A Family Outing
Monday
Journal,
It has been the most horrifying day. And I fear that the next five days will prove worse. Today, the Dursleys have begun something too horrible to think ofa family camping trip. Just the thought of them out in the wilderness, "roughing it," brings me wide-eyes. It came about pretty suddenly
"We're going camping," Vernon said abruptly this morning at the dining table.
"What??" Petunia and Dudley said together. I remained speechless.
"I said we're going camping," Vernon repeated.
"Vernon, are you all right?" Petunia asked.
But it turned out that the only reason they were going was because of something Vernon had said. His co-worker had said he was taking his family on a camping trip. Vernon had blurted out that he had been a "coincidence" because he was taking his family on one, too. What a loser. His co-worker had then said that he would see him in the wilderness. Of course Vernon just now noticed that he had said too much.
And also, wouldn't ya know it, I'd be their "donkey" to carry all their things. I also was not to wonder off unless I planned on accidentally falling off a cliff or something. And so a few hours later we were packed (me hiding some of my homework in my bag) and on into the forest. And through the whole thing Dudley whined.
"I'm hot and thirsty," Dudley said as we neared the campsite. "Can't we stop now. My feet are hurting so badly!" At this Vernon told him to shutup, which was a first.
I was then told to pitch three tents. I now know that I hate pitching tents. Almost every time I tried to put them up, they would fall, and when they were up, Dudley knocked them down and said it was the wind. It was like that until Vernon told Dudley to go and get firewood. After about 10 more minutes, I got the tents up finally.
Petunia, who was used to her stove, didn't like cooking over the fire. Heck, she didn't even like lighting the fire. She thought it would come back at her and burn her eyes out. I secretly thought to myself that maybe it should. But of course it didn't.
After single-handedly making dinner for everyone, I was bushed. More like bushwhacked. But of course, I couldn't start sleeping yet. It's only about 2 ½ weeks until school and I stil have homework to do.
So I had to wait about an hour in my tent for everyone to get to sleep. Of course my tent was a run down while theirs were new and fancy. I then took out my things and started on my History of Magic essay. And I had to stop once cause I heard Dudley grunt.
So that's the day I've had. It may not sound gruesome but it felt that way. I'd better put everything away or someone will wake.
- Harry