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The Food Thief
***
The counselors, parents, and children left the camp at the crack of dawn with sleeping bags, tents, and backpacks full of food, drinks, and first aid as part of the camp wilderness adventure to provide everyone with valuable experience, teach appreciation for the environment, and promote teamwork and friendship. It was a regular part of the camp’s program to expose the kids to new things. Parents, children, and even wealthy teens were excited to be part of this great journey.
The trail narrowed and became more winding as it ascended the mountain. Everyone came to a screeching halt to take it all in. They inhaled the crisp, clean air, which was fragrant with fresh green vegetation and flowing water from multiple springs that poured into a pristine lake with white sands. They stopped and ate their lunch, since it was the perfect location for them to rest. Mary looked for a nice spot, then removed the food and beverages from their bags and made sandwiches for Ray and herself. They resumed their exploration when they finished eating.
They arrived at the campground and rested after a couple of hours of trekking. Everyone pitched in to help put up their tents, and once they were done, they went exploring the rest of the area. It was already dark when they returned, so they started a fire. While the youngsters roasted their marshmallows, counselors and parents prepared their supper by heating cans of chili and bread over an open fire. Everyone sat around the fire after dinner. Edith came up with an idea to keep the kids entertained, so she asked them to be quiet while she talked. Nobody paid attention. A loud whistle blew, and everyone’s attention was drawn to her.
"I’m curious whether somebody wants to tell ghost stories," she asked.
Everyone was engaged in conversation. Each one wanted to be the first. The kids stopped chatting when Edith whistled again.
"You must raise your hand if you wish to go first!"
One by one, the children told their ghost stories. Gerry told a terrifying story that made the youngsters shudder.
"About five years ago, when I first came to the camp, a counselor told me a story about a camp legend," he said.
"A legend?" Ray asked.
"Yes, that was a legend back in the day. It’s a story about the ‘unknown,’" Gerry replied, his voice gravelly.
"What? You must be joking,” his friend Dante said. “I’ve never heard of a tale at the camp."
"You knew nothing about it because I didn’t tell you. It was far too frightening to describe. Do you mind? Let me finish my story," Gerry replied to his pal, annoyed.
While counselors and parents returned to their tents to rest, the youngsters gathered around and focused on Gerry’s storytelling.
"Anyway, there was an old man who got lost in the wilderness. He became disoriented as he delved deeper and deeper. He lost his sense of direction after a time. The man paced back and forth, attempting to figure out where he was. They never heard from him again. His family and the police had been looking for him for weeks before giving up and declaring him dead. Some speculated he was buried alive in the mud because of the storm that night. Others thought the ‘unknown’ had seized the old guy since odd things happened after that," Gerry explained.
"Such as?" Leilani asked.
"A few people claimed to have spotted the old man prowling in the woods. They heard frightening noises, which prompted the dogs to bark. They said if you listened closely, you could hear scratching noises coming from beneath the earth that became louder. There were moments when you could see odd forms lingering in the darkness, waiting for their next victim," Gerry added, a malicious smirk on his lips.
Because it terrified everyone, no one said anything after that. When they heard a loud bang, they all screamed. The scared children returned to their tents. Gerry stood alone, laughing so hard that the sound of the ladle striking the pot could be heard all the way around the mountains.
Ray, who was sitting on a tree stump, chuckled at Gerry's impersonation of a little drummer boy and the kids screaming inside their tents. When he noticed a little mud puddle near Gerry, he shouted, "Watch out!"
However, it was too late. Gerry stumbled over his own feet, slid forward, and landed face first in a horrific puddle of mud.
Gerry groaned, "Ow. This is so humiliating!”
He stood up, but fell over yet another mud puddle. Gerry was mortified to see his ruined shoes and clothing. He glanced at the puddle, but his curiosity won. Gerry stepped on it, causing dirt and water to splash everywhere. Some landed on his head, face, and garments, overwhelming him with amazement and excitement. Gerry marched, stomped, and splashed like he'd never done it before. Ray was amused, so he joined him. They instantly began stomping and laughing.
