“Sounds like a cool place!” my brother declared, grinning at me.
“Only the best!” Buddy said, slapping Elliot on the shoulder.
I reached the top of the hill first and peered down through the trees to the camp. It seemed to stretch for miles!
I could see two long, white, two-story buildings on either side. Between them, I saw several playing fields, a baseball diamond, a long row of tennis courts, and two enormous swimming pools.
“Those long, white buildings are the dorms,” Buddy explained, pointing. “That’s the girls’ dorm, and that’s the boys’. You guys can stay in them while you’re here.”
“Wow! It looks awesome!” Elliot exclaimed. “Two swimming pools!”
“Olympic size,” Buddy told him. “We have diving competitions, too. Are you into diving?”
“Only inside the trailer!” I joked.
“Wendy is into swimming,” Elliot told Buddy.
“I think there’s a four-lap swim race this afternoon,” Buddy told me. “I’ll check the schedule for you.”
The sun beamed on us as we followed the path down the hill. The back of my neck started to prickle. A cool swim sounded pretty good to me.
“Can anyone sign up for baseball?” Elliot asked Buddy. “I mean, do you have to be on a team or something?”
“You can play any sport you want,” Buddy told him. “The only rule at King Jellyjam’s Sports Camp is to try hard.” Buddy tapped the button on his T-shirt. “Only The Best,” he said.
The breeze blew my hair back over my face. I knew I should have had it cut before vacation! I decided I’d have to find something to tie it back with as soon as I got into the dorm.
A soccer match was under way on the nearest field. Whistles blew. Kids shouted. I saw a long row of archery targets at the far end of the soccer field.
Buddy started jogging toward the field. Elliot stepped up beside me. “Hey—we wanted to go to camp, right?” he said, grinning. “Well? We made it!”
Before I could reply, he trotted after Buddy.
I brushed back my hair one more time, then followed. But I stopped when I saw a little girl poke her head out from behind a wide tree trunk.
She appeared to be about six or seven. She had bright red hair and a face full of freckles. She wore a pale blue T-shirt pulled down over black tights.
“Hey—” she called in a loud whisper. “Hey—!”
I turned toward her, startled.
“Don’t come in!” she called. “Run away! Don’t come in!”
6
Buddy turned back quickly. “What’s the problem, Wendy?” he called.
When I returned my eyes to the tree, the red-haired girl had vanished. I blinked a couple of times. No trace of her.
What was that girl doing out here? I wondered. Did she hide behind that tree just to scare people?
“Uh… no problem,” I called to Buddy. I followed Elliot and the counselor into the camp.
I quickly forgot all about the girl as we made our way around the soccer field and past a long row of fenced-in tennis courts. The thwack of tennis balls followed us as we turned on to the main path that led through the camp.
So many sports! So much activity!
We pushed our way through kids of all ages, eagerly hurrying to the swimming pools, to the baseball diamond, to the bowling lanes!
“Awesome!” Elliot kept repeating. “Totally awesome!”
And for once, he was right.
We passed several other camp counselors. They were all young men and women, dressed completely in white, all of them good-looking and smiling cheerfully.
And we passed dozens of little triangular signs showing the purple, blobby face of King Jellyjam, smiling out from under his shiny gold crown. Under each face was the camp slogan: Only The Best.
He’s kind of cute, I decided. I realized I was starting to like everything about this amazing sports camp.
And I have to confess I found myself secretly hoping that Mom and Dad wouldn’t be able to find Elliot and me for at least a day or two.
Isn’t that terrible?
I felt really guilty about it. But I couldn’t help thinking it. This camp was just too exciting. Especially after days of riding in the backseat of the car, staring out at cows!
We dropped my brother off at the boys’ dorm first. Another counselor, a tall, dark-haired guy named Scooter, greeted Elliot and took my brother off to find a dorm room.
Then Buddy led me to the girls’ dorm on the other side of the camp. We passed a gymnastics competition being held in an outdoor arena. Beyond that, one of the swimming pools was jammed with kids watching a diving contest off the high board.
Buddy and I chatted as we walked. I told him about my school and about how my favorite sports are swimming and biking.
We stopped at the white double-door entrance to the dorm. “Where are you from?” I asked him.
Buddy stared back at me. He had such a confused expression on his face. For a moment, I thought he didn’t understand the question.
“Do you come from around here?” I asked.
He swallowed hard. He squinted his blue eyes. “Weird…” he muttered finally.
“What’s weird?” I demanded.
“I… I don’t remember,” he stammered. “I don’t remember where I’m from. Is that weird or what?” He raised his right hand to his mouth and nibbled his pointer finger.
“Hey, I forget stuff all the time,” I told him, seeing how upset he was.
I didn’t get a chance to say anything else. A young woman counselor with very short, straight black hair and bright purple-lipsticked lips came trotting up to us. “Hello. I’m Holly. Are you ready for some sports?”
“I guess,” I replied uncertainly.
“This is Wendy,” Buddy told her, his expression still troubled. “She needs a room.”
“No problem!” Holly declared cheerfully. “Only The Best!”
“Only The Best,” Buddy repeated quietly. He flashed me a smile. But I could see he was still struggling to remember where his home was. Weird, huh?
