by Chloe Taylor
They had to walk for about five blocks before they finally got a taxi, and they arrived back at Lexie’s apartment just as Libby’s mom got there.
“Perfect timing, sis,” Lexie said.
“How was your weekend, girls?” Mrs. Flynn asked.
“Amazing!” Zoey said.
“Fun!” Libby agreed.
“Thank you so much for having me,” Zoey told Lexie.
“Anytime,” Lexie told her. “I hope you and Libby will come back to visit again soon.”
Zoey couldn’t wait to take Lexie up on her offer. New York was definitely her favorite place in the whole world. Well, except for home, where Dad and Marcus were waiting.
CHAPTER 6
The Fine Art of Fashion
New York is the most amazing place—I definitely want to live there when I grow up. But right now it’s kind of a relief to be back in quiet little Mapleton after such a whirlwind weekend. My head is still spinning from everything I saw and experienced at Daphne Shaw’s studio (thank you, Daphne!!) and going to all the museums with Libby and her aunt. Oh! And seeing my very first Broadway musical, which was just . . . MAGICAL. (Thank you, Lexie!!) I can’t wait to spend some time sketching all the ideas I’ve got in my head and doing some sewing. I’ll be sure to keep you posted!
Zoey was exhausted when Mrs. Flynn dropped her—and Priti’s cupcakes—at home. After a good night’s sleep in her own bed, she couldn’t wait to catch up with Priti and give her the sweet treats. Kate was already away at soccer camp, but Zoey, Libby, and Priti arranged to meet at the pool the next day to share news. Marcus was lifeguarding at the pool for the summer again and offered to give Zoey a ride.
“Make sure you drive really carefully,” she said after she buckled her seat belt. “The cupcakes I’m bringing for Priti are on the backseat.”
“I always drive carefully,” Marcus said. “I am an expert chauffeur.”
Marcus was a good driver, but Dad had always told them they had to watch out for the other drivers on the road. Sure enough, when they were almost at the pool, the car in front of them stopped unexpectedly. Marcus had to slam on the brakes hard, sending the box of cupcakes flying off the backseat and onto the floor of the car.
“Oh no!” Zoey cried. “Priti’s cupcakes!”
Thankfully, the box stayed closed. When they parked the car in the pool’s parking lot, Zoey picked up the box to inspect it. She was afraid to look inside. Slowly, she opened the lid.
“They look awful,” Zoey wailed. “How can I give them to Priti now?”
“I’m sure they still taste just as good,” Marcus said. “I’d be happy to eat one, just to make sure.”
“You just want a cupcake,” Zoey said.
“Well, duh!” Marcus said.
“Okay,” Zoey said, handing him one. “But only because this one is really messed up.”
“Schtill dewishous,” Marcus said through a mouthful of cupcake.
“Ew!” Zoey said. “Didn’t Dad ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full?”
“Sowwy,” Marcus said.
Zoey shut the lid of the box and licked the icing off her fingers. She had to admit Marcus was right—they were “schtill dewishous”!
Priti was just as easygoing about the cupcakes.
“There’s frosting and there’s cake—what’s not to like?” she asked. “It’s all going to end up in my tummy anyway, right?”
“Right,” Libby said, taking a cupcake for herself.
When they each had one, they “clinked” them together, as if doing a toast and just like they do with ice cream cones.
“To summer adventures,” Priti said.
“Definitely!” Zoey agreed.
“I’m starting ballet camp next Monday,” Libby said. “That’s going to be adventure, for sure.”
“I want to hear all about Zoey’s adventures with Daphne Shaw,” Priti said.
“Oh my gosh, it was amazing,” Zoey said. “She showed me all around her studio, and then she took me out to lunch, and then I got to go to meetings. And then she gave me a T-shirt from her collection. It was the perfect day!”
“Wow.” Priti sighed. “It must have been.”
“But we’re going to have a lot of perfect days this summer, aren’t we, Priti?” Zoey said. “Did you hear we’re going to summer camp together?”
