I didnt want to move. But I didn't make that choice; my parents did. Then we ended up moving away from our little town. It was supposed to be a fresh start, just like my parents said, and also they got offered better jobs. I've also been getting into trouble lately.
My name is Darcy McDowell, and I often get picked on because of my name. Not just because of my name, but also because of my looks. I'm not like others. I would say I'm different....much different. The only friend I actually had there was Marcel Cormick, and I left him behind. Now as I'm writing this, the car is already moving through the slowly melting snow into what is hopefully a better life in a bigger city.
Oh and yeah, if I didn't mention it already, this is supposed to be a diary. My mom said it might help, but I don't really know how to write one.
Once we finally got into our new apartment, I immediately started to unpack, but I overheard my parents talking about how they enlisted me in the local scouting group. Not only that, but the scoutmaster had already organized a two-day field trip. What?! We've just moved here, and I'm already going on a trip with complete strangers. Later, they brought me into the living room to talk. Of course, they told me they enrolled me in the local scout group and that I was going on the field trip so they could unpack and focus on work.
As I was packing for the trip - which I had to go on no matter what - my mom walked into my room. She saw that I only packed a shirt, a pair of socks, and underpants. Immediately, she told me she would personally pack my stuff for me. Good. Now I don't have to deal with it.
Then came the day of the field trip. My mom woke me up at 5 a.m. to get ready and go to the local committee where the scouts had their meetings. When we got there, there were already over fifty people scattered around in small groups. The scoutmaster, named Dario according to his nametag, appeared out of nowhere, took my stuff, and put it in the trunk of the bus. Then he sent me to a small group. In that group, there were eight guys and three girls. When I got there, they were kind of shocked that there was a new member without them even being notified.
The name of the patrol is "Patrol A." It sounded pretty stupid to me.
After a while, I had to say goodbye to my mom because we were getting settled on the bus. I tried to sit alone, but a tall, slightly dark-skinned guy sat next to me. He asked me what my name was. Of course, I answered. Then he said his name - Mark Rover. After that, we didn't really talk. I slept, and he talked to the others.
Once we got to the place, snow was falling, and I didn't really know what we were going to do. But I found out soon enough. First, we had to climb a mountain, then set up tents, start a fire, and cook our own dinner. What?!
I was not ready for this at all. Others were, because they do this every time they go on trips like these.
Before we could even start climbing, the snow began falling harder. Over the radio, we heard a warning about extreme weather. They announced that a snowstorm was coming and would last for a few days. We were advised to find shelter before it fully hit. The scout leaders and the scoutmaster searched for shelter, and the only thing they found was the nearest mountain lodge.
I went up to one of the scout leaders and introduced myself. He replied with his name - Noa - and asked if I needed anything. I asked if that meant we would have to stay here for longer, because if so, I genuinely didn't think I would survive. He replied, "Uh,yeah...for now it seems like that."
As the snow fell harder, my mouth was wide open. I immediately contacted my mom to tell her what had happened and begged her to pick me up. She said she couldn't drive because the roads were closed and she hadn't changed her summer tires. The lodge was uphill, and she would just slide all over the road. She also said that staying longer wouldn't hurt and that I'd probably get along better with others.
While the snow kept falling, we rushed to the lodge carrying as much as we could. I don't even know why they brought so much stuff for just two days, but whatever. Once we got there, we were assigned rooms. I got a room with four beds on the second floor, connected to the attic, so it had two levels. That meant I had to sleep with three random guys.
Then Dario informed us that there were too many people and not enough beds, so every room would get two more people. That meant sharing beds.
In my room downstairs were Mark and a short guy named Mathias. Upstairs slept a short-haired guy named Vincent and two tough guys - Luca and someone called Mimi, also known as "the cold one" for some reason.
We were supposed to be sleeping, but I stayed awake to write this because it felt like the only time I could be alone.
Day one started pretty strong. A loud whistle woke us up at around 7 a.m. Apparently, there was a whole schedule, but I didn't know it. We had some time to get ready and then went to breakfast. I tried to sit alone again, but I ended up sitting with the patrol.
Out of nowhere, Vincent asked me what my name was. Everyone stopped talking and listened. I answered. He said it was an odd name but sounded cool, and others agreed. They didn't bully me. They were actually nice.
