I rested a hand on Aaron’s shoulder and let him walk me back to my cabin. “I’m going to enjoy the rest of camp,” I told my brother. “I really am.”
The nurse checked me out carefully. Then I rested all afternoon. I took a long nap.
When I woke up, I was starving. I realized I hadn’t eaten all day.
I pulled on jeans and a camp sweatshirt and hurried to the campfire. As I trotted down the path toward the clearing by the woods, the aroma of hot dogs and hamburgers on the barbecue drifted out to me.
Richard greeted me at the campfire circle. “Sarah, you look great!” he exclaimed. “I heard about… what happened at the lake this afternoon.”
“Well, I’m fine now,” I told him. “I feel great.”
“Hey—no more close calls,” he scolded. “Or else you have to swim in the kiddie pool.”
“I’ll be careful,” I promised.
“You’d better—because we don’t have a kiddie pool!” he joked.
I laughed.
“Take a seat,” he said, pointing to the circle of logs. “Take a seat, everyone!” he called out. “We’re going to have a meeting before we eat!”
Most of the campers had already taken their places. I glanced around the circle quickly, searching for a place to sit.
“Sarah—?” A voice called to me.
“Sarah—over here.”
I let out a shocked cry when I saw Della.
Della. By herself on a log back near the woods. Her blond hair shimmering around her pale face. The pink evening sunlight shining through her body.
Shining right through her.
“Noooo!” I moaned.
“Come over here, Sarah!” Della called. “Please—sit over here with me. Be my buddy!”
19
I raised my hands to my cheeks and let out a shrill scream.
“No! You’re not here!” I wailed. “You’re a ghost! You don’t belong here! I’m alive now! I’m alive!”
I turned and saw Richard and Liz hurrying toward me.
Across the circle, Aaron jumped up and came running over. “Sarah—what’s wrong? What is it?” he cried.
“Don’t you see her?” I shrieked. I pointed to the log near the woods. “She’s a ghost! But I’m alive!”
Liz wrapped her arms around me. “It’s okay, Sarah,” she whispered. “You’re okay now.”
“But—but she’s sitting there!” I sputtered.
Everyone turned to the log.
“There’s no one there,” Richard said. He narrowed his eyes at me.
“You had a terrible shock,” Liz said softly. “A terrible shock. You’re still not quite yourself, Sarah.”
“But—but—” I stammered.
I saw Briana, Meg, and Jan huddled together, talking softly. Watching me.
What are they saying about me? I wondered.
“Do you want me to walk you back to your cabin?” Richard asked.
I shook my head. “No. I’m starving!”
Liz laughed. “Maybe that’s your problem. You’re so hungry, you’re seeing things! Let’s get you a hot dog—fast.”
After a couple of hot dogs, I started to feel better. The campfire meeting began. I sat next to some girls from a different cabin.
As Richard talked, I gazed around the circle. Stared at the campers’ faces, orange from the flickering campfire. Searching for Della.
Della the ghost…
Was she still here? Still watching me? Still waiting for me to be her buddy?
I sat forward tensely. My whole body stiff. My eyes straining to see her pale, pale face.
But she had vanished.
For now.
Liz took over the meeting. Most campers groaned when she started another lecture on water safety.
“We had a close call today,” Liz said. “A frightening close call.”
I knew everyone was staring at me. I could feel my face growing hot. I gazed into the yellow flames of the campfire.
When I raised my eyes, I saw Briana, Meg, and Jan on the next log, whispering together. About me?
“Our water safety rules are so important here at Camp Cold Lake,” Liz was saying. “Some campers joke that having so many rules is the curse of Camp Cold Lake, because we talk about the rules so much.”
She pressed her hands against her sides. Her eyes moved from camper to camper. “But as we saw this afternoon,” she continued, “the Buddy System isn’t a curse—it’s a blessing.”
A face rose up behind the darting flames of the fire.
I gasped.
Della!
No. A girl from another cabin, climbing up to get more food.
I sank back.
I have to get away from this camp, I decided. I can’t have a good time here. Not if I always have to keep an eye out for Della.
Liz rattled on about the water rules.
Richard made a few announcements.
Everyone sang some camp songs.
When the campfire ended, I jumped up quickly and started along the path to my cabin. I had gone only a few steps when I heard fast footsteps behind me. And heard someone calling my name.
Was it the ghost?
I turned to see Aaron jogging up to me. “What was that screaming about?” he demanded. “Did you really think you saw a ghost?”
“Why should I tell you?” I snapped. I continued along the path, walking rapidly. “You’ll only laugh at me.”
“Try me,” he replied, running to catch up. “I won’t laugh. I promise.”
“I saw a ghost girl,” I told him. “I swear I did. She called to me. She wants me to be her buddy.”
Aaron laughed. “No. Really,” he said. “What did you really see? Be serious.”
“I am serious!” I cried. “I have to get away from here, Aaron. I’m going to run away. Get to a phone. Call Mom and Dad. Tonight. I’m going to tell them to come get me.”
“You can’t!” Aaron replied. He grabbed my arm and forced me to stop walking. I could see kids staring at us as they walked past.
