Lights Out!

by Laura Dower

  The cabin door squeaked loudly. It was silent inside, just the whisper of a cool breeze through the screens. The air still smelled like rain. Madison wondered if maybe there would be another storm tonight. She hoped not. The talent show was later that night and no one wanted a cancellation.

  Madison changed into another pair of faded Levi’s and wiped the remaining mud off the sleeves of her fleece. She looked out the window. Way off in the distance, everyone was eating their lunches. She didn’t want to go back.

  Why?

  Madison sat down on the bottom bunk and opened up her orange notebook.

  FILE: Hiding Out

  We have talent show practice in a little while. I don’t want to go. I would much rather hide out right here, wedged somewhere between the bed and the wall, and just wait it out until the trip is done. Someone will bring me dinner and water, right? LOL.

  Me, Aimee, Lindsay, Fiona, and Stacey are singing this dumb friendship ballad and I’m so afraid everyone will laugh at us. I’m not worried about my outfit anymore—I’m worried about the actual singing. Help!

  Rude Awakening: If I can’t lip-synch, I’m SUNK.

  Plus, we haven’t been away from Far Hills for very long at all and I actually feel homesick. How is that possible? I miss Mom and Dad and of course Phinnie most of all.

  We have to go climb this huge tower tomorrow. Now tell me what is the point in that? I’d rather fall in the mud than

  “What are you doing here?” a voice said. Madison nearly dropped her notebook and pen. Without even thinking, she shoved them into the bottom bunk sleeping bag. Ivy Daly was standing in the doorway of the cabin.

  “You scared me,” Madison said breathlessly.

  “What’s that?” Ivy said. “You are in big trouble.”

  “W-why? I didn’t do anything,” Madison stammered. “What are you talking about?”

  “What are you doing here?” Ivy asked again.

  “What are YOU doing here?” Madison asked.

  “I asked you first,” Ivy snapped.

  “I asked permission to be here,” Madison said. “So there. And you?”

  “None of your business,” Ivy said.

  “So why am I in trouble and you’re not?” Madison asked.

  “Just forget it,” Ivy said, reaching into her own suitcase and pulling something out. “I won’t tell Mrs. Goode that I saw you.”

  “Is that some kind of threat?” Madison said, smoothing out the bunk where she was sitting. She slowly pulled her notebook out of the strange sleeping bag.

  “Isn’t that Stacey’s sleeping bag?” Ivy asked. “What are you doing?”

  “None of your business,” Madison said.

  “Well…I don’t have to waste my time talking to you,” Ivy said. Her voice was like needles. She paused to look in a small mirror on the wall and flounced her red hair. Then she continued out the screen door, running back toward the picnic area.

  Poison Ivy will probably tell the drones or someone that she found someone in the cabin, Madison thought. She knew it was time to go back and save herself any embarrassment about her disappearance. Madison also wanted to tell Stacey what had happened so no one would accuse her of going through someone else’s stuff. Ivy was the kind of person who would accuse.

  Madison plucked her duffel off the top bunk and shoved the orange notebook deep inside her folded sweatshirt. Someone would have to tear the bag apart and dump everything out to find the notebook there.

  Back at lunch, Madison’s friends sat clumped together in a semicircle on the grass. They were lying on their stomachs, planning the talent show “routine.” Aimee was choreographing. Fiona was dividing the song into parts.

  “Maddie!” Fiona shouted. “Where were you? We’ve got half the song planned. You’re background vocals, as requested.”

  For a quiet girl, Lindsay had a superstar voice. So she and Fiona had the lead singing parts. Aimee had one chorus and a dance solo.

  “Wow,” Madison said. “How long was I gone? You guys have done a lot of work already. Dance solo, Aimee? I’m impressed.”

  “You weren’t gone that long,” Aimee said. “But I’d been planning since last night. You know me.”

  Madison nodded. “Yup. So where are we supposed to practice?”

  “Here,” Fiona said. “Where else would we go?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe back to the cabin,” Madison suggested.

  “Ivy and her drones are going there,” Fiona said. “I overheard Joan talking when she was on line for the lunch box.”

