Words: horrifying, good, fly, falter, draw, pity, solicit, thick, poll, past.

Emily stared at the horrifying fly, speechless. It’s black, monstrous body was larger than any other fly’s. It was actually so large that its head looked miniature just being there, attached to the rest of the bug by a thick neck. It was so ugly that it could almost make anyone feel pity for it. Emily looked away, frowned and got up. “I need a good aspirin,” she thought. She faltered towards the kitchen counter and stretched out to get the bottle of aspirins. She popped one into her mouth and drank a mouthful of water.

Then, the girl turned around and glared at the fly once again, gripping the counter fiercely. “Well then,” she told herself, “I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” Without wasting any more time, she zoomed into her room, took her drawing pad and a few crayons and came back into the kitchen.

She slipped quietly at the table where the fly lay, as if she was afraid it would float away. She drew the enormous bug, her hand making short, swift movements, her eyes going furiously from the fly to her paper. The creature was, though incredibly ugly, a great artistic inspiration for the fact that it has existed was almost impossible.

“After I show this drawing to people, every poll in the world will be voting for my artistic talents,” Emily mumbled to herself, though not stopping for one second to draw. “I will solicit the admiration from all. Yes, I will.” A slight, diabolic smile appeared on her lips, but faded away instantly as she brought her drawing to an end. She frowned at the image, then blinked, for she did not understand. The illustration of the fly did not represent the bug in any way. It rather took the oval shape of a white aspirin…

She dragged her over-stuffed luggage after her through the thick woods and down a narrow passage that led to Camp Sender.

The rain was pouring hard and the wind was blowing just as much, both ignoring Alexa Queeland’s insults, which she grumbled in a great quantity and in a various manner that would make any school teacher strongly disapprove. Though school and teachers were two things that were gratefully out of reach and made to be replaced by camping and foolish camp supervisors who either spent their time scrutinizing your every move or incredibly not giving a damn whether you’re having fun or about to jump off a bridge. That, Alexa was very well aware of as she dragged her over-stuffed luggage after her through the thick woods and down a narrow passage that led to Camp Sender.

“Perfect way to get lost, it is,” she said to herself, frowning at the trees and the small road (if it could bear that name at all). As she got to a strangely-done intersection that gave her the choice of three different paths-though they looked exactly the same-, she halted and took out a map. The girl stared at it intently, trying to determine which one of the paths led to where she was going. Finally finding what she was looking for, she continued walking and swearing against the situation.

Luckily for her, she ended up arriving at the camp -though soaking wet- and went straight at the main building to announce her arrival. The teen entered the quaint structure and stopped in front of the secretary’s desk, hauling her luggage next to her and oblivious of the rainwater dripping off her and onto the carpet.

The secretary (a mid-thirties walking skeleton with long frizzy pink hair) chewed on some gum in a very obnoxious and unappealing way, reading the newest issue of People. She pursued her study of the very educating magazine, as unaware as Alexa of the water that was gathering on the mat. The wet girl cleared her throat loudly, so the rebellious secretary could take notice of her presence.

The gum-chewer looked up, clearly annoyed, and her frustration increased slightly at the sight of the sorrowful-looking sixteen-year-old that stood before her. She cleared her throat too, batted her false eyelashes and said in a high voice:

“Yes?”

“Um, yes well, I’m Alexa Queeland and I’m signed up at this camp for 2 weeks,” Alexa mumbled, as if waking up from a daze.

“Alexa Queeland…” the secretary murmured, squinting at the girl and then at a list. “Yes, you are in room 24, Building C.” She handed her a key and went back to her reading, ignoring the teenager once again.

Alexa frowned and went towards her new room, clutching the small golden key as if it was leading to Heaven, which it somewhat did, if being able to change into warm clothes after a long trip could be considered as Heaven. Though, when she entered the miniature dorm, she realised the sight of angels and white clouds was the last thing that existed there.

She observed that she shared the place with three other girls, seeing that there were four beds, three of them being undone. Clothes, books, CDs and makeup tools were scattered all over the floor, the empty drawers were opened and rain poured from the open windows. The place looked as if it had been searched and now it was nothing but complete chaos. Just then, laughter burst from the corridor, which stopped as the people who were producing it arrived next to Alexa and saw the mess.

“What happened here?!” the newcomers exclaimed, gawking at the room in utter astonishment.

“Did you do this?” one of them inquired in an accusatory tone, staring intently at Alexa. The two others glared at the intruder, waiting for the answer suspiciously.

“No, it was like this when I got here,” Alexa said firmly, glancing at the disorder once again, grimacing at it all. “I’m staying here for the next two weeks. I came to leave my stuff in the room and change, that’s when I saw this.” She gesticulated towards the mess.

The first one who spoke, a thin red-head, smiled and nodded, believing her. “I see. Well, welcome, I guess… though I don’t think this is really welcoming… Anyway, I’m Adrianne and this is Gabriela and Tracy.”

Gabriela smiled faintly as she pushed back a lock of black hair and rearranged her mini-skirt. Alexa observed her perfect pink nails contrast with her pale-white skin as she did so. Tracy grinned naively and shook her hand, her blue eyes lighting up and her blonde hair shining under the neon lights. They were both good-looking, though it was rather their perfectly combed hair and their intently applied makeup that gave them their good looks. The really beautiful one was Adrienne, who seemed to glitter with her fiery curls and bright grey eyes. Alexa suddenly felt slightly out of place with her normal clothes, her short, brown hair, her glasses and her hurriedly put eyeliner. She let that thought go, as there was nothing that could be really done about that.

“Well, we better tell Mr. Fernish about this,” Adrianne said, interrupting Alexa’s analysing. “This is pretty unusual, even for this camp…”

Alexa frowned at her, not understanding what she meant. She was about to question her when the three girls left, not giving her the chance to say anything. As they departed, Adrienne looked intently at her, flashing her a strange smile.

I could almost suppose I had been waiting there forever as I sat at my desk, day-dreaming about what life was going to be. I could already see the city lights and the busy streets for I had had a taste of it once when I had paid the Great City a visit. Though imagining it was never enough, for I lingered for its light kiss that would make me live again. Now, the only thing I lived for was the expectation of me leaving this small town and going back to what I considered as my homeland. That place, I had always called it the Great City and it never needed nor will need any other name from me. Yet again, there were still three other years to wait and I was still a child and would be until I got back to my little Miracle.

Here at the Small Town, there was nothing to lose besides my family-which I knew I would keep close for a long time. Then again, whatever I had to lose wasn’t to be lost nor would it be. Having nothing that attached me to this town was a quite strange feeling-I almost felt free now that I had abandoned the idea that this place could be my Miracle.