Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 3

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Tiff glanced over at the Autherine girl, who was scowling as she gestured to her in-crowd, waving her hands wildly, looking very upset. “That girl doesn’t look very happy to be here,” she observed.

Lemu looked at Autherine, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Maybe she needs a friend.”

“She already has five,” Tiff pointed out.

But Lemu shook his head. “A real friend,” he said. “Not a collectible.”

Tiff thought that a very odd word to use, collectible. “What do you mean?”

“A collectible is one who merely acts like a ‘friend’ but doesn’t possess the true characteristics of one,” he said. “She needs someone who will stay beside her. Who will comfort without question. Who will give without thinking about their own needs. Who will have empathy even if they don’t fully comprehend the situation.”

Tiff noticed for the first time that he was staring at her as he spoke those words. “Why are you looking at me?”

“Because you’re one of the friends who completes the definition I just spoke,” he said.

Tiff read his mind. “Are you referring to. . .him?”

Lemu nodded.

“Well, hello,” Autherine said coolly, breezing over to the boyfriend and girlfriend. “What do we have here? A pair of lame lovers, I see.” She wrinkled her nose at Tiff’s plain green-and-pink zigzag outfit. “You know, Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, you could have found a girlfriend who was real taste in style.”

“I love her for her selfless character,” Lemu said coldly. “Not for her appearance.”

Autherine was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered her poise. “And you are?” she asked Tiff.

“Tiffany,” she said softly, “but my friends call me Tiff.”

“Tiff?” Autherine snorted. “What a stupid name. My grandmother is named Tiffany, and I hate her beyond measure. Such a Jesus freak. No, sir! Not for me.”

“Explain,” Lemu requested.

Autherine smirked. “I’m an atheist.”

Tiff blinked.

“You’re a what now?” Lemu asked, looking surprised.

“An atheist,” repeated Autherine. “I don’t believe God is real.”

“Then where did this universe come from?” Lemu challenged.

Autherine turned a wary eye on him. “That’s still unknown to us.”

“Why are you here?” Lemu went deeper.

“We are here by natural processes,” Autherine said smugly. “But some of us are mistakes.”

“Like who?” Tuff chimed, overhearing the conversation.

Autherine glared at him, a peeved look on her face, but she continued, “The elderly and unborn are, of course.”

“What?!” Tuff exclaimed. “Girl, that’s crazy talk! Who says unborn and elderly are useless?!”

“We atheists believe such things,” Autherine said. “An unborn ‘baby’ isn’t really a baby; it’s a mass of tissue. And elderly are too much of a burden, so we have to dump them off our backs. It’s the circle of life, you know. Survival of the fittest.”

“Girl, a baby inside the womb is no different from one outside the womb,” Tuff objected. “Everyone is made in God’s image–even the elderly and unborn. Your parents are jacking you up. You need some serious mental help.”

“Tuff, shh!” Bella whispered, approaching her friend. “Be kind to her!”

“I can’t help it,” Tuff returned. “She’s such an idiot!”

“Is there a problem?” Meta Knight asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the group.

Autherine scowled at him. “And who are you, you freaky, nightmarish-looking fruit?”

The knight didn’t react. He had learned long ago that reacting badly to insults and bad situations got him into more trouble than he cared to mention. “Meta Knight.”

“Meta Knight?” she repeated. “What a ridiculous name.” She snorted and turned her back on him, stalking away. But then she turned back, pointing a finger at them all. “You Bible-believing freaks will never change me!” she shouted. “No one can tell me what to do with my life!”

The children stood dumbfounded as she left, amazed at what they had just witnessed.

To be continued. . .

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 2

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Tiff stared at her mentor in surprise as he looked calmly back at her. “Meta Knight? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice laden with surprise.

“I too have come to be a counselor,” he said. “It has been a while since I have been to a camp, and I thought it would be fun.”

“You? Having fun?” Tuff scoffed. “Yeah, right. And I’m a ballerina.”

“Shut it,” Lemu commanded. “Be nice. If he wants to be a counselor, he can be one. Okay?”

“Fine,” Tiff said contritely.