  “Online?” Madison said distractedly.

  “Maddie!” Aimee whined. “On the line. You know what she means. Hello? We’re not on the computer anymore.”

  “Oh,” Madison said. “Yeah. Silly me. Duh.”

  “Du-uh-uh!” Aimee, Fiona, and Lindsay all said at the same time, which made Madison laugh.

  “So where’s Stacey?” Madison asked.

  “She decided to sing with someone else,” Lindsay said.

  “Traitor,” Aimee said under her breath.

  “You’re not even good friends with her, Aim,” Madison said. “Why are you getting all annoyed?”

  “Just because,” Aimee said.

  “Stacey just decided to sing with girls from the next cabin.” Fiona said. “She said that she promised these girls before she told us that she—”

  “Okay! We should get started,” Aimee said abruptly. “The clock is ticking.”

  Madison stood up and shook her arms by her sides like she was a rag doll. “Okay, boss lady. I’m all warmed up and ready to go.”

  “Very funny, Maddie,” Aimee said.

  “This is going to be so much fun,” Fiona said.

  Aimee clapped. “We are the champions, my friends….” She sang lyrics to the popular song.

  “We should have done that song,” Lindsay said.

  “Nah,” Madison said. “This friendship one is better. Aimee’s right.”

  Aimee held her palm to her forehead with mock sincerity. “Aw, shucks, Madison,” she said. “Why are you saying that?”

  “Because that’s what friends are for!” Madison cried.

  Everyone erupted into laughter when they heard their song title. They started dancing around.

  “Hey, Maddie, what’s that?” Aimee asked.

  “What’s what?” Madison asked. She looked down to see a long streak of mud all the way down her jeans.

  “Didn’t you just change clothes?” Fiona asked.

  “Yeah, I must have wiped my hand on my butt or something…ohhhhhh,” Madison stopped speaking as soon as she saw how huge the spot was.

  “You should go change again,” Aimee said.

  “Do you have any other pants?” Lindsay asked. “You can borrow mine.”

  “No, no, I’m fine,” Madison said. She had packed a pair of painter’s pants. That would solve the clothing dilemma in a snap! Madison sighed and turned on one heel, heading back to the cabin once again.

  Could she really be expected to take bigger risks at camp when she couldn’t even keep her pants clean?

  Chapter 8

  FILE: Talent Show

  Went back to the cabin for my pants (again) and grabbed this journal because I figured that I might have time to use it. I’m part of the backup group, so a lot of the time I’m just sitting while everyone else is rehearsing (which has officially lasted fifty-four minutes so far). This is my life on a big rock watching the time go by—la la la …

  Bigwheels would crack up. We’re jumping around out here on the lawn where anyone could see us and I bet we look really, really silly. Everyone else is practicing for the talent show inside a room somewhere with a boom box, which is bad enough, but we’re stuck here practicing with one of the counselors’ smartphones. I can barely hear the song! I wish I could send her an email right this very minute.

  Despite all the fuss, it sure is a blast singing with my BFFs. My group of friends keeps getting bigger and bigger and this does
n’t even include the guys. Eat your heart out, Poison Ivy. She really does make my skin crawl. Ha!

  Rude Awakening: Too bad they don’t have a talent show for being a good friend. I know Ivy would lose that one for sure. And I would WIN.

  “Maddie, we need you over here,” Lindsay said. They were working out the choreographed steps for the backup singer.

  Just as Madison learned her steps, Mrs. Wing approached with a stack of blue flyers. It was three o’clock: time for the scavenger hunt. The blue sheet had a neatly typed list along with instructions.

  “Can’t we practice just a little bit longer?” Aimee groaned. “Please?”

  “There will be more time after the hunt,” Mrs. Wing explained. “For now, you have to find the items listed on this sheet. Come on, it’ll be fun!”

  “Let me see,” Fiona said, grabbing the paper. “Wow, how are we supposed to find all of these objects in so little time?” she asked.

  Madison glanced down at the blue sheet.

