my life that embarrasses me—our ratty old car, wearing hand-me-downs, my plain sack lunches with no fancy cookies or chips—wouldn’t matter at camp. I’d have all the same things as everyone else. I’d fit in perfectly! It would be like driving my whole life through a giant car wash. I’d come out the other end all sparkly clean! And I’d even pay extra to have the car-wash man spray the fancy deodorizer inside.
But so far, it wasn’t like that at all. It was as if my other life had followed me to camp, like a smelly old dog. And nearly everything about camp reminded me of my dad. Even the part about not getting to make phone calls, and sleeping on flat pillows. I really did
not
want to think about him! I especially did
not
want to feel bad about his life in the slammer. I wished I could just brush him right out of my brain.
Aurora came up the trail from the cabin. “Hey, Effie, came to see if maybe you drowned in here! Why are you flossing before dinner?”
I rinsed out my mouth and wiped my face on my sleeve. “Something stuck.”
“Well, c’mon! It’s time for chow and I think I smell cheeseburgers!”
She smiled and hooked an arm around my neck. “And I bet we find out which kid puked! I can’t wait!”
A s both our cabins headed out to Mess together, Cricket and Phil started singing the “Polly Wolly Doodle” song that we learned during crafts. It was a goofy song, but we all were crazy about it.
Oh, I went down South for to see my Sal,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
My Sal, she is a spunky gal,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
Fare thee well, fare thee well,
Fare thee well, my fairy fay!
For I’m going to Lou’siana for to see my Susyanna,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
It was the same song I’d heard Chica singing the first day, except I’d thought she’d been singing about pollywogs. Thinking about Chica reminded me about my idea for getting out of pro swimming, starting tomorrow. I just had to convince Mr. Bucko. I thought if he agreed to it, Sister would give it a thumbs-up too.
The minute I got to Mess, I looked for Maxey. Coco was in the chow line as usual, Swat was filling napkin dispensers, and there was a zitty kid working at desserts. A girl with a very pointy chest brought in a steamy tray of French fries from the kitchen. Everyone in line cheered. Aurora was right. It was burger and fries night. I hoped Coco hadn’t tried anything tricky, like hiding some of his leftover peas in the burgers!
But I didn’t see Maxey anywhere. If I hadn’t wanted to talk to her, I might even have gloated that she hardly ever got to be out where the action was. Coco kept her in the back a lot.
Nit, Aurora, and I took our trays over and joined the rest of Coyote cabin, who were sitting with Cricket and Phil. The boys were on the other side of Mess, and I could tell they were all riled up. Whatever it was, Donal was in the middle of it. They were all cutting up about something.
“Look,” I said to Nit. “Donal looks like he’s having a blast!”
She squinted in the direction of their table. “I hope they’re not giving him a bad time about something.”
“I’ll go check,” Aurora said. “Here, hold my ball, Ef. Cricket! I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where is she going?” Drew asked. “Is she going to talk to the boys? Should I go with her?”
“I’ll go!” Naomi volunteered.
“Eat, girls!” Cricket said.
“Anybody need ketchup before we go?” Phil asked.
Our counselors and CITs were having a meeting outside Mess so they could plan some activity. Plus, they were probably all dying to get away from us for a few minutes. I could see Frank and Sister outside already talking. But I noticed Frank sat where he could still keep an eye on the boys’ table.
None of us could pay any attention to our dinner until Aurora got back. Even the Elk cabin girls moved down toward us so they could get the full scoop. Geez. I’d noticed since camp started, it was
But so far, it wasn’t like that at all. It was as if my other life had followed me to camp, like a smelly old dog. And nearly everything about camp reminded me of my dad. Even the part about not getting to make phone calls, and sleeping on flat pillows. I really did
not
want to think about him! I especially did
not
want to feel bad about his life in the slammer. I wished I could just brush him right out of my brain.
Aurora came up the trail from the cabin. “Hey, Effie, came to see if maybe you drowned in here! Why are you flossing before dinner?”
I rinsed out my mouth and wiped my face on my sleeve. “Something stuck.”
“Well, c’mon! It’s time for chow and I think I smell cheeseburgers!”
She smiled and hooked an arm around my neck. “And I bet we find out which kid puked! I can’t wait!”
A s both our cabins headed out to Mess together, Cricket and Phil started singing the “Polly Wolly Doodle” song that we learned during crafts. It was a goofy song, but we all were crazy about it.
Oh, I went down South for to see my Sal,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
My Sal, she is a spunky gal,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
Fare thee well, fare thee well,
Fare thee well, my fairy fay!
For I’m going to Lou’siana for to see my Susyanna,
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day!
It was the same song I’d heard Chica singing the first day, except I’d thought she’d been singing about pollywogs. Thinking about Chica reminded me about my idea for getting out of pro swimming, starting tomorrow. I just had to convince Mr. Bucko. I thought if he agreed to it, Sister would give it a thumbs-up too.
The minute I got to Mess, I looked for Maxey. Coco was in the chow line as usual, Swat was filling napkin dispensers, and there was a zitty kid working at desserts. A girl with a very pointy chest brought in a steamy tray of French fries from the kitchen. Everyone in line cheered. Aurora was right. It was burger and fries night. I hoped Coco hadn’t tried anything tricky, like hiding some of his leftover peas in the burgers!
But I didn’t see Maxey anywhere. If I hadn’t wanted to talk to her, I might even have gloated that she hardly ever got to be out where the action was. Coco kept her in the back a lot.
Nit, Aurora, and I took our trays over and joined the rest of Coyote cabin, who were sitting with Cricket and Phil. The boys were on the other side of Mess, and I could tell they were all riled up. Whatever it was, Donal was in the middle of it. They were all cutting up about something.
“Look,” I said to Nit. “Donal looks like he’s having a blast!”
She squinted in the direction of their table. “I hope they’re not giving him a bad time about something.”
“I’ll go check,” Aurora said. “Here, hold my ball, Ef. Cricket! I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where is she going?” Drew asked. “Is she going to talk to the boys? Should I go with her?”
“I’ll go!” Naomi volunteered.
“Eat, girls!” Cricket said.
“Anybody need ketchup before we go?” Phil asked.
Our counselors and CITs were having a meeting outside Mess so they could plan some activity. Plus, they were probably all dying to get away from us for a few minutes. I could see Frank and Sister outside already talking. But I noticed Frank sat where he could still keep an eye on the boys’ table.
None of us could pay any attention to our dinner until Aurora got back. Even the Elk cabin girls moved down toward us so they could get the full scoop. Geez. I’d noticed since camp started, it was
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