Story : We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways *HEARTBREAKING*

The canteen was crowded with campers, all ravenous after the day's activities. To my relief, I spotted an empty place at one of the long tables. I walked there quickly and put my tray down. Just as I did so, I felt a bump against my hip. Then there was a clatter as a tray dropped on the table and curry splattered everywhere. "Yikes!" Someone yelled, followed by gales of laughter.

Curry was dripping all over my new camp shirt and my new jeans, and I could not find any humor in the situation. "Can't you look where you are going, you clumsy oaf! And what's so funny anyway?"' I shouted, glaring at the culprit, a lanky boy with wild hair.

"Sorry! Can't help laughing! You look so funny!" the boy sputtered, bent over with laughter.

I was too annoyed to answer and just stomped away to change my clothes.

The next morning, we were all assembled for roll call, when I saw the same boy come sprinting out of the quarters to join the lines, his unbuttoned shirt flying behind him. Before he could slide into place, he was spotted by the Camp Commandant. As a punishment for being late, he was made to do a hundred pushups. As we walked past him, on the way to breakfast, I let out a loud chortle. "Sorry. I can't help laughing. You look so funny," I said.

So the war of words began with the wild-haired boy, whose name, I found out, was Ben. A few days later, when I had trouble rappelling, it was Ben's turn to laugh at me and make rude jokes. Then, I had my revenge when Ben capsized his canoe. By now, however, I was beginning to regret this "war"; there was something mean-spirited about it.

On the last day, we went for an extended mountain trek. On the way down, I hurt my ankle slightly. I was able to stumble on but got left further and further behind my patrol. After some time, they were out of sight. Though, I knew I would get back to the camp if I just kept on the track. I was getting anxious as evening fell. I tried to walk faster but my ankle was getting worse. Then, as I was negotiating a path that clung to the mountain side, I tripped. My unstable feet slid on the muddy ground, and, unable to stop myself, I slid right off the path and down the ravine.

Fortunately, my fall was stopped by a clump of bamboo. I saw that I was about ten meters below the track. There was no way I could climb up the slope, with my hurt ankle, which now seemed broken. I shouted for help, but in my heart, I knew it would be in vain, as I had been left far behind the group. All I could hope for was that they would send a search party for me. So, I could only wait.

It got dark and I became afraid. Then, I saw a faint light, and heard a voice calling out my name. I recognized the voice as Ben's.

"Ben! Help! I'm down here!" I shouted.

Soon, I saw Ben's wild-haired silhouette on the top of the ravine and the light of his torch shining down at me. "Hold on. I'll be there soon," he said. In a few minutes, Ben was rappelling down the slope. He examined my ankle and, after pronouncing it was not broken, bound it up, gently and expertly. As he was doing so, some others from the search party arrived. I was brought back to camp, not much the worse for my misadventure.

The next day was a flurry of activities so I was unable to speak to Ben until we were boarding the buses which would take us back to our respective homes. Ben came from a state up north whereas I was from Johor, in the south. "Thanks for finding me yesterday. I'm really sorry for my stupid behavior," I started to apologize.

"That's okay. I was stupid too. We missed the chance of being friends but, perhaps, we'll meet at another camp," Ben replied, grinning.

"I'd like that," I said. Then it was time for the buses to leave the camp site. So, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.