Paper Butterflies

One warm summer afternoon during the camp free time, Kira wandered over to the arts and craft shed. Not many campers spent their time here, and although each team had their own time booked for the shed, Kira always found time to spend with all of the art supplies tucked away in the small shed. She waited patiently outside, waiting for Mr. Logan, the camp director, to come by and unlock it for free time.

While she waited, Kira climbed on the pile of boulders outside the shed. She climbed to the very top, and looked at the world below her. Kids played a game of volleyball behind her, and others carried towels and goggles down to the lake shore. Campers raced each other to the archery range or the Snack Shack over by the board game room.

Kira’s feet dangled over the ledge. Her feet bounced off the stone as she listened to the trees creaking and groaning in the breeze. Her blonde hair swept back and forth, and she reached up to braid it back. A pinecone snapped from the tree next to her, falling to the ground in a pile of crunchy dried pine needles. Overhead, clouds passed by lazily, gathering up into bigger clouds.

“There’s gonna be a storm soon,” a voice said below her.

Kira jumped. Looking down, she noticed a camper from the rival Sunflower cabin. The girl had long dark dark tied up in a low ponytail. The girl waved, and Kira waved back. She climbed down the cool boulders, and landed next to the camper next to her. “How do you know that?” Kira asked.

The girl grinned. “My granddad taught me all about the clouds and the sky,” she said. “We always know when a storm is coming back home.” She looked around the arts and craft shed. “Is this where are all the art supplies are?”

“Yeah!” Kira said. “Are you here for free time too?”

She nodded. “I want to make my mother something.” She smiled. “My name is Marina.”

“I’m Kira.”

“And I’m here to let you girls in,” Mr. Logan said behind them. He jingled the keys and unlocked the room, opening up the door for the two campers. “Have fun!” he said. “Don’t forget we have an afternoon meeting in a bit.” He waved goodbye, leaving the two girls on their own.

Together, they burst through the door, both looking for something new to try. Kira picked up box of fabric and sewing supplies, eager to work on her new skills. She pushed aside a few abandoned paintings and other materials on the table, and got right to work. Marina joined her, grabbing a fee markers and origami paper from the paper box. She started to fold quickly, showing off a small paper heart.

“That’s awesome!” Kira said. “Can you show me how to make one?”

Marina smiled. “Actually, I can show you something better.” She grabbed a new paper, and handed one to Kira. Marina folded the paper, with swift motions and a few rustles. Finally she ended up with a paper butterfly. “It means friendship,” she said, handing it to Kira.

Kira took it, and grinned. She tried her best to fold one too, but Marina stopped her, and together, they folded one together one step at a time. When they finished, Kira passed her new butterfly over to Marina. “Thank you,” she said. “It’s beautiful!”

“Want to make some more?” Marina asked.

“Actually,” Kira said, eyeing a box on the shelf behind her. “Want to make a friendship bracelet?”

Marina paused her folding, and looked up at Kira. She nodded, her brown eyes glistening in the light. Kira grinned, and jumped to her feet. She pulled down the box of string and beads, and dumped it out on the table. The girls giggled, and pulled out a few strings, weaving them together to make a small bracelet. Kira passed a few pieces of green string to Marina, swapping them for the yellow. She weaved them in and out, and proudly showed it to her new friend. “Now we both have our cabin colors in there,” she said.

“How’d you know I was from the yellow team?” Marina asked.

“We had our first game against each other,” Kira explained. “You helped me up when your teammates left.”

Marina nodded. “I don’t understand our cabin rivalry,” she said, shaking her head.

Kira laughed. “Maybe you and I can fix it this summer.” She handed her bracelet over to Marina. “Now you and I will be best friends forever!”

“I’ve never had a best friend before,” Marina said, looking down at her wrist. She grinned, and helped Kira put on hers. The two girls looked at each others bracelets for a minute, before returning to their paper butterflies. They folded a few more, until Kira’s watch started to beep loudly.

“Free time’s over,” Kira said with a sigh.

“Meet me at the lake tomorrow,” Marina said with a smile. “After breakfast!” She ducked out of the shed, racing down the path to the meeting hall, leaving Kira inside the arts and craft shed. Kira picked up a few of the paper butterflies, and closed the door behind her. She laughed, and followed her new friend down the hill.