Scout's Honor
"Hi, Harm. Glad you could make it." Rich Donahue held out his hand in welcome. Harm shook it briefly and said, "Thanks, I think. Mac tells me I'm going to enjoy myself." Rich grinned. "Best time you've had in years, trust me. What could be better than spending some quality time in the great outdoors with your son?" "Good question." Harm pulled the thermos jug and lunch cooler out of the car. "So what, exactly, do we do here?" "We take roll. The kids should be arriving any minute. Fall-in is at nine, so they better get here soon." "Okay, then what?" It had been a long time since Harm had been to day camp. "Each pack lines up around the flag pole. Then there is a flag ceremony. Our pack is doing it tomorrow afternoon." Rich turned to look at his son and Ben. "Tommy, Ben! You two get back here." The youngsters looked up in surprise. "What, Dad?" "You know the rules, Tommy. No wandering off without permission." Rich squatted down at the boys' level. "You guys need to be extra good this week, since your parents are the leaders, okay?" "Yes, sir." Ben stood at attention. "Remember, you're the den leader and Ben's the assistant leader. Admiral Rabb and I are looking to the two of you to set a good example for everyone else." "Yes, sir." Tommy nodded at his father. "Good. I'm glad to hear it. Now can you two stand right here, while Ben's dad and I go over the schedule for a minute?" "Yes, sir," they chorused. "So how long will that last?" Harm said in a low voice. "I give 'em five minutes, six if we're lucky." Rich grinned. "If I'm not mistaken, here comes the rest of the gang." A red minivan pulled up and four more boys practically tumbled out. They raced across the parking area while an attractive blonde followed more slowly. Rich introduced her to Harm. "Mary Lichtefeld, Harm Rabb. Mary's the one who drew the short straw when it came to carpool duty this week," he explained. "She's Ryan's mother." Harm grinned. "It's nice to meet you, Mary. I don't envy you doing the driving." She shrugged. "It could be worse. I could be you or Rich." She smiled at the two men. "After all, I just get to listen to them for an hour or so each way. You all get them for the whole day." "Now, Mary. Don't scare Harm off. I've been telling him how much fun it's going to be." Mary laughed. "If you believe that, I've got a really nice bridge in Brooklyn to sell you, Harm." "Oh?" Harm was intrigued. "Yeah. I've been to Cub Scout day camp before. Ryan is my second son. Rich here conned me into being a leader at it a couple of years ago." Her eyes twinkled. "I don't know how it happens, but every year, the week for day camp is the one where it's ninety-five in the shade at ten in the morning." She turned to go. "I'll be here at three. In the meantime, I'll think of you while I'm lounging around the pool." "Good-bye, Mary." Rich grinned at her. "Bye, guys." With a cheerful wave, she was gone. Twenty minutes later, the Wolf Den of Pack 235 was falling in by the flag pole. "I pledge allegiance to the flag..." *********** 1530 Local "Oh, Tom the Toad, oh, Tom the Toad, Why are you lying in the road? You used to be so green and fat, But now you're small and red and flat. Oh, Tom the Toad, oh, Tom the Toad, Why are you lying in the road?" Harm looked over at his son. Ben's face was sunburned despite the sunscreen he'd slathered on him, and he was scratching at a mosquito bite on his arm. So much for DEET. Maybe he should have believed that other den leader who was coating all the kids in her den with what looked like bath oil. None of them had gotten bitten. Of course, all of them were also walking oil slicks. "You know, Ben, you might not want to sing that song for Mommy." Startled brown eyes met his. "You think she won't like it? I guess I could sing Oh, Sue the Skunk, why did you make my tires go clunk." Harm laughed. "I think I'd avoid that one too. I'm not sure it's quite Mommy's type." Ben scrunched up his face and thought for a minute. Then he nodded. "You're probably right. She likes really gross songs." "She does?" Harm was surprised. "Yeah. She taught us how to sing 'I'm looking over my dead dog Rover' at Tiger Cubs last month. We did the one about I'm squishing up a baby bumble bee too." He smiled smugly. "It's really disgusting." "I see." Harm took a deep breath. He still wasn't sure he was having fun at day camp, but he certainly was getting an education. So much for squared-away Marines. The rest of the drive home was quiet, since Ben dozed off about five miles farther down the highway. **************************** Commercial Break ******************************** Camp Runamuck, the new camp with the most fun activities. Join us and take part in the "roll the counselors down the hill" Derby, the short-sheeting contest, the campers versus counselors water fight. For information, call 1-800-555-CAMP or go to our website at www.runamuck.org. *******************************************************************************
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