Mia's Baker's Dozen by Coco Simon Page A

they said.) They told us about all the fun activities we’d do: swimming,kayaking, art projects, team sports, field trips, tennis, and more. Then they told us about the special occasions that were scheduled: Tie Dye Day, Pajama Day, Costume Day, Crazy Hat Day, and finally, the best day of all . . . Camp Olympics, followed by the grand finale: the camp talent show!
    Ugh. The camp talent show? Getting up onstage in front of more than a hundred people? So not up my alley.
    I made a face at Alexis, but she was listening thoughtfully, her head tilted to the side and her long reddish hair already escaping its headband. She was probably wondering if there was any money to be made here; business was mostly all she thought about. In fact, her parents said if she did an outdoor camp for part of the summer, she could go to business camp for two weeks at the end of the summer. Sometimes I wonder how we are friends at all—our interests are so different!
    â€œThinking of signing up?” I whispered.
    â€œMyself? No. But you should,” she whispered back.
    I laughed. “Yeah, right. What’s my talent? Babysitting?”
    Alexis raised her eyebrows at me. “Maybe. But I’msure you can come up with something more marketable than that.”
    Right. I can’t even keep the kid I babysit for from throwing up.

The Hotcakes
    O kay, so I’m not a naturally rowdy person but something about Raoul and Maryanne brought out my inner cheerleader. By midmorning I was chanting, screaming, yelling, and having an all-around (loud) ball!
    First we played a getting-to-know-you game called Pass the Packet. The “packet” was a brown bag filled with something, and we each took turns holding it while telling the group about ourselves and then said what we wished was in the bag. (I said I wished it had tickets to the taping of Top Che f ). When it was Alexis’s turn, she told the group how she and I and Mia and Katie had a cupcake club and about all the business we do, baking cupcakes for special events. The other girls in the group thoughtit was so cool. I felt great, and Alexis and I promised to bring in cupcakes for the group.
    At the end, Maryanne opened the packet, and it was filled with these awesome friendship bracelets for each of us. We all grabbed for the color we wanted. I, of course, grabbed a pink one.
    Then we got down to business, naming our team.
    A very pretty girl named Georgia, with light red hair and dark eyes, suggested we be the “Rock Stars.” I thought it was a great idea but because it was the first idea, everyone still wanted a chance to make their own suggestions.
    A girl named Caroline, who turned out to be Georgia’s cousin, said, “How about the ‘A-Team’?” which everyone thought was funny. Alexis said the “Winners,” because the power of positive branding would intimidate our competitors. I had to laugh.
    Then a girl named Charlotte with bright blue eyes and dark, dark hair suggested that since we would be having cupcakes a lot that we should be the “Cupcakes.” (She laughed and looked at me and Alexis when she said it.) But then right after that, a funny girl named Elle said, “No, the ‘Hotcakes’! ” and that was it.
    â€œThe Hotcakes! I love it!” cried Raoul. He andElle high-fived. “Let’s take a vote, girls! All in favor of the Hotcakes, put your hands in the air!”
    Everyone screamed and waved their hands up high and that was that. Maryanne announced it was time for the Hotcakes to change for swimming before lunchtime.
    Alexis and I grabbed our backpacks and headed to the changing rooms.
    â€œThis is superfun, don’t you think?” I said as we walked across the central green.
    â€œYes, and I think we have the best group,” said Alexis in a definite voice.
    I laughed. “How do you know?”
    She shrugged. “I counted how many girls we have versus the other two teams in