Mayor Len looked at the clock on his dashboard and smiled at the others. “The children should be here any minute now,” he said. “Get ready, all, ’cause these kids are going to be a handful, and you will want to be in control.”

The counselors stood and waited. Gradually, Tiff heard the faint sound of singing and chattering, and soon, five big orange buses pulled up near the campsite. The doors opened and children, most aged seven to thirteen years old, came pouring out in droves. Their talking and laughing was so loud that Tiff wanted to cover her ears, but the other counselors that had ridden the buses with the kids seemed pretty comfortable. They herded the kids into neat groups and helped collect their luggage.

“Okay, okay!” a young woman yelled out. The children quieted and looked directly at her. “If you can hear me, clap once!”

The children obliged.

“If you can hear me, clap twice!”

Again her command was met with obedience.

“All right, then! Now we’re going to go over a few rules,” the woman said. “First, there will be no violence, swearing, or bad behavior. This is music camp, and we want to keep our music and actions appropriate for those younger than us.”

“Who put this hag in charge?” a sixteen-year-old girl muttered to her friend, jerking her thumb at the woman. Her crony nodded in agreement.

“Second, you will obey your elders. We do not tolerate disrespect, and those who break this rule will be disciplined,” the woman continued. “And third, show respect for the land. Do not set fires n the woods or tear down rosebushes or mess with honeybees, you know, stuff like that. This is not our property; we are only using it through the permission of the landowner, so be cautious and respectful.”

The girl who had spoken badly of the woman faked a yawn.

“Okay, we’re done! Get settled and we’ll meet together for some activities!” the woman said.

Their excitement renewed, the children snatched up luggage and supplies and hurried to set up tents. But the sixteen-year-old bully didn’t move. Neither did her crew, which composed of three rich girls and two cute boys. The woman noticed them standing by and inquired, “Aren’t you going to get settled?”

“We’ll get settled when we’ll get settled,” the girl spoke rudely, hand on her hip. “But just to be clear, my friends and I are not sleeping in a tent. We’re of too high social status to hang around with the tent freaks.”

The woman crossed her arms. “Well, Miss. . .um, what’s your name?”

“Autherine,” the girl said disgruntledly.

“Well, Miss Autherine, I am sorry, but tents are all we have. This is the wilderness, where we can be free and have room to breathe.”

“You call this music camp?” one of the boys snorted. “Where do we sing?”

“There’s a makeshift auditorium a few miles down the beach,” the woman said. “At the end of two weeks, we’ll all compete against each other by seeing who sings the best song.”

“That’s great news,” Autherine said sarcastically, “but I am still not sleeping on the cold hard ground.”

“It’s summer, ma’am,” the woman said politely. “It’s going to be warm. And the campground is smooth, not bumpy.”

“I don’t care. I demand you find me a suitable place to sleep,” the girl ordered. “Otherwise, I am leaving.”

“Ma’am,” the woman said, her voice tired, “tents are the only lodging we have. You’ll have to make do.” She turned and walked away.

“You’re gonna regret ever saying that,” Autherine muttered under her breath to the retreating woman. “I will get my way.”

To be continued. . .

Kirby of the Stars Stories

Music Camp Pt. 1

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Tiff hurriedly stowed her hairbrush in her suitcase and closed it, snapping the clasps shut. She picked it up and ran out of her room, feeling excitement surge through her. Today was the first day of Camp Harmony, an annual summer camp that her dad, Sir Ebrum, and several other men of Cappy Town hosted just for children. Tiff has always attended in the past, as well as her younger brother, Tuff. But this year was different. This year, Tiff was going to be one of the counselors, as well as Tuff. Bella and Lemu Indiel were serving as counselors as well.

“Ready, Tiff?” Tuff yelled from downstairs.

“Here I am!” Tiff answered, darting down the stairs and almost tripping in her frenzied haste. She set her suitcase down beside the others. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Oh, there you guys are!” Bella said, skipping through the front door with her brother and mother, Diana. “I was wondering if you would show up. Well, here we are, ready to start!”

“Be good, children,” Diana said, hugging Bella and Lemu. “Listen to your elders and be gentle with the kids.”

“We will,” Lemu promised.

