Photo: Shutterstock.

C

lothes and bedsheets fly in a rainbow of colors in the air. I watch my bunkmates unpack from my perch on the top of the bunk bed — or should I say on top of the world? That’s certainly how I feel.

I’m in camp in that lovely land where books and pencils don’t exist. I’m in the world of pillow fights and friends and grass and bunk beds. I’m in a wonderland of adventures and surprises — and I’d better take advantage or so my sister Mimi warned me as we lugged our duffel bags to our bunkhouses.

I drink in the frivolous laughter and banter around me like a wide-eyed immigrant. As a first-timer to camp that pretty much sizes me up. I fluff up my pillow and climb down from the bunk bed. I’m all set. I scan my immaculate closet once more and shut the wooden door. Done.

The view from the bunkhouse porch is like a mini paradise. Wooden cabins bright green grass trees bobbing in a circle all around.

I stretch and breathe deeply.

“Four whole weeks” I tell my friend Dini who is as mesmerized as I am. “I’m sure soon enough we’ll forget it’s our first time here.” Luckily Dini is here for her first summer too so I’m not the only owl-eyed camper around.

We hop from welcome activity to Minchah to supper to night activity and then I plunk down on my top bed opposite Dini’s.

“Ever slept on a bunk bed before?”

“Never. There’s always a first time.” Dini yawns.

Once the bunkhouse quiets down at an hour I will not disclose I close my eyes secretly glad I can finally get to sleep. I am weary achy and disoriented after a day that saw me from the city into the country settling in camp and absorbing the thousands of new details that come along with it. The oblivion of sleep is tempting.

But just as my eyes close my whole body perks up. I am sleeping in a little cabin right next to the big scary woods and so very far away from home. The bed is uncomfortable. I’m afraid I’ll fall.

And what will be tomorrow? I’ll get off my bed to meet a rickety ladder instead of the velvety carpet in my mauve-colored bedroom. And what will I eat for breakfast? Will I drink that same thinned-out chocolate milk we had for lunch today?