At Camp Quest the campers are from eight to twelve years old. There are also older campers age thirteen to sixteen, referred to as CIT's (Counselors In Training). These kids do the regular camp activities and also are given special responsibilities.
The camp directors decided to take the CIT's to a very nice restaurant in Lebanon, Ohio for being so helpful for the week at camp. The restaurant is a "Washington Slept Here" kind of place and is always booked up. The owners made arrangements for the five CIT's and three counselors to come early to eat and then have a special tour through the restaurant's revolutionary period museum.
I did not attend.
After the outing the CIT's and Counselors returned to the camp and I saw one of the young ladies sitting on a picnic table near the cabin area. She was alone with her elbows on her knees and her chin resting in her hands. I thought she looked troubled. I went to speak to her and asked if anything was wrong. She looked up with tears in her eyes and said:
" I have never been to a real sit down restaurant. We ate at a table. We had silverware. We had cloth napkins. The waiter talked to me. I had a salad on a special plate. I had a pork chop and we had coffee and cake for dessert. It was the best night of my life."
Before I could respond some of the other Campers came over.
She said, " Please don't tell them I cried." She ran off with them to the camp fire. It was one of the best nights of my life too.
