3.8: Deal

Mama keeps telling me I gotta go to bed, but I know I won’t be able to sleep.

So I’m trying to write this as quick as I can, before she really gets mad and MAKES me go.

I know I really should be sleeping though. Tomorrow’s gonna be a REALLY big day. An exciting one. But a scary one, too.

I’m going away… to SUMMER CAMP!!!!

Jonas Papa told me the big surprise a couple weeks ago. He heard about this really cool summer camp for kids and one of the sessions even has FOOTBALL, my favorite ever!

I told him I DEFINITELY wanted to go, so he signed me up and he’s paying for it and EVERYTHING. He’s the best Papa ever.

But can I tell you a secret?

I told him I definitely, 100%, for-sure wanna go.

But… I’m not really THAT sure.

I’ve never been away from home before. Not for more than one night. I feel like such a baby, but… I’m kinda scared.

I mean, what if the food is really gross? How do I know if I’ll like it? I bet it’s not as yummy as all the stuff vovó always cooks for me.

What will everyone talk about? Tante Gabriela’s jokes are always the best. I don’t think dinnertime will be the same without them…

And what’ll happen at bedtime? I don’t know if I can get to sleep without one of grandpa’s stories…

I bet there won’t be any video games at camp… And no Papa to tell me how to beat the hard levels either…

No Mama playing her pretty music for me in the morning before breakfast.

No Stefan to laugh with me and play funny tricks on everybody.

What if it’s awful? What if no one likes me?

I think I’d feel kind of better if Stefan was going away too, even if we didn’t go to the same place. Knowing he was far away too would kinda make me feel better, y’know? But he’s staying at home. There’s a really cool science camp Papa wanted to sign him up for, but Stefan said no.

I tried to tell him I thought it might be kinda fun for him to go, but he told me it sounded dumb.

But do you wanna know what I think?

I think he doesn’t wanna go just because it was Papa’s idea.

Anyway, I’ve been trying not to freak out or anything about going away. But now that it’s TOMORROW… I kind of am.

Mama keeps telling me to be brave. She says she’s proud of me, and she believes in me.

And she made me promise not to call and ask to come home the first night, no matter how sad or scared I felt. “Give it two nights.” She told me. “And then, if you still want to come home, I’ll come get you, no questions asked. Deal?”

I wanted to be brave, and strong. So I said “Deal”.

I just really hope it all works out okay.

Guess I’ll see tomorrow.