9. Camp Ockatollyquay

9 Camp Ockatollyquay "Day camp?" Arlo shouted. "We don't want to go to day camp!" "Speak for yourself, Arlo," I told him. "Maybe I want to go to day camp." I used to go to day camp when I was little. We got to play sports and sing songs and go swimming and put on plays and make lanyards and pottery. I loved it! (I'm going to add day camp to my list of things I

love.) It didn't matter what Arlo wanted anyway. Our moms decided they were sending us to day camp for the last four days of summer vacation. The next morning they woke us up bright and early to drive us to camp. Our moms sat in the front seat. They looked really happy. Arlo and I sat in the backseat. He was scowling the whole time. I checked to make sure my bathing suit, notebook, camera, and other things were properly organized in my backpack. It took about a half an hour until we pulled into the parking lot at Camp Ockatollyquay. That's what the sign said. I guess it's a Native American name or something. "Bye! Have fun!" my mom shouted when we got out of the car. "Don't forget to put on

sunscreen!" "We'll pick you up at the end of the day," said Arlo's mom. They peeled out of the parking lot in a cloud of dust. They were probably going to go drink more coffee. A lady came out of the office. Well, she was really just a teenager. She had on thick glasses and was carrying a clipboard. "You must be Andrea and A.J.," she said. "My name is Miss Janey. Welcome to Camp Ockatollyquay. I'm going to be your counselor. Follow me. Let's go find the rest of our group."

Miss Janey was nice. I loved her already. She led us past the soccer field and the swimming pool toward a big building at the

other end of the camp. "How come there's no water in the swimming pool?" Arlo asked. "Oh, we don't use the swimming pool," said Miss Janey. "How come there are no kids playing on the soccer field?" I asked. "Oh, we don't use the soccer field," said Miss Janey. "Are we going to play sports and sing songs and put on plays and make lanyards and pottery?" I asked. "No, we don't do those things at Camp Ockatollyquay," said Miss Janey. "This camp is weird," Arlo whispered to me. Miss Janey opened the door of the building and led us down the hall to a room. And you'll never believe who was in there.

It was our friends Emily, Michael, Ryan, Alexia, and Neil! The whole gang was there! And they were all wearing pajamas! Emily gave me a big hug when she saw me. "Oooh," Ryan said. "A.J. and Andrea came to camp together. They must be in love." "When are you gonna get married?" asked Michael.