“Yes! We see it!” I called back. “Please keep shining that light. We’re going to cross over.”
“Take it easy going across!” Mr. Bartholomew shouted. “It might be slippery.”
The causeway was fairly wide, but it was dark and the only light was the beam of a distant flashlight. As we stood on the bank, waiting to cross, Darby started humming a soft, slowed-down version of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” I joined in, and then, little by little, so did the others.
First, Darby and Robbie headed out onto the causeway. As they crossed, they took measured, sure-footed steps in time with the music. Next went Delaney, coaxing along Mo with Nelson on his back. Jay and I followed a safe distance behind.
“You’re doing fine,” went Mr. Bartholomew. “Not too fast now.”
I saw Darby and Robbie make it to the other side and breathed a grateful sigh. Then Delaney, Mo, and Nelson stepped down off the causeway, and I made a little happy noise.
Finally, my foot hit wet grass, and I felt a sparkly rush of relief. I hugged my sisters. I thanked Mr. Bartholomew. I even kissed Mo on the nose.
“Yes!” I shouted. “I love camping!”
Thank heavens,” Aunt Jane cried out as we walked into HQ with Mr. Bartholomew. She ran over and grabbed all three of us in one big hug. I ended up smooshed into Delaney’s hair, but I didn’t mind. I was happy to be back at camp and extra happy to see Aunt Jane.
A bearded man in long plaid shorts ran over to Jay, Robbie, and Nelson. He hugged each of them gently and helped Nelson limp over to a nearby bench. I figured he must have been their dad. Mr. Moyers wore the same watery-eyed expression that Aunt Jane had for us.
“Are you kids okay?” Mrs. Kimbro asked, rushing out from behind the counter. She had a phone in one hand and a map in the other. “We’ve been so worried! We were just gathering up a search party.”
“We’re fine,” Dawn said. “We all pulled together and made it back.”
“Mo helped, too!” Delaney said.
“Goodness, you all must be chilled to the bone. Have a seat near the fire.” Mrs. Kimbro ushered us toward the fireplace, which crackled and glowed irresistibly. “I’ll get marshmallows and skewers.”
Mr. Bartholomew found a couple of big blankets. He draped one over me, Dawn, and Delaney, and the other over Jay and Robbie. In the meantime, Aunt Jane took a look at Nelson’s foot and had him wiggle it. I heard her tell his dad that it was probably a sprained ankle.
“If that’s the worst that happened, then we’re lucky,” said Mr. Moyers.
“Darn tootin’,” said Dawn. “Camping is serious stuff.”
“That’s why you need rules and guidelines,” Delaney said.
“And friends,” I said. Robbie smiled at me and I smiled back.
“And donkeys!” Delaney added.
Mrs. Kimbro came back with marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and long metal skewers, and we related our adventure as we made s’mores. I was so hungry, I didn’t even mind the marshmallows.
We told everyone about the sudden storm, how we found shelter underneath the rocky ledge, and how Mo had led us back and Mr. Bartholomew had guided us with his flashlight. We didn’t mention the arguing or spying or how Robbie left his group to join us. All that seemed so silly now.
Occasionally, one of the boys spoke up. Nelson talked about how we’d helped him when he got hurt, and Robbie mentioned Presidential Trivia and how it helped us not be scared. For a long time, Jay just sat there under his blanket, not saying anything.
Later, during a lull when we were all chewing our food, Jay stood and said in a scratchy voice, “It was my fault. I got us all into that mess. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said. “It’s nobody’s fault.”
He shook his head. “You guys tried to stop the competition, but I didn’t listen. I was stubborn. I’m sorry I got carried away. And Nelson, I’m sorry you ended up hurt because of it. And Robbie” — Jay paused, his voice quivering — “I was really unfair to you. I owe you an extra apology on top of the other apology.”
He turned toward his brother and held out his hand. For a few seconds Robbie just looked into his eyes. Then he grinned. I felt a lump in my throat as they shook on it.
“But Jay, you also helped save us,” I said. “You’re the one who had the idea about following Mo’s tracks.”