  Jasper Woods Scavenger Hunt

  Find these items before dinner tonight. Bring your loot to the main lodge when you are done. Prizes will be awarded. Good luck!

  Blade of grass longer than index finger (for each member of hunt group)

  Acorn cap

  Fungi

  White rock

  Feather

  Something with a pleasant smell

  Something with a bad smell

  Something edible (for each member of hunt group)

  Moth or butterfly (observed)

  Three flat stones

  Pinecone

  Gum wrapper or other small litter

  Mrs. Goode’s signature

  “What is that last item?” Aimee demanded. “Her signature?”

  “Thirteen things?” Madison cried. “That is so unlucky.”

  “I don’t think it’s so bad,” Fiona said. “We can find all this stuff.”

  As Madison and her BFFs were standing there, it seemed like the entire seventh grade swooped into Jasper Woods. The scavenger hunt had begun, and kids were taking it very seriously. Very, very seriously.

  “What are you sitting here for?” Chet screeched as he ran past with the rest of the guys. “The contest has started!”

  Chet, Hart, Egg, Drew, and Dan dashed in the direction of the Tower as if they’d been shot out of a cannon.

  “Hurry up, Finnster!” Hart said.

  “Yeah! Move it!” Egg barked, stepping backward so he could make faces at everyone—and see their reactions.

  The girls stood there gaping. Madison was surprised to hear Hart calling her nickname.

  “Wait a minute. What’s the prize?” Lindsay asked.

  “A million dollars!” Aimee joked. “You’d think it was the way those guys are running. Whoa.”

  “I think we get a medal,” Fiona said. “I saw Mr. Danehy and Coach Hammond unloading them at the main lodge. They’re really ugly, too. They look like that chocolate candy that looks like coins, only on this rope thing….”

  “Should we go follow them?” Madison suggested, clutching the list in her raised fist. “We’re the last ones to start, in case you didn’t notice.”

  “Hey!” Aimee said. “Now look who’s boss lady.”

  Madison laughed. They gathered the things left on the grass during their short practice. Madison stuffed her notebook into her orange bag and jogged after the boys.

  “I think we’re lost,” Aimee said. “Didn’t we walk on this path already?”

  Another group of excited seventh graders passed by them. One boy, Wayne, yelled out, “How many items do you have?”

  “Nine,” Lindsay answered.

  “We have twelve and now we’re going to get Mrs. Goode’s signature,” Wayne said.

  “Let’s just get the rest of the items and keep going,” Madison said, glancing at her friends. They all looked defeated already.

  Fiona was in charge of the list. “Well, we need Mrs. Goode’s signature, as we all know, and something smelly, and a feather, and fungi.”

  “Fun guy?” Lindsay joked. “Like Egg?”

  Aimee and Madison cracked up.

  “Yeah, funny joke, Lindsay,” Fiona said, smirking. “Fungi is a mushroom. Not an egg. Ha, ha.”

  “Here!” Aimee said, bending over. In her hand was a soft brown feather.

  Madison took it from her and ran her finger along its edge. The plumes came apart a little. She shoved it into her orange bag, which served as the container for all collected items.

  “Maybe we should split up to find the fungi,” Fiona said. “And don’t even think of making another joke—please!”

  “I think we should stay together. It’s getting near the end,” Madison said.

  Aimee and Lindsay were walking ahead, half crouched over. They found a whole bed of white mushroom caps and promptly picked a few.

  “So now all we need besides that signature is something smelly,” Fiona said.

  The girls stood in a circle with blank looks on their faces.

  “Smelly…” Lindsay said. “Like dog poop?”

  “GROSS!” Aimee cried. She thumped Lindsay on the shoulder. “That is so disgusting.”

  Lindsay giggled. “Sorry.”

  “It has to be a bad smell. We already picked some lilac for the good smell,” Madison said.

  “What’s bad smelly?” Lindsay asked.

  Aimee jumped into the air. “Look! Egg!”

  Fiona frowned. “Do you have to keep making stupid jokes—”

  “No, she’s right,” Lindsay said, pointing. “He’s coming this way with the rest of the guys.”

