Camp Hobby Horses

<--- --- --->

Prologue

<--- --- --->

.

“Page 02: 'the Spirit Horse” I read.

I am flipping the page, falling forwards and down into the narrative in a swift, fluid motion.

“Whoa!” I exclaim, thanking my lucky Star, for being in this secluded location where I don't expect anyone to see me or find out.

<--- --- --->

I had just received my catalogue: “Summer Camp: for Girls”.

“Camp: Spirit Horse” I read; as I come across one particular camp, I had not seen before.

“Either this camp is new, has changed location, or I was too young to partake in the activities of the camp!” I am realizing.

“Either way, I am eager to go; maybe I could have my sister by my side, enjoying the camp right alongside me?” I breathe. (No Age Limit is mentioned, anywhere in the description)

“Duration: 2 Months” I read, “That is almost the entire summer break!” I ponder.

Of course, I had read the description thrice over; in order to make sure, I knew exactly what it entails.

“This is the Camp, I want to be at, this year..” I ponder; “now I just need to talk my sister into following me, to the camp!” I conclude.

<--- --- --->

“Yes, Sis..” she responds; “but of course, I want to follow you to Camp: Spirit Horse!” she concludes.

“A new, and very exciting camp..” she ponders; “if she had not introduced me to it; I would have been regretting missing out, to the end of days..” she realizes; “I am so grateful, for her introducing me to this camp!” she concludes.

I had packed everything, the camp expected me to carry; just as I had seen my sister, completing her packing, last night. You don’t ruin your experience, by missing packing one essential; not when it is the entire summer’s worth, of experience.

It isn’t, in the cost of going; but in the cost, of failing.

The return address is already printed, on the envelope; just as the catalogue holds the form, I need to fill in to confirm my desire to partake in the camp. Since this camp is so long, I can only partake in the one; but I managed to squeeze in, how my sister wants to follow me to the camp.

My response is prompt, much swifter than I could possibly have been anticipating; I have the confirmation, that we are to be on the camp. The two tickets are included, right along with the description of how to get to the camp: step by step. (Granted, the camp is still a week in the future.)

<--- --- --->

When the day finally arrives, on the Saturday; everything is packed and ready to go, we had both checked and double checked that everything is in and ready. Well, why not? This is the single greatest event in our lives, after all. Besides; this is our first trip alone, and together as sisters.

Father had driven us to the station, where the train is awaiting us. Naturally; the train had already been parked, well in advance; even if it had been expected to wait for a good long while, before the last participant had finally boarded. (If only I had realized; just how important this Camp really is, to the Participants taking part.)

For this long a trip, we are assigned to compartments; six girls in each compartment, for the entire trip.

Since the train is standing still, we have more than enough time to board the train; there is not all that much activity, so finding our compartment is a breeze.

I count the individual coaches: one, two, three; choosing to enter the train, close to the compartment we had been assigned. The door on the right side of the coach is open, eagerly awaiting us. I step in, with my sister in tow.

Everything I will need, ready and waiting in my back pack; just as the instructions demands. Never break the demands given; or you will end up regretting the mistakes, when the issue is finally revealed. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, it will be revealed. (I don’t chance escaping. {something as silly as a single bottle of water; could spell disaster, once it comes into play.})

<--- --- --->

As I am stepping in, into the coach; I am greeted by the lavish decorations, even if it isn’t the first class standard. Maybe I should have been expecting it, if I had realized where we are going.

The walls had been laid with Mahogany wood, aged by time. Should I be escaping, fearing where we were going? Why? I can’t leave the train now, just as I had stepped in.

I read the numbers on the doors to the compartments, counting up to the number indicating our seats. Apparently; my sister and I had been afforded the window seats, permitting us to sit face to face. How generous. Or, is it just luck of the draw? The seating arrangements had not been described, or specified; even if I had realized, that we were to go by train from day one.

I slide the door up, stepping in with my sister in tow; the compartment is empty, devoid of people. (No little girls, to be seen.) Oh, well.

Once inside, I close the door; sliding my back pack off of me, before I am helping my sister to store hers under the seat. Conveniently enough; there is more than enough space under the seat; for one back pack, such as I had been instructed to carry.

Several minutes later, I can see the door once more slide up; two girls in my age stepping in, before they close the door behind themselves.

“Hi!” I exclaim, greeting the new girls with which I am to share the time at the camp.

“Hi!” the girls respond, as they step into the compartment.

With the greetings out of the way, they soon find their seats. I quietly watch them, as they slip their back packs in under their respective seats, before they claim their respective seats.

I guess, we could as well make ourselves comfortable; this is going to be a long ride, even before the train had even departed. (We had been among the first to arrive, and the train is holding the position for an entire hour.)