“And I have to admit, you really know how to shake up an opponent,” Dawn said.
“See?” Delaney said. “You must be pretty incredible, Jay. Because Dawn doesn’t say nice things to people unless she really means them.”
One side of Jay’s mouth tugged upward. He seemed to be feeling better.
I popped the last bit of chocolate into my mouth and stood to face Jay, Robbie, and Nelson. Then I raised my hand in a salute. Dawn and Delaney did the same.
This time Jay smiled for real. He brushed cracker crumbs off his hands and saluted us back. Robbie followed suit, and Nelson saluted from his bench.
“I must say, this is the most civilized of campgrounds,” Mr. Bartholomew said. Then he saluted, too.
We hung around for a while longer, enjoying the fire, eating more food, and visiting with everyone. I didn’t talk much. I was enjoying sitting in my chair and listening to the happy sounds around me.
To my left, Mr. Moyers was explaining to Mrs. Kimbro how he cooks fish. To my right, Aunt Jane was telling Jay about her days playing basketball. In front of me, Dawn was playing Go Fish with Nelson. Behind me, Mr. Bartholomew was telling Robbie and Delaney about the donkeys they used when he served in the Army, and Delaney told him that she someday wanted to get a paint horse. “I think I’ll name him S’mores,” she added.
I felt warm and snug, but not just because of the fire and gooey treats. Something amazing had happened here, the type of thing that changes your whole view — as if the whole world had tilted a little to the left.
In the past, we’ve helped family, friends, and even strangers, but this was the first time we’d banded together with adversaries. It was hard at first — and then it wasn’t bad at all, at least once we realized we weren’t that different. Maybe all enemies are just people you don’t understand yet?
I wanted to ponder that some more, but my mind felt slow and dreamy. As I yawned I saw Aunt Jane notice me.
“I better get these girls back to the trailer for some dry clothes and a good sleep,” she said, getting to her feet.
“I’ll never take those two things for granted again in my life,” Dawn said.
Dawn, Delaney, and I said good-bye to everyone, thanked Mr. Bartholomew, and told Nelson we hoped he healed up quickly. Then we straggled toward the exit.
“Thanks for everything, Tammy,” Aunt Jane said as we started heading out the door. “I’ll come back early tomorrow to help figure out the storm damage.”
“No hurry, Jane. You see to those girls. There will be plenty of opportunity. After all, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
Because I was zonked, it took a while for that last part to sink in.
“What did Mrs. Kimbro mean?” I asked Aunt Jane as we crunched down the gravel path. “Are we going to come camping again soon?”
“Sort of,” she said. She stopped walking and turned to face us. “Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you all. I’ve decided I’m going to go into the camping business.”
“You … what?” Dawn asked.
“Tammy really needs some help or she’s going to have to sell, and I’d hate to see this place go. Plus, I think I’m ready to leave Boston. I feel like I’ve done all I can do there and, as I mentioned already, I sure do hate being far away from family.”
“But do you know how to run a whole campground?” Delaney asked.
“Well, I know how to run an establishment where people come to get away from it all. I know some things about camping and horses and outdoor sports. I think I could be good for this place, just like it was good for me all those years.”
Aunt Jane grinned so big, I could see it in the dark. “That’s exactly what it means.”
Once again we ended up in a big group hug and once again I was mushed up against someone’s ear or nose, but it didn’t matter. I was so happy, I could be jabbed with cactus prickles and still feel great.
“Of course you’ll be good for the campground,” Dawn said.
“Just like you’re good for us,” Delaney said.
“It needs you, Aunt Jane,” I said. “And so do we.”
Dear Mom and Dad,
Mrs. Kimbro, who runs Lake Lewis Campground, is letting me borrow her computer. I wanted to send a quick email to let you know that everything is fine. You might have received some distressing letters or postcards by now, and I know I was a little bit reluctant to go on this trip. I just didn’t want you to be worried.
When we get home we’ll tell you all about our stay here. And Aunt Jane has some news of her own. But in the meantime, I just wanted to say thank you for forcing me to come here against my will.
