Yumiko 
September 11, 2001

         I was in fifth grade, and all the fifth graders went to Camp Chameleon this day.  I was told that we were going to do challenging activities.  I thought the activities were going to be mentally challenging.  Instead, I was brought to a tall rock, and got hooked up everywhere.  I really didn’t know what was happening until I was told to climb up and come down the rock.  My back felt cold from the wind.  As I began to touch the rock, I brought more coldness into my body.
           When I looked up, I only saw a big wall of rock and a rope that seemed to continue forever.  When I looked down, I saw people who looked like ants.  I was standing on a smooth surface of a rock, but it only had space for my right foot.  I was beginning to lose my balance, but couldn’t do anything about it.  My mind was going crazy and didn’t know what to do.
           For about half a minute, I didn’t move.  Then from the bottom, I heard a small voice.  At first I didn’t know what the voice was saying.  Then I heard Ocki’s loud voice,
           “Are you okay, Yumiko?”
           “No!” I shouted as loud as I could.  Ocki was helping me rock climb at the bottom.  He was controlling the rope that was attached to me.  I still didn’t move.  I was waiting for Ocki to answer me.
           “Ocki?  Where do I go now?” I finally yelled.
           “Up!” Ocki’s thick voice came back.  His words didn’t help me at all.  My mind got more confused.  The wind blew stronger, and I was shivering.
            I was still not moving when I realised that nothing was taking me anywhere.  I looked above, and saw a thin, brown branch that was sticking out of a crack in the rocks.  The branch looked very weak, but I had no choice.  I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.  Then I used all the strength that I had, and jumped.  Ocki pulled my rope at the same time, and I caught the branch.  I opened my eyes quickly to see where to land next, because the branch was going to break.  A small curve came to my sight just above the branch.  Ocki was holding my rope tight and strong.  At the same time Ocki, pulled my rope hard, and I swung my legs high.  My foot landed in the curve, and I crouched.  I relaxed when I saw the red tape, which represented the finish.  After I rock climbed up, it was now time to abseil down.
           Abseiling was quite easier than rock climbing.  When I finally reached the bottom, and met all my teammates, I was relieved.  Rock climbing very high, was one of the worst things that happened in my life.