Stephanie clutched stubbornly at her pillow, pulling it tightly about her ears in a brave effort to block out the insistent beeping of her alarm. She tossed and turned trying to delay the inevitable, but was eventually forced to concede defeat. Sitting up she swung her legs onto the floor and tapped down on the alarm clock to stop the irritating noise. She glanced bleary-eyed at the big red digits: 08:30. Normally she would never get up this early on a weekend, however since her scandalous behaviour (as it was now referred to) of last Saturday night, or more accurately Sunday morning, her uncle had decided that a bit of voluntary work was required for her to 'learn about responsibility', as he put it. A wave of sadness and embarrassment washed over her as she hazily recollected the end of the night in question when she had spilt her heart out in front of Sportacus and he had simply acted like nothing had happened. She dropped her head in her hands, mortified by the memories; boy did she regret drinking so much. At least when explaining the evening's events, Sportacus had omitted to mention that part to her uncle. Thinking of Sportacus, she blushed guiltily as a few of the dreams she had recently experienced starring the boy in blue popped into mind. Hastily pushing the thoughts from her head she went into the bathroom and stepped into the shower.
After getting dressed and eating breakfast she snatched up the heavy rucksack she had prepared the night before. Shouting goodbye to her uncle, who was busy reading in his study, she trudged out the door and off to the Sportsfield where she found Trixie already waiting.
'So remind me, why are we doing this again?' Trixie asked, looking aggravated as a small girl ran past screaming.
'Because it was either this or litter picking, remember?' Stephanie answered, 'plus this way we get to go camping'. Though she didn't let on, Stephanie was secretly grateful that Trixie had been sidled with the same fate after admitting to her parents that she too had gone out nightclubbing in Casinopolis.
'I'm starting to think we should have gone with the litter, at least it stays put' Trixie said sullenly.
Stephanie just shrugged her shoulders, resigned to their fate.
Trixie eyed Stephanie suspiciously. 'So where is she?' she asked at length, 'where are you hiding the real Stephanie?' She pretended to search behind her friend. 'Seriously though, ever since that night out you've been acting a lot less…well…you' she observed.
Stephanie quickly pretended that she was too busy searching for something important in her rucksack to answer. It was true though; she had felt less irritable and bad tempered since consciously accepting her feelings for Sportacus, just a lot sadder and heartbroken.
'Oh wonderful, here comes our great leader' Trixie remarked, spying a plump middle-aged woman waddling towards them.
'Hi girls, glad you could make it' Mrs Whitaker said cheerily, 'we'll be setting off in about fifteen minutes, so if you two could round up all the kids, do a role call and get them lined up by then'
'Right no problem…big bird…errr… I mean brown owl.' Trixie quickly corrected herself.
Stephanie suppressed a grin.
After tracking down the last girl and making sure everyone was present and accounted for, they were ready to head off.
'Right everyone find your buddy!' shouted Mrs Whitaker. 'Stephane, Trixie, take the lead, I'll stay at the back to help any stragglers'. Heaving their rucksacks onto her back the two helpers lead the group out to the outskirts of Lazytown and onto the forest trail.
Over two hours later and just as they were starting what seemed to Stephanie as the zillionith game of eye spy they finally arrived at a wide open grassy field, beyond which was a slightly smaller field with a small wooden hut at the far end.
'This is it!' called Mrs Whitaker, striding up from the back of the group.
'Thank god, my shoulders are killing me' muttered Trixie, dumping her rucksack on the ground.
'Right everyone take a breather and then start setting up your tents' Mrs Whitaker instructed, 'Stephanie and Trixie will help if you have any problems'.
She took Stephanie and Trixie over to one side. 'When you're done you might want to take the girls down to the lake to feed the ducks, but be careful not to let them wade in, there are submerged rocks that could easily trip them up. In any case there are lifebuoys, not that you should need them - heaven's forbid. Oh and I've also notified Sportacus of our outing so if there is any trouble he will know exactly where to find us'.
At the mention of Spotacus's name, Stephanie winced, struggling to hold back the tide of emotions threatening to engulf her again.She noticed Trixie giving her an odd sideways glance. 'Right, I'd better go sort out the activities unpack the food.' With that Mrs Whitiker promptly walked off leaving them to it.
