Adventures at Camp Lots-o-Fun by Marilyn Helmer Page B

crafts. Chris told us pine trees grow from pinecones. I had a fan-tabulous idea! I collected a whole bunch of pinecones. I’m going to plant them in our garden. Mom and Dad will be so surprised when they find a pine forest in our backyard.
    Dinnertime. Got to go.
    Hungrily yours,
DJ, a.k.a. Power Man!

    At the group campfire that evening, there was a sing-along. DJ loved to sing. He sang louder than anyone else.
    The rosy sunset faded into darkness. Faces glowed in the flickering firelight. Night closed in around them. Finally, Mike said, “It’s time for one last song.”
    DJ sprang to his feet. “Can we sing ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’? I made up a new verse. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. There’s a bear out in the woods and that will make us scream ,” he sang.
    Some of the campers laughed. Others glanced nervously at the woods.
    At lights-out, the boys returned to their cabin. DJ woke up in the middle of the night. The cabin was pitch-black. He heard a humongous splash coming from the lake. Then another. What was out there?
    DJ scrambled out of bed. He rummaged through his duffel bag. His fingers touched something soft. He pulled it out and climbed back into bed.
    DJ wrapped his arm around his sock monkey. “Don’t be scared, Sockster,” he whispered. “Power Man will keep you safe.”
    The next morning, before anyone else was awake, DJ tucked Sockster back into his duffel bag.

CHAPTER FIVE
S OMETHING F ISHY
    â€œDoes everyone have his life jacket on?” asked Chris.
    â€œYes,” the boys answered.
    â€œOkay. Two in a canoe. Andrew and Raj in one. DJ and Ernie in the other,” said Chris. “I’ll bring up the rear.”
    DJ climbed into the closest canoe. “You know what, Ernie?” he said. “Last night I heard a humongous splash. I’ll bet it was that giant fish. Maybe it wasn’t eaten by the lake monsters after all.”
    Ernie hesitated. “I think I’ll stay on the dock.”
    â€œErnie, hurry up and get into the canoe,” Chris said. “We’re ready to go.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Ernie,” said DJ. “I’ll protect you. If a big old giant fish attacks us, Power Man will give him a karate chop.”
    The boys paddled along the shore until they came to a small bay. The lake’s surface was as smooth as a mirror. DJ looked over the side. “I see the giant fish!” he shouted.
    Ernie screeched. A pair of startled fishermen glared at them from their boat.
    Chris paddled alongside their canoe. “What’s going on?” he asked DJ.
    â€œThere’s a giant fish down there.” DJ pointed. “I think it’s following us.”
    Ernie clutched the side of the canoe. “I want to go back to camp,” he said.
    Chris stared into the water. “Calm down, Ernie. It’s just an old log.”
    Andrew and Raj paddled over. “I see it,” said Raj, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “I think it’s moving.”

    â€œThe ripples from your paddle make it look like it’s moving around,” said Chris. “Come on, it’s time to head back.”
    Andrew looked at DJ. “Only sissies believe in monsters and giant fish,” he scoffed.
    DJ didn’t answer. He stared into the water. Something was down there all right. Something that moved. Something that looked like a giant fish. DJ swallowed but he wasn’t scared. Power Man would never be scared.
    â€œLet’s go, DJ,” said Ernie, snatching up his paddle.
    DJ grabbed his own paddle. They were the first ones back to the dock.
    That night DJ slept with Sockster again. Just in case Sockster was scared.

CHAPTER SIX
A S URPRISE
    Cabin Six was in an uproar. Chris had announced they were going on an overnight camping trip. “After breakfast tomorrow morning, we’re off to Hermit Island,” he said.
    â€œDoes a real hermit live