(I’m at a camp for editing film. One of the counselors is having problems.)
Counselor: “Ah, screw it.”
Friend: “Whoa, language!”
Counselor: “It’s not like it’s bad to say that. What, should I say ‘nail’ it? Some other kind of tool? Come on, guys. We’ve all screwed stuff and nailed stuff before.”
(We couldn’t contain our laughter!)
(I am female and a volunteer at a camp. I am currently working with another counselor who is a male and happens to be very good looking. We are in a room working with a group of kids. One of the little girls comes up to me.)
Girl: “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Me: *looks at her with confusion* “No. Why?”
Girl: “I thought you were dating him.” *points to other counselor in the room*
Me: *blinks* “Ah… No, I’m not dating [Counselor]… Why him?”
Girl: *beams* “I think you two are perfect for each other!”
Me: “Ah. How about you go join the other kids, all right?”
(Fast forward to the end of the day, as the kids are signing out to leave.)
Me: *starts to leave*
Counselor: “Hey! Wait up!”
Me: *turns around* “Hey, [Counselor], what is it?”
Counselor: “I was wondering… Would you like to go out with me?”
Me: *eyes widen* “Seriously? Sure. I’d love to.”
Counselor: *grins* “Awesome. How about after camp tomorrow?”
Me: *smiles back* “Sounds good.”
(The little girl from before runs up to him.)
Girl: *looks at him* “I told you she would say yes!” *looks at me* “And now you’re dating him!”
(The two of us just looked at each other and laughed. We’ve been dating for a year now, and still can’t believe that a seven year old girl was able to successfully set us up together.)
(My group of friends and I are all very experienced outdoorsmen so our camping trips are really roughing it: typically, we take a six-or-so-mile hike with minimal equipment so we can live off of the land as much as possible. My friend’s new girlfriend decides she wants to come with us. She shows up the day of the trip with four bags, including things like a hairdryer.)
Me: “Why are you bringing all this? Didn’t [Friend] tell you to pack light?”
Girl: “Well, I did. I only brought the stuff I need.”
Me: “Uh, not really. You don’t even have any food.”
Girl: “I’ll just go to a restaurant or something.”
(After we arrive in the mountains to begin our hike up:)
Girl: “Where are the cabins?”
Me: “There aren’t any.”
Girl: “Then where are we staying?”
Me: “In the woods, about seven miles that way.”
Girl: *Pause* “Are you kidding?”
Me: “Nope. I thought [Friend] told you we were camping?”
Girl: “He did. I just thought he was kidding about being out in the woods. Like, we would be in cabins like summer camp.”
(That was her last camping trip.)
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(We offer pony camps during the summer to kids wanting to learn to ride. We have very calm, safe horses to ride, and take all safety measures, but some parents are naturally worrisome.)
Mom: “Those horses are awfully big… Don’t you have something smaller for my daughter?”
Me: “Ma’am, I assure you, all of our horses are sweet. I’ve ridden all of them over my years here.”
Mom: “I just think that they’re too big for her. Maybe something smaller? Like a miniature horse?”
Me: “Ma’am, you can’t really ride a miniature horse…”
Mom: “Oh! What about that one! It’s perfectly sized for her!”
Me: “Uh… Ma’am… that’s a goat.”
(At this point, the daughter was bright red. She ended up riding one of our largest horses and did awesomely. And poor Benny the goat didn’t have to worry!)
(I am 16, working in the kitchens at a summer camp I’ve been attending since I was about ten. A barbecue/buffet has been set up by the lake for the special needs adult campers, and being part of the kitchen staff, I am one of the staffers behind the line serving food.)
Camper: *smiling at me* “You’re gorgeous.”
(I can’t help but smile, and say the first thing that comes to mind.)
Me: “You’re gorgeous, too!”
(There are no words to describe how stunned and excited the man is when I say this to him, and he turns to the next camper in line, hitting him on the shoulder repeatedly to get his attention.)
Camper: *in a loud, hoarse whisper* “She thinks I’m gorgeous!”