After an entire day of games, singing and later helping the girls cook sausages over the open fire it was finally time for the brownies to settle in for the night - and more importantly - a chance for the helpers to finally grab a substantial bite to eat. Worn out and ravenous they tucked eagerly into the leftover sausages.
'I'm shattered' grumbled Trixie around a mouthful of food as she wolfed down the last few bites. 'I'm off to bed' she announced, shoving her plate into a bowlful of soapy water and stifling a yawn with her palm she slumped off back to their shared tent. 'I'll be there in a sec' Stephanie called wearily, hurriedly finishing off the last bit of her meal.
By the time Stephanie made it back Trixie was already curled up in her sleeping bag fast asleep. Stephanie hastily got changed into her pyjamas and was just zipping up her tent for the night when a small girl, whom Stephanie vaguely recalled as being named Stacey, suddenly appeared out of the darkness in front of her.
'Stephanie, I need to tell you something' the girl said nervously.
'Yes?' Stephanie sighed, hoping that whatever she wanted it would be quick.
The girl hesitated.
'It's ok, whatever it is you can tell me' Stephanie encouraged, sensing her reluctance.
'Earlier on when we were down at the lake I heard Samantha and Katie talking about coming back after dark… and now they're gone' the girl confided gingerly.
Stephanie frowned; the last thing she wanted to deal with now was two missing kids.
'And you've looked everywhere for them?' she asked. 'Everywhere I could think of'.
Stephanie rubbed her forehead dozily trying to decide what to do. She looked down at Trixie who was now snoring softly in her sleep.
'Alright, I'll go and see if I can find them by the lake', she decided 'would you go and tell Mrs Whitaker where I've gone?'
'Mrs Whitaker?' The girl looked confused.
'Oh yeah sorry, brown owl'
The girl's expression cleared and she darted off to find the group leader.
Picking up her torch Stephanie walked over to the edge of the campsite and began negotiating a path cautiously between the huge pine trees, carefully following a shortcut she had discovered earlier. With every step she became more alert as the cold night breeze whipped past her face. Approaching the lake she could plainly see the two girls silhouetted in the moonlight, standing on a rocky ledge that overhung the far side of the lake. Their voices carried clearly on the wind to where Stephanie was standing.
'Go on, it's not that far!'
'No I can't, it's too high!'
'Fine, well I'm going to, you can stay here!'
Stephanie watched in horror, the torch slipping from her hands, as a girl with ginger hair, whom Stephanie recognised as Samantha, walked out to the edge of the overhang and pinched her nose. 'No don't!' Stephanie shouted at the top of her lungs, but it was too late, the girl had already stepped off the edge.
There was a large splash and then the water was still. Stephanie made it to the waters edge just as the girl resurfaced. She let out of sigh of relief but the breath caught in her throat as a high-pitch scream rang out across the lake.
Straight away, without even a second thought, Stephanie waded out into the murky water and began to swim out to the distressed girl. She felt a dull ache start up in her side, but ignored it; Samantha's terrified cries driving her on. After a couple of minutes she was there and using all her energy, she helped keep the younger girl afloat. Recalling what Mrs Whitaker had said earlier on in the day she shouted out hoarsely to the remaining girl on the bank: 'We need the buoy! Get the buoy from the stand!'
A few minutes later a bright orange ring buoy landed a few yards away in the water. Grabbing it Stephanie pulled it over Samantha's head and under her arms. By this time the pain in her side had grown sharper and her arms and legs were tiring fast.
With Samantha safely resting in the ring she decided it would be best to return back to land to get help. She kicked her feet out and immediately shrieked in agony as an excruciating white hot pain flashed down her side. Spluttering, she inadvertently gulped in a mouthful of water as her head dipped briefly underwater. Thrashing about, she frantically tried to propel herself forwards but realised with panic that there was little chance she would be able to make it back to shore. Treading water she mustered all her strength, seeking to keep her head above water, but she could only scream in her mind as another sharp stab of pain paralysed her with agony and choking she went under again, water flooding into her lungs. Gasping, she resurfaced but felt cold, numbed, strangely detached, and, as her mind began to drift, she could hear nothing bar the racing of her heart beating loudly in her ears. Drawing breath with extreme difficulty she felt herself weakening and then everything slowed down around her. Sinking below the surface Stephanie reached up towards the pale round moon. 'Sportacus where are you? I need you' she thought desperately just before her vision faded into blackness.