DMC: Creating an Explosive

W henever I think back to the summer when I turned 14 I cringe at what happened at what could have happened and I only hope that the metaphorical bomb we created fell into the hands of someone who had the maturity to dispose of it immediately.

You’re probably wondering what on earth I’m talking about. So let me introduce myself. Hi! My name is Elisheva and I’m an average girl from a regular family from a normal if smallish city. Basically nothing really sets me apart from anyone else and I always used to wish I had some kind of distinction… but since I didn’t I especially loved making friends with other kids who did in the hope that their specialness would rub off on me somehow. Plus I felt special just by association. Am I making sense? I figure you’re either similar to me and nodding along in understanding or shaking your head completely not getting this at all. And that’s okay. But that’s the way I was.

Anyhow my city has a community overnight camp that is so small it doesn’t usually attract too many out-of-towners. Which is nice on one hand. The girls who attend camp are usually my school classmates and I get to know them on a different level. But on the other hand don’t you ever get itchy to get to know other people branch out a bit?

So when I was in eighth grade and we got a new kid in camp I literally felt my heart skip a beat. Maybe we’d end up being good friends! And then another interesting discovery: It turned out that Rachel was not only a fresh new face but she was a baalas teshuvah from a nearby town to boot! She went to public school and her whole family had only recently started taking on mitzvos. Her parents thought it would be an amazing experience for her to see frum girls up close and become friendly with them.