Camp WannaTippaTrashCan

Everyone was silent as Chuck, Jessie, and Luke, the marauding instructors, demonstrated the best way to tuck and tumble.

Jessie, the only girl teaching marauding, breathed in deeply, rolled her head forward, and dove straight for the ground. But instead of hitting the ground hard, she easily rolled right over the dirt as she curled up her body and did a somersault.

Chuck did the same but with his own variation. After he rolled along the ground, he popped up, spun around, and froze.

Luke did the ultimate tuck and tumble. Just like the first two, he was lithe and graceful as he rolled, but he jumped way up at the end. He stuck his landing, did a backflip, and then scampered off at high speed.

The older boys in Roger’s group were focusing intently. They watched their counselors closely, taking note of their moves and techniques. As Roger watched them, he was just dumbfounded. His father had only taught him to run and hide, and to sniff and check. These moves were all new to him, and they seemed really difficult to master.

Jessie turned to address the marauding class. “Gents, this is your move to practice tonight. At the end of our class, we’ll have a mock mission.”

The other boys whipped their tails around with excitement.

Luke cleared his throat to gain the attention of the group. “Listen up, Dakotas. You’re here to learn and to work together as a team. Some of you have lots of experience with marauding, and others will need some help.”

Roger suddenly felt like all eyes were on him. He tried to shrink down a little and just listen to the counselors. But he knew, and everyone else did too, that he was going to need lots of guidance learning maneuvers for the mock mission.

Chuck strode forward and started dividing the group into pairs. As he pointed to two boys, they hopped up and found a flat place to start practicing their moves. As Roger nervously waited for his partner, he hoped that the boy assigned to work with him would be nice to him. He still felt really tired from his sleepless day, and he didn’t want to be the only marauder who couldn’t do a tuck and tumble.

“What’s your name again?” Chuck asked Roger quietly.

“I’m Roger.”

“Must be new here, eh?”

“Yeah, it’s my first time ever …” Roger replied with excitement that turned into concern.

“No problem. How about you work with Luke? He’ll get you up to speed.”

Luke smiled as he approached Roger. Even though he knew he would learn a lot from one of the counselors, Roger felt silly. He didn’t want to be the only boy who needed an instructor to help him. But before he could say anything, all of the other boys had disappeared to their areas to practice, and he was left with Luke.

“Heya, Roger. All right, here’s the drill …”

Roger listened and watched him repeat his whole lesson. The other groups were already practicing their own maneuvers, and they looked like they knew what they were doing. As Luke finished his explanation, he looked to Roger enthusiastically.

“Ready?” he asked.

Roger had a splitting headache, but he kept trying. Luke steadied his back and counted off for him. “One, two, three!”

Roger rolled his head down toward his chest, came up on his tiptoes, and jumped as he curled his back to tuck under. Just like every time before, he tucked too late and landed right on his head and shoulders. He let out a defeated “humph” as he hit the ground.

Luke shook his head and dusted Roger off. “You’re getting closer. Just a little more tuck, and you should just tumble and be able to hop right up.”

Roger shook his head. “I don’t think I’m very good at this.”

“You’re doing great.”

“Then why do I keep landing on my head?” Roger was frustrated. Luke was trying to encourage him, and he knew he needed the positive words, but marauding just wasn’t for him.

“These moves take practice. You’re doing your best, and that’s what matters,” Luke replied.

Roger slumped down and sat on the ground. By now, all of the other boys were finished practicing the tumble, and many were on to a new maneuver just to keep busy. A few boys looked over at Roger and Luke and then whispered something to each other.

“Are we done practicing yet?” Roger asked. His head was pounding, his feet hurt, and he felt incredibly sleepy. He was covered with dirt too, but he liked that part.

Luke smiled and offered a paw to help Roger get up off the ground. “We’ll practice some more tomorrow, okay?”

The whole Dakota group joined back together at the marauding staging area. It was a wooden platform with benches and a big chalkboard. As everyone found a seat, Roger could feel the excitement in the group.

Luke and Chuck exchanged a nod. “All right, gents, let’s start planning the best marauding mission you can dream of!” Everyone’s paws shot up in the air with an idea.

Chuck, Jessie, and Luke took suggestions from the whole group. As they discussed their plans, Jessie drew figures and diagrams on the board.

“Let’s steal a canoe!” one of the boys yelled.

“Ahoohee!” the group answered.

“We’ll have to get the key to the boat locks,” another chimed in.

“It’s in the shed by the lake,” Jessie offered.

“And the shed windows are always open just a crack!”

As their mock mission came together, Roger’s head stopped hurting so much, and he was getting a little excited. It seemed safe enough too. They would just go to the boating area and send a few boys into the shed to open the door from the inside. Then they’d grab the key for the boats, unchain one, and carry it out. Afterward, they’d relock the boats, put the key away, and close up the shed. Camp Wigman would wake up in the morning and have no idea what happened!

Every other Dakota shared Roger’s excitement too. This mock mission would be one of legends at Camp WannaTippa. The last time a canoe was successfully stolen from the boating area was in the era when Roger’s parents were campers.

Chuck and Jessie feverishly finished writing all the plans on the board. They turned toward the group of boys. “Nice job, Dakotas. This marauding mission has been planned very well. All the details have been covered,” Jessie said.

Everyone hushed in anticipation of what was going to happen next. Suddenly, it occurred to Roger that all of this planning was much more than imagining the perfect marauding mission. They were about to go do it, right now, tonight.

As an uneasy feeling began to form in Roger’s stomach, the other boys were about to jump out of their fur with excitement.

“Ahoohee!” Chuck, Jessie, and Luke shouted.

“Ahoohee!” everyone answered, except for Roger.

They silently crept up to the boating area. Not a single sound could be heard in all of Camp Wigwam. It was nearly midnight, and no one was in sight. Up until now, Roger had been keeping up with the group. All he had to do was stay quiet and follow Jessie’s paw motions.

Once they scampered into the boating area, three older boys scaled the side of the boating shed. While Roger helped as part of the lookout team, the other boys slid in through the open window. In seconds, the front door was open, and Luke ran in to grab the key.

A nearly full moon reflected on the lake as they approached the stacks of canoes. Even though the light was helpful, it was dangerous too. Anyone walking by would be able to see the group of Dakotas on the beach unlocking the boats.