“Mom and Dad won’t want to make more than one trip up here. So if you call them, they’ll make me come home too,” Aaron protested. “And I don’t want to leave. I’m having a great time!”
“You don’t understand,” I told him. “I can’t stay here. I can’t—”
“Please, Sarah,” he begged. “Try to stick it out. Give it a little more time. You’re just a little messed up because of the lake this afternoon. But you’ll be okay. Give it some time.”
I didn’t say yes, and I didn’t say no.
I just told Aaron good-night and headed to my cabin.
I stopped outside the door. All the lights were on. I heard Briana, Meg, and Jan talking softly.
They stopped talking as soon as I stepped inside.
All three of them stared hard at me. Their expressions were tense. They moved quickly.
Moved toward me as I started across the room.
They formed a circle around me. Surrounded me.
“What is it?” I cried. “What are you going to do?”
20
“We want to apologize,” Briana said.
“We’ve been kind of rough on you,” Jan added in her scratchy voice. “We’re really sorry.”
“We’ve been talking about it,” Briana said. “We—”
“We decided we’ve been really unfair,” Meg interrupted. “We’re sorry, Sarah.”
“I—I’m sorry too,” I stammered. I was so stunned by their apologies, I could barely speak.
“Let’s start all over,” Briana suggested. She grabbed my hand. “Nice to meet you, Sarah. My name is Briana.”
“Excellent. A fresh start!” Jan declared.
“Thanks. I’m really glad,” I told them. And I meant it.
Jan turned to Briana. “When did you do that to your nails?”
Briana grinned and raised both hands. Her fingernails were a shiny, bright purple. “It’s a new color,” she said. “I did it after ou
r swim.”
“What color is it?” Meg asked.
“Grape Juice, I think,” Briana replied. “They all have such crazy names.” She dug the bottle of nail polish from her pack and held it out to me. “Want to try it?”
“Well… sure,” I replied.
All four of us stayed up far past Lights Out, making our fingernails purple.
Later, I lay in my bunk, drifting off to sleep. I had a smile on my face, thinking about my three bunk mates. My three friends.
They had really cheered me up.
But my smile faded when I heard a whispered voice float across the dark cabin. “Sarah… Sarah…”
I gasped.
And then the frail voice—soft as the wind—was so close… so close to my ear.
“Sarah. I thought you were my buddy, Sarah. Why did you leave me?”
“No—please—” I begged.
“Sarah, I waited so long for you,” the ghostly voice whispered. “Come with me. Come with me, Sarah….”
And then an icy hand gripped my shoulder.
21
“Ohhhhh!”
I bolted up in the bunk. And stared out at Briana’s dark eyes.
She let go of my shoulder. “Sarah,” she whispered. “You were whimpering in your sleep.”
“Huh? What?” My voice quivered. My heart pounded. I realized I was drenched in sweat.
“You were whimpering in your sleep,” Briana repeated. “Crying and moaning. I thought I’d better wake you.”
“Uh… thanks,” I choked out. “Must have been a bad dream, I guess.”
Briana nodded and crept back to her bunk.
I didn’t move. I sat there trembling, staring out across the dark cabin.
A bad dream?
I didn’t think so….
“You can skip the long-distance swim today if you want,” Liz told me at breakfast the next morning. She leaned over my chair as I downed my cornflakes. I could smell the toothpaste on her breath.
“Well…” I hesitated. “How long is the swim?”
“We’re swimming halfway across the lake,” Liz replied. “Halfway out, then back. I’ll be in a boat at the halfway point. It isn’t really that far. But if you feel like skipping it today…”
I set down my spoon. I could see Meg and Briana watching me from across the table. Beside me, Jan was struggling to choke down a half-toasted, frozen waffle.
“Come on. Swim with us,” Briana urged.
“I’ll be your buddy,” Jan said. “I’ll swim with you, Sarah.”
Our frightening canoe adventure flashed into my mind. Once again, I pictured that horrible moment when Jan jumped from the canoe. Tipping it over. Leaving me there.
But things were different now.
We were friends. All four of us were friends now. I had to forget about what happened with the canoe. I had to forget about our bad start.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Thanks, Jan. I’ll be your buddy.” I turned back to Liz. “I’m ready to swim.”
The morning sun still floated low in the sky. It kept fading behind broad, gray clouds. And each time the sun disappeared, the air became as cold as the water.
The lake was so cold in the early morning!
As I waded in, I suddenly realized why it was named “Cold Lake”.
We all stepped carefully into the water, shivering and complaining. The water lapped over my ankles, stinging them. I stopped with a gasp and waited to get used to the cold.
I raised my eyes at the sound of a motorboat and saw Liz chugging to her place in the middle of the lake. When she reached the spot, she cut the engine. Then she picked up an electric megaphone.
“Warm up first, everyone!” she instructed us.
We all laughed. “Warm up? How are we supposed to warm up? It’s freezing!”
Two girls near the shore began splashing each other.
“Stop it! Whoooa! It’s collld!” one of them shrieked.
Taking another few steps over the soft lake bottom, I adjusted the top of my blue swimsuit. “We need wet suits,” I told Jan.
