Renee Oelrich

Chapter 1: A Camp?

Anyone and everyone in Frecklopia had freckles, spots, or blemishes.

Smidgeon was a leopard from Nigeria.

She had been on a journey to find the stickiest gum along the Atlantic coast.

She was using the gum to take off her fuzzy spotted fur.

She did not want to have spots.

The soccer team picked on her and would not let her be on the team.

The soccer team were lions and panthers with shiny smooth fur.

She just wanted to fit in and play soccer.

She met Patches, a giraffe from Chad and Pocky, a hyena from Kenya.

Now they were here in Frecklopia being the best of friends.

Frecklopia is where anyone and everyone can have any kind of spot, freckle, or mole.

Any kind of skin blemish at all was a wonderful sight, even zits.

The days were always warm and sunny.

Full of things for anyone and everyone to do.

With the spring flowers in full bloom and the trees full of leaves.

Anyone and everyone had high hopes for a long fun filled summer.

Smidgeon and Patches were busy working on the hut they shared.

They needed to add a higher roof and a longer bedroom for Patches.

     “Those who eat trees certainly grow like a tree,” Smidgeon said to Patches.

Frecklopia provided plenty of trees for Patches to eat.

The young giraffe grew an inch every month.

But Smidgeon did not mind.

She had her small room that looked out to the lake.

It was cozy with a bed of fresh leaves and straw.

Smidgeon was looking forward to her first summer in Frecklopia.

Her fuzzy spotted fur had filled back in.

She did not need to look shiny and smooth to fit in anymore.

She could go out and enjoy the summer just the way she was.

Here in Frecklopia she did not need to fit in.

Pocky had his own hut a few trees away.

It was small and simple for the young hyena.

He was on his way to see Smidgeon and Patches.

He saw that they were hard at work making their hut bigger.

     “Hey, did you hear?”

     “Mr. Motley is looking for volunteers,” said Pocky.

     “What does he need volunteers for?” asked Smidgeon.

     “He needs them to help at Camp Frecklopia with anything and everything they do there,” answered Pocky.

     “Wow, a summer camp!” Patches marveled.

     “I always wanted to go to summer camp when I was little.”

     “Aww come on Patches, you were never little,” laughed Pocky.

     “It sounds like a fun adventure.”

     “We should volunteer,” says Smidgeon.

     “Let’s do it!” said Pocky.

     “I am in, too,” answered Patches.

     “Great! We will head to Camp Frecklopia in the morning,” Smidgeon replied.