The kids heard them and came out of their tents to see what Gerry and Ray were up to. Their eyes widened. They thought it looked like a lot of fun, so they joined in. They piled filth on top of each other and flung it at each other. Mud particles were flying everywhere. The counselors and parents saw the kids having a mud war, laughing and flinging dirt. At first, they were disgusted, but decided to let them have some fun. It was the children's first surge of joy throughout their camping trip.
When morning came, the excitement was clear as everyone packed their belongings for a three-mile trip into the woods.
"Let’s catch some fish for breakfast before we go on our trekking excursion," Tessie proposed.
All the counselors agreed, and they threw their lines into the lake and waited for the fish to bite. Unfortunately, even though the fish were present, they were not biting. It was already late, and the kids were becoming agitated. Ray got up and wandered around the lake with a fishing rod, and when no one watched, he plunged his hand into the water and hooked a big fish.
"Look! Ray had a nibble! He’s got a bite!" Edith yelled.
Everyone applauded as Ray continued to catch fish one after the other.
"How did Ray do that?" Gerry asked.
"My son is a natural!" Mary smiled as she spoke.
Ray caught a lot of fish—enough for everyone to eat. The counselors lauded Ray for catching the most fish ever! Everyone chuckled as they continued to applaud. They enjoyed a fantastic breakfast, and everyone thought it was the best trout they had ever had. Leilani watched their shenanigans and just ate some energy bars.
By the time the group returned to the campsite, it was already dark. It had been a long day, and everyone was anxious to take a shower, but not before they ate. They were eagerly expecting a hot meal. Everyone panicked when they discovered the camp was robbed. The rear entrance was wide open, and it was even more upsetting to see that the food shelves, fridges, and freezers were all empty and in disorder. The robbers were highly selective, and they questioned why they stole nothing except their food supplies.
Edith found the kitchen staff in the break room, laughing and watching TV. It concerned her that they didn't see or hear anything. She reprimanded everyone, forcing the cooks to make a special trip to the town's market to refill supplies and food, because everyone was hungry from their journey. Additional locks were purchased, and they blocked windows to prevent their food from being stolen again.
Everything had returned to normal at the camp the next day, and everyone had resumed their activities. Ray realized he hadn’t seen Kayla in a long time. When he asked about her with the staff, they merely stared at him and walked away. Ray dashed upstairs to Kayla's room, only to find the door locked. He knocked and called her name, but she didn't respond. He was about to walk away when he saw Megan standing behind him.
"Don't go upstairs anymore," she warned Ray. "Except for the crew, no one is permitted to be up here."
"Where’s Kayla?" Ray asked.
"I sent her to live with my sister in town," the evil lady said with a smirk.
Ray left, puzzled why Kayla would go without saying goodbye. It also bothered him what had happened to the food supplies. The camp was a long way from town, and there were no wild animals around. He had a feeling the food thief was closer than they realized. He gave it some thought and planned to investigate.
"Could I stay outside for a while?" Ray asked his mother after supper.
"It’s okay," Mary replied, "but don’t stay up too late."
Ray nodded and kissed his mom before leaving.
It had been a lovely evening. The moon was beaming down, but there wasn’t a breath of breeze or a leaf moving. Ray was walking back and forth, pondering what he should do. He bolted and stood behind their cabin. He called the wind, and he soared like lightning into the air, past the trees, and into the forest beyond. Ray could see the smallest thing down below, although it was virtually pitch black, and only the stars illuminated the woodlands.
It wasn't long before he noticed a tiny light in the distance, and there stood a small cottage. Ray was spot on. He figured whoever took the food from the camp had to have a place to live nearby. Ray looked around and saw no other houses, so he checked the cabin. He went on tiptoe over the porch's wooden floor, taking care not to trip over any loose planks. Ray peeked through the glass and saw a teenager, about fourteen or fifteen years old, struggling to light a small fireplace. The teen then took the food from the bags and placed it on top of the table. He took a slice of bread and cheese and woke up his sleeping little sister. The small girl awakened, wiped her eyes, and hurried to the table to get the food.
