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Swindled….

Our eleven year old started the week attending a day camp to learn how to navigate her way through the world using just a compass, some dried leaves, a waterproof match and the North star.

 
Okay, that’s a lie. She went to volleyball camp where they get to test out their new back-to-school running shoes, have a swim break and a leisurely picnic lunch.

 
She came home from the first day and told me for the rest of the week, she needed to bring lunch money.

 
I was surprised because her lunch bag was empty so of course I feared the worst. Those volleyball lunch money thugs were at it again.

 
She told me she ate her entire lunch, that it wasn’t enough food, that ALL of the other campers (probably about 100) went to some secret buffet where they purchased food that was WAY MORE FOOD than I had packed for her.

 
I asked some simple questions to determine if any of this made sense.

 
“How many kids left to buy lunch?”

 
Hanna: Like a lot, like everyone. Just not me.

 
“Can you quantify that with a number?”

 
Hanna: Well one girl went for sure. One of the coaches brought her.

 
“Uh huh. So one kid bought lunch off-site?”

 
Hanna: At least.

 
“Okay and what did she buy?”

 
Hanna: A ton of food, like way more food than I had in my lunch bag.

 
“What kind of food?”

 
Hanna: I’m not sure, like a lot.

 
“Well did you see it?”

 
Hanna: No, she just told us.

 
“So all of the kids (one) left campus to eat food that you were told was specifically way more than what you had jammed into your lunch bag?”

 
Hanna: Yep.

 
“I don’t remember reading anything in the camp package about an optional off-site dining experience. Did this girl maybe forget her lunch and a coach/counsellor walked her somewhere to buy her a sandwich?”

 
Hanna: silence.

 
Hanna: Can I just have some money to get a Starbucks in the afternoon?

 
This is sounding so much like my days at camp. Frappuccinos and zesty, quinoa wraps served to us mid-afternoon. Well why didn’t you just say you needed some coffee money to get you over that lull during your camp day? How much should I send? I don’t have any $100 bills but does $50 sound reasonable?

 
Hanna: That sounds good. I’ll bring you home the change.

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