After that, we had free time. I explored the lodge. The first floor had rooms and a living area with couches and various instruments people brought with them. The second floor was where my room was - room nine. Across from us was room eight, with Gabriel, Franklin, and a guy named Screamer, for some odd reason.
Room ten had Vito, William, Mark (they called him Kora), and a guy named Ajvar. Across the hall were the girls, whom I was too shy to talk to. Mathias had left his phone on the bus, so he had to share one with a girl named Tara.
After exploring, we had lunch - beans. I didn't like them much, but I was hungry. Later, I went to my room and found Mathias and Tara watching a movie on their phone. They invited me to watch. We lay face down on the bed and watched a Minecraft movie together.
Later, we were called to the dining room. The benches were arranged in a circle. Dario and a scout leader named Jasmine explained the assignment. We had to draw and describe what we thought a "perfect scout" was. I didn't know much about scouts, but my patrol had been part of the scouts for years. None of them could draw well, but I could, so they asked me to do it. They wanted me to use a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger as reference and draw while they wrote.
After presenting, I went back to my room. I opened the window for some fresh air, but the snow blew in, so I closed it. Then I got a call from Marcel. He asked how life in the big city was. I told him I wasn't even there. He was shocked - he was just visiting the city.
GREAT! JUST GREAT! The only friend I have came to visit, and I'm stuck on a mountain.
This sucks.
When everyone was done with dinner, the scout leaders prepared for a chill night. They brought out some board games like chess and Twister. But the game that stuck out to me was called Hues and Cues. It was a game with colours. I saw some people playing it but was too shy to ask to play with them, so instead I spent time alone in the hall. That is actually the place where I'm writing this.
Then, out of nowhere, one of the girls I hadn't talked to yet came up to me. She asked me why I wasn't with the others. I was a bit shy to answer, but I just said that I didn't really know anyone, so I was just chilling there. She introduced herself. Her name was Erica. We just sat there for half an hour and talked. Well, I mostly talked. She asked why I moved here and why I enrolled in the scouts, so I gave her a straight answer.
After that, we had to go to sleep. But before that, I asked one of the scout leaders named Ana if we were going to shower. She realized I was new, so she explained the whole process to me. She said that after activities that involve going outside and sweating, we would eventually shower that evening. She also said it would happen at least once during these days. Then she sent me to bed.
And I've gotta say, sleeping in a bed with Mark and Mathias was not actually that bad. Sure, Mathias stayed awake with Tara doing something on their phone while Mark played games or watched videos online. They thought I was sleeping right next to them, but sometimes I just watched what they're doing.
Day two again started off pretty strong. In the middle of our "getting ready for the day" routine, they whistled loudly three times. Everybody ran as fast as they could to get their scouting shirts and scout neckers. Again, I was new, so I didn't have any of that.
We ran down to the dining room. I didn't know what I was supposed to do, so I just did what everyone else did - went to the kitchen and stood in line. They called this an emergency assembly. They told us that from now on, every morning we would have an assembly, and the same went for the evenings.
Because the weather is terrible - yes, it's still snowing cats and dogs outside - we will have assemblies in the dining area. If the weather calms down, we will go outside. But today, for the first time, we were going outside to play some games. Scouting games.
First, we were split into teams of four. The game was called Four Colours. There were teams red, green, blue and yellow. I was on team red with Mathias, Erica, Vincent, William and a few other people I didn't know. Each team had to make a shelter for their bowling pin in the team's colour.
I'll explain the rules through the game. When the game started, everyone scattered around the area, trying to steal other team's bowling pins. I saw Mark sprinting towards our base. Quickly, I followed him. When I got close, I jumped and tackled him to the ground - but that was bad. I ruined our shelter. He grabbed our pin and ran towards his base.
I followed him. There were people guarding it, but because I'm small, I got around them pretty quickly. Down went their base. I took all the pins inside it. Then Vincent and Mathias came yelling at me to give them the pins. Our base was back up, and if we got the pins there, we would instantly win.
That was until Luca and Mimi showed up and tackled them, both to the ground. Yep...just great. In the middle of it, William and Erica showed up. Thank God. He took them on one by one and Erica was there for emotional support. We ran to our base with the pins. It was over. We won.
And I actally achieved something. That felt pretty good.
