Marshmallows Roasting Over an Open Fire
By the Angel
===
"Ah!" Stephanie screamed, not enough time to duck. The hard dodge ball slammed into her face, making her fall to the ground, but she felt it squish up against her nose. "Ow…" Stephanie moaned, for lack of a better word.
Grace shrieked. "Time out!" She yelled. When the campers resumed playing, she blew the whistle. "TIME OUT!" She yelled again. She ran over to Stephanie, who was clutching her now bleeding nose. "Wonderful." Grace retorted.
"Christopher," She said, "go get some paper towels." Chris nodded, and looked at Stephanie, concerned. Screw the paper towels! She thought. Get me some ice… But her face hurt too much to speak.
Fifteen seconds later, Chris came back, a roll of Bounty in his hand. "Here you go." He handed it to Grace. "I am really sorry, Stephanie." He sounded sincere. Stephanie nodded, not wanting to be the object of anyone's pity.
"Steph, let me see." Grace said, trying to pry Steph's hands off of her face. Stephanie squealed and shook her head, not wanting anyone to see the damage that damn ball had caused. Stephanie finally released her hands to a nose that was a beautiful shade of yellow and lavender.
Everyone cringed or laughed. The majority laughed. "Um…I am really sorry." Chris stammered again, trying to contain his laughter. "I look like Marcia Brady!" Stephanie screamed. She began to cry. Chris sighed.
"Don't cry, Stephanie… A little foundation will cover it up." Chris obviously didn't know a thing about make-up. Stephanie moaned some more and buried her head into her hands. "Yikes."
Grace frowned. "Resume play!" She yelled. But Chris frowned. "We're short one player— That's not fair." Grace looked at Stephanie and back at the other team. "Okay. End game. Draw." She decided.
Arthur kicked a chunk of grass. "Nuts." He mumbled. The campers gathered their things, talking and running around in hustle and bustle. Stephanie lay on a log, her hands still covering her nose.
Christy and Chris approached at the same time. "Leave her alone." Christy warned. "You're the one who started this mess." Chris was taller than Christy by half an inch. He looked her in the eye. "Why don't you mind your own business?"
"Make me." She challenged. Stephanie rolled her eyes from the log. "Guys, quit it." She pleaded. Chris spun around. "How do you feel? Look, I am really sorry." He repeated. Stephanie shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
Christy gawked. Something was definitely going on here. "Maybe she got amnesia," She said, "and forgot you were, Chris." Chris eyed Christy angrily. "Christy, did anyone ever tell you you're NOT funny?"
She thought about that. "Uh…Nope. You're the first, Chris." He rolled his eyes at her. "Go away, Christy. Please?" He asked desperately. She frowned. "Okay. I'll see you soon, Stephanie."
Stephanie clutched her head and nodded. "See ya, Christy." She mumbled. Then she turned to Chris. "Why the sudden change of heart?" He shrugged. "I think that ball hit you pretty hard." She nodded. "My nose is big." She said stupidly.
The last of the campers left. Chris went to leave too. Then he stopped. "Friends?" He held out his hand to Stephanie. She shook it. "Friends."