Cool Campers by Mike Knudson Read Free Book Online Page A

followed Toad back to the benches in front of our cabins.
    We all sat down, and Toad made a campfire in the pit. “All right, who’s ready for Roses, Thorns, and Buds?”
    We looked around at each other. I don’t think anyone knew what he was talking about.
    â€œLet me explain, Toad Claws. Every night when we gather around the campfire, we’ll each take a turn and share a rose, a thorn, and a bud. A rose is something you’ve enjoyed that day, maybe your favorite activity or just something great that happened. A thorn is something that didn’t go so well or that you didn’t like about the day. And, finally, a bud is something that you are looking forward to tomorrow.”
    Toad looked around at our blank faces. “Why don’t I go first to show you how it works? Today my rose was coming up with our patrol name and cheer with you guys. Patrols always choose to be eagles, hawks, or mountain lions, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of one called the Toad Claws.
    â€œAs for my thorn . . . I’d have to say that my thorn was stepping in the mud this afternoon. These are my brand-new camp boots.
    â€œAnd my bud is the hike we’ll be taking tomorrow. It’s always my favorite activity.” Toad sat down at the end of the bench in front of cabin six and patted a kid named Jackson on the back. “Your turn,” he said.
    â€œOkay, my rose was watching Mark Herron eat the Herron’s Heap at dinner. It was awesome!” A lot of heads nodded in agreement. “My thorn was the freezing cold water in the lake.” Again, there were a lot of heads nodding. “And my bud is getting to see Herron’s Heap again tomorrow.”
    Graham turned to me. “Raymond, these guys never met Mark Herron until tonight, and they already think he’s the greatest.”
    â€œI know. I don’t get it. All he did was eat a pile of mixed-up food,” I said.
    Graham was right. Almost every kid mentioned Mark Herron as a rose or a bud. One kid even had him as his thorn because he missed seeing Herron’s Heap at dinner.
    Finally someone got up who didn’t adore Mark Herron: Lizzy-Boy.
    â€œMy roses, thorns, and buds are the same as Toad’s,” he said.
    â€œYou mean your thorn is that Toad stepped in the mud?” Graham called out. Everyone laughed, except Lizzy-Boy. He just gave Graham a rude smirk and then sat down.
    I leaned over to Graham. “Wow, he really is like Lizzy.”
    At last it was our cabin’s turn. Tiny went first.
    â€œWell, my rose is making friends with the guys in my cabin. They’re really awesome.” He looked down at us and smiled. It made me feel good. Then he continued. “My thorn is when I jumped off my bunk and accidentally landed on Raymond’s foot. Sorry, man,” he said to me. I smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. “And my bud would have to be the food. I really like to eat, if you can’t tell.” He pointed to his large stomach and everyone laughed.
    BB was next. “Well, my rose is finding this cool brown spider I named Harry. I’m not sure what kind he is yet. He looks like a wolf spider, but he may be too small. But don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.” I looked around, wondering how many people were actually worrying. “My thorn is when I forgot to tell Tiny about Harry and he got on Tiny’s shirt. Sorry, Tiny.” Tiny shivered, but smiled. Then BB raised both hands in the air. “And my bud is us winning the spirit award this week. Go Toad Claws! Har!”
    The whole group joined in.“Har! Toad Claws!”
    Graham stood up. “Let’s see. My rose would have to be this awesome bear claw I got at the Trading Post.” He held it up to show everyone.
    â€œMy thorn was when Tiny and I accidentally switched—”
    Tiny jumped up and interrupted, “Wallets, when we accidentally switched wallets. Right,