I stopped secretly agreeing with him and narrowed my eyes at him.
“It’s probably time to get back,” Robbie said. “Dad’s making breakfast.”
“We’ll see you all tomorrow morning at the meeting place,” Jay said before they all headed out the door and back down the path.
“Yeah,” I called after them. “Tomorrow.”
But tomorrow seemed ridiculously far off. I wanted to show up those boys now. I needed to prove what we were capable of, and I didn’t want to wait.
Delaney started skipping toward Camp HQ’s exit, and I fell into step behind her.
“Hold up,” came Dawn’s voice from behind us. “Where are y’all off to so fast?”
“Back to the campsite?” Delaney looked confused.
Dawn shook her head. “Not yet. Let’s have a quick team meeting. We need to decide our strategy for the next contest in the Great Camping Challenge. We can’t afford to lose another.”
“But we didn’t lose this one,” I pointed out.
Only Dawn didn’t seem to hear me. She headed to one of the square wooden tables on the patio and waited for us to join her.
“Aunt Jane’s going to be worried if we don’t show up for breakfast soon,” Delaney said. “Plus, Mo’s probably waiting for us. Plus, I’m hungry.”
“This won’t take long.” Dawn sat there with her chin raised and her hands folded on the tabletop in front of her. It was her best presidential look — calm and serious, but with a clear don’t-mess-with-me stare.
Delaney and I didn’t even risk glancing at each other before sitting down. Our sisterhood was a proud democracy, but we’d learned from experience that it was just better to hear Dawn out than try to argue with her. Besides, most of the time she had important stuff to say. Important to her anyway.
“We need to have a plan,” Dawn began. “We can’t agree to a shelter challenge and then spend the day romping with donkeys.”
“There’s just one donkey,” Delaney pointed out.
“A plan for what exactly? All we need to do is get a tent and set it up, and we have the whole day to do that,” I said.
“We have to prepare,” Dawn said. “We should do some research and inspect other people’s tents.”
“But isn’t that trespassing?” I asked.
Dawn paused and tapped her chin a couple of times. “I mean from afar, of course.”
Delaney’s legs started jiggling impatiently, and her feet made a sound like a drum roll — until Dawn’s steely-eyed stare caused her to stop.
“I feel like one of us should be on alert at all times,” Dawn went on. “Those boys might try to snoop or eavesdrop on us. Also, we should try to snoop or eavesdrop on them if we get the chance.”
“But what about, you know, having some fun today?” Delaney asked.
“Fun?” Dawn’s forehead went wavy, and she pronounced the word like she didn’t understand it — as if Delaney had asked about having bloogletootie.
“Yeah, fun,” I repeated.
Dawn blew out her breath. “We can have fun any old time. Besides, what could be better than showing up those three boys?”
Delaney and I finally sneaked that glance at each other. We could list lots of things that would be more fun. We just weren’t sure if we should.
“So come on,” Dawn said. “Let’s go rent a tent and set it up.”
“But we haven’t even had breakfast yet,” Delaney said. “I’m sure Aunt Jane’s up by now. She’s all alone. And probably hungry. Like I am.”
“Also, don’t we need to ask Aunt Jane for permission? And money?” I added.
Dawn’s mouth bunched up. “You have a point.”
“We can keep an eye out for the boys while we spend quality time with Aunt Jane,” I said.
“And we can study other tents while we play with Mo and do other fun stuff,” Delaney said.
“Come on, Dawn,” I pleaded. “We want to do well in the challenge. But we also want to spend time with Aunt Jane and make her happy. She’s most important — right?”
“I guess you’re right,” Dawn said.
“Yay!” Delaney jumped up from the table.
“But!” Dawn blurted, making Delaney pause. “We still have lots of stuff to do, so how about we spend the morning and lunchtime with Aunt Jane and focus on our challenge in the afternoon?”
“That sounds fair,” I said.
“Deal,” Delaney said.
We headed off, pausing to wave at Mrs. Kimbro who was still bustling around. Outside, the sun was now over the treetops.
“Come on!” shouted Dawn, who was already several steps ahead of us.