Holly led the way into the dorm. I followed her down a long, white-tiled hall. Several girls came running past, on their way to different sports. They were all shouting and laughing excitedly.
I peeked into some of the open rooms as we passed by them. Wow! I thought. This place is so modern and luxurious! It’s not exactly your basic, rustic summer camp.
“We don’t stay in the rooms much at all,” Holly told me. “Everyone is always outdoors, competing.”
She pushed open a white door and motioned for me to step in. Bright sunlight flooded the room from a wide window on the opposite wall.
I saw two bright blue bunk beds against each wall. A sleek white dresser between them. Two white leather armchairs.
The walls were white. They were bare except for a small, framed drawing of King Jellyjam above the dresser.
“Nice room!” I exclaimed, squinting against the bright sunlight.
Holly smiled. Her bright purple lips made the rest of her features seem to disappear. “Glad you like it, Wendy. You can take that bottom bunk over there.” She pointed. She had purple fingernails that matched her lipstick.
“Do I have roommates?” I asked.
Holly nodded. “You’ll meet them soon. They’ll get you started with some activities. I think they’re playing soccer on the lower field. I’m not sure.”
She started out of the room, but turned at the doorway. “You’ll like Dierdre. I think she’s about your age.”
“Thanks,” I said, gazing around the room.
“Catch you later,” Holly replied. She vanished into the hall.
I stood in the center of the sunlit room, thinking hard. What am I supposed to do for clothes? I wondered. What about swimsuits? Sweats?
All I had were the denim short-shorts and pink-and-blue-striped T-shirt I was wearing.
And why didn’t Holly tell me where to go next? I asked myself. W
hy did she just leave me by myself in this empty room?
I didn’t have long to ask myself questions.
I started to cross to the window when I heard voices. Whispered voices outside the door.
I turned to the door. Were my roommates returning?
I listened to the excited buzz of whispers.
Then I heard a girl loudly instruct the others. “Come on. We’ve got her trapped in there. Let’s get her!”
7
I gasped and searched frantically for a place to hide.
No time.
Three girls burst into the room, their eyes narrowed, their mouths twisted into menacing sneers. They formed a line and moved toward me quickly.
“Whoa! Wait!” I cried. I raised both hands as if to shield myself from their attack.
The tall girl with streaky blond hair was the first to laugh. Then the other two joined in.
“Gotcha,” the blond girl declared, tossing back her long hair triumphantly.
I glared back at her, my mouth hanging open.
“Did you really think we were going to attack?” one of the others asked. She was thin and wiry, with very short black hair cut into bangs. She wore gray sweats and a torn gray T-shirt.
“Well…” I started. I could feel my face growing hot. Their little joke had really fooled me. I felt like a total jerk.
“Don’t look at me,” the third girl said, shaking her head. She had frizzy blond hair tumbling out from beneath a blue and red Chicago Cubs cap. “It was all Dierdre’s idea.” She pointed to the girl with streaky blond hair.
“Don’t feel bad,” Dierdre told me, grinning. Her green eyes flashed. “You’re the third girl this week.”
The other two snickered.
“And did the others think you were attacking?” I asked.
Dierdre nodded, very pleased with herself. “It’s kind of a mean joke,” she admitted. “But it’s funny.”
This time I joined in the laughter.
“I have a younger brother. I’m used to dumb jokes,” I told Dierdre.
She swept back her hair again. Rummaged around on the dresser top. Found a hair scrunchy to hold it back. “This is Jan and this is Ivy,” she said, motioning to the other girls.
Jan was the one with the short black bangs. She slumped on to a lower bunk. “I’m whipped,” she sighed. “What a workout. Look at me. I’m sweating like a pig.”
“Ever hear of deodorant?” Ivy cracked.
Jan stuck out her tongue at Ivy in reply.
“Get changed,” Dierdre instructed them both. “We’ve only got ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes till what?” Jan demanded, bending down and rubbing her calf muscles.
“Did you forget the four-lap race?” Dierdre replied.
“Oh, wow!” Jan cried, jumping up. “I did forget.” She hurried to the dresser. “Where’s my swimsuit?”
Ivy followed her. They began frantically sifting through the drawers.
Dierdre turned to me. “Do you want to enter the race?” she asked.
“I—I don’t have a swimsuit,” I replied.
She shrugged. “No problem. I have about a dozen.” She studied me. “We’re about the same size. I’m just a little taller.”
“Well, I’d love a swim,” I told her. “Maybe I’ll just go to the pool and splash around for a while.”
“Huh? Not compete?” Dierdre cried.
All three girls turned to me, stunned expressions on their faces.
“I’ll do some sports later,” I said. “Right now, I just want to dive in and swim a little. You know. Cool off.”
“But—you can’t!” Jan cried. She gaped at me as if I had suddenly grown a second head.
“No way,” Ivy said, shaking her head.
“You have to compete,” Dierdre added. “You can’t just swim.”
“Only The Best,” Ivy recited.
“Right. Only The Best,” Jan agreed.
I felt totally confused. “What do you mean?” I demanded. “Why do you keep saying that?”
