This will be a collection of contest entries for the Writing Prompt Contests I've decided to hold here once a month. I apologize we haven't had any contests here at the Saloon for awhile but now that I know there is an interest I have a simple idea...
This has to be the stupidest thing I've ever done. Sitting here with a bunch of people beside our collapsed tents, our beloved "Campaign for Nature" banner soaked by the heavy downpour.
Correction: this is the only stupid thing I've done. No thanks to Jane.
It was no wonder how Jane became President of the "Nature-Calls" club. She wasn't as stupid as the name of our club(why won't she change the name, anyway?), but she was as vast as nature itself when it came to having ideas. But that's all she had. As her secretary, I shouldered the annoying responsibility of bringing her ideas down to earth. Too bad I let her plan this time.
Needless to say, "Campaign For Nature" was another one of Jane's ideas. It came to be two weeks ago, when the government announced their plan to clear the only standing forest in the community. A newspaper column stated they planned to turn the scenery into some sort of Disney land.
Jane was as furious as an active volcano that Thursday. We were having our routine club meeting, perched on leather seats arranged to form a circle. The lighting in Jessy's garage wasn't spot on, but we could see our faces at least.
"What's the meaning of that? We have "Disney lands" everywhere. Why can't they turn that place into something people hardly see?"
"Like what, Jane Dough? A game reserve?" Jessy Hart bit out. He was a guy whose hulk-like build gave the impression he could lift the weight of ten barbells. Deceit.
He couldn't lift a carton of milk to save his life.
"Yes, that!" Jane said, ignoring his sarcasm. "We can't let them tear down a whole forest, Stacey." She grabbed my hand. "No, we'd go camping this weekend, take pictures of the existing wildlife and show the government—she spat that out—the beauty they're about to ruin."
"Right before insisting they make it game reserve?" I said, gingerly prying her vicious fingers away. She nodded, her ginger hair bouncing like a spring.
"But wait, aren't we going a little too fast?" Mandy spoke, her voice tinny. "I mean, how are we going to address the government and get them to listen to us?"
I rolled my eyes, immediately regretting it. Mandy seemed to shrink behind her platinum locks. "Ever heard of social media?"
"Yes!" She gripped my arm again. "What better way to reach a democracy? The people, eh?"
"Good luck with that," Jessy grunted. Sometimes, I think discouraging us is the only reason he's with us. But hey, his sarcasm is precisely why I work hard many a time. To floor him.
Our plan failed that weekend. No surprise there. Not everyone could arrange for a camping trip in two days. Jane did visit me on Sunday, though. It was the day I made the very mistake I shouldn't have.
She'd waltzed into my homely home in a sundress, smelling like her signature cherry-flavored soap.
"Hey, Stacey, can you do me a favor?" We'd sat in my mother's garden, a Dan Brown in my lap, her bugging me as usual.
"Don't worry, Jane. I got this weekend's camping covered. As usual."
She'd smiled, a knowing ghost in her grey eyes. "Well, I don't want it to be as usual, Stace. Leave the planning to me this time, will you?"
Dark brows arched, I'd choked, "What?"
Then she laughed, transparent braces matching mine. "I knew that'd do it. It's just... I know you've been working very hard. But for once, I want to get my hands dirty. Literally. That okay?"
I'd pulled at my blue-dyed hair, worried and refusing a couple of times after that, but Jane Dough was as persistent as a skunk's fart. I gave in, to my utmost rue.
That morning, Nature-Calls met at Jane's. She'd really outdone herself, only shopping for the best tents, sleeping bags down to the plastic utensils. Mandy drove us to the woods in her dad's minivan. Thankfully, we all packed lightly, so it was easy to set up camp.
We set off almost immediately, walking through the forest in awe. Kelsey Nile, the club's photographer, silently took pictures of the animals we came across. The pictures were to serve for our campaign.
Others chattered about "the strange creatures", grinning like they hadn't seen a koala before. Nevertheless, as collared doves herded us deep into the forest's heart, I couldn't resist the sense of peace that overwhelmed me. Jane was beside me, saying something I'm sure, but I'd tuned her out. Not even Jessy's disgusted grunts stopped me from chuckling at some point. The forest was too beautiful. Who would want this shade of purest green gone?
"Hopefully, these pictures would be enough to convince people on what this place should really be used for?" Mandy said. She was peering into Kelsey's camera.
"Hopefully." I found myself replying. "A government can't ignore a united people, right?"
"Hey!" Tom Butler, a skinny guy with big ears, clapped twice, startling half of us. He turned to our President. "Jane, should we—he blushed—I don't know, hang our banner between these two trees?" he gestured. "We can take a picture like—"
"Yes, let's do it! Let's do it. Nice idea, Tom."
He flushed, ever so subtle about his crush on Jane. I rolled my dark chocolate eyes.
Luckily, Kelsey brought her stand, so no one was missing from the photo. After that, however, the photogenic queens of the club couldn't leave taking pictures alone. But it was alright. We were enjoying ourselves so much we didn't notice the passage of time.
Jessy did, though, when the sky turned dark. "Wow, we should head back. Hey, do you think it'll rain?" He jutted his jaw at Kelsey. She ran callous fingers through her thick hair. "The weather forecast did say it'll rain today, duh." Some others echoed her reply.
"Let's go, then?" I said.
We all one-hundred-and-eightied after that.
It was drizzling back at camp; our tents already set, Mandy asked Jane, "Hey, did you bring tarps? These tents aren't exactly waterproof." She'd emerged from one of the tents, moisture evident on her white jacket.
My eyes narrowed at Jane. "You bought non-waterproof tents? Didn't you read the forecast?"
Jane darted her eyes at everything that wasn't me.
"At least tell me you got tarps," Jessy whined.
"Jane?" My face heated.
"I didn't do that." She looked at me, "All of that."
People's groans and "what's" swallowed me instantly. I was too stupefied to even think.
Now all sixteen members of the club ended here, drenched and trembling in our underwear. (Yes, we tremble). Kelsey's body had formed an armor around her camera. I hoped to God that that at least was waterproof. Else, this rain-beating would be for nothing.
"I think it's best we all stay in our lanes, yeah?" I told Jane.
