailed oriented down to his new sneakers and swim trunks! As he packed, Nicholas paid close attention that a name label was sewn on to everything he was taking to camp so it would not get lost. He was so excited about Camp Bear Mountain that he just couldn't wait until the bus came for him that afternoon. As Nicholas continued packing his things he made a conscious effort to keep all of his belongings neat and in order. From the brand new toothbrush, shampoo and hairbrush, Nicholas was certainly going to Camp like a soldier. "Mom!" Nicholas shouted "I'm finished packing, can we leave now for the bus terminal?" "Nicholas his mom said we still have a few hours until the bus comes, why don't you tidy up your room and check under the bed to make sure you did not forget anything?" Well, if there was one thing Nicholas enjoyed doing was cleaning up his room. It gave him great pleasure to see everything sparkling; nothing on the floors, cabinet draws tucked in, and beds made so neat that you can bounce a coin off of them! "Sure Mom." Nicholas answered "I will give my room a final cleaning ..." So off went Nicholas, buzzing around his bedroom, sweeping and throwing out garbage and checking to see that the remaining clothes left behind were folded neat in their dresser draws. Before he knew it, it was time to go to the bus terminal. Nicholas was talking a mile a minute in the car ride about all the things he was going to do at Camp Bear Mountain. From the Hiking Trails, Nature Walks, Swimming, Game Room, Computer Room, Campfires at Night, he was so excited! He even made a checklist at home to make sure he would participate in all camp activities. As Nicholas and his Mom pulled up to the bus terminal, it was surely a sight to see that Big Beautiful RED and TAN bus waiting in the depot!

The bus was so shiny with Chrome, the windows were all tinted, the bus wheels were so huge, but the thing that caught Nicholas's eye was the big sign on the front of the bus that read: "Camp BEAR Mountain". "This is it Mom, that's my bus! Wow, it's a beauty!". "It sure is" his mom answered, come on let's get out of the car and sign you in with your Head Counselor. Nicholas quickly took his luggage out of the trunk of the car and rolled it over to the Camp Bus. Waiting to meet him was Counselor Brian, who introduced himself as the Head Counselor for the camp. "Welcome aboard, Nicholas!" "Please take a seat on the bus while I sign you in." Nicholas hugged his mom goodbye and promised to write and jumped up the steps to the bus where he sat right behind the bus driver. As Nicholas looked around the bus he wondered when all the other Campers would be arriving, he was anxious to make new friends and share his computer games with them! Looking out the window, he saw his mom waving to him and Nicholas couldn't help but notice that his mom looked like she was crying a little, maybe she would miss him, but he would only be gone for 4 weeks. "Bye mom!" Nicholas shouted through the window, "Don't cry, I will write you everyday and call!" Finally his Mom smiled and told him to have fun and soon after a few more campers started boarding the bus.

Nicholas noticed another boy boarding the bus who had a similar Ipod like him. "Hi, my name is Nicholas, looks like we have the same Ipod" "Yeah, the boy answered, my name is Butch, and I just don't want to go to camp! 'My mom is making me go to this camp for the summer'. "Oh, but Camp Bear Mountain will be so much fun", Nicholas said "There will be so much to do, maybe we can bunk together in the same room when we get there, I can show you all of my electronic games.' "In the meantime, have a seat over here while we wait for the others to board" Butch hesitantly sat down next to Nicholas and scrolled down his IPOD to listen to music. And before you knew it, the Camp Bear Mountain Bus rolled away up the hill beeping it's horn, and making a roar with its engines as the excited (and some not so excited) campers sat for the long ride out to Camp Bear Mountain.

Chapter Two

The Bus Ride

The bus trip over to Camp Bear Mountain was about 2 hours, and Nicholas looked out the window most of the time enjoying the country views. There were horse farms and cows grazing in the grass and occasionally a deer would shoot out across the road. Some of the Bucks were so big they looked like kangaroos jumping off into the woods. "Hey Butch, did you see the antlers on that Buck" Nicholas asked? "There is so much wildlife here it's going to be fun camping out at night!" As the bus made its final approach up the long steep mountain to the camp, Nicholas looked up at the sky and couldn't believe the beautiful long winged turkey vultures flying around. They looked like bald eagles. The bus driver even remarked that sometimes they cross the road and waddle so slow across the street like ducks. Camp Bear Mountain will have so much to see and do Nicholas thought as he sat deeply in his chair and closed his eyes for just a second, day dreaming of the fun that lies ahead of him.

