PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Wayne Fields
In the blaring kitchen light, three boys looked up at Alison.
“Aren’t you sleeping in the tent?”
“We were,” complained Charlie, “until Joe got scared of bogey men.”
“I didn’t,” snivelled Joe.
“Daniel shouldn’t have told those tales,” Charlie continued.
Daniel retaliated indignantly, “It was you said how one tore Steve’s tent and stole his brownies.”
“It’s not the bogey man,” yelled Joe. “It’s the animals.”
“What animals?” the other two chorused.
“The ones you keep away by lighting fires. Lions and hyenas.”
“That’s in Africa, silly!” Fumed the elder boys.
“Never mind,” Alison soothed, “We’ll try again next summer.”
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
Ha… I remember nights when you feel how thin the tent is… and how loud the night can be
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. I like the way you put that as well, thanks Bjorn
LikeLike
They’ll be laughing at this moment for a lifetime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The best way to deal with I think. Thanks for reading
LikeLike
better safe than sorry. they could set up the tent in the living room. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that could be the answer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story Michael. Nice nostalgic childhood scene and voices. Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Iain
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember my first camp with another boy. We were about 12 and didn’t have much equipment. And we were only 100 yards from the house. But we still managed to tough it out till dawn.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think I could have but once the youngest started fretting, the fear spread. We were in a field though, not the back garden. Thanks for reading
LikeLike
So very remindfull of childhood days. Nice nostalgic piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you
LikeLike
Dear Michael,
We raised three boys. This sounds about right. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rochelle. It is an adventure I remember happening to me and two little friends when we were that age
LikeLike
Oh well. Sounds like one on his own might have been fine but they’ve all succeeded in scaring each other 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly right, I remember it happening to me and two mates when we were that age.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is spot on! My boys used to camp in the garden and it was just like this! Three is definitely not a good number of young boys for harmony in a tent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Clare. I know it’s quite accurate because there’s a little bit of autobiography in there. 🙂
LikeLike
Garden camping, I remember it well. You captured the child voice perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you
LikeLike
Nice story with great dialogue. This took me to memories of my son wanting to camp in the backyard which was the size of a postage stamp. We went camping a lot when he was younger and I never worried about animals. But when he was in the tent in the backyard I never slept. The animals that roam city streets are far scarier than those in the woods.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a good point and if I’m honest, this is a story of when we were younger but, we weren’t in the back garden and we were worried about louts, drunks and perverts not animals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It always starts with that one who instills fear in the hearts of the others… such a sweet memory!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. Fear is contagious, especially at that age. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
This reminds me of the night a cow tried to eat my tent. It was green, the tent! 🙂 Loved the story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael
LikeLike
It was you said how one tore Steve’s tent and stole his brownies. This line tells how young these boys are. I love where you went with this. I’d forgotten about the fear of camping when young.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Yeah we were dead brave and excited until we hd to listen to the noises of the night
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the joy of campfire stories! And brothers. Well told tale Mick
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lynn
LikeLike
The joys (and fears) of camping, nicely executed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sandra
LikeLike
I have fond memories of ‘camping’ in my garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So do I and this was one of mine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Believable dialogue, made me snicker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really captured a moment here. I could put myself in the picture.
Very cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks that’s nice of you to say.
LikeLike
I remember those days when mine were youngsters. Well observed story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you. It can be scary outside in the dark when you’re young.
LikeLike
Funny story, Mick. My son used to camp with the Boy Scouts. He had some good experiences and some not so good depending on the weather. He still loves camping, though. Good writing. 😀 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for introducing me to Bluebird of Bitterness in one of your re-blogs.
LikeLike
The joys (and fears) of camping, nicely executed. Thanks Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment, but I’m Mick 🙂
LikeLike