I HATE VEGETABLES! H - A - T - E. Hate. I hope mom doesn't put it in our dinner tonight.

But then I spot it. Vegetables. I think my family sees me look at them too, because they mumble "not again." But it's too late, I think as I yell "I HATE VEGETABLES!"

Ewww!

Gross

Disgusting!

"OK! That's enough!" Mom yells. "If you don't stop that right now..."

I know I shouldn't, but I shoot back "then what?"

"Then I'll... I'll... I'll send you to vegetable camp!" she exclaims.

Wait. Hold on. What did she just say? "Vegetable what?!"

"You heard me, Jay. Vegetable camp. C-A-M-P. Camp. A place where you will eat vegetables for every single meal until you learn to not kick and scream every time!"

"Seriously? That's not even like, real... right?"

"It sure is real" she assures me. "I've actually already arranged it with the director. His name is Mr. Barack O Lee."

I cry out, “but I don’t want to go!”

She then says, "I know honey, but you have to learn to eat your veggies. They’re g-”

I interrupt her. I already know what she is going to say. “I know. They’re good for me.”

"Exactly. Now let's go to your room and get packed for tomorrow."

"TOMORROW?!" She's got to be kidding me. Maybe this is all just a prank? Ugh!

But if she is just pranking me, she's doing a really good job. She actually starts packing my clothes! I can not believe it. I don't want to go!

Mom finishes packing and when she closes my suitcase, she says "goodnight Jay. I love you. Get some rest." She talks as if everything is normal!

G'night.

The next morning mom rushes into my room saying "wake up honey! Hurry! You're going to be late!" What in the world is she talking about? It's Saturd - OH NO! Vegetable camp! I forgot!

I get ready and go downstairs, even though I don't want to. And then we go.

I ask mom how long the camp will be, and she answers, "you stay there until you can eat all your vegetables without complaining! Then we will get a call that we can pick you up."

Vegetable

camp

Vegetable Camp. That's what I read as I get out of the car. This must be a nightmare. Mom says "ok. I have to leave now sweetie. I love you! See you soon." And then she leaves.

I walk inside the camp and go to the front desk where I have to register. The lady tells me what room I'll sleep in, and tells me that it's breakfast time!

I get into the cafeteria and wait in line behind the other kids. Good thing it's breakfast time! I'm so hungry!!!

I get to the front and the lunch lady gives me my food. I'm starving now and I can't wait to eat! Then, I see the food. One egg. One strip of bacon. And a heaping pile of vegetables. "AHHH! Please tell me there's more than just...this! I hate vegetables!"

As I try to find a place to sit, I think, I'm not very hungry anymore...lunch has got to be better.

After breakfast, I go outside and spot two guys about my age, that I had seen at breakfast. They see me too, and they ask if I want to play soccer with them.

"Sure!" I say. "Oh, and by the way, my name is Jason!"

The taller guy, wearing a red shirt, replies "Hi. I'm Michael and that's my friend Luke."

Michael asks me "So, how long have you been at camp?"

"Oh. Uh, I just got here today."

"Really?! Man you're lucky! Yesterday for breakfast we had spinach pancakes!"

"EWW! Wait... how long have you guys been here?" I ask them both.

Luke answers "... this is our third week."

Wait, did I just hear him correctly? "Your... WHAT?!?!"

Michael says "you heard us. Our third week."

"How is that possible!?" I ask them with panic.

Luke surprises me by saying "we don't eat our vegetables. We just throw them away."

Without thinking, I ask "why don't you just eat them? So you can go home." It's funny because I would never eat them either.

Michael replies "because they're nasty!"

Then Luke chimes in saying "yeah! We HATE vegetables!"

Vegetable

Camp

As Michael, Luke, and I head back to camp, we hear the lunch lady yell "lunch time everyone!"

"UGHHH!" we all cry in unison

"I wonder what's for lunch..." I say