Pick up a roadmap, you’re going to need it…

I went to summer camp when I was 17 and 18 at Camp Hardtner. Senior High camp was amazing – 8 days of fun outdoor activities, morning prayers, having Communion in the pool, cookies and milk, cabin devotionals before bed, secret buddies, illegal Jolt Cola and practical jokes.

We had this strange tradition of random sung/chanted blessings before meals that ranged from the Doxology to the Mortal Combat prayer to the Kickin’ Chicken to the one that went “God is good, God is great, Let us thank Him for the chicken fried steak.” After afternoon activities and all camp swim we all crowded into the cafeteria absolutely excited that it was going to be chicken friend steak day. By far chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes was just about everyone’s favorite meal. 

At the call to prayer all caps went off and we started the traditional chicken fried steak prayer. It was an echo prayer that ended up sounding something like this:

God is good,
God is good,
God is great,
God is great,
Susan’s bed,
Susan’s bed,
Is in the lake.
Is in the lake.

Susan was just saying the prayer along with everyone as Brandon called it. At the words “Susan’s bed” she turned pale, pale white. Turning around at the words “is in the lake” she was plastered against the plate glass windows that made up the back wall of the cafeteria.

Sure enough, Susan’s bed was in the lake.

Three of the guys on staff had gone into her cabin during afternoon activities and picked up her bed up off the bed frame. They then carried it about 20 yards to the “Poo Lake” and balanced it on two canoes. They shoved those canoes into the lake and let them float.

By the time the Head Counselor and Father Mike made the guilty parties go out into the lake and bring her bed in – her bed coverings and even pillows were drenched. That night she had to sleep in the Vatican.

The next day Susan was not very happy.

I heard she got the guys back on intercession mid summer. I don’t think I want to know what she did to them.