"Ok campers we're here!" Shouted Head Counselor Brian "The campers in the front of the bus will get off first" "That's us!" Nicholas said to Butch. "Come on, Hurry Lets get out there and explore the Camp! "Hold on Counselor Brian shouted "Not so fast, you guys have to line up and wait for the others to disembark!" Patience was certainly not something Nicholas had today; his excitement far outweighed waiting for anything! "Let's get to the front of the line so we can be first to get off Nicholas said to Butch. "Alright campers, Head Counselor said "line up for roll call! "When I call your name answer present, and I will give you a name tag to wear, and don't worry about your suitcases, they will be sent to your bungalows" As Counselor Brian called everyone's name it was finally time to start walking towards the main section of Camp Bear Mountain.

Chapter Three

Arriving at Camp Bear Mountain

"The Flagpole" as Counselor Brian called it was the center meeting place for all campers. Every morning before breakfast, all campers were to meet at the flagpole for roll calling. The counselors gave out name tags to all the campers for identification and safety purposes. The day would also have to start with a patriotic pledge of allegiance. For today, Nicholas would get his bungalow number and buddy. No one could go anywhere in camp alone including swimming without A buddy. As luck would have it, Butch was the buddy for Nicholas. "I'm sure glad we'll be in the same bungalow together Nicholas said" "Come on cheer up and stop being so glum, we are going to have fun! Nicholas said. "Let's go to our bungalow and start unpacking our things" Reluctantly Butch followed, but it was going to take some time for him to relax and start enjoying the adventures ahead with Nicholas. "Oh, look Butch! I'll take the cot by the window, and you can have the one by the door' Nick said, put your suitcase on your bed and start unpacking your things. Nicholas quickly opened his suitcases to make sure everything was neat and in order, his clothes remained crisp and wrinkle free, pants folded neatly, everything could go directly into his camp dresser. Nicholas took all his new sneakers and water shoes and placed them neatly in the closet, and hung up all his shirts by color. For example; blues to the front, white in the middle, and all others to the back of the closet. As he turned around to check on Butch he let out a startled gasp "Oh my goodness! "Look at your suitcase!" Nicholas exclaimed" How in the world did you pack your things? Butch's suitcase was a mess, his clothes were rolled into wrinkled balls, socks mismatched and thrown all over, pants just thrown in as an afterthought, nothing was neat, It looked liked he threw everything into the suitcase and mixed it all up with a giant eggbeater! "How can you find anything in there" Nicholas stuttered in shock, "I ... I ... could not function like that!" Why did you just throw your things in that way Butch? "I told you I did not want to come to camp Butch answered uncaringly, I don't want to be here, my mom made me come here! And anyway, who's gonna see my wrinkled dirty clothes and who cares?" Butch said. Nicholas looked at that messy suitcase in disbelief and couldn't understand how anyone could be so sloppy! Just at that moment, Counselor Brian walked into the room. "Hi boys!" Counselor Brian said, "What are ya doin'?" But before he could walk into the room any further Counselor Brian stopped at Butch's bed so abruptly ... "Jeez, whose suitcase is this? Why is this bed such a mess and these clothes all dirty and wrinkled?" Butch walked over to Counselor Brian chewing his gum and blew a bubble and said ... "Oh, it's mine..... didn't get a chance to clean it out yet" Counselor Brian looked at Butch and gave him the speech about how the camp bungalows must be kept neat and clean, including all personal belongings of the campers. Beds must be made every morning, dirty clothes put in the hampers headed for the laundry room, etc.etc.

With that Counselor Brian walked over to Nicholas's side of the room. "Hmmm" he said, now what a difference this side looks like. Look at the clothes all ironed, socks, color coded, everything put away in perfect detail...... "Nicholas, you're so Meticulous! You can certainly be a role model for Butch as well as some of the other campers" "Good job for being so neat and tidy". Nicholas beamed with pride as he really did enjoy keeping his things clean and in tip top shape! "Thank you, Nicholas said to Counselor Brian, maybe I can help Butch later with his belongings. But for now, can you tell us what activities you have scheduled for the rest of today?" "Sure" said Counselor Brian, "for the rest of today we get to take a tour of the Camp Grounds riding in our mini golf carts with our Head Counselors so they can tell you the layout of the camp." You will get to see everything from the swimming hole in the center of the mountain, to the lake and the paddle boats, hiking trails, Nature trails, and the golf course. "We even have a zoo, and in the Winter Time the Ice rink is open on the top of the mountain." Listen for when the bugle sounds and go to the flagpole with Butch and you will be assigned a Driver and golf cart and no sooner had Counselor Brian finished his sentence, when they all heard the loud horn of the bugle indicating it was time for all to meet at the flagpole. Nicholas grabbed Butch off the cot and nearly dragged him out the door, eager to finally begin his day at Camp Bear Mountain.

