“God, grant me the patience to understand that ding-dong Noelle’s writing!” Sneering, Tracy Morgan tilted her head upwards to the cabin roof. And for added emphasis of her growing frustration, the teenage girl grabbed the bottom right corner to turn the page aggressively. The pieces of paper remained mostly unfazed with the owner’s temper tantrum.

Across from the complaining youth sat another young sandy-blonde teenager wrestling with straps on a lifejacket. She shot a worrying glance across the cabin towards another member of the group who stopped mid-task of folding shirts to place her hand on her hip. Facing Tracy and rolling her eyes back into her head, she stated. “Okay Tracy, can we change the subject? Who is going to refill the bird feeders in the sanctuary?”

Now with a reminder of another task she was responsible for, an exasperated Tracy abandoned the report and faced the other two camp counsellors. “That is just perfect. We have enough on our plates with prepping the boating program, gathering the extra volunteer shirts, and organizing an activity for third block when we have 188 kids coming through the gates in less than three days.” With furrowed brows Tracy continued. “And WE are the ones in charge of the bird sanctuary. That is priceless.” Releasing a huge sigh, the upset youth shook her head and gazed back at her paperwork. “Noelle left us in quite the pinch by quitting so close to opening day. That lazy good for nothing, if I ever see her-“

“ALRIGHT, Tracy, can we stop?!” Removing the hand from her hip, the teenage girl rose both hands with palms facing the grumbling girl. “It is no use to complain about what Noelle did or didn’t do. This is your own fault. I told you she was new and green, and you kept needling and pushing her. Your grand idea for the third block activity obviously did not help her sanity after she endured the rumour mill.” Elizabeth could feel a headache coming on if she had to listen anymore to the rants of Tracy aptly named the impatient pushy princess. Becoming a camp counsellor for her church’s summer camp was supposed to be a fun getaway with friends for Elizabeth. A chance to hang out with the girls while building leadership skills. But instead…

“No, I am not going to be silent about Noelle’s total and complete desertion of her team.” The blonde-haired Tracy stepped closer to Elizabeth and pointed her finger to her right side. “I had a great idea for the activity with the edible chessboard cake, and Noelle freaked out about it.”

Lowering her gaze, Elizabeth replied. “Tracy, I do not think Noelle quit because you wanted her to bake some cakes. I think you drove her away because you spread rumours about her boyfriend Kevin Hannigan with Morgan Peterson.”

The blonde-haired girl crossed her arms defensively in front of her chest replying. “I did not.” Tracy scrunched up her lips into a pout and then added. “Okay, well maybe I told a few people I saw him being friendly with Morgan, and it seemed like they are hiding a relationship to me.”

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Breathing out a long sigh, Elizabeth responded. “Kevin and Morgan have been friends since Kindergarten; and everyone knows they consider each other as family. Your rumours made it unbearable for Noelle to stay here at Gull Lake. I just hope Kevin can convince her to come back. Tracy, in times such as this, I am reminded of Proverbs chapter 16 verse 28: ‘A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.’ Please don’t take gossip lightly.”

Observing her friend, she watched the pout fade into a more thoughtful expression. Elizabeth suspected the true intention behind the rumour stemmed from Tracy harboring a crush onto Noelle’s boyfriend – Kevin. But she herself did not want to speculate on matters which did not concern her. Quoting scripture may not have been her wisest choice but Elizabeth had witnessed the damaging effects of gossiping in her own high school. Even though studies from University of Texas and University of Oklahoma presented that gossiping brought people together, Elizabeth witnessed how gossiping ostracized people and spread misinformation labelled truth. Just because studies have shown it can bond people does not mean it is the healthiest for everyone involved.

As silence hung in the air, it was briefly interrupted by Tracy muttering. “She still left us with a ton of work to do.”

Reaching up and wrapping her arm around Tracy’s shoulder, Elizabeth smiled and stated. “How about we take a break and admire our little friends in the bird sanctuary. It always brings us a smile to your face Tracy.” The corner of her mouth edged upwards as the blonde raised her head.

“Yes, I love watching the birds, especially since….” Tracy left her sentence drifting off.

“Especially since? Tracy, you did not finish your train of thought.” The third teenage girl who had remained in silence during their exchange stood up from her seat.

She smiled at her two other teammates and expressed. “My father always told me when you gaze at the birds, it is a great reminder that God and Jesus love you very much.”

“Well, then let us go see them.” With Elizabeth’s arm still wrapped around Tracy’s shoulder, she turned her towards the cabin door followed closely the third young woman, Samantha. Once outside of the cabin, all three teenage girls strode closer to the brown wooden structure mixed with grey mesh caging. Sounds of chirping birds greeted them during their walk as different types of birds bounced around from perches as some flew around in the pen. Upon reaching the large cage with smaller pens on the side for sick and injured birds, Tracy reached out and clasped a hand onto the mesh cage. “I am always so fascinated with these little ones. How many are cared for here?”

Samantha spoke up and stated. “The bird sanctuary was started from one of the church pastors when he had found an injured and incredibly rare Northern Pygmy-Owl.” She pointed upwards to one of the tall branches within the pen where a brown piece of fluff with a white tuft of hair on the tummy. “That is Frank. Unfortunately, his wing never healed properly so he lives here full-time. Songbirds love to attach to the Pygmy-Owl; therefore, the fur on its back resembles two eyes which makes other birds feel as if they are always being watched. Most of the other birds are caught when injured, healed at the sanctuary, and then released – just like that one.”

Samantha pointed out towards a small tuft of black and white feathers. “That one is MorningStar.”