January-February 1999

You tell he's a Scout by his...

My wife and I were participating in a community cleanup day at a local park. I was wearing my complete Scout uniform because the 200 or so people who had volunteered to help included many Scouts who were using the event as an opportunity for a service project.

As we awaited instructions, we heard a young boy nearby say to his mother, "That man is in the Scouts!"

Obviously looking to praise the child's combination of observation and logic, she asked him how he could tell.

"Because," the boy replied, "he is wearing Scout socks!"

Ugo Epelbaum
Arrowhead District Committee
Columbus, Ohio

At least it wasn't the kitchen sink

At a meeting to plan our weekend camping trip, we asked our Webelos Scouts to write down the things they would have to bring as we read the list of items aloud to them.

We then moved on to plan our menu for the weekend and decide which dessert to prepare for the Dutch-oven cooking contest. Finally, we set up the tents we would be using, to familiarize the Webelos Scouts with them and to see if any needed to be repaired.

As the boys struggled with the tents, the parents looked over the lists their sons had copied, and several expressed concern that the boys had been told to include item 5, a "casket."

I knew that none of the leaders had mentioned that item. We compared notes and the source of the confusion quickly became clear. On our master list, item 5 was a "mess kit."

Mary Kersman
Cubmaster, Pack 19
Worcester, N.Y.

How to use umbrellas, maybe?

Recently our Cub Scout pack traveled by bus to Skyline Drive in Virginia. The families enjoyed visiting the famous caverns, hiking a short section of the Appalachian Trail, and picnicking in Shenandoah National Park.

An approaching thunderstorm forced the park ranger to cancel the nature hike, and he spoke to our group in the auditorium.

When I finally sat down with my family, I mentioned that it was "raining cats and dogs outside."

My daughter Kimberly immediately motioned me to a window and whispered, "Where?"

When I indicated to her how hard it was raining, she shook her head and said, "No, where are they training cats and dogs?"

Ron Pastrana
Cubmaster, Pack 422
Annapolis, Md.

What size mantern ya got?

While taking the troop for a week at summer camp, I discovered that I had left my shaving equipment at home. By the third day I was looking a little "rugged," even for camp. I made up a shopping list for a visit to the nearest town - shaving foam, razors, camera film, and mantles for the troop's gas lanterns.

As I searched for the items in the town general store, I became acutely aware that my appearance - three days' worth of stubble and a summer Scout uniform - set me distinctly apart from the other customers.

But I am proud of the uniform and overcoming my self-consciousness, I boldly stepped up to the check-out counter to ask for the final item on my shopping list.

"Do you have," I announced to the clerk (and to everyone else in the store), "any mantern lantles?"

Warren Wahlborg
Seattle, Wash.

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