When he arrived, the eleven-year-old visitor stared at his new surroundings with trepidation and awe. Being raised in the New York City projects, he had only seen pictures of a modern log house surrounded by grass, fields, and a pond with a zip line. He never dreamed he would get to stay in such a place until he learned about the Fresh Air program.
The first two days of his visit he barely spoke because he was overwhelmed by the differences, but by the end of the two weeks, he was “family” being invited to return the following year.
Written in response to Charli Mills January 23, 2024, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a fish out of water. What is the source of the tension? The characters, the action, the setting? Or, is it literally a story about fish, real or metaphorical? Go where the prompt leads!
Sue Spitulnik 
02/01/2024 at 14:05
Sue,
That was similar to my older son’s reaction to church camp. A real introvert, he didn’t eat much the first couple days, but by the time we returned to pick up he and his younger brother, he was bubbling over with how great it was, that he was one of Wayne’s Babies (his camp counselor’s nickname for his cabin), and how he wanted to come back the following year (and he did). ~Nan
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02/02/2024 at 17:04
New situations take a lot of people time to adjust. I’m glad your son came to enjoy camp.
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02/03/2024 at 14:21
Me, too, Sue. I understand his reticence because I’m introverted and kind of watch from the sidelines.
~Nan
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