Working Papers

Drew was bugs to get his, now that he had turned the requisite 14 years of age. That and getting his VAC card, which will enable him to go to the gym without his Mother - to swim and lift weights and hang out with his friends sans the parental intrusion. A rite of passage.

We went on my lunch hour to the local school. I knew it was just down the road, but I had never actually been there. It set back off Buffalo Road to the right about five miles from our place. The directional signs were a bit confusing since the elementary and high schools were in the same location but in different buildings. We followed the signs for the office, and spoke to a kind woman who handed us the application form and explained that we would need to have a doctor's approval and show Drew's birth certificate. He seemed so excited at the prospect of officially being able to earn money. Good for him!

I remember getting working papers when I was 12, for working on a farm. And at 14, I worked at a summer camp called Sacandaga Bible Conference (formerly known as Shady Bay) as a babysitter to earn enough money to purchase a professional ventriloquist doll. What a great and horrible job that was all at the same time. I got to watch all the children during the meetings both in the morning and evening. Mornings weren't so bad - just the local housewives and the few day campers came to the morning sessions. Generally I would have two or three toddlers and the usual four children of staff members. We would wander out to the playground area where there was a nice sandbox, some swings, a bench and a grassy lawn area. The kids would play contentedly for the most part, and I made sure to take them inside halfway through the two hour session for drinks and potty breaks.

The afternoons were mine to do with as I wished, and I usually spent it at the beach swimming or water skiing or riding in the speed boats. Sometimes I would just lay on the sandy beach and read or doze. I got free meals in the dining hall, and slept in the administration building instead of the dorms, so it was cleaner and quieter than the counselors had to endure. But I still got to be friends with all the staff. In fact, I think they sort of 'adopted' me since I was far and away the youngest kid working there.

Evenings, though. Those were horrible. I doubt I could have survived if I hadn't been a kid and used to noise. They did send me help when the nursery filled up. There would be a good thirty or forty kids running wild in the large carpeted room, jumping on the spring horses, throwing balls, riding tricycles. Staff were reticent to bring their children, and often would only come if one of the parents could stay with them. I think they felt sorry for me having to watch so many kids. We had the gamut of ages from newborns to twelve year olds. I'm surprised the noise and hubbub didn't reach the tabernacle where the meetings were held.

Those evening meetings could go on for three hours or more. As the hour grew later, the kids grew more fussy and whiny, especially the toddlers who weren't used to so much activity. Some of them would conk out on the floor in spite of all the commotion. The word 'zoo' doesn't begin to cover it. The good Lord must have been watching over us, because no one got injured beyond a little bump or splinter.

When at long last all the children would be collected (and some parents put that off until they were done with socializing, visiting the bookstore, walking down to the beach and every other thing they could think of), I would suddenly realize how exhausted I was. The rest of the staff often met for ice cream or a campfire or a late night swim. During the week, I would be able to participate, but on the weekends, when the entire world came to hear the special speakers, it was all I could manage to haul myself upstairs to my room and fall into bed.

I did that for several summers, and worked my way up to counselor eventually, and moved on to other summer camps. But that first summer was the best. So I applaud Drew for getting his working papers. I hope his experiences will be as wonderful as mine were - meeting people, having fun, and working hard.