Ray looked around and saw no one except the children. He was curious about where their parents were. He peered in again through the window and noticed the bags bore the camp’s emblem. Ray had figured out the mystery. The youngsters were the thieves. He returned to camp and waited until daybreak to speak with his mother about what he had learned.
***
THE BROTHER AND SISTER checked the windows and double-barred the door before going to bed. A massive crash woke them up in the middle of the night, and the door broke open, causing the home to shake from top to bottom. The kids were afraid and huddled together.
When morning came, they looked out the window, and their surrounding area was a mass of ruin and desolation. The flood destroyed and washed everything. The youngsters attempted to flee, but could not do so because of the floodwaters that had trapped them.
"What are we going to do?" Loida wondered, trembling.
"We can’t do anything except wait till someone finds us," Jun, her brother, stated.
The children huddled close. They had never seen anyone pass by their cabin before. They knew they were doomed.
Meanwhile, the counselors awoke to find the camp in disarray. Fortunately, they had a tractor and the tools to clear the rubble. Because of the ruckus, Ray awoke. When he peeked out the window, he noticed that everyone, including his mother, had come outside to watch the people clean up the debris. He couldn’t believe he slept so well the night before. He did not hear it rain.
It suddenly reminded him of the youngsters in the woods. He felt concerned that something awful had happened to them. Without telling his mother, he got dressed, went to the back of the cabin, and called for the wind to take him to the children. The wind formed around him in a second, and he flew.
While flying, he saw the teen wading through floodwaters with his small sister on his back. It was waist-deep, and he had trouble crossing it. Their cabin was destroyed. Ray, who was still hiding behind the wind, commanded the water to help the children in passing. As soon as his lips said the words, the path became easier for the boy’s feet, as if he could walk on water. The brother and sister could not believe it. How could that be?
Once the youngster was comfortable and confident they would not fall into the water, Jun launched himself into a full sprint towards the land, while Loida jumped from his back and followed her brother, giggling.
The youngsters quickly crossed the floodwaters and reached dry land. They stood there for a while, shocked at what had just happened. Then they continued to walk to find a safe place to stay, when they saw Ray sitting on a rock, smiling.
"Who are you?" Jun asked.
"I’m a friend," Ray replied.
"Did you see us walking on water?" Loida asked.
"I did, indeed." Ray smiled as he remarked, "It was amazing! Where do you come from? What are you doing alone in the middle of nowhere?"
"We were camping with our parents, and we had a cabin near where we are," Jun explained. "Our parents left three days ago to buy some materials to fix the cabin. They didn’t expect the place to be a mess. They warned us not to leave the cabin and not to talk to anyone, but they never returned. I looked for them but had no luck. I had to return to the cabin because I was afraid I might get lost and no one would be there to watch my little sister. When we had eaten all the food we had packed for our camping trip, I went out to find food since we were hungry. That’s when I discovered a camp and waited until no one was around before taking the food. I know it’s wrong to steal, but my sister was starving and wouldn’t stop crying. I should have asked the women there for food, but they looked mean. I knew they wouldn’t offer me anything, so I took everything."
"We’re sorry," Loida said.
Ray nodded his head. "Did your parents travel by foot?"
Jun gave a shaky nod. "They were in a car."
Ray nodded his head again, as if deciding, and then told the kids, "Let’s go!"
"Where are we going?" Loida asked.
"I’m taking you to our campsite to request help. You’ll be safe there," Ray assured her.
"How about our parents?" Jun asked.
"Don’t be concerned about them, I’ll figure out something," Ray said.
They walked into the woods, and the kids felt as if they were walking on air, with wings on their feet. It was the strangest thing. What they didn’t know was that the wind was taking them to safety. The children were standing at the camp’s main gate in no time. Jun couldn’t figure out how they got there so quickly, when it took him nearly a day to get to their cabin after stealing the camp’s food supplies.
Ray went to Edith's office and informed her of the children. He told her everything that had happened to the family, except for the lie about finding them in the woods. Edith asked the counselors to deliver hot lunches to the youngsters. The camp nurse examined them. Fortunately, they just had blisters and bruises, so the nurse gave them first aid.
