We're an awful lucky group when it comes to campfires. There's never a lack of enthusiasm for skits on Saturday night. Sometimes the enthusiasm isn't always accompanied by planned skits and a patrol will have a great time hitting and tackling each other in some sort of pantomime with no real storyline which leaves the rest of the troop wondering what the heck is so funny. Stories take more effort to memorize than made-up skits, so they are a bit more rare but still a mainstay of our troop.

Occasionally, scouts will run out of ideas before they're too tired to stay awake and will ask me for a story. And, as creatures of habit, they'll request The Old Favorites - that is any story heard in the past that they remember hearing, but can't recall well enough to tell themselves.

Trying to live the motto - Be Prepared - I have a paper in my wallet with the titles of 2 dozen stories that I've got memorized. Before each campfire, I get a couple of them ready in my mind "just in case". I think it's good to have the scoutmaster ready to fill a lull with a good story.

Here's a few that have become old stand-bys and I enjoy telling. Maybe you can have a couple ready to share on your next campout:

• Purple Gorilla
• The Medicrin
• The Med and Sin
• The Medic Men
• Some Special Pig
• Job at the Zoo
• Car Wreck - scarey

And, one I reserve for trips with just older scouts - Scouts on Indian Grave.

I have noticed this past year that many stories I used to get to tell are now being told by the older scouts. To be honest, I miss delivering the punch lines, but it sure feels good to hear a scout keeping 20 youngsters hanging on every word in the dark, anonymous circle around the glowing coals.

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