“Yes!” Priti said. “My parents told me. I’m so excited!”
“Wait—where are you guys going?” Libby asked.
“It’s called Blue Mountain Camp for the Arts,” Priti said. “I wasn’t that worried about making new friends, but having one of my besties with me will make it easier to be away from home for so long. Besides, everything is more fun with Zoey there.”
“It sounds great,” Libby said. “You have to promise to write to me!”
“We will,” Zoey said.
“I’m just glad my parents are going to use the time to take a romantic trip. You know, like a second honeymoon,” Priti said. “Maybe it’s just what they need to remember how much they’re in love with each other, so when I get back, they’ll have one of those renewal of vows ceremonies. Then Tara and Sashi and I can be bridesmaids!”
“And Zoey can design your bridesmaid dresses!” Libby suggested.
Nothing would make Zoey happier than to design bridesmaid dresses for the Holbrooke girls, especially if it meant their parents were getting along better. Priti had been worrying about her parents getting divorced for a while now. Even though her friend was, by nature, a happy, optimistic person, Zoey could tell that it was starting to get her down. She would have to keep her fingers and her toes crossed that everything worked out for the best.
The next day, Zoey was in her room, packing for camp, when Marcus knocked on the door.
“Come in!” she called.
Her brother plopped himself onto the bed and surveyed the piles of clothes she was getting ready to put into her trunk.
“You’re not going to need any of that fashionable, frilly stuff at camp,” he said.
“This isn’t regular camp,” Zoey said. “It’s arts camp.”
“I know,” Marcus said. “But my friend Mikey went to that same camp, and he said they wear uniforms.”
“Uniforms?” Zoey exclaimed. “No way! No one said anything to me about uniforms! I just escaped from the uniform curse this year.”
She stomped to the door. “I’m going to ask Dad.”
Marcus followed her downstairs to where their father was sitting in the living room, watching TV and working on his laptop.
“Dad, Marcus said Blue Mountain Camp for the Arts makes campers wear uniforms,” she said. “Is that true?”
“I don’t remember Mr. Holbrooke saying anything about that, but let me check,” Dad said.
He went on to the camp website and found the camp policies section.
“Oh boy. . . . Yes, it does look like there’s a uniform policy,” he said. “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t realize.”
Seeing Zoey’s mutinous expression, he added, “But it’s probably just as well, because that way you won’t ruin your nice clothes.”
“But, Daaaad,” Zoey complained. “I only just got out of uniforms. This is like taking a step backward.”
“It’s only for six weeks, Zo,” Marcus reasoned. “You can handle it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and all that.”
Zoey glared at her brother. She didn’t want to handle it. She wanted to wear her own clothes.
“I’d better check what other rules they have while we’re at it,” Dad said. He scanned the web page for a minute. “Uh-oh . . .”
“What?” Zoey asked. “Uh-oh” didn’t sound good. Not good at all.
“There’s a strict no technology rule,” Dad said. “No cell phones. No computers.”
“No way!” Zoey wailed. “How am I supposed to go six weeks without blogging? I have readers! They expect regular posts!”
“Look, before you get too upset, let me talk to the cam
p director and see if she can make an exception, given that you have a well-established and popular blog with a big following,” her father said. “If not, maybe you can send me your posts in letters, and I’ll post them for you.”
“Or you could write some posts in advance and preschedule them,” Marcus suggested.
“It’s not the same,” Zoey grumbled.
“Let’s just wait and see what she says, okay?” Dad said.
“What about my sewing machine?” Zoey said. “I can’t go a whole summer without sewing.”
“I’ll ask about that, too,” Dad said. “Don’t worry, Zo. It’s going to be okay. You know, honey, a little time in the great outdoors might be good for you.”
“Yeah. Mikey said it was a great camp,” Marcus said. “He loved it there.”
Zoey put on a brave face, but she wasn’t feeling at all happy about going anymore. Uniforms aside, how was she going to survive six weeks without blogging?
The next evening at dinner, her father said he’d spoken to the camp director.