“You go on ahead!” Delaney shouted back. “I’m looking for Mo!”
I started jogging to catch up when suddenly Delaney grabbed my arm. “Wait!” she said. “We need to have an emergency meeting.”
“But … we just had a meeting.”
“I know but we need to have another. We need to have an emergency meeting about Dawn.”
“Huh?”
“Dawn is going to ruin the whole trip,” she said. “First she says she hates it here, but now she’s being super competitive with those boys. She doesn’t even want us to have fun.”
I had to agree that Dawn’s sudden change made me feel wobbly. “Yeah. She wants to stay just to win the Great Camping Challenge. But the thing is … I also want to stay. I like it here at the campground with Aunt Jane. If this is the only way we can get Dawn to stop bellyaching and give this place a chance, I’m all for it. Do you want to go home?”
“No,” Delaney said, digging the toe of her sneaker into the pebbly dirt. “I just don’t want this contest to take over everything.”
I watched as Dawn strode down the trail ahead of us in that purposeful way of hers — head raised high, arms swinging beside her. “I think Dawn needs something to focus on,” I said. “She’s been all out of sorts here. Remember how she was fretting over silly stuff like us walking on the fence?”
Delaney nodded. “She even seemed afraid of the canoes.” Her gaze turned thoughtful. “Which I guess was pretty smart of her, considering what happened.”
“So … we’re agreed?”
“Agreed,” Delaney said, and we shook hands. “Although,” she added, “I still think Dawn’s a little bonkers.”
* * *
Dawn was waiting for us on the trail. “You two sure are poky.”
“That’s because we need nourishment,” Delaney said.
We hurried back to the campsite and found that Aunt Jane was awake. She was already washing a bowl in the rubber dishwashing tub, so it seemed like she’d been up for a while.
“Good morning, girls. Thank you for leaving another note,” she said. “How was your meet up with the other kids?”
“Fine,” Dawn said.
“Any of you hungry?”
“Delaney could probably eat a horse,” I said.
“I’d never eat a horse!” Delaney gasped. “I am hungry, though.”
“Well, good. I made oatmeal and chopped up a couple of apples to put on top.” Aunt Jane gestured to a covered pot and a few bowls on the picnic table. “I hope you girls don’t mind, but I’m headed off to HQ to help Tammy. I hate to see how shorthanded she is, and I want to see what I can do for this old campground.” She finished drying her dish, set it with the others, and started jogging toward the edge of our campsite. “Y’all come join me when you’re done and we’ll have some fun. See ya!”
Delaney and Dawn immediately started serving themselves breakfast — Delaney slipping chopped apples in her pocket for Mo. Meanwhile, I watched as Aunt Jane’s brown curls disappeared amid the trees.
“Aw, man. Now what?” I said. “We were going to spend our morning cheering up Aunt Jane.”
“Oh well. Guess we should research tent making after all,” Dawn said.
“No!” I whined. “We have to do something. Didn’t you see how mopey she looked when she was talking about the campground?”
<
br /> “Yep. She was gloomy,” Delaney said with her mouth full of oatmeal.
Dawn sighed. “You’re right, but … how can we cheer her up if she isn’t here?”
Just then, a terrible racket came from the nearby bushes. It sounded like a wheezy bugle call. We all jumped — and then Delaney broke out in a huge grin.
“Mo’s here! He’s back!” She hopped up from the table and began a celebratory dance as Mo emerged from the brush and walked toward us.
“Hold on a minute …” A plan was starting to materialize in my mind. It took a while for it to come into focus, but suddenly it was clear and colorful and high definition. “I’ve got it! I really got it! I know how we can help the camp and cheer up Aunt Jane!”
Then I started dancing, too.
Step right up! Get your donkey rides right here! Meet Mo, the world famous ride-giver donkey, at your service!” I was standing in the field down the hill from Camp HQ, calling out to any campers who might be nearby. Mo stood on one side of me and Dawn stood on the other.
Meanwhile Darby was stationed near the road holding up our homemade paper sign that read:
INCREDIBLE DONKEY RIDES!