Love,
Dawn
I knocked on the door of the Moyers’ RV and took a step back. There was muffled music in the background and I heard some thumping sounds. Then Mr. Moyers opened the door and smiled at me. He was wearing a tie-dyed shirt and his long hair was in a tidy braid.
“Good morning, Delaney,” he said. “Want to come inside and watch cartoons?”
I had to think about that one for a moment. “No, thank you,” I said at last. “I have people waiting for me. I just came to get Robbie.”
“He’s finishing up. Won’t be long now,” he said. “So did you get some good rest last night after your adventures?”
I nodded. “Sure did. Darby said I kept talking about clowns, but I don’t remember.”
“Hi!” Robbie popped into the door frame, next to his dad. He was holding a paper bag and was grinning real big.
I grinned back. “Hey there. Everyone’s in the Neutral Zone. They sent me to get you.”
“I’m ready.” He looked over at his dad. “I’ll be back soon with the others.”
“Don’t take too long. We need to leave in an hour if we’re going to make it home by dinnertime.”
“All right.”
“And Roberto? No tests of endurance or treks into the wilderness, okay?” Mr. Moyers winked at us.
“We won’t,” Robbie said a little sheepishly. “Sorry,” he said to me after the door shut.
“No problem. Dawn says stuff like that to Darby all the time.”
Mo was standing near the path to the Neutral Zone. I ran up and hugged him around his neck.
“I think he came to say good-bye,” I said to Robbie. “He knows you’re leaving.”
Robbie patted him on the neck. “I’ll miss you, Mo. You saved us, you know. You and your big feet.”
“I’m going to miss him, too, when we leave tomorrow,” I said sadly, pressing my forehead against his muzzle. “But I’ll probably get a chance to see him again. Now that Aunt Jane will be helping to run this campground, Dawn wants us to come back every spring break. Like a tradition!”
“That’s nice. Maybe we’ll come back, too,” Robbie said. “I’ll ask Dad.”
“That would be stupendous! We’ll have a reunion.”
Robbie turned and saluted Mo. “Democrat the Donkey, aka ‘Mo,’ you are the bravest donkey that ever existed.”
“And the sweetest. And cutest. And the most loyal,” I added, patting Mo’s back.
We left him chewing on a leafy bush and poked our way through the brush until we came into the clearing, where Dawn, Darby, Jay, and Nelson were waiting for us. Nelson was sitting in a lawn chair Jay had carried out, but the others were standing.
“Finally,” Dawn said. “We were going to get Mr. Bartholomew and his flashlight to help find you.”
“Ha-ha. Very funny,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Robbie went and stood by his brothers and I lined up with Dawn and Darby. For a few seconds we just hung around smiling awkwardly at one another.
Eventually, I cleared my voice and said, “We sure are sorry you guys have to go.”
“Yeah,” Dawn said. “Just when we started liking you.”
“Plus, we could use your support. We’re organizing a camp cleanup,” Darby added.
We had just brainstormed it a little while ago after breakfast and Morning Cartwheels. Aunt Jane had mentioned how the storm left behind lots of debris and broken stuff all over the campground and we offered to go around picking it up — safely and in a group. When Mr. Bartholomew stopped by to check on us, he said he’d help, too.
“Sorry we’ll miss that,” Jay said.
“Yeah,” Nelson said.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” I said. “Which is weird. In a way it doesn’t seem like we’ve been here a week already, but it also seems like we’ve been here a long long long time.”
“Yeah,” Robbie said. “Seems that way to me, too.”
It got quiet again.
“So anyway … we got you a present,” Nelson said. “Go ahead and give it to them, Jay.”
“A present?” Dawn said.
Jay nodded and smiled that unreadable smile of his. Then he reached into his backpack and pulled out a folded cloth, which he handed to Dawn.
“It’s a flag. Another one,” he explained. “We felt you guys should have it because, well, you guys were the real winners.”
Dawn looked confused. “But I forfeited.”