After Diana left, Bella turned to Tuff and smiled. “Hi, Tuff. I’m glad we’ll be together for two whole weeks!”

“Me too,” Tuff said with a smile.

Lemu grinned at the two lovers and then slipped his hand into Tiff’s. “Are you happy we’re gonna be together?” he asked in a tone so quiet Tiff barely heard him.

“I am,” she said, blushing.

“Hey! Are y’all gonna hurry up and go or just stand there all day?” came a booming voice to Tiff’s right. All four kids turned their heads and saw King Dedede, their ruler. His snail sidekick, Escargoon, was beside him. “You don’t wanna miss yo ride to Camp Harmonica!”

“Dude,” Tuff said shortly. “It’s Camp Harmony.”

“I don’t really care. Get movin’!” Dedede ordered.

“Dedede, Dad’s not here yet. He had to pick up Mom from the store,” Tiff said. “It’ll be just a few more minutes and then we’ll be on our way.”

“Fine, but hurry it along!” Escargoon snapped. As he and the king moved down the hall, Tiff heard Dedede mutter about “goofing off” and “all play and no work.”

“Man! Who does that obese idiot think he is?” Tuff muttered.

“He thinks he’s the greatest king ever and everyone has to worship the ground he walks on,” Bella giggled.

Just then, Sir Ebrum walked in the door, holding his wife, Lady Like, by the hand. Mayor Len was beside them. “Okay, children, get in the mayor’s car. I’ll be there in a moment. Len, can you walk out there with them?”

“Sure,” Mayer Len said agreeably. He walked behind the children as they carried the luggage out and stowed it in the car. As they climbed in, he said with a grin, “Is this all of you counselors?”

“It should be,” said Bella. “Are we missing someone?”

“Oh, not exactly,” Mayor Len said. He continued to grin, making Tiff suspicious. “What are you up to?” she demanded.

“You’ll see,” he said, climbing into the driver’s seat. He buckled up and yelled out, “Come on, Ebrum! Any day now!”

“Don’t be so impatient, I’m coming,” Sir Ebrum said, hurrying outside and jumping into the passenger’s seat. As soon as all were settled, Mayor Len started the car and drove off. Tiff turned around to take a last look back at the castle that had been her home for over fourteen years.

_ _ _

“Are we there yet?” Tuff asked for the fourth time as Bella smothered a yawn.

“Nearly,” said Mayor Len. He pointed to a shimmering expanse of turquoise blue. “There’s Cappy Ocean. That’s near where we’ll be camping.”

“I can’t see the camp from here,” said Lemu.

“You’ll get a clear view of it in a moment,” said Sir Ebrum.

The children remained silent as they kept peering over the line of trees. After a few more minutes of smooth driving, the car slowed and turned onto a narrow dirt road. For a few seconds there was relentless ruts and jars. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the jouncing stopped and the engine cut off.

Tiff took in the sight. Several tents had been set up in a large clearing. Pine needles littered the ground, permeating the air with a sweet, piney fragrance. A fire ringed with smooth, round stones was crackling in the middle of the clearing. Beyond the campsite was a small opening in the midst of the trees, and Tiff could see the ocean.

“I wonder if your boyfriend’s gonna want to scuba with you, Tiff,” Tuff teased, referring to Kine the fish. For some unknown reason, Kine had always liked Tiff.

Tiff scowled. “Don’t even start.”

“Okay, everyone out!” Mayor Len called. They were only too happy to oblige. Tiff was so excited she barely heard her father’s request to help with the luggage. She wandered away from the group, looking up to the blue sky and down to the grass carpet. She had never felt so alive.

“Hello, Tiff.”

Startled by the sudden voice, she looked up. . .and found herself looking right in the sunshine-colored eyes of her mentor, Meta Knight.

To be continued. . .

Writing prompts

Copper

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What’s the best thing I’ve ever found randomly on the street?

 

A chunk of copper.

No, really. When I was very young, probably around seven or eight, I was walking around our neighborhood and picked up a bronze-colored chunk of something shiny lying on the ground. I didn’t know what it was, but my dad later told me it was copper. Quite a find, I thought.

I’m not certain where the copper is today, but my dad told me he thinks we still have it. Now we just have to find it. 🙂

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