The golf carts were all lined up waiting for the campers to board. Nicholas and Butch climbed into the 5th cart, and had a pretty nice Counselor/driver who introduced himself as Steve. The golf cart went over to the Archery section first, where Steve said they would teach the boy's how to shoot a bow an arrow. Usually at the end of Camp there is contest on who can shoot the furthest. "Oh boy!" Nicholas exclaimed. "I can't wait to learn how to shoot!" "What's next? "What's over on this side, Steve" asked Nicholas excitedly? "Well across the way here we have the swimming pool and next to that is the lake with the pedal boats." "Hey Butch, Nicholas exclaimed, won't it be fun to pedal around the Lake and then slide down that giant waterslide in the pool area"? Butch actually started looking a little interested now." "It looks ok Butch remarked" I guess maybe the boats will be pretty cool to go on". Meanwhile Nicholas had "swivel head" he didn't know where to look next, from the left side to the right, there was so many camp Activities. Up went the golf cart on the Nature Walk Trail where Steve pointed out berry bushes, which you can actually pick and eat your own berries, and there were turtles and birds and all sorts of Wildlife all around. There was even cute little chipmunks running all Over the Nature Trail so fast they looked like mini hot rod cars. Steve pointed out that on the last Friday night before camp ends, everyone comes up to the Mountain to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories! "Yikes!" Nicholas said it sure must be very dark and scary up on this mountain late at night" "Well, Steve said," if you're lucky enough to have a full moon then it's not so bad up here because the light of the moon makes it bright at night! "But if there is a cloudy night and no moon, it's pretty creepy up here" Nicholas noticed that Butch seemed fascinated about the scary stuff and all that it entailed. Butch asked "when is the first night that we get to come up here?" "Remember, on the last Friday before camp ends" Steve answered, "so get ready to be spooked!" Butch actually cracked a little smile from the corner of his mouth and Nicholas realized that this Camp Bear Mountain was going to be really cool, as he sat back and the golf cart took them back to the "Mess Hall/or Grub Shack as some campers called it for lunch.

Chapter Four

The Grub Shack, Game Room & Swimming Hole

The Grub Shack was such a noisy place..... campers talked out loud, plates and forks clanking, everyone buzzing around and lining up to get their trays for the buffet line. "Jeez, Nicholas said "It sure smells good in here and I am hungry!" "How about you, Butch? What are you going to have?" "The hot dogs look good!" Butch said, "Maybe I will have 2 of them" "Hey look at that! It's an ice cream machine and we can make our own, Nicholas said, "Look at all the yummy flavors," Vanilla, Chocolate, or Strawberry, I will have all three when I'm done with lunch" Nicholas said as they sat down to eat, Nicholas properly placed his napkin over his lap, and one under his chin, and very slowly and methodically bit into his hot dog, and chewed it for about 20 times until he swallowed. He noticed that Butch was staring at him, and with mustard and ketchup all over his face, and his mouth full of food, Butch said "Why do you eat like that? So slowly and neatly? "So I can enjoy it", Nicholas said, I want to savor every bite". Butch looked confused as he wolfed down his hot dog and licked his fingers and marched off to the ice cream machines. Meanwhile, Nicholas was in his own world, enjoying his lunch and reading what was left of the days activities. "Hmm, swimming was going to take place in about an hour, in the meantime the Game Room was open to the campers to play video games, air hockey, and all sorts of things. It was time to get his buddy Butch down to the game room for fun. "Hey Butch, "hurry up with that ice cream cone, I want to check out the Game Room, "Come on! Nicholas shouted let's go!

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Meticulous Nicholas ... Goes to Campby G.M. RENNA Copyright © 2009 by G.M. RENNA. Excerpted by permission.
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