"The people here will take good care of you," Ray assured the brother and sister. "I’m going to look for your parents," he whispered. "Don’t tell anyone."
The kids stared at each other, puzzled by how Ray could find their parents when he was just a kid.
"What are you going to do?" Jun asked.
"Shh, it’s a secret," Ray whispered. He was on his way out when he noticed an unopened plastic bottle of water on the table and snatched it. He knew he would need it.
Ray walked around the building and was soon on his way to find the children's parents. He was floating above the thick, heavy clouds and on top of the mountains in the air. Ray flew eastward, westward, northward, and then southward. He looked around, but couldn't see the children's parents.
The wind swooped down at full speed and landed on the ground minutes later. Ray scoured the area and spotted a man and woman who were motionless in a mud hole. When he got a better look, he discovered they were still breathing. Ray breathed a sigh of relief. The wind picked up the parents, tossed them to the ground, and blew the gusty wind. The wind washed the dirt off the man's and woman's bodies, as well as the mud they had consumed. They were revived quickly, and as they opened their eyes, they coughed and gasped for air. Then they noticed a glowing figure standing next to them. They wiped their eyes, confused by what they had seen, and believed they were dead—with an angel at their side.
"Are you okay?" Ray asked as he offered the man a bottle of water.
Ben, the children’s father, drank it and then passed it to his wife. She drank deeply, spilling some liquid down her shirt.
"I remember trying to get to town to get some supplies when we had an accident," Ben recalled. "I didn’t realize the road had washed away until it was too late. It happened in an instant. I remember hitting the brakes and hearing my wife scream as our car went off the road when I lost control. It drifted to the left and landed in a deep ditch. I was hurt, and as I tried to walk, everything went dark."
Junelyn, the children’s mother, revealed, "I tried to resuscitate my husband, but unfortunately, I also passed out."
They did not know what occurred after that.
"The children!" cried the woman, terrified. "We left them in the cabin. Oh, my God, we have to go. We need to check on our children. They must be starving at this moment. We don’t know how long we were unconscious. Oh, my God, please let nothing horrible happen to them. I’d just die." Junelyn wept.
"Don’t worry, ma’am. They are safe. I found them and brought them to our campsite. The counselors are looking after them."
"Thank God," Ben said.
It pleased Junelyn and Ben to learn that their children were safe.
"Is the rescue team coming for us?" Ben questioned Ray.
Ray explained, "No one knows I’m here, but don’t worry. I’ll look after you."
Ray drew a glare from Ben and Junelyn.
"How could you take care of us? You’re only a kid?" Junelyn asked.
Ray said nothing.
"Get ready. We’re leaving shortly," he said moments later.
The parents scowled, puzzled by how a little boy could help them. They feared they were doomed, but they were not in any position to argue, even with a little boy like Ray. He was their only hope.
Meanwhile, Ray went to see the car where the parents had left it. He saw the automobile in the ditch and realized it couldn’t be moved without a tow truck. The vehicle was not damaged, but it was plastered with mud both inside and out. He asked the wind to lift it up and push it back to the road. Then he called on the wind, fire, and water to see what they could do to clean it up. Ray had hardly spoken the words before the elements took command, and water splashed all over the car, removing the mud and other debris covering it. The wind and fire collaborated, producing hot air and blowing it over the automobile. In no time, there was no trace that the car was in an accident. The car was immaculate, dry, and ready to go.
Ray returned to the children’s parents and said, "We are ready to leave."
The husband and wife attempted to get up, but could not move, even if they wanted to.
"I think we have a problem, son," Ben remarked.
Ray didn't waste any time getting to work. He helped them to their feet, while simultaneously touching and healing them. Ben flexed his toes as he felt a wonderful sensation in his body. He increased his leg muscle strength and could now stand up. He chuckled as he began tap dancing. Junelyn was so happy to see that her husband was okay, she tried to wriggle her toes. She stretched her arms, and in a matter of minutes, she was dancing with her husband. They both smiled and sobbed, unable to believe they were okay. They glanced at Ray, confused.
