Scout Camp

My brothers and I are going to scout camp for a week and dad is coming along. This is my first time at Camp Maumee and I'm very excited. I look forward to swimming, archery, making new friends, and hanging out with my troop. One thing troubles me though, how will mom take care of Toby all by herself. I realize she will have Grace and Andrew there, but realistically how much can they do? They are just children not mature like Patrick, Christopher, and me. And Toby is a troublesome three year old, who can find mischief around every corner.

Mom is so lucky; Patrick, Christopher , and I have always been very easy to take care of; but Toby that's another story. He gets into trouble all day long; tearing up magazines, unrolling toilet paper, crunching up potatoe chips, and making a terrible mess of everything. How will mom handle him, she doesn't even know how to use the DVD player.

After we got to camp, while eating one of many undigestable meals, the brothers and I decided we had better get Toby to camp where we could take care of him as soon as possible. But how would we do it?

First we thought to ask Mr. Bishoff, Trevor and Jacob's dad, to put Toby in one of the race cars he works on and race him down here as fast as he could. But Toby doesn't drive and it's the fourth of July week and all the race car drivers are busy with races.

Patrick thought he could E-mail Emily and have her explain to her mom the situation, Mrs. Alexander is Toby's God-mother, so she has a responsibility to make sure he is well cared for. Patrick was sure she would drive Toby down and visit with her son Ian while she was here. Then we remembered you can't get a connection at Maumee, so that wouldn't work at all.
Well we finished our dinner and decided we could continue thinking about our plan in the morning over breakfast. Mom could handle Toby until then because he would be sleeping for most of the time.

In the morning Christopher had a brainstorm! Call Aunt Nancy. She delivers for Tiny Town Pizza all day long; she could deliver Toby and bring us a couple of pizzas at the same time. Well just like dad's laptop his phonegot no service at Maumee. We went to the office to borrow their phone but the Big Ben didn't think that this was an emergency and they couldn't be bribed with pizza. They don't realize what my baby brother is capable of he could be shoving all the legos down the heat vents as we were talking.

Well we all went back to thinking but it was time for merit badges, so we had to split up. We would reassemble for lunch with any new ideas.

After a morning of learning many new things we had a brilliant plan. Christopher was taking basketry and Patrick was learning about space exploration. Christopher could make a basket large eough for two people and Patrick could make a rocket. We would attach the rocket to the basket and one of us would ride it home pick up Toby and ride it back to camp.

While we were deciding who would get to go, dad overheard our plan and put the kabash on it. Besides he said, "mom is coming down with Toby and the kids on Thursday for a visit." Mom is coming here, that will be great. I hope she brings us something to eat!!!

A Gift for Uncle Jack

Well, my mom decided to give my Uncle Jack a kidney. It seemed a strange gift to me but mom said it was just what he needed. She had to go to Chicago to give him his present and even stay awhile after he got it.

While she was gone Toby, mom's favorite, missed her so much we decided to go to Chicago to visit her. Chicago is pretty far away so we needed a plan. I mean you can't just ask dad to drive you there.

First we would get the May's elk to pull us all in a wagon. Elk are very strong which is what we need. I won't mention anyone in particular (Patrick) but someone (Patrick) weighs enough to require some very strong elk to pull us along.

When we get close to Indianapolis the elk will want to go home. They don't want to be too far from their families.

Lucky for us Mr.. Guilford flies helicopters for the National Guard. He was just in Bosnia for almost eight months but he is home safe and sound now. Mr.. Guilford is use to flying a lot of people and of course he can keep things top secret.

Mr.. Guilford said he could fly us to Fishers which is north of Indianapolis. That works out great because Uncle Joe has a nephew Scott who lives there with his family. He offered to drive us one hour north but then he would need to return home for dinner with his family.

That left us off near Lafayette but Christopher came up with a great idea. Christopher has been reading about dragons and they are much nearer than people think. Ever since St. George had defeated one they decided to change their ways.

With this in mind Christopher went to their web site and e-mailed one named Electro. He responded that he would be happy to meet up with us at a farm outside Lafayette. I have to say I was somewhat hesitant about traveling by dragon but mom says there's a first time for everything. Electro said he could get as far as the Dunes but not into the city. Something about air traffic and maybe being mistaken for a UFO. We were grateful for getting that far.

The Dunes would put us right on Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is a great place to sail and thanks to the Boy Scouts Patrick and Christopher knew how to sail. Patrick even contacted a troop that would let us borrow their boat. So we could sail right onto the shore by Grant Park.

My Uncle Jack and Cousin Claire live close by the park and Claire agreed to meet us there. She would show us how to take the L up to the hospital and we could all see our mom.

With our plan ready we decided to pack some snacks and leave right away. We were all in the kitchen making sandwiches when mom came home with Aunt Linda. We were all so glad to see her. We decided to enjoy our sandwiches together. We realized we needed to cancel our plan But who was going to call Electro.

Busting Toby Out

My brother Toby was in the Children's Hospital. The docs were fixing his heart but it was taking a long time. We were missing him a lot, and decided we needed an escape plan to bust him out.

My mom Began by watching for the way out. She would pretend to be asleep and watch with one eye to see ways out of the hospital. She realized there was a door people rarely went out of and wondered where it led. She checked it out and it led to the roof.

Next my Aunt Marianne convinced some eagles from her neighborhood to fly down carrying a basket big enough for mom and Toby. On the planned day they would land the basket on the roof. Mom and Toby would get in the basket and the eagles would carry them to the zoo.

At the zoo were elephants that took people for rides. Mom and Toby would get on the back of an elephant named Bernadette and she would take them down to the river.

At the river would be waiting a boat pulled by giant catfish the size of cars. Everyone knew they lived at the bottom of the river even if no one had ever seen them. But my Uncle Jack was a scuba diver and went down to ask for their help. You would be surprised at how helpful catfish were willing to be.

The catfish would pull them down the river then up Tanner's Creek as far as they could go. When the creek got too shallow they would have to get out. There they would be met by Emily's goats pulling a cart. Sam and Rosie were easy going goats if you can believe it and were glad to be part of the escape.

The goats took mom and Toby as far as Guilford Park where they were met by a wagon pulled by Mr.. Bores cows. Mr.. Bores cows were very strong like Mr.. Bore and could pull them up the steep York Ridge hill. It was good that they were sure footed because it is a dangerous hill.

When they finally reached the top of the hill Mrs. Nailor and her horses from the 5N Ranch would be waiting. The 5N's horses are the fastest in the world and would rush mom and Toby home as fast as the wind.

When they finally reached home the party we would have. Michael would play welcome home on his guitar. Grace and I would have made colorful decorations. Christopher would make a big sign that said "Welcome Home" in blue letters. Patrick would have games to play and dad would have made ice cream for everyone. It would be the best day ever.

On the day before the great escape was planned Dr M said Toby could come home. Mom and Toby rode down the elevator and dad was waiting at the front door. He just drove them home in the car. Well, I guess that could work too.