Jay shook his head. “You put aside personal glory for the good of the group,” he said. “You are the better leader. You guys governed best.”
“Go ahead and look at it,” Nelson urged.
Dawn held it up by the edge and let it unfold, and Darby and I leaned in to look. Sure enough, it was their original design, only a couple of things were different. This time, there were six hands holding on to each other at the wrist, making a hexagon shape. And the words across the top read “United in Friendship and Fun.”
“Wow,” I exclaimed. “That’s beautiful.”
“Plus we made you guys zucchini bread,” Robbie said. He stepped forward and handed me the paper bag. I peeked inside and saw a plastic container. A wonderful smell hit my nose.
“Thanks, you guys,” I said and passed it to Darby.
“That’s very thoughtful,” Darby said and passed it to Dawn.
“I feel a little lousy because we didn’t bring you guys anything,” Dawn said.
Robbie laughed. “That’s okay. We wanted to do this.”
“Besides,” Jay said. “You guys have already done lots for us.”
We all stood and grinned at one another. No one spoke for a while, but it wasn’t a squirmy silence. It was nice and friendly.
Eventually, Robbie said they had to get going so we followed them back to their RV. It was kind of slow because of Nelson. I was glad he seemed able to get around better. And he had found a big stick that he leaned on as he walked. He told us that he and his dad would carve cool things into it.
Once we got to their camper, we stood in a line and saluted them. They saluted back. Then they all climbed inside and shouted good-bye — Mr. Moyers, too. We waved as the RV pulled out of the campsite, and I ran in circles with the flag held over my head.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m sorry to see those charlatans leave,” Dawn said.
“Me too,” Darby said.
“Me three,” I said.
We decided to take the road to HQ instead of the dirt path so that we could walk arm in arm. It was one of those beautiful, sparkly days that makes it seem like Mother Nature is showing off. Birds sang and flitted about. Wildflowers waved at us in the breeze. I just knew this would be one of those memories that got blown up big and framed inside my mind — me walking with my sisters after
our big adventure.
“So, Dawn,” I asked as we headed toward HQ, our arms linked together so that we made a short chain. “Are you still okay to run against Jay for president?”
“Sure,” she said. “Although I’m hoping I won’t have to.”
“You’re hoping he’s changed his mind about running?” Darby asked.
Dawn shook her head. “I’m thinking that even though he’s a great opponent, he’ll make an even better running mate.”
Don’t miss the Brewster Triplets in any of their adventures!
Turn the page to start reading Revenge of the Angels, by Jennifer Ziegler.
I still say it was Dawn’s fault that Christmas was almost ruined. She let that silly pageant take over everything.
Once she has her mind set on how things should be, she’s as flexible as a mule in cement shoes. But she also has a way of getting all of us worked up, and before we know it, the three of us are stuck in a situation we can’t get out of. Like quicksand.
After the horror of the Christmas pageant auditions and casting announcements, Dawn pouted all the way home and grumped all the way up the stairs to our room. As soon as we shut the door she started griping loudly.
“Angels! Can you believe that? Angels! Do I look like an angel to you?”
Darby and I shook our heads. When Dawn’s angry, she can be kind of scary, so we always just agree with her. And truthfully, she didn’t look all that angelic with her glaring eyes and all the crisscrossed lines on her brow. Even her hair looked redder.
“This whole thing is such a … a …” Dawn snapped her fingers, trying to think of the right word.
“A travesty,” Darby said.
“A catastrophe,” I said.
“More like an epic disgrace,” Dawn said. “Those auditions were a total sham!”
We’d practiced long and hard to be the Three Wise Men at our church’s annual pageant. Just that morning, we’d gotten up at the crack of dawn to practice our wise walk, which is not easy. At first we couldn’t agree on what a wise walk looked like. We tried gliding, trudging, and marching. Darby even pointed out that in “The First Noel” a line goes, “Then entered in the wise men three, full reverently upon their knee,” so we tried walking on our knees. But that hurt our kneecaps, and a harmful knee-walk doesn’t seem, or look, very wise.
Revenge of the Happy Campers Page 17