Carlos Goes Camping

Carlos the Boogerhead had a huge backpack on, pots and pans clanging against each other, hitting his legs when he walked. Soon enough, he saw his good friend Alfonso Fonzio, who was washing his car, like he does every Friday morning.

“Hi Carlos,” Alfonso said as he tossed the sponge in his bucket. “What are you up to?”

Carlos smiled, “I’m going camping. Want to come?”

“Sure,” Alfonso replied, leaving the car to walk back in the house. “Let me just get some stuff.”

Alfonso returned with a backpack and a thermos. “Ready.”

Carlos led Alfonso down the street back to Carlos’ house. They walked around and opened the gate to his backyard. In the middle of the lawn, a tent was set up and a CD player next to it. Carlos and Alfonso dropped their packs next to the chairs and sat on the ground. Pressing play, noises of the forest surrounded them.

“This was a great idea, Carlos,” Alfonso said, opening his thermos and pouring a cup of water.

“Shhhh,” Carlos said, “You don’t want to scare that deer away.”

Alfonso looked but didn’t see anything, “Ok.”

Carlos laid back on the ground and looked up at the sunny sky. “There’s the big dipper!”

Alfonso followed Carlos’s finger to see a cloud shaped like a rabbit. “That’s a rabbit, Carlos.”

“WHO!” The CD played.

“Carlos,” Alfonso repeated.

“WHO!” The CD played again.

“CARLOS!” Alfonso shouted.

Carlos laughed and turned to face Alfonso, “That’s just the owl saying hello, Alfonso.”

Alfonso sighed and lay down next to Carlos, “Oh.”

The two friends stared at the sky and saw the stars as the clouds passed by to the sounds of owls and crickets and toads. Carlos shared a snack from his pack, and Alfonso provided dessert. “We need a fire, though. They’re smores.”

Carlos told Alfonso they were not allowed to build a fire because it wasn’t legal in this “forest,” before chewing off a big piece of chocolate and handing it back. All of the sudden, they heard a rustling. Over there. No, over THERE. Where is it coming from! It’s everywhere! Carlos quickly turned off the CD and listened for the movement again. There it is!

Alfonso motioned to a tree branch in front of them that was swaying. “What do you think it is?”

“Could be Bear,” Carlos shrugged as he watched for the next move. All of the sudden out leapt a beast with brown fur and big teeth. Alfonso and Carlos screamed but didn’t move, waiting for it to leave.

WOOF!

Carlos and Alfonso laughed as they patted Bear on the head. Alfonso looked at his watch, and, realizing the time he packed up his pack. “It’s almost time for dinner, I better go.”

“Ok, Alfonso, I had fun. See you next week.”

“See you Friday, Carlos. Can’t wait!”