Fun! Not-Scary-Fast! Reasonable Prices!
Line Starts HERE
The campground couldn’t afford to offer horse rides anymore. But now they were in danger of losing business because they don’t have many exciting activities.
Except for donkey rides! We figure with this new offering we could liven up the camp, make money for Mrs. Kimbro, and cheer up Aunt Jane. It was a brilliant idea.
Only … for some reason no one was lining up yet. So far two campers had walked past on their way from HQ, but they just smiled at us and kept going.
“Maybe we should give up and build our shelter,” Dawn said.
“No!” I said. “It’s not even lunchtime yet. We have plenty of time to lure customers.”
“People probably aren’t hearing you,” Dawn said. “If the camp had a loudspeaker system, it would solve everything. Perhaps we can help them raise money for that, too.”
I cupped my hands around my mouth again and yelled out, “Donkey rides! Right here! Get your enjoyable, inexpensive donkey rides! Lots of fun from four feet off the ground!”
Finally, a boy came up the trail toward us. He looked confused. “Is that the incredible donkey?” he asked, pointing at Mo.
I patted Mo’s haunches proudly. “He sure is.”
He tilted his head and looked Mo over. “Okay. I’ll ride him. How much is it?”
I suddenly realized I’d been so focused on getting a customer, I’d completely forgotten the rates.
“One second while I consult my business partner.” I leaned over and whispered in Dawn’s ear, “How much did we decide?”
“How old are you?” she asked the boy.
“Six.”
“That’ll be one dollar.”
The boy pulled a dollar out of his shorts pocket and handed it to Dawn. Then she and I gave him a small boost and helped him climb onto Mo’s back.
“So what now?” he said. “Do I say giddyap?”
I shook my head. “No. Mo doesn’t actually understand that language.”
“How do I make him move?”
“Well, you don’t really,” I said. “You just sit on him and wherever he wants to go, you go with him.”
“It’s a ride-along kind of ride,” Dawn added.
For a moment, it looked like Mo just wanted to stay put. He took tiny steps here and there and sniffed the air and twitched his ears. It was adorable, but I could tell the boy was getting bored.
Finally, Mo started walking. “Oh, look. Here he goes. Hang on tight,” I said. “He’s heading into a shady spot. We’re passing a tree. Now we’re passing another tree. You can’t see it but he’s flicking his tail — probably to shoo away some bugs. Now we’re at his favorite special bush.”
“What’s so special about it?” the boy asked.
“Well, obviously it tastes good.”
The boy sighed. “I want to get down now.”
“Probably a smart idea,” I said. “This is his favorite resting spot.”
The boy slid down off Mo’s back and ran down the road toward the campsites.
“Tell all your friends!” I called after him.
“Delaney,” Dawn said. “I’m not sure these rides are the rip-roaring fun we hoped they’d be.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because Mo only walked about five feet. And how thrilling can it be when we’re able to walk along beside him at the same speed?”
“Don’t listen to her, Mo,” I whispered. “It’s fascinating just being near you.”
As I’d predicted, Mo knelt down in his usual napping spot with a grunt. I was proud of him for helping us out with our plan, and I could tell he was doing his best.
Just then, I heard footsteps and saw Darby trotting toward us. “Since Mo’s taking a break can we take a break, too?”
“That’s a premium idea,” Dawn said.
“Yeah, okay,” I said. “I guess we should let Mo rest up for the next round.”
“Besides,” Darby said, changing her walk to a skip, “I can’t wait to tell Aunt Jane about our moneymaking endeavor. It’ll cheer her right up!”
We headed into Camp HQ for a cold drink and to present Mrs. Kimbro with the earnings. Aunt Jane and Mrs. Kimbro were sitting at one of the tables talking and drinking ice tea.
“There they are!” Aunt Jane said as she spotted us.
Mrs. Kimbro turned around and grinned at us. “Well, hello there. What’s going on with you three?”
“We have a surprise for you!” Dawn tried to set down the dollar with as much flourish as possible, but it kind of just lay there on the tabletop all crumpled looking.
Mrs. Kimbro seemed baffled. “Well, how nice. What’s this for?”
