Jaclyn’s Quality Camp-Out
by Sr Margaret Kerry August 24, 200
Jaclyn lived in a gorgeous house! It had smooth wooden floors, a marble fire-place with imported candles burning in place of a fire. The dining room had a waterfall bubbling off of the wall and candelabras to illuminate the hand carved dining table. Her bedroom had hanging curtains, a queen size bed and warm fuzzy carpet. At the entrance to her house was a long winding cobblestone walk surrounded by exotic plants and flowers. At the back of her house were an outdoor fire-place, outdoor furniture, fresh growing vegetables and two dogs. These weren’t ordinary dogs; they were trained hunters and guarded the house from wild animals that may emerge from the woods. Yet what Jaclyn wanted more than anything else for her birthday was to go camping – in the wild, wild woods! Or maybe the beach – the beach may be even better. She told her mom and dad that this is what she wanted for her birthday. Her mom and dad looked at each other and held hands. Neither of them wanted to speak first. After
a moment her dad asked “Why?” Then her mom asked the same question “Why?” Jaclyn was prepared for this. “It will be a quality camping trip.” she explained. “We will bring the dogs to guard our camp. We can bring a really big tent. We can bring hot dogs, hamburgers and steak for a cook out. We can bring our large sleeping bags with air-mattresses underneath.” “Well,” said dad. “Hmmm.” sighed mom. Since Jaclyn wasn’t sure if the answer would be yes she called her cousin Anna. “Anna, wouldn’t it be cool to go camping! We could go on a quality camping trip!” Once again Jaclyn explained what a quality camping trip was as Anna listened. Anna’s brother Matt was listening in to this conversation. He started hoping that they would go on a camping trip so he could sneak up on their tent and making scary noises. “Go away,” Matt. “Yelled Anna.
“Stop listening in!” She heard the phone click on the other end. “Matt was listening in, Jaclyn.” “So what do you think?” asked Jaclyn. “When are you going? Are your mom and dad taking you? I will have to ask my mom.” Jaclyn didn’t know when she would be going or if her mom and dad would really take her. On her birthday, right after Jaclyn blew out the candles on the cake which sat on the hand carved dining room table near the flowing waterfall, her dad handed her an envelope. Jaclyn looked at him and looked at her mom. “What is it?” “Your gift” they responded. Jaclyn ripped open the envelope. There was another envelope inside. Inside of that envelop was a card that read: Good for One
* Quality Camping Trip.
At the bottom of the card was the definition of *Quality: *Quality: in a safe place, with dogs, on air mattresses, with sleeping bags, in a big tent. Welcome to your backyard camping experience! “Oh,” said Jaclyn. She got up and hugged her mom and her dad. “I forgot to say that quality also meant in a “cool” place. “Well we can hook the fans up!” chuckled dad. “Dad, you know what I mean. A hidden place, a place to explore, a place with deer or at least sea gulls, a place with dirt of at
least sand, a place that we can roast marshmallows on a campfire, a place that has glowing fireflies at night.” “I guess we can import all of that,” smiled dad. “Sure,” agreed mom. Jaclyn just sighed. Anna was at her party and knew that Jaclyn was disappointed. “Just wait, Jaclyn. You still have the card for a One Quality Camping Trip. It doesn’t say it has to be in your back yard – it just says it is a backyard experience.” “That is one way to look at it.” “This is what we can do,” whispered Anna. That evening Anna and Jaclyn were in a tent that Jaclyn’s dad had put up in her backyard. They zippered it up and begin planning to change this backyard experience into a quality camping trip. Soon it became dark outside and cicada’s started buzzing. The two dogs slept right outside of the tent – mostly to warn Anna and Jaclyn if Matt or Joe came into the yard.
No one quite knows how they did it yet but, if you looked very closely, the tent started moving out of the backyard and into the woods that surrounded Jaclyn’s gorgeous house. When Matt and Joe did show up to spook them the tent was gone. They had come with their binoculars and telescope to spy on Jaclyn and Anna. Then they noticed that even the dogs were gone. Only the moon shown brightly over the backyard. “Where did they go?” asked Joe. With his binoculars he looked over at the woods. He thought he saw Jaclyn dressed up in a funny outfit carrying the air mattress back into the woods. “Matt, does that look like Jaclyn?” He and Matt decided to check out the woods. “Boy they are going to get in
trouble!” thought Joe. “Yeah,” said Matt – but we get to scare them first. They found an opening in the fence that led into the woods. They followed the funny looking person with the air mattress on her back to a clearing in the woods. Soon enough they saw the tent. Matt and Joe ducked behind a tree to watch. They set up the telescope. Jaclyn climbed into the tent to put the air-mattress on the floor while Anna, also dressed in a funny outfit, stuck her head outside of the tent. “They sure look funny,” said Matt. “Yeah, what great costumes,” agreed Joe.
