Brochi and Nechama

Brochi’s Take

My name is Brochi and I’m fourteen years old. School just ended and I’m really, really not looking forward to summer camp. I’m not anti-social or introverted but I’m really not interested

in the camp scene. The kumzitzes, the non-stop noshing, the amusement parks, the sweating, the sports — it’s just not my style. Especially the pool. I do not enjoy getting wet with a bunch of other girls in swim dresses. I think it’s awkward and I don’t enjoy it. The problem is that my mother absolutely refuses to let me get a job as a counselor this summer instead of going to camp. She tells me I have very few years left to enjoy being a teenager with no responsibilities. She doesn’t want me to jump the gun on adulthood and miss out on all the fun my friends are having. She says she knows what’s “better for me.” But what she doesn’t understand is how much I dislike camp. I love being with my friends, especially my best friend Nechama, but they’re all enthusiastically involved in the camp scene. While I’m sitting on the side grumbling, Nechama is captain of color war. Uch, Color War. I forgot about that one. One of my ultimate non-favorites. But the bottom line is I feel like I’m too mature for this type of silly fun, and Nechama being in the thick of things makes me feel even worse. She doesn’t see how silly it looks to me — to stand in a gym with red face paint on, screaming at the top of her lungs. Why can’t she realize that getting sopping wet and having a shaving cream fight is the ultimate form of ridiculous nonsense? If I could get her to be less involved, and be with me more, then I wouldn’t be dreading camp as much. I want her to wake up and see that my type of fun can be great as well. Going to the beach, baking, malls — you know, stuff like that. In the summer we’re on two totally different wavelengths and it’s frustrating.

Nechami’s Take

Hi, I’m Nechama. Camp’s around the corner and I’m so excited! I look forward to camp all year! Give me anything that involves sun, water sports, and ices, and I’m good to go. I love the team spirit, working together with other girls to win Color War or the basketball championship. I’m usually head of everything because I’m relentless. I won’t stop until I win and I usually do. In my opinion, camp should be a full month longer because it always ends too soon. School’s way more boring and I hate studying for tests and writing papers.

Anyway, as we get closer and closer to camp and the excitement and anticipation are building up, I’ve noticed my friend Brochi is getting less and less talkative. I know she doesn’t like camp but I think this year she’s really dreading it. I just don’t understand why. Camp’s great!