Sammy and Ilna, love you guys.
REAL McRollers and Readers, thank you for being the best. We love you all.
This one is for the organization that created my forever family and for my 908 girls (who are now in their 40s and still spend holidays at my house). Troop 908 forever.
On My Honor
During recess period, Joni Lane joined the girls in her class along with those in the other first grade, in the all purpose room.
"We have a special guest this afternoon, friends," she said. "Let's all use our best listening ears and give our attention to Ms. Sarah and Dee, who some of you may recognize. She's one of our fourth grade students."
The local Brownie leader stood at the front of the room, a bright smile on her face as she introduced herself and her young helper. Sarah was in her mid-twenties and wore a t-shirt that read: 'You're Never Just a Girl - Girl Scouting is the Best' with her jeans. She set a large tote bag on a nearby chair and said, "Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Ms. Sarah, and this is Dee. We're here to tell you all about Girl Scouting and invite you to join us for some amazing adventures and fun!"
From her seat next to Ashae, Angie's eyes widened as she took in the photos on the poster Dee had set up on an easel, showing camping trips, obstacle courses, horseback riding, badge-earning activities, and regular meetings filled with exciting projects.
"Who here knows what a Brownie Girl Scout is?"
Angie's hand shot up. "Ooh, ooh, I do!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.
"Yes?" Sarah called on her and Joni Lane grinned at the always enthusiastic little girl.
"Brownie Scouts are like helpers who get to do fun stuff and earn badges, right?" Angie asked, her eyes wide. "My cousin Grace was an Aloha Girl."
"That's right!" Sarah beamed. "And we also have meetings where we learn new things and help out in the community," she explained.
"Dee is wearing a green uniform because she's a Junior Girl Scout. Brownies have different uniforms, can you guess the color?"
"Brown?" Ashae said with a giggle when Sarah called her a smart cookie.
The idea of outdoor adventures and earning badges had Angie laser focused, but with that little detail she couldn't contain herself and blurted out, "Wait, you get to wear a uniform? Like people in the Navy?" as she raised her hand.
Ms. Sarah chuckled and nodded. "That's right, Just like the brave men and women in the military, Girl Scouts have their own uniforms, too. We even have our very own Pledge and Laws. Dee, would you like to demonstrate?"
Dee raised three fingers in the Girl Scout sign and began to recite,
"On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law."
She smiled. "That's our promise. And you don't have to say 'God', you can use another word if you want. The Girl Scout Law is:
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout."
Angie's vision of herself in the Brownie uniform pictured on the flier Ms. Lane was passing out had her enthralled. A vest or sash for displaying official pins and awards, combined with a white t-shirt and khaki pants or shorts reminded her of the uniforms her parents wore for reserve duty and her Aunt Carrie and Uncle John wore to work. She sat at rapt attention for the rest of the presentation, occasionally glancing at Ashae to be sure her best friend was on board with the new adventures that clearly awaited. Every time she smiled and nodded in response, they squeezed hands.
Angie and DJ were picked up by Elizabeth after school, and by the time they were dropped off at home shortly before dinner time, she was ready to explode with excitement. She ran into the house, her backpack bouncing as she burst through the door. "Mommy! Daddy! You'll never guess what happened at school today!" she exclaimed as Cammie picked up on her tiniest human's zeal and did a little whirling dance.
Steve and Catherine exchanged a knowing glance before turning their attention to Angie. "What is it, baby girl?" Catherine asked, crouching down to her level.
"We met a Scout Leader and her name's Ms. Sarah, and she had a real Girl Scout named Dee with her, and they go camping, and get badges, and sell cookies and …" she was nearly vibrating, "they get to wear a uniform!"
Steve chuckled and bent to kiss her cheek. "Sounds like you had quite the day. You know, I used to be a Boy Scout. It was great."
Catherine chuckled as their daughter pulled the flier out of her backpack and waved it excitedly. "I was a Scout, too. We can look into it if it's something you'd like to do."
"I definitely want to do it very very much!" Angie beamed, envisioning herself in a uniform just like her parents'. "Ashae does, too." She hopped up and down and said, "I'll be right back," before dashing for the downstairs bathroom, calling ''xcuse me," leaving her parents and brother grinning.
"She's literally been that excited since Grandma picked us up," DJ told them with a chuckle. "She really wants to be a Girl Scout."
"Looks like she does, buddy," Steve ruffled his son's hair just as Angie shot back into the room. "So, baby girl," he teased gently, "do you want to think about scouts, in case you're not sure?"
"I'm very, very sure right now!" She said. The look of determination on her face as she glanced between her parents was absolutely one of Steve's. "Can I, please?"
Catherine grinned. "Let's see the flier and I'll give them a call tomorrow for more information, how's that sound?
Angie squealed and wrapped her mother, then her father, in a hug. "It sounds very, very good! Thank you Mommy, thank you, Daddy!" She gave a little hop in place, saying, "I'm gonna be a Girl Scout, DJ!" with so much joy, her brother was beaming when she hugged him as well.
Her smile grew impossibly brighter when a thought popped into her head. "Can I call Ashae before dinner?"
Sound-barrier breaking squeals had erupted when on their call, Ashae told Angie she, too, would be signing up to be a Brownie. After a quick confirmation between Raina by Catherine, the family was having a dinner of lomi salmon and rice.
At the table, Angie was full of questions. "Daddy, did you go camping when you were a Boy Scout? What was it like? Did you get lots of badges?" she fired off.
Steve chuckled, exchanging a glance with Catherine. "Camping was always great. I remember making campfires, hikes, and learning to tie knots. And the badges - just like medals, we earned those through hard work and learning important skills."
"You got lots and lots, didn't you?" She beamed up at him, confident that he had.
"I got my share," Steve told her as she took a sip of milk. "I remember my Eagle Scout project took 210 hours to finish."
"What kind of badges did you get, Mommy?" Angie turned to her mother as DJ, better grasping the huge time commitment, looked at his father with an impressed, "Whoa!"
Steve winked at the ten year old as Catherine answered their little girl with, "I earned badges for outdoor skills, getting one called paddle, pole and roll at camp in Lake Placid, New York was a lot of fun. I got some for community service and for planning a weekend trip, and I earned a Gold Award among other things," her eyes soft. "It was a great experience, and there was a troop on whatever base we were assigned to, so I always felt a part of something that didn't change."
Angie's shoulders rose when she pressed her hands together in anticipation. "I can't wait!"
"You know, there's one thing Mommy and I want you to understand," Steve said with a smile for his wife. "Being a part of the scouts is about more than learning new things and earning badges, it's also about making a difference in the community and being a good friend to other people. We know you like doing both of those things." Angie nodded, her eyes not leaving his face. "It's also about being responsible and safe," he continued, his voice gentle yet firm. "So you do things by the rules and don't get hurt."
"I understand, Daddy. Stay safe and help other people," she promised.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "That's my girl. I know you'll do great."
"Daddy?" She tilted her head with a smile. "Who got more badges, you or Mommy?"
ning at the determined little girl with her father's competitive edge, Catherine and Steve shared a look … and a laugh.
# End thanks for reading
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