Sounds in the Night

My parents said I could have a friend go camping with us this weekend. Since you are my best friend,I want you to go with me,” Abigail said to Grace as she doodled in her notebook and talked on the phone.“I have never stayed away from home before,” Grace replied as she petted her cat, Muffin, who was sleeping in her lap.“It will be fun. Have you ever been camping?” Abigail asked.“Only in my backyard with my sister and my dad,” Grace said.“It will be like that, only at the state park. We will cook hot dogs over a campfire and make s’mores.” Abigail smacked her lips.“What is a s’more?” Grace asked.“Oooh, they are so good. They are roasted marshmallows on graham crackers with pieces of chocolate. They are called s’mores because once you eat one, you will want some more.”Grace’s tummy rumbled. “Mmm. That does sound pretty good. I will have to ask my parents if I can go with you.”“My mom is going to call your parents to ask. If they say OK, it’s your choice,” Abigail said. “I hope you will choose to go.”At dinner that night, Grace’s dad asked about the camping trip. “Mom tells me Abigail is excited to have you go camping with her family. Do you think you would like to go?” Grace’s dad cut his lasagna and poked a chunk with his fork.“It sounds kind of fun. But . . . ,” Grace smooshed her lasagna with her fork.“But what?” Mom asked, placing her napkin in her lap.“I have never been away from home or from you and Dad,” Grace said.“It would be a good adventure. Your first time away from home and your first camping trip. You will have a great story for your class when you go back to school this fall.” Dad smiled at her.“Yes, but it’s dark in the woods. I don’t think I would like that.” Grace looked at her parents. “I might be afraid.”“You might be,” Dad said as he put down his fork and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “But theBible tells us not to be afraid because God is with us.” (See Isaiah 41:10.)“Even in a tent in the dark woods?” Grace’s eyes grew wide.“Yes, honey. He is everywhere. The Bible also tells us that God will hold our hands and help us.[See Isaiah 41:13.] So if you feel fearful, remember to talk to God. He will listen, and He will be with you.”Grace tapped her chin. “I think I would like to go camping. With God beside me, I don’t need to miss an adventure because of fear.”****Abigail and Dad put up the tent while Abigail’s mom and Grace unpacked the pots and pans.“What about the food?” Grace asked as she looked through the box of supplies. “And the s’mores?” Abigail’s mom laughed. “I keep them inside the car to keep animals from getting into them.Don’t worry, Grace. I brought plenty of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.”Grace rubbed her tummy. “Yum. I have never had a s’more, and I’m eager to try one.”Mom put the box of supplies on the picnic table. “I hope you packed your toothbrush.”“Oh, my dad made sure I did.” Grace smiled.“Of course, he did.” Mom clapped her hands together and laughed. “He is a dentist.”After everyone had eaten their hot dogs and s’mores, they sang songs by the campfire. Dad played his guitar.“Time for bed, girls.” Mom poked the fire with a stick and added more firewood. “I will keep the fire going for a while. And I brought a lantern to keep the tent dimly lit.”Grace sighed with relief. Maybe her mom had told Abigail’s mom that she didn’t like the dark.Soon after everyone had settled into their sleeping bags, Grace heard Abigail’s dad snoring on the other side of the tent.“Grace,” Abigail whispered. “Are you having a good time?”“Yes, I am. And you were right. I like s’mores—a lot.”“I knew you would.” Abigail smiled. “Tomorrow we are going to take a hike on the bike path around the lake. It’s so pretty.”Grace yawned. “I’m excited to take my first hike. I have only walked around the neighborhood with my mom and dad or at the mall.”“The lake has pretty trees and flowers growing along its banks. The kayaks on the water are colorful too.” Abigail yawned. “I better go to sleep. We will be doing lots of fun things tomorrow.Good night.”Grace heard Abigail whispering her prayers to God. Grace prayed, too, and fell asleep.Suddenly, Grace woke up when she heard a loud noise outside the tent. The light from the lantern had dimmed so much she couldn’t see very well, and the fire outside no longer burned brightly. She heard the crackle of the fire as it burned the last bit of firewood. She felt tears well up in her eyes, and her body trembled. She nudged her friend. “Abigail. Abigail, did you hear that noise?”Abigail murmured and rolled to face Grace. “No, I was asleep. What did it sound like?”“I don’t know. Maybe it was a wild animal looking for our food.”“No, Mom locked it all in the car,” Abigail replied.“What if it’s a bear?” Grace shuddered.There was another noise outside the tent, and both girls shrieked.“What is going on?” Dad sat up quickly, bumping his head on the tent pole. “Ouch! That didn’t feel good,” he said, rubbing his head.Abigail’s voice quivered. “Dad, we heard a noise outside.”“Maybe it’s a bear!” Grace moved closer to Abigail.Dad peeked outside the tent flap. He beamed his flashlight around the picnic table, campfire, and nearby trees. He ducked back inside and held the flashlight to his face. He had a big toothy smile on his lips.“Dad! That is not funny.” Abigail crossed her arms. Grace hugged her friend tighter.Dad turned off the flashlight. “It was only a raccoon. He must have smelled our dinner and came to find leftovers. He is gone now.” Dad crawled back into his sleeping bag.Grace let out a deep breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. “I’m sorry I woke up everyone for nothing.”“You didn’t wake Mom.” Abigail giggled. “She sleeps through Dad’s snoring, so she can sleep through almost anything.”“Hey, I don’t snore that loud!” Dad chuckled. “Well, maybe I do.”Everyone went back to sleep, except for Grace. It wasn’t long before Abigail’s dad started snoring again. Grace’s heart pounded as she listened closely for any little sound. After a few minutes, she thought about what her parents told her about God. Little by little, her body stopped trembling. “The Bible says that God will be with me and hold my hand,” she whispered.“Thank You, God, for being here with me and keeping me safe.” Grace had just started to get sleepy when she heard a whoo-whoo from above the tent. She let out a little gasp.“That is an owl,” Abigail’s mom spoke quietly.Grace sighed, “I’m sorry to wake you.”“Oh, you didn’t.” Abigail’s mom sighed. “Abigail’s dad’s snoring did. Unlike what Abigail thinks, I don’t sleep through her dad’s snoring.”Grace snickered.“And try not to be afraid, Grace. Remember God is with you.”Grace awoke the next morning to the birds singing, the sun shining through the tent flap, and the smell of pancakes cooking on a griddle over the campfire.This is a great adventure!she thought to herself. Grace got out of her sleeping bag and went outside to breathe in the fresh air.I’m glad God is with me wherever I am. He is good all of the time.

By Leann Austin