  Madison whirled around and found herself face-to-face with the approaching Hart, who was out of breath. “Hey, Finnster!” he gasped.

  “Hey,” Madison said.

  “We have an idea,” Egg yelled, throwing his arms up into the air. “We have an idea! We have an idea!”

  “An idea? That’s a new one,” Aimee said. “And what is it? You sound like a broken record.”

  “We’ve been working on this scavenger hunt just like the rest of you,” Egg explained.

  “But we can’t find a feather,” Drew admitted.

  “Or a moth,” Chet said. “How lame is that?”

  “Lame!” Fiona groaned. “Why should we care, Chet?”

  “Because,” Egg cried, stepping onto a stump as if he were assuming a preacher pose. “We have decided that if your group and our group pool our resources, we can win this stupid scavenger hunt. WIN!”

  “Even though Wayne Ennis claims he already won,” Dan said.

  “Okay! We can get second place, then,” Egg said. “Here’s the deal. We have something that no one else has: Mrs. Goode’s signature.”

  “Huh?” Lindsay said. “I heard that she was hiding or something. So you have to find her in order to get her to sign your—”

  “Nothing on the list says it has to be signed today,” Egg said. “I happen to have her signature on an angry note she wrote home last week. I found it in my jacket.”

  “Isn’t that awesome?” Hart said, grinning.

  “You’re a genius, Egg,” Fiona said, mooning a little.

  “It is a good idea,” Madison said, considering it. “So you guys have all the other objects, including this note?”

  “Except for the feather and moth, like we said,” Dan said.

  “And something that smells bad,” Drew said. “Although Chet volunteered to donate his BO.”

  “Nice one!” Fiona said, pinching her nose.

  “Let’s do it!” Aimee shrieked. “I want to win. Let’s pool our resources and do it.”

  The friends exchanged objects, including the infamous signed note, and stuffed the complete “set” of scavenged items into Madison’s orange bag.

  “It’s almost time,” Drew said. “We should hand in the objects, and then we have to go back to the cabins for the talent show practice.”

  “Wait!” Aimee said. “We don
’t have something that smells bad in this bag.”

  “Hart could just lay a big one in there,” Chet said, laughing. “Hart fart!”

  Everyone snickered except for Hart, who plowed his knuckled fist into Chefs left shoulder.

  “This is serious,” Madison said. “We need something that smells…. HEY! Aimee, what about your sleeping bag?”

  “What about it?” Aimee asked.

  “Didn’t you say it reeked?” Madison asked.

  “Yes,” Aimee said, nodding. “But isn’t that item a little big to bring? And it isn’t exactly something found in nature. And what am I supposed to sleep on in the meantime?”

  “Just go get it,” Madison said.

  Together the girls and boys walked toward Maple cabin. Aimee dashed inside to get the sleeping bag while the rest of the group waited outside.

  “Nice cabin,” Hart joked.

  “Which cabin are you in?” Madison asked.

  “Over there.” He pointed toward a clearing and row of very tall evergreens. “It’s exactly the same as yours only one of the screens is busted, so mosquitoes attacked us last night.”

  “Bummer,” Fiona said.

  Aimee appeared with the rolled-up sleeping bag, stink and all.

  The gang headed to the main lodge to claim their prize.

  Madison walked a little slower than the group. She didn’t want to fall in any hidden mud puddles along the way. She’d run out of spare pants.

  Hart was friendlier than friendly as they walked along. He was talking about math class a lot because he was getting a bad grade. Madison learned that he had a parrot as a pet. She wondered if that was weird. She was a dog person, but what was a bird person like? Did they make a good match? Even though M.A.S.H. had said N-O to marriage, Madison wasn’t ruling out the possibility of dating.

  With every step, Madison watched Hart sweep the flip of brown hair off his face. Now and again she’d catch a glimpse of his eyes looking right at her.

  Madison handed the orange bag over to Egg and Drew halfway to the lodge. The bag was a bit clumsy to carry. Aimee could barely carry her sleeping bag. Was this really what camp was supposed to be?

  “I wish we’d come up with something smaller that was smelly,” Aimee complained.