Aurea

Mary Rose just led me through this sea of people, and I couldn't believe how many people would actually spend their entire spring break here. So many people of so many different looks and personalities were smiling at the newcomer- me. After about ten minutes, the chatter slowed and Sari came up to the front of the room and told us all to get chairs out. Everyone knew what to do and went to the back of the room to get their cushioned red folding chairs. I sort of lingered at the back until I figured out what was going on, and dragged a chair over by Mary Rose, who was in the third row. 

"Welcome back to Spring Break Retreat 2016!" Sari announced over the mic when we were all settled. A loud cheer arose from the crowd.

"We're so glad to have you here!" A woman appeared behind Sari with a microphone as well. 

"That's Elise." Mary Rose whispered to me. "She's a part of Sari's team."

"Elise and I," Sari wrapped her arm about Elise who almost fell over and they laughed. "Are super excited for what we have for you all this week. We've got some fun games and talks planned for today, tomorrow and Wednesday, Mass and Confession day Thursday, and sendoff fun Friday! Not to mention, one hour of Adoration each day at 5:00 before dinner!" Sari stopped talking for a minute and waited for everyone to discuss their feelings of the week's plans. I sat still, not sure what to think about everything. 

"First off, we've got some games planned!" Elise smiled at the cheers that erupted from the crowd. I thought it was a little weird that these kids were getting excited about what was probably some massive board game, but hey, everything here was weird. 

"Which one?" One of the upperclassmen called from towards the back. 

"What does he mean which one?" I asked Mary Rose. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sari beat her to it.

"I love my neighbor when...!" Sari beamed as everyone else high-fived and discussed ideas, while I tried to figure out what was going on.

"What's that?" I asked Mary Rose as everyone started standing and moving their chairs. So I didn't seem like a total alien, I moved mine too. We ended up in a circle.

"Basically, it's like musical chairs. Sari will pick one person to start, and they'll say 'I love my neighbor when...' and then something that they are, and everyone that matches the description has to find a different chair to sit in than they were in last time. Like, I could say 'I love my neighbor when they are a girl', and all the girls would have to find a different chair. And if you're the last one standing in the middle, you have to say 'I love my neighbor when...' next." Mary Rose's explanations were not the most precise ever. 

"Uh, okay." I looked around the circle of people, trying to remember some of their names. I couldn't remember any. 

"You'll get it as we get going." Mary Rose gave me a small smile and turned her attention back to Sari, who was speaking again.

"Alright, who wants to go first?" Sari jumped back at the number of hands that were shot in the air. She promptly closed her eyes and pointed her finger out in the air and spun around a few times until her finger stopped on one person. "Jacklyn, you're up." 

A girl with a 'Straight Outta CONFESSION' t-shirt stood and ran over to Sari, who stepped away from the circle and removed the girl's chair.

"I love my neighbor when... They're wearing tennis shoes!" 99% of the circle stood and bolted across, bumping into each other and some falling over into the mud. How is this fun? I thought to myself as I stayed put. Flip-flops have never failed me. 

One of the girls I recognized from earlier was in the center. I remembered her name as Chloe. "I love my neighbor when... They're wearing blue!" About a fourth of the circle got up and started frantically looking for a chair, including me. I sat down with a huff between two random people. Mary Rose waved from across the circle.

A boy I had recalled meeting but couldn't remember the name of was in the center this time. "I love my neighbor when... They're wearing shorts!" Almost everyone was running around, but the lucky few that wore carpi pants and jeans stayed put. 

Mary Rose was in the middle this time. "I love my neighbor when... They're Catholic!" Everyone erupted into screams and started bolting across the way to the farthest chair, which didn't make sense to me but they seemed to like to run. I leaned back and relaxed knowing this was not my place. 

Chloe was in the center once more. 

"Chloe, second time!" Sari called from the outside. Everyone 'oohh'ed. 

"Strike two!" Some random guy called out. 

Chloe laughed before tapping her finger to her chin in thought. "I love my neighbor when... They're blonde!" The majority of the camp laughed as just a few struggled to find a seat. Coincidentally, Chloe was left standing in the middle once more. She threw her arms up in despair. 

"Last chance, Chloe!" Elise laughed along with Sari. 

Chloe's eyes were starting to fill with panic as she said, "I love my neighbor when... They're over 6 foot!" Chloe was a tall girl. All the guys and one other girl started sprinting. If you've never seen a bunch of overly-tall people sprint and crash into each other, it is hilarious. I laughed a little myself. 

This time, a different boy I didn't remember meeting at all was in the center. He wasted no time with his choice. "I love my neighbor when they have green eyes." I sighed and stood, running to the nearest opening to me. I arrived quickly and saw that Chloe was in the middle once more. She looked like a slim, fast girl but was certainly not the best at this. 

"Chloe, fourth time in the middle..." Sari trailed off, and everyone started snickering. "Pick your victims." 

Chloe gave a small devilish smile and pointed at Sari and Elise, who gave her 'what the heck?!' faces, and at Mary Rose. 

"One, two, three, four!" Elise counted off, and they started singing the 'I'm a Little Tea Pot' nursery rhyme. 

"I'm a little tea pot," They sang in unison, doing the dance too when they weren't bending over in laughter. One of the upperclassmen boys got up and started conducting.

"Tip me over, and pour me out!" They finished and everyone erupted into applause. I gave a small golfer's clap, not really sure of what had happened. 

"Alright everyone, stay where you are! Mary Rose and Chloe, go find a seat, one of you will need to pull up a chair." Sari instructed. Mary Rose pulled up a chair next to me. 

"What just happened?" I asked.

"Well, in the original 'I love my neighbor when...' if you're in the middle three times you're out, but instead we sing the teapot song because it's too funny not to and no one gets out!" Mary Rose laughed a little and pointed to Sari to motion for me to pay attention. I nodded and looked back over to her and Elise, who were giving some sort of spiel. 

"Alright everyone! I hope you all had fun!" At Elise's notion, the whole circle erupted into cheers. "Yeah, I did too!" She agreed. "But now, we are going to get into our small groups for the retreat." Everyone quieted down and started looking around at each other, wondering who was going to be in their group. I kept my head tucked down, not wanting to draw any attention to myself.

After Elise and Sari had taken turns listing off several names, they finally got to the group that I was in. "Katie Coblett," Sari started. "Aurea Willingsworth, Mary Rose Miller, Jacey Suriah, and Mauria Josie, led by, well, me!" The four other girls, including Mary Rose, beamed at the fact that they would be led by Sari. I just sat still, not sure what to think of anything. 

"Alright, break!" Elise called after everyone had been given small groups. I followed Mary Rose, and we headed over to where Elise was. 

Hello everyone! I hope that chapter was to your liking:) 

Now, for today's Soul Study:

What sort of fun things do you do on church retreats/camps/fun days? Do you use them to help you meet new people, or just do the bare minimum?

That's about all I've got for today. Have a lovely day everyone!

xoxo

~bcruzy_02