The sky was sweating profusely as they pulled in to a small parking area next to an emerald English field. A few campers had arrived ahead of them, and their outdoor abodes dotted the soaked landscape.

“Come on sweetie, help me get the tent out of the boot, and we have it set up in a jiff,” said Jo.

“Mum,” cried her daughter Bunny, “it’s bloody pouring out there. This is not exactly the kind of outdoor experience I was hoping for.”

“Don’t be silly dear, it’s just a spot of rain. It will soon blow over.”

“But Mum, it’s been raining for 32 days; I think it’s going to blow London away before it
‘blows over.’”

“Oh pooh, come on now, we need to make camp before all the good spots are taken,” said Jo as she opened the car door.

Bunny sighed and reluctantly followed her mother around to the back of the car, leaning into almost gale-force winds trying to stay on her feet.

“Just smell that fresh country air,” said Jo as she opened the boot and started hauling out the recently purchased camping gear.

“I can’t smell a thing,” complained Bunny, “my nostrils are full of water. This is not a good idea, mum. We could drown or catch a cold or become all wrinkly.”

“Nonsense. We are modern British women, and we don’t let a little inclement weather dampen our spirits. It will be fun.”

Bunny looked at her mum who seemed oblivious to hurricane. “But mum, I am not a British woman; I am a British girl who hopes to one day be a British woman. But, my chances of achieving that goal are diminishing every minute we are out here in this tempest. Jesus mum, look there’s a waterlogged cow being blown across the field; we could be killed by projectile livestock. This is daft.”

“But Bun, I spent a fortune on all this equipment; we have to get our money’s worth out of it.”

“Well then let’s take it home and set up camp in the parlor.”

Jo looked defeated. It was hard to tell if she was crying. “But I so wanted this to be a mother-daughter bonding experience.”

“It is mum. I’m bonded; I’m in bondage. Now please untie me and let’s go home before this turns into a tragic mother-daughter-cow-flood experience. We can even bond some more on the drive home.”

“Very well,” agreed a somewhat reluctant Jo, “but as soon as England dries out, it’s off to the wilderness again.”

“Fine, mum. But next time you have to bring along your meds.”

© 2007