It was worse.
I'd just turned 6, was in the brownies (baby girl scouts) and this was my first chance to go to camp 'with the big girls'. Each morning the campers would all gather around the flag pole for the official raising of the flag and the pledge of allegiance. 2 girls had the honor each morning of actually raising the flag and standing up there, on a hill, for the pledge. Names were drawn at the beginning of camp for the names of the 2 girls who had the honor each day and my name was one of the ones drawn! I was SO excited that morning that I had to go to the bathroom...... really bad.
I WAS 6 YEARS OLD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! The outhouse was occupied when I got there by 3 senior scouts who were discussing their boyfriends while using the facilities. I BEGGED them to let me come in and 'go' and they just kept laughing at me. I ran back to one of the troop leaders but I just couldn't hold it any longer and I peed - leaving a large, wet, OBVIOUS stain on my pants.
The leader was sorry but insisted that I still go up there for the flag raising. To hide my embarrasment, she put HER OWN raincoat on me. So there I was - standing in front of hundreds of girls, wearing an adult raincoat with sleeves rolled up about 6 times and so long it hung down over my shoes, and absolutely convinced that every girl in that camp knew why I was standing there - dressed like Bozo the clown.
When I got home I quit scouts and just walked away. Obviously I still carry the trauma.
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mamie4 5/14/03