“It’s for you! We earned it for the campground,” I said, hopping up and down. “We started a special activity. Show them, Darby.”
Darby held up the sign so they could read it.
“Oh, girls. The things you three get up to. That’s … that’s …” Aunt Jane couldn’t even talk. She just kept blinking her eyes and shaking her head.
“Incredibly thoughtful is what that is,” Mrs. Kimbro finished for her.
“We’re just glad you’re happy,” Darby said. “We did it for the campground — and for you.”
Mrs. Kimbro reached out and patted Darby’s arm. “The thing is, girls, even though your idea was clever and kind, we just can’t offer donkey rides,” she said. “If we do, I could get in trouble.”
“In trouble?” I repeated.
She nodded. “I can’t offer such a thing without the proper permits and insurance.”
“Well, jiminy,” Dawn said, crossing her arms. “That just goes against the whole American dream, doesn’t it?”
I stopped hopping, my shoulders slouched, and I could feel my smile sliding down into a sad hound dog expression.
“We didn’t mean to get you in trouble,” Darby said in a remorseful voice.
“Yeah. Sorry,” Dawn said.
“We’ll stop offering rides,” I said. “And Mo will, too.”
“It’s the thought that counts. And y’all’s thought was the kindest I’ve seen in a long time.” Mrs. Kimbro smiled a smile that made me feel light again.
“I’m very proud of you girls for trying to help,” Aunt Jane said. “Now then. This dollar should be returned to its owner. Who gave it to you?”
Dawn held her hand up a few inches above her waist. “A blond six-year-old about yea high.”
“That would be John Michael,” Mrs. Kimbro said. “I’ll put it toward his family’s tab.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Aunt Jane patted a nearby bench. “Well, as long as you all are here, why don’t you sit a spell? Is there anything you need? Sodas maybe?”
“Actually, there is,” Dawn said. “We need to rent a tent.”<
br />
“Hey, that rhymes!” I exclaimed. “Rent a tent! That’s what I meant.” I started singing a little song — until Dawn gave me a bug-eyed look.
“A tent? What for?” Aunt Jane asked.
“Um … We just want to have the full camping experience,” Dawn said. “You know, sleep under the stars. That sort of thing.”
“Girls, I’m sorry to disappoint you again,” Mrs. Kimbro said, “but I’m afraid I can’t rent you a tent.”
“But … why not?” Dawn asked. Her eyes were wide and her face was turning the color of skim milk.
Mrs. Kimbro shrugged helplessly. “I’m plumb out. Those friends you made flags with? I rented the last one to two of them this morning.”
Good evening, girls. I brought you something from Tammy.” I could see Aunt Jane’s outline against the setting sun. She appeared to be carrying a big mound in her arms.
“You found us a tent?” I asked, hopping up from the picnic table.
Her silhouette nodded. “Tammy had it in the shed. It’s an older model that they don’t rent out anymore. But it should still work fine.”
She dropped the bag on the ground near the picnic table, and it landed with a whomp. The noise sounded like a call to action — like a fist pounding or a foot stomp. For the first time in hours, I felt calm and focused.
“Thanks, Aunt Jane,” Darby said.
“You’re the best,” Delaney said.
They both turned toward me.
“I can’t even express how much this means to me,” I said. “Thank you doesn’t seem to cover it. But thank you.” I was feeling mighty shamefaced over the big tantrum I threw earlier. It was tough to look people in the eye.
“You’re welcome,” Aunt Jane said. “I understand this is important to you. Here …” She bent over and started to undo the drawstring on the tent bag. “Let me show you how —”
“No!” I shouted. Everyone stared at me again. “Sorry. We have to … that is, we want to do it ourselves. If you help us, it will rob us of a valuable character-building experience.”
Aunt Jane lifted her hands as if surrendering. “All righty, then. Can’t argue with that.”
“Don’t hurt her feelings,” Darby whispered. “Remember, she got us the tent, even though it means we move out of the trailer. She wanted to camp with us and now we’re doing our own thing.”
Revenge of the Happy Campers Page 8