The next game was called Scoutball, and everyone seemed hyped about it. The rules are simple. You get split into two teams. One person from each team runs to grab the ball in the center of the field. One person stays at the goal while the others help the runner.
My team was Luca, Mathias, William, Vincent, Franklin, and me. Franklin bragged about how good of a goalkepper he was, so that was his position. Luca was the runner. The rest of us - Mathias, Vincent, and me - covered Luca and William that were attacking.
At first, we were crushing the other team. On the other team were Vito, Mimi, Mark, and the girls. The third girl was named Ana-the one I hadn't talked to yet. Two players stood out: Mimi and Vito. They were powerful, completely different from the girls,who mostly stood around. At least Tara tried to do something.
In the middle of the game, Mathias asked Tara if after this he could use their phone. Man, that kid is addicted.
We almost scored, but Mark defended it. Suddenly, Mimi rushed toward Vito and passed him the ball, and Vito nailed it into our goal. Franklin apologized, and we gave him another chance - which he immediately blew. They scored again.
So we switched roles. William became the runner, and I became the goalkeeper. We were still struggling. Then came my moment. My purpose.
Mark was running toward me, with Vito behind him. Vito had the ball. I was laser-focused on Vito and the ball. I didn't care about Mark - until he jumped on me and smashed my head into the snow while Vito scored the goal.
Well, I can't expect to win them all.
After the snow activities ended, we went back into the lodge. I wondered why we didn't play with the rest of the scouts, so I asked a scout leader named Bob. He told me we're a bit older, which is why we had patrols, and that we usually don't have activities with younger scouts.
I wasn't against that. At least I don't have to socialize with little kids.
When the activities ended we had some time to have fun. We mostly spent time in the hangout area or the living room. There I talked to few other people like scout leaders. There was Noa. He taught me how to play ukulele. And I also played Hues And Cues with everyone. Luca and Mimi both told me that I was actually good at the games.
The evening was actually pretty cool. Even after when we went to bed. I talked with Mark, Mathias and Tara while the others were playing chess and watching movies. The walls are thin so I heard Vito, William, Mark or Kora, and Ajvar talking among themselves. Apparently there was supposed to be a hike to the mountain regardless of the snow. But they canceled it because tomorrow we're going home. But I said nothing to others because they would immediately stop with what they were doing and go pack. I just went back to talking to them.
Then came day three. That started off pretty chill. They let us sleep until 8 a.m.
At the morning assembly they announced a daily game. The wish well game. Each scout can make their own wish. And I wished to find out if these were my people. People that actually wanted me around.
After the wishes were made each patrol got assigned three wishes that they had to make come true by the end of the day. Our first wish was from a girl that wanted candy. So the girls made this plan. We wrap Franklin up in a blanket and give him to her. And we did that. Next one was by the scoutleader Jasmine. She wanted to become a queen. So I made a crown from some yellow paper I found. And after lunch we held a coronation. And the last wish...
THEY WHISTELED THREE TIMES FOR THE EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY! They announced that tommorow, at this hour, we'd already be home. That's why today was "the last supper." There would be pizza, drinks, music, and fun. But there was still one thing left to do: make someone an offical scout.
They walked all of us outside. Secretly, they had been clearing a path and made a huge circle in the snow. In the middle was a fireplace. They called me and a few other kids to stand in front of everyone. Next, a scout leader named Bart put the necker around me and gave me the shirt.
Dario then asked if I was ready. I shook my head saying no. He asked if I needed help. I shook my head again, saying yes. Then I had to repeat after him:
"I pledge on my honor to fulfill my civic duties, be committed to spiritual principles, help others, and respect the Scout Laws."
Everybody congratulated me. I went around shaking hands the scout way - right hand with your little finger between the other person's hand.
After we got back inside, Dario came up to me, congratulated me, and told me the scouting motto: "Be prepared." As everyone sat at the tables arranged in a circle, I realized something. Maybe it is worth becoming friends with the scouts. Here, everyone is nice, and you can feel accepted just the way you are.
When I finally sat down, Mathias asked me something. Everyone was listening. The whole patrol wondered if, when we got home, I could go out with them, and a scout friend Leila sometime. I was happy they asked. Finally, I made new friends. That day changed everything for me. I felt happier and was finally prepared for my new life.