After a moment, I notice the two girls making curious expressions; as if they had not been expecting me and my sister to share the compartment, with them. (If only I had realized, the true cause of their surprised {curious} expressions) If they step onto the train, at the same station; they had to be living in the neighbourhood, or at least, reasonably close by. (Wouldn’t they?) I don’t ask, and neither does my sister.

“Oups..” I exclaim and my sister is looking up; “did you slip the accessories off of you?” I inquire.

“No..” she responds; “it never occurred to me, I should!” she concludes.

“Maybe we should have, but I guess it is too late now!” I put forth.

One of the girls is looking critically at me, examining my face; in the hopes of figuring out, what I had been talking about. Only for her companion to exclaim; “Oh..” as her eyes caught the equine ears on my head, whereupon I hear them giggling, for a long moment.

“Camp Spirit Horse..” the girls breathe.

“Yes..” my sister supplies, “you are going there, too?” she inquires.

“That is the destination of this train, yes!” the second girl confirms.

A moment later, the door is sliding up; whereupon two more girls step in, closing the door behind themselves.

The compartment now full, there is a click; the door temporarily locking, denoting that the compartment is fully occupied.

“Hi..” the new girls put forth, and the rest of us echo the greeting.

I notice, just how eager the girls are; partaking in this camp: Spirit Horse, even if I haven’t quite figured out just how important this is to them. Oh, well; I will learn, soon enough. (Even if they don’t let on or tell me.)

They had all known of this camp, preparing for it in their own time; we had merely stumbled upon it, as we just so happened to qualify for this event. It will prove, to be a water-shed event; in the life of a young girl’s life, proving one ready for certain levels of responsibility. If you grow up in the culture, there is no escaping what is to come; for the rest, you will just have to learn as you go.

I notice; that none of these girls are wearing any make-up, or the traditional accessories one is expecting a girl to wear. Just as they all had noticed, what accessories my sister and I are wearing; even if certain items had still escaped them, as we had chosen skin-tone for these accessories. It had just felt prudent, at the time; now it is going to have entirely new connotations, in our place. Who could have guessed? Certainly not I; nor, my sister.

The expression of the girls slowly change, over time; as it is occurring to them, what the implications of us being on the train. They had never expected to see us, on the train; largely, because they could not have been prepared to see girls outside of their community. While they may have expected to see new faces, along the ride; but that was not including us, as they had been expected to see only girls from their community in this compartment.

By the time, the train is starting to move; the girls we share the compartment with, all smile at us. Either of us fully grasping the significance or meaning; but to make a few new friends, with people you view as like-minded, is always welcome. At least, it is in my opinion and experience.

Since we had been invited to partake, we are here; strictly under the understanding, that we are following their customs. As the guest, you follow the rules of the location; you can’t expect, to be given special privileges on the account. (Am I becoming an honorary member, of this community; simply by partaking in this camp, and what it is representing to them?) I should be feeling honoured, just by being here; able to partake, in the camp to which I had been invited.

At first, little is said. I am casting scattered glances out the window; but since there is little of interest outside the train, I soon turn my attention back to the new friends by my side. Of course; my sister is facing me; just as I had been expecting, from the beginning.

I am a bit worried, at first; not sure, what I am supposed to say or ask. On the other rubbery hoof; I soon notice, they are a bit confused and unsure what to ask. Gone is the interest, in reading any of the books I had brought with me.

After an hour, of journey; the door is sliding up; a woman is peaking in, examining who is on the train. I guess, this should have been expected. I just had not realized it, from the start. She had denoted who is in the compartment, scribbling down the names; making sure, everyone who should be in, is actually present.

She leaves, after closing the door behind herself.

I pull the table out, expecting to be served the meal; since this is a very long ride, and knowing just how hungry we will be as we arrive.

Once she had completed her round, she is returning to our compartment. She is sliding the door up; before she is placing a plate, before each of us. I feel my mouth watering, as I am salivating.

The other girls are also finding the meal appetizing, eager to dig in; taking their time, enjoying the meal and savouring the flavours on display.

“Eating like a Horse..” I whisper; “they certainly are not eating like Dogs!” my sister responds.

The girls, in whose company we are sitting; has heard nothing, not even reacting on the conversation I share with my sister.

“While it may have been prudent, to leave our accessories at home..” I whisper; “now is not the time to take it off!” I conclude.

“Oh..” my sister responds; “but I couldn’t..” she continues; “I would feel weird; even if I just slipped them off, for an hour!” she explains.

I just nod.

One girl is looking up, momentarily; trying to make sense, out of what she thought she had perceived.

The other girls had not even noticed it, engrossed in their meal as they are; the girl returns her full attention to her own meal. Enjoying the offering, the meal is representing; preparing for what is to come, as best she can.

<--- --- --->

Pass: From one, to another; a Lavender Camp.

The Arrival

<--- --- --->