Dierdre tossed me a blue swimsuit. “Put it on. We’re going to be late.”
“But… but—” I sputtered.
The three girls hurried to get into their swimsuits.
I saw that I had no choice. I went into the bathroom and started to change.
But my questions repeated in my mind. I really wanted them answered.
Why did I have to compete in the race? Why couldn’t I just have a swim?
And why did everyone keep repeating “Only The Best”?
What did they mean?
8
The enormous blue pool sparkled under the bright sunlight. The sun hovered high overhead. The concrete burned the soles of my bare feet. I couldn’t wait to get into the water.
Shielding my eyes with one hand, I searched for Elliot. But I couldn’t find him in the crowd of kids who were waiting to watch the race.
Elliot has probably already played three sports, I told myself. This had to be the perfect camp for my brother!
I gazed down the line of girls waiting to compete in the four-lap race. We all stood on the edge of the deep end of the pool, waiting to jump in.
I silently counted. There were at least two dozen girls in this race. And the pool was wide enough for all of us to have a lane to swim in.
“Hey, you look terrific in my suit,” Dierdre said. Her green eyes studied me. “You should have tied your hair back, Wendy. It’s going to slow you down.”
Wow, I thought. Dierdre really cares about winning.
“Are you a good swimmer?” I asked her.
She swatted a fly on the back of her calf. “The best,” she replied, grinning. “How about you?”
“I’ve never really raced,” I told her.
The pool counselors were all young women. They wore white two-piece swimsuits. Across the pool, I saw Holly sitting on the edge of the diving board, talking to another counselor.
A tall, red-haired counselor moved to the edge of the pool and blew her whistle. “Everyone ready?” she called.
We all shouted back that we were ready. Then the long line of girls grew silent. We turned to the pool, leaned forward, and prepared to dive in.
The water shimmered beneath me. The sun burned down on my back and shoulders. I felt about to melt. I couldn’t wait to jump in.
The whistle blew. I sprang forward and hit the water hard.
I gasped from the shock of the cold against my hot skin. My arms churned hard as I pulled myself forward.
The splash of thrashing arms and kicking feet sounded like the roar of a waterfall. I dipped my face into the water, feeling the refreshing coldness.
Turning my head, I glimpsed Dierdre a few lengths behind me. She swam in a steady rhythm, her arms and legs moving smoothly, gracefully.
I’m ahead of everyone, I realized, glancing across the pool. I’m winning the race!
With a hard kick, I reached the other end of the pool. I made a sharp turn and pushed off. As I started back to the deep end, the other girls were still approaching the shallow end wall.
I pulled myself harder. My heart started to pound.
I knew I’d win the first lap easily. Then there were three laps to go.
Three laps…
I suddenly realized how dumb I was. The other girls were pacing themselves. They weren’t swimming full speed because they knew it was a four-lap race.
If I kept swimming this hard, I wouldn’t survive two laps!
I sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
Slowly… slowly…
That was the word of the day.
I slowed my kicking. Shot my arms out and pulled them back slowly. Took long breaths. Long, slow breaths.
As I made my turn and started the second lap, several other swimmers had moved beside me. I caught Dierdre’s eye as she swam past.
She never broke her steady rhythm. Stroke. Stroke. Breath. Stroke.
On the other side of Dierdre, I saw Jan s
wimming comfortably, easily. Jan was so small and light. She seemed to float over the water.
Into the third lap. I kept a few lengths behind Dierdre. I had to concentrate on keeping a slow, even pace. I pretended I was a robot, programmed to swim slowly.
Dierdre turned into the fourth lap a few seconds ahead of me. I saw her expression change as she made her turn. She narrowed her eyes. Her entire face grew tight and tense.
Dierdre really wants to win, I saw.
I wondered if I could catch her. I wondered if I could beat her.
I made my turn and put on the speed.
I ignored the aching in my arms.
I ignored the cramp in my left foot.
I thrust myself forward, kicking hard from the waist. My hands cut through the water.
Faster.
I glimpsed Jan fall behind. I saw the disappointment on her face as I passed by.
Pounding, thrusting arms and legs churned the water to froth. The splashing became a roar. The roar nearly drowned out the cheers of the kids watching from around the pool.
My heart thudded so hard, I thought my chest might explode.
My arms ached. They felt as if they each weighed a thousand pounds.
Faster…
I pulled up beside Dierdre. Close. So close, I could hear her gasping breaths.
I glimpsed her face, tight with concentration.
She’s just like Elliot, I decided. She wants to win so badly.
Lots of times I let Elliot win a game. Because he cared about it so much more than I did. And so did Dierdre.
As we neared the wall at the deep end, I let Dierdre pull ahead.
I saw how much it meant to her. I saw how desperate she was to finish first.
What the heck, I thought. There’s nothing wrong with coming in second.
I heard the cheers ring out as Dierdre won the race.
I touched the wall, then dipped below the surface. I pulled myself up and grabbed the wall.
My entire body ached and throbbed. I gasped in breath after breath. I shut my eyes and pulled my hair back with both hands, squeezing the water out of it.
My arms were so tired, I could barely pull myself out of the pool. I was one of the last swimmers out.