"Who are you?" Junelyn asked. "Are you our guardian angel?"
Ray shook his head without responding to their question. "If you feel better, we can go right away."
The parents nodded and followed Ray. Standing in the middle of the road, they were shocked. They remained motionless, staring at their car, which appeared undamaged by the collision. It was cleaner than it had been. How could that be? They knew they’d been in an accident, and the last thing they recalled was the car having gone into a ditch.
The parents of the children knelt and sobbed, knowing Ray had done it. They sat silently in amazement at all the wonders they had experienced in the last few minutes of their lives.
"We know you’re our guardian angel. Thank you for saving us," Junelyn exclaimed as she and Ben hugged Ray.
"I promise you, ma’am, I am not an angel, but I am your children’s friend. I think it would be better if you didn’t tell anyone about what happened here," Ray said.
Ben and Junelyn nodded and hugged Ray again.
"Don’t worry about anything. We’re not sure what we saw, anyway. We will tell nobody about what happened here, not even to our children. It will be our little secret. We owe you our lives, so that’s the least we can do to thank you for saving us," Ben explained.
"Thank you, sir," Ray said. "Now, let’s head back to our campsite so we can reunite you with your children. I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you. Loida was constantly sobbing, and Jun was trying to be responsible. I know he was just putting on a brave front for his little sister."
It overjoyed Ben and Junelyn when they heard it.
"I believe we did a good job of teaching them. How do you like that? We did something good for our children!" said Ben.
They all burst out laughing.
"Can you drive, sir?" Ray asked.
"Don’t worry, son. I’m feeling a lot better now."
They were soon on their way. Unbeknownst to the parents, the wind took them, floating on air, and they were at the camp’s main gate in no time. It surprised Ben and Junelyn to learn that there was a campsite close to their cabin. Why didn’t they know about it?
Ray was the first one out of the car when they parked it. Mary was on her way to the office when she saw her son.
She hugged him and told him, "I was worried about you, because I had no clue where you had gone. You were sleeping in your bed the last time I saw you."
Ray apologized to his mother and introduced her to the children’s parents.
Ben and Junelyn were delighted to meet Ray's mother. She wasn't what they expected, but Mary was so charming and caring that they realized her outer appearance didn't matter. Mary was their angel's mother. They knelt and kissed her hand. Mary was confused why they were acting in such a manner. Ray took his mother aside and told her everything that had happened. Mary understood what was going on and escorted the parents to see their children.
Jun and Loida were eating lunch with the other kids in the dining room. They raced to hug their parents as soon as they saw them.
"Mom! Dad, you're all right!" Jun and Loida said, screaming.
As the family rejoined, everyone looked on, surprised. Edith took the stage and stated that the parents were separated from their children after being stuck in the woods.
Except for the wealthy children, it relieved everyone. The counselors gathered around the family and spoke to them.
"What's the big deal about it? What difference does it make that they found each other? Who cares?" Leilani commented, and her friends agreed with her.
***
BEN AND JUNELYN SAID their goodbyes after finishing a delicious meal with their children. The family thanked Ray for everything he had done for them.
"Thanks to you, we're on our way home!" Loida said. "I can't wait to get back to the city and sleep in my bed."
"Thank you for everything, Ray," Jun said. "Oh, and by the way, I already confessed to the counselors that I took the camp’s food. I'll be back here next month to volunteer. That is my punishment."
“It takes a strong guy to own his mistakes and accept responsibility, because it's not always easy, but you did it. I'm proud of you, and I'm sure your parents are as well,” Ray remarked.
The brother and sister hugged Ray once more and sobbed as they said goodbyes to their new friend.
"You must be proud of your boy, Mary!" remarked Ben. "There were so many strange things that happened to us previously, and we feel Ray was behind it all. Don't worry. We swore not to tell anyone about it, but we will never forget it. We'll pay you and your family a visit at St. Matilde someday."
"I'm looking forward to it," Mary said, grinning at them.
They all hugged as though they'd known each other their entire lives. The family departed the campsite, happy and relieved that they were all safe.
They were looking forward to a wonderful family life together!