At one point the person that look most like Jaclyn came out of the tent and started a fire. She sat there staring at the fire. As Joe and Matt watched nothing happened. I think we should sneak up on them now, said Matt. Slowly they crept up on the campsite. The person that looked most like Jaclyn didn’t more. “Hi,” said Joe. He was worried now because Jaclyn didn’t move and Anna didn’t come out of the tent screaming. “Hello,” repeated Matt now realizing that this wasn’t Jaclyn. The person just sat there for a while. Soon a rooster came up behind Matt and Joe. “Are you looking for someone?” he crowed. “I am the rooster that crows in the morning for these creatures. They won’t
speak until then so I may be able to help you.” “We are looking for our cousin and sister,” said Joe. They were going to be on a quality camping trip in the backyard – right over the fence,” he pointed. “You don’t mind if I sit a while, do you?” asked the rooster. I am not usually up until dawn.” “No, go right ahead,” said Joe. “But please tell us where Anna and Jaclyn are!” “I see you have a telescope,” coughed the rooster slightly. “If I were you I would stop looking on this planet for them. When these creatures who are watching the tent for them show up it is usually because people want a quality camping trip. That always includes some adventure. They must have had a ticket for the event.” “What event!” exclaimed Matthew who was a little surprised to find out that there were
creatures who could fill in for you while you left earth for a while. “What are these creatures names!” he yelled. “Ah, crow, crow,” said the rooster. “I forgot to explain the creatures.” “They are the Quality Camping Krew. Most of the time they just hang around people until someone needs a replacement for a while. I am sure they have filled in for you at some time in your life. They are called QCK or Quirks. It is their nickname. I am sure you have heard someone ask if they have a Quirk.” “Well, yes, but I thought that meant….” “I know you thought it meant they were quirky – well these characters are a bit quirky so when they fill in it your friends or family would be confused a bit.”
“So where are Anna and Jaclyn spending their Quality Time,” asked Joe. “Point your telescope toward that far planet there,” the rooster pointed his feathers. Joe did as instructed and saw a flying saucer with two people inside. They seemed to be enjoying the ride. “Is that them?” “You will see,” he explained. Joe adjusted the telescope to follow the flying saucer to its landing on a distant planet. He saw as Jaclyn and Anna got out. They looked like aliens! He watched as they stooped down to put on a boom-box and laughed as they begin to dance! Another alien parked the flying saucer and joined them in the dance. The stars sparkled and there was a breeze in the air.
“Look Matt!” shouted Joe. Matthew saw the same thing. “What are we going to tell mom and dad?” thought Joe aloud. “That they really had a quality camping trip!” said Matt – and we couldn’t even scare them. As they spoke the two dogs came up to lick them. The dogs started howling at the distant planet. All night there was a party going on. Then Anna and Jaclyn boarded the spaceship and started heading back to the woods. The rooster crowed while the Quirks started packing up the tent to move into the backyard. The dogs followed them wagging their tails. One Quirk bent down to rub the dog and saw Matt and Joe standing there. “Good morning,” the Quirk said. “You are a bit Quirky” stated Matt. “Correct said the Quirk. “So is my sister and cousin,” Joe concluded. “Well yes, tonight they were Quirks – or at least we took their place for the Quality Camping Adventure.” “Off we go!” The two Quirks walked back into the woods. Matt and Joe saw a spaceship take off. Anna and Jaclyn walked back through the opening in the fence, unzipped the tent
and went inside while Joe and Matt just stared. “Good morning,” they said as they passed the two boys. Jaclyn stretched out on the mattress while Anna yawned. “That was a Quality Camping dream!” she announced between yawns. “I feel like I was dancing all night.” “Me too,” said Jaclyn. I can’t wait to get back into my queen size bed and get a good rest.
Bible Connection Romans 12: 2
© Margaret Kerry, fsp