“The good news is that she was really impressed to hear you’d built up such a popular blog and to hear about your appearance as a judge on Fashion Showdown. She’s very excited to have you as a camper.”
“But what’s the bad news?” Zoey asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“Well, they’re very strict about the no technology rule, and they can’t make any exceptions, not even for you,” he said. “I’m sorry, Zo. But she also said she thinks you’ll be having so much fun, you won’t even miss blogging.”
Zoey couldn’t imagine how it was possible to have that much fun. It was going to be a long six weeks.
“Wait—what did she say about my sewing machine?”
Her father grimaced.
“I’m afraid that’s a no-go too.”
“But sewing is my art!” Zoey argued. “How can I go to an art camp without my sewing machine?”
“I explained that,” her dad said. “The director said there’s at least one sewing machine at the camp—in the theater department. Maybe you can help with the costumes.”
“I guess.” Zoey sighed. “But I’m going to pack my new pincushion that Fashionsista sent, and some colored threads and needles and some fabrics, just in case I get stir-crazy and need to sew by hand, old-school style.”
“That’s my girl,” her dad said. “Adapt and make the best of it. And you know what? I have a feeling you’ll end up having a really great time.”
“Mikey did,” Marcus said. “He didn’t even care about the uniform much.”
“But he’s a guy,” Zoey pointed out. “It’s not the same.”
Still, she hoped her dad, Marcus, and Mikey were right and that she would end up having a good time. She wished she felt as confident about it as everyone else.
CHAPTER 7
Camp Hiatus
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that Priti and I are going to camp together! It’s not called Camp Hiatus, though—which brings me to the bad news. The camp doesn’t allow laptops and other technology, so Sew Zoey is going to have to be on hiatus while I’m there. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions, not even for fashion bloggers!
And there’s another rule I’m not so crazy about either: We have to wear uniforms. Ugh. I thought I was done with all that when Ms. Austen scrapped the uniform code at Mapleton Prep. I’m hoping that maybe being stuck wearing a uniform again for six weeks will make me superinspired to design more fabulous clothes when I get back. Maybe if I say that enough, I’ll believe it. In the meantime, I’ve drawn a dress to get me in the mood to start roughing it. I imagine this tent-shaped dress being made of waterproof material, like a real tent. Perfect for rain or shine!
So this is my last post for a while . . . but according to my dad, I’ll be back before I know it. See you in six weeks! TTFN, xo, Zoey
When Aunt Lulu came for dinner the night before Zoey left for camp, she and Buttons brought a gift. Dad made Zoey wait until after they’d eaten and cleaned up all the dishes before she could open it. The suspense was killing her!
“It’s actually a joint gift from your dad and me,” Aunt Lulu said.
“But I let Aunt Lulu do the choosing, because she’s got better taste,” Dad explained.
“Wise move, Dad,” Marcus said.
Zoey unwrapped a pretty decoupage box filled with fun stationery, envelopes, cool stickers, and postage stamps, so she could write letters home and to her friends about her camp experiences. Aunt Lulu had also bought her a pretty journal to write and draw in, and a set of colored gel pens and some sketching pencils.
“Thank you!” Zoey said. “I love the box. And the stationery is so cute!”
“We figured you could kick it old-school, like we did when we went to camp,” Aunt Lulu said. “Getting to pick our camp stationery was part of the fun.”
“Make sure you write at least once a week, okay?” Dad said. “’Cause I’ll miss having you around.”
“I will,” Zoey said. “I’ll miss you all, too. And wearing my own clothes. And my sewing machine and my computer and my phone.”
“I bet Zoey will miss her computer more than she’ll miss me,” Marcus joked.
“No, not my computer. But I’ll definitely miss Buttons more,” Zoey said, picking up the dog and cuddling him. The dog licked her ear and her forehead.
Aunt Lulu and Dad laughed.
Zoey just hoped she didn’t get homesick. She’d never been to sleepaway camp before. She’d never really been away from home for more than a week or so. Just thinking about it made her feel jittery.
