Nature's Heart

I woke up to another day trying to figure out my mixed pattern of clothes.  Jacky mentioned that we would be climbing the hill and camping overnight.  How terrifying was that!  I had no idea what that would be with the exception that I enjoyed walking.  My memory floats back to home as I remember walking with my siblings in tow, marching like ants.  We preceded my mother going to the stores.  It was the most uniformed military stance as we lined up by height and waited for her signal (voice of steel) to penetrate our winding ear canals.  Sometimes I was grateful for the summer break.  We were assigned light tasks such as carrying tools, mini tents, food, and outdoor gear.  I had the unpleasant honor of returning back to my bulging suitcase to search for my umbrella and raincoat.  How I wish it was packed with the required camping gears.  But, I brought what my mother only chose to afford.  My shoes (earthworms as they were called) were not picked and gnawed as there were finally useful for other than school.  A bit slippery as their soles had no grips, but I was able to dig them into the packed soil as we hiked.  The trees opened their arms and swayed above us showering rays from the sun who welcomed us onto the path.  Squirrels ran about and birds twittered as they flew above leaving me with a sense of belonging to Mother Earth.  She nurtured us with her warm kisses from the summer breeze and ruffled our hair with her hands, careful to pat each strand gently into place.  Finally, we arrived at the landing with Jacky able to guide us with her singing and smile of approval.  I placed my bag as instructed and sat on the ground folding my legs waiting for the next rules to be announced.