𝕸𝖞 𝖊𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖆 𝖘𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖑 𝖋𝖎𝖊𝖑𝖉 𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖕: 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖚𝖑𝖊 (𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖙 2/2)

Previously on "𝕸𝖞 𝖊𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖆 𝖘𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖑 𝖋𝖎𝖊𝖑𝖉 𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖕: 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖚𝖑𝖊 (𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖙 2)"...

"Now, I want you to get into your teams and in your team, form a straight line." The adult who's in charge of our team, Lisa, ushers us all together as Team 3, and we do exactly so, form a straight line and are now facing the wall.

One teammate by one, we all swing over the wall, our muscle memory building up. Originally, when I first looked at this obstacle, I was half-expecting that I would find it easy and at the same time, half-expecting it to be a bit difficult at first. Turns out both of my thoughts were right. I knew that by practice, I would find it easier because of my muscle memory. So all it took for me and my teammates was a few more practices with swinging over the walls. 

"Your first part of the training is now complete. Your next training will now be in "The River"." Dugald states.

Okay...

...

WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN RIVER?? I'M GONNA GET WET ALREADY?!

Now, where we were up to...

Praying silent prayers, along with the rest of the teams, my legs currently feel like they're wobbling concerningly, at any given moment, I feel like they're going to collapse. But I mentally remind myself. 

It's just a river. Nothing serious.

I block out my overthinking, and for the first time in ages, it seemed to have worked, because now all of my overlapping thoughts of dismay and worries have disappeared without a trace. I'm surprising myself on this trip.

We form a line so that we can see our teammates in our sides, other teams in front of us, anxious like all the people in each team. We're dealing with water, and if disobeying to do a certain task, Dugald will handle us with "motivational consequences". 

What is that? I don't wanna find out.

"Alright, for our next training, you're going to cross this river with your arms linked with your teammates so that you won't drift away from the river current. Don't worry, the river is shallow, the water only goes up to your knees so you'll be fine." 

I mentally sigh, releasing my concerns.

"But the catch is..." 

Of course there has to be one.

"You need to do it without talking and the least amount of splashing involved. Understood?"

"YES STAFF!"

"Alright, Team 1. You go first." 

Since this is such an easy task to complete, they did it without too much worries. But my concern is that one mishap will lead to me and my team finding what Dugald has in plan for us with his "motivational consequences". 

I have to be focused.

Eventually, he lists teams to go by ascending order, and he calls out our team name, which Luke ultimately decides for us "Team Bombshell". Honestly, the name could've been worse, I remark. 

"Team Bombshell, your turn."

We leap into action. Or in this context, step into the frigid, flowing river. It's shallow and is up to my knees, so Dugald's claims were correct. We solemnly cross to the other side, and I think to myself, Geez, Dugald asked us to remain silent, not act like we're carrying a coffin in a funeral or something. 

Phew, I didn't trip... Thank the heavens. In my mind, I comment as I step over to the side. 

The teams that've crossed to the other side wait quietly and solemnly for other teams to finish the task. This is the most quiet the two classes have been. I guess Dugald's "motivational consequences" really got to their head. Heh.

Once all teams have completed the task, Dugald instructs us to the exact opposite of what we'd just done. Involve lots of splashing and make the most amount of noise that you can. And all I thought in the first place was that...

Oh, boy, my eardrums are going to explode with all they're shrieking and screaming. I already know they're gonna scream as if their life depends on it or if a school shooting is occurring.

Ultimately, they did. And my team did too. But unlike other teams, luck was not with us in doing this task. 

What happened was I tripped over a rock that was in the river, but I couldn't see the rock because, well, I wasn't paying attention to my footing. So, it leaded to a domino effect, affecting my friend Hana's footing, and she went down with me. All of the children are witnesses, and I consciously walk back to the other side, aware that I let my team down. 

We were now gonna face "motivational consequences."

He ushers us to link arms and form a circle, all of us facing at each other. Then, obediently, we sit down into the water, the humiliation sinking in as everyone watches this sight. 

I just want this day to end already.

Everyone is witnessing this, and I'm fully aware of it. It's all my fault.

Once we exit out of our circle formation, I apologise for the punishment. "I'm sorry guys... It was all my fault. I tripped." 

Izzy stares at me. "What?? No. We should be sorry. We didn't check if you were doing okay or not. It's not your fault Sophia. I promise. I'm sorry..." My other teammate, Krystal, looks at me with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry too. Izzy's right."

I gaze at her. She seems so sincere and genuine that I'm taken aback. She walks off, and I'm speechless. I feel so warm inside by her words. I never expected that would happen. 

I grin softly, and walk after my teammates. What just happened?? 

*

Our training session went on by as normal. Sure, we had to crawl on grass that was to my luck, filled with horse poops, but other than that, I actually enjoyed that. There was no further mishaps, and all of my teammates stayed cooperative and obedient to Dugald's instructions. It went pretty well.

And now came the real challenge to beat. The actual obstacle course we had trained for the past hours of swinging on walls, dipping our feet into cold water, and crawling on horse poop for.

It was time for all of our team's efforts to pay off.

We jog into the real obstacle course, but slightly disheartened how my team is in the very back of the trail of kids jogging. It feels like we're losing already. 

No Sophia. Stay optimistic and positive. You and your team will do well.

And so, we tried our best to stay together, since one of the rules was that you needed to be in a distance of 5 metres of your teammates. 

...Except the boys belted off into the front part of the line. Great teamwork, honestly.

We eventually reach the set of walls, but I knew in the back of my mind, the 8 feet tall wall awaited us. That was the real challenge.

The first part of the obstacles were simple, 5 feet tall walls. But it came to the medium-levelled challenge. The 6 feet tall wall. We had to help our teammates by one strong person pushing people up, and the people who were waiting to be levelled up were helping people up.

And without any shock coming from me, we did it so well as a team, with two people supporting each person going up, with one strong person doing most of the work.

I thought it was going to be an achievable task. And it was in the end. But how hard would it get?...

*

Walking through prickled plants and luckily this time, no horse poop in sight, we go through a slow jog and heading straight to the 8 feet tall wall. This is what I anticipated. The real, real challenge.

Krystal in this obstacle course was the main strong person, incredibly buff, and supportive. A very kind and useful asset to Team Bombshell. 

And she did all the heavy lifting of people. Slowly but surely, she lifted us up, and not just us that were lifted, but our spirits. 

And with me, the last person, was lifted up, I plopped into the ground after a ton of effort, but by the help of three people, the amount of effort was lessened. That's how a team works. 

* 

"We're almost there, you got this guys!!" Izzy enthusiastically states, and I feel like a weight has been pushed off my shoulders. I can see the finish flag, but a part of me is sort of disheartened that we're last to reach the finish line.

But none of that matters right now. We went through a tunnel full of mud and prickles, raced through a pit, and climbed an 8 feet tall wall. We've been through a lot as a team. 

And all we need to do is cross that finish line together. As a team. 

I cannot believe it. We're reaching it.

...almost there...

"WOOHOOO WE DID ITT!!!" Team Bombshell team members yell proudly. 

We reached the finish line. After what's felt like a lifetime. We did it. 

Whoa. Spraining my ankle twice today, once at school and once at The Mule, and being covered in horse poop was so worth it in the end.

I smile as the adult for Team Bombshell snaps a pic of us, a grin in her face.

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I think I wanna do that again. Weird.

Thank you so much for reading the laments of a primary schooler! I really appreciate it <3