The following morning, Mr. and Mrs. Holbrooke dropped off Priti and helped load all her camp gear into Mr. Webber’s car. By the time both girls’ trunks were loaded, there wasn’t much room left over!
They had a cozy ride up to camp, playing I Spy, singing songs, and imagining what camp would be like.
When they arrived, Dad helped them unload the trunks and then waited until they were assigned to their cabins. They were in different cabins, which made Zoey a little nervous, but Priti assured her they could meet for lunch and different activities.
“I’ll say good-bye, then,” Dad said. “Have a great time and don’t forget to write!”
Zoey hugged her father tight.
“I’ll miss you, Dad.”
Dad ruffled her hair. “You’ll be too busy having fun to miss your old dad much, Zo. See you soon, honey.” He gave Zoey one more hug and then got into the car to drive back home.
“Are you Zoey?” asked a counselor in a golf cart.
When Zoey nodded, she said, “I’m Brooke, the counselor in charge of your cabin. Help me load your trunk onto the back, and I’ll give you a ride up.”
“Zoey, let’s meet after we unpack!” Priti called. She was already heading up the path in another golf cart with her bunk counselor.
“Is this your first time at sleepaway camp?” Brooke asked.
“Yes,” Zoey admitted. “Is it that obvious?”
Brooke smiled. “You have that deer-in-the-headlights look,” she said. “But don’t worry. We’ve got a great group of girls in our bunk. You’re going to have a blast.”
It sounded like the campers in her cabin were already having a blast when Brooke helped her unload her trunk from the golf cart and then carry it inside.
“Hey, everyone, this is Zoey,” Brooke said.
“Hey, Zoey!” called a girl from the top bunk at the end of the cabin. “I’m Marisol.”
“And I’m Kelly,” said a red-haired girl with freckles. “Welcome to the best cabin at Blue Mountain!”
After a bunch of hellos, there was one more girl to meet.
“Hi,” said a girl with her blond hair in a perfect French braid and fire-engine red sneakers. “I’m Campbell.”
“Hi,” Zoey said. “I love your sneakers!”
“Thanks,” Campbell said, her face lighting up with a smile. “Got to wear something to brighten up these uniforms.”
“I know what you mean,” Zoey said.
As Zoey unpacked her trunk and changed into her uniform, the girls chatted about where they were from and their previous camp experiences.
“Don’t worry about being a camp newbie,” Marisol told her. “It’s really fun here.”
“Yeah, that’s what my brother’s friend said,” Zoey replied. “And besides, my friend Priti is here too, but she’s in another cabin. We’re meeting up after I unpack and change.”
“I love your outfit,” Kelly said, eyeing Zoey’s daisy-print top and denim shorts, which she’d embroidered with daisies to match. “Bet you’re thrilled about the uniform, huh?
“Not so much,” Zoey said with a sigh, holding up the hated shorts and shirt at arm’s length as she removed them from her trunk.
“You’ll get used to it,” Marisol said. “And you’ll have so much fun, you won’t even care what you’re wearing!”
When Zoey changed into her uniform and looked at herself in the mirror in the cabin bathroom, she wasn’t sure if that much fun was even possible.
“So what are you going to do first?” Priti asked when they met up on the path between their cabins. “I’m thinking of taking songwriting and canoeing.”
“Oh,” Zoey said. She really wanted to do arts and crafts, and the nature walk.
“What?” Priti searched Zoey’s face. “You don’t have to do the same things as me if you don’t want to, Zo. It’s okay. We can meet at lunch.”
“Are you sure?” Zoey asked.
“Totally. That way we can both meet new friends and introduce them to one another,” Priti said.
“Sounds like a plan!” Zoey said. “Have fun!”
They went off in their separate directions. Zoey had a great morning on the nature walk. The counselor pointed out a scarlet tanager and a yellow-bellied sapsucker, and Zoey picked up some pinecones and acorns that gave her ideas for new designs. She couldn’t wait to get back to her cabin and sketch. But first it was time for lunch, and Zoey was starving after her time in the great outdoors.