Chapter 2-The Packing List

One Sleeping Bag

The only Sleeping Bag Beca owned was purchased for her when she was eight years old, and had Snoopy on it. The Green-Vested Staff member arrived just in time as Beca was completely lost in a sea of color and nylon. She reached up, balancing on her tip-toes, and tried to grab the closest sleeping bag to her, but suddenly fell forward into all them and a tower of stuffed bags quickly fell into a heap on top of her head causing the short girl to fall to the floor. "Umpff"..the sound literally came out of her mouth..how embarrassing.

"Hi, I'm Krissy, can I assist you?" the green-vested employee said with a genuine smile, and small chuckle. She reached her hand out to help Beca back to her feet again

"Uh, yeah...thanks." Beca said with a smirk. "Sorry about the mess"

"No worries, it's difficult for someone your height to reach these things." Krissy said continuing to smile, while she pulled the remaining sleeping bags off the floor. "What brings you here today?"

Beca still slightly red from her embarrassment quickly assisted, then pulled out her packing list for camp.

"You see, I have this summer gig at a camp, and let's just say, from what you just observed, that's the closest I've been to a campout in years. I need help for sure"

Krissy smiled brightly and exclaimed "Oh I love it when people come in with lists, it makes my job so much easier, let's get you outfitted." Beca smiled and followed the girl to a bench with a table.

"So a sleeping bag, where will you be staying?" Krissy asked.

"Oh, this is a camp in North Georgia, but I'll be in a tent for the ENTIRE summer."

Krissy had to smile at how the girl said ENTIRE summer..like it was the worst thing that could ever happen to her. "Oh, I get the feeling like you aren't looking forward to this?"

"Yeah, this is not my idea, I was roped into it, but I know I can make it, and in the end, it will be worth it"

"Um..Ok, well like I said I'm here to help. So if you need each of the items, I'll give you my best advice, and you tell me if you think that will work for your trip, or if you want to look at something else, sound like a plan? Beca liked this girl, she wasn't pushy, just provided a smile, and no judgement for not being the outdoorsy type.

"Sounds great, and thanks, I know I'm probably not your typical customer" Beca said genuinely.

"Actually, you wouldn't believe how many customers I help that are very much in the same..(she gestures Quotation marks with her hands) "Camp" so to speak" "You see what I did there?"..she immediately chuckled at her own joke, making Beca smile. She liked this goofy employee.

"Ok Chris Rock, slow down on the (Beca mimicked the quotation marks with her fingers) "campy" humor, there are civilians in here." Both girls laughed.

"Here's the best sleeping bag for you, you see it's hot in the mountains during the summer, and rarely gets below 55 degrees and that's if you're lucky. I'd suggest this ultralight bag, it opens at the bottom to let the airflow freely. With the Georgia heat, and no air condition, you'll really appreciate that"

"Oh Man, I hadn't even thought about the summer heat, why did I get myself into this?" Beca worried.

The girls walked through the rest of the store, and quickly checked off all the items on her packing list, as they rounded the corner to the checkout lane, Krissy paused.

"I think I have all the items here for you on your list, but can I make a suggestion?" Krissy said with a smile.

"Sure Krissy, I mean, after helping me pick out my quick dry underwear, I feel like we've bonded on a whole new level, I mean..I TRUST you" Beca exclaimed with her trade mark wink!

"Well, I don't want to dampen your spirits when you are already so excited for your summer adventure" Krissy said with her own quirky humor and smile. "But North Georgia is known for its bears, do you know if the area has seen much bear activity?" She hoped this didn't freak Beca out.

A smile quickly faded from her face, and Beca immediately felt the blood rush from her head to her stomach...her world got really small as she began to hear her heart pound in her ears, her vision became like a tunnel..and then...black.

When Beca came-to..Krissy was splashing water on her face, and three other green vested staff members stood above her. "Don't move, we've called an ambulance for you" the tall women said above her.

"No, no, please, really, I'm fine" Beca said, still ashen but sitting up slightly.

"Beca, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you with my question" Krissy said, genuinely feeling terrible that she had mentioned anything at this point. She thought she was doing the right thing, but she felt so bad that merely the thought had made Beca faint.

"It's ok, I have this condition, well it's not really a condition, its more of a faulty response to certain situations. My body quickly is overwhelmed, and I panic..which as you can see results in fainting spells. I'm sorry I worried everyone."

This seemed to satisfy everyone and the emergency was diverted, no ambulance ride for Beca today.

As Beca regained her color, and stood up, she asked Krissy "So bears, really?"

"Yes, but I looked at the location of your camp, it's not nearly as remote as YOU make it sound, so you should be fine" "Besides, I would hate to arm you with bear spray only to have you panic faint into the pepper stream." Krissy said with a smile. "Good luck Beca!"