She nodded, then waded out until the water lapped at her waist. “Come on, Sarah. Stick together.” She motioned for me to follow.
I took a deep breath—and plunged into the water.
A shock of cold swept over my body. But I dove under the water and swam out a few strokes. Then I raised my head and turned back to Jan.
“Show off,” she muttered. She dipped her hands in the water, still struggling to get used to the cold.
I laughed. “It’s refreshing!” I exclaimed, brushing my wet hair back. “Come on—just push off. It isn’t that bad.”
Jan lowered herself into the water. Most of the swimmers were in the water now, moving in circles, floating on their backs, treading water.
“Line up, everyone!” Liz instructed from her boat. Her voice through the megaphone echoed off the trees behind us. “Line up. Two at a time. Let’s go!”
It took a while for everyone to get in place. Jan and I were second in line.
I watched the first two girls begin to swim. One of them moved with smooth, steady strokes. The other one splashed and thrashed.
Everyone cheered them on.
Jan and I gave them about a two-minute head start. Then we began to swim.
I tried to copy the first girl’s rhythmic stroke. I didn’t want to look like a klutz. I knew all the other swimmers were watching. But let’s get real. I’m not exactly headed for the Olympics.
Jan pulled ahead easily. As we swam, she kept turning back to make sure I was keeping up with her.
The turnaround spot was just past Liz’s motor-boat. I kept my eyes on it as I followed Jan through the water. It seemed very far away!
Jan picked up speed. My arms started aching about halfway to the boat.
I’m in bad shape, I told myself. I’ve really got to start working out or something.
Liz’s boat bobbed gently up ahead of us. Liz was shouting something into the megaphone. But the splash of the water kept me from making out the words.
Up ahead of me, Jan picked up the pace.
“Hey—slow down!” I called. But there was no way she could hear me.
Ignoring the aching in my arms, I struggled to catch up to her. I kicked my legs harder, splashing up water behind me.
The sun dipped once again behind a high cloud. The sky darkened, and the water seemed to chill.
Liz’s boat rocked in the water, just up ahead. I kept my eyes on Jan. Watched her steady kicks. Her hair bobbing on the lake surface like some kind of sea creature.
When Jan turns back, I’ll turn back, I decided.
I swam a little faster. Let’s turn, I pleaded silently. Jan, we’re here. We’re even with Liz’s motorboat. I’m ready to turn back now.
But to my surprise, Jan kept stroking, kept swimming straight ahead. Her head ducked under the water. Her arms moved easily, gracefully, pulling her farther ahead of me.
“Jan—?”
My arms ached. My chest started to burn.
“Hey, Jan—can we turn now?”
She swam steadily ahead.
With a burst of energy, I pulled myself forward. “Jan, wait—” I called. “We’re supposed to head back!”
She stopped stroking.
Did she hear me?
Breathing hard, my chest burning, I swam up to her.
She turned to face me.
“Jan—?” I gasped.
No. Not Jan.
It wasn’t Jan. It was Della!
Her blue eyes sparkled as a gleeful smile spread over her pale, pale face.
“Keep swimming, Sarah,” she whispered. “We’re going to swim farther. And farther. You’re my buddy now.”
22
She grabbed my arm.
I tried to tug away. My wet arm slid in her grasp.
But her grip tightened around my wrist. And she held on. Pulling me. Pulling me with her.
“Owww!”
She was strong
. So strong for such a frail-looking girl.
Such a frail-looking ghost…
“Let go!” I shrieked.
I struggled, slapping the water. Kicking. Squirming and twisting.
“Della—I won’t come with you!”
I jerked my body around, spun hard—and broke free.
And dropped beneath the surface. Lifting both arms, I rose up, coughing and sputtering.
Where was she?
Where?
Was she right behind me? Ready to pull me with her, pull me out so far I couldn’t swim back?
I spun away. The water rocked and tilted.
The clouds overhead appeared to roar past.
“Sarah… Sarah…?” Was she calling to me?
Why couldn’t I see her now?
I turned again. My eyes stopped on the boat.
Yes. The boat.
Ignoring my racing heartbeats, my aching arms, I plunged forward.
The boat… got to reach the boat before she grabs me again.
Swimming furiously, kicking with my last bit of strength, I dove for the boat. Stretching my arms out… stretching…
And grabbed the side with both hands. Choking and gasping.
Grabbed the side of the boat and tried to pull myself in.
“Liz—help me.” The words escaped my throat in a hoarse whisper.
“Liz—help me in.”
The sun burst out from behind the clouds. I stared up into blinding golden light.
“Liz—please…”
Hands reached down for me. She bent to pull me into the motorboat.
Leaned forward. Pulling me up.
Blinking against the bright sunlight, I raised my eyes to her face.
No!
Not Liz’s face. Not Liz!
Della!
Della—pulling me into the boat. “What’s wrong, Sarah?” she whispered. Pulling me. Pulling me up to her. “Sarah, you’re okay. You’re perfectly okay.”
23
“Let go!” I wailed.
I tore myself from her grip.
And tried to blink away the sun.
And stared up at Liz.
Not Della. Liz. Her face twisted in concern.