Camp Confidential 06 - RSVP Read Free Page A

it takes to make sure Brynn enjoys herself while she’s here. Only I sure hope I don’t fumble the ball.
    Then we’ll go to the reunion at Village Bowl and I will totally not let Natalie’s bossiness ruin my good time!

    Propped up in bed with his favorite pillows, Chelsea’s dad examined her invitation to the Camp Lakeview reunion and said, “Are you getting excited about seeing your old friends, Chelse?”
    Chelsea hesitated. She felt terrible thinking about having a good time when her dad looked so pale and tired. His hair, light blond like Chelsea’s, was starting to thin. Soon it would fall out. She knew the routine; they’d all gone through this before.
    Her mom, walking into the bedroom with a folded stack of laundry, looked almost as worn out as Chelsea’s dad. He father had just started a new round of chemotherapy for his cancer, and she knew they both were exhausted with worry.
    I’m really worried, too.
    Both her parents smiled at her, waiting for her answer.
    “I don’t know,” she said uncertainly, as she perched on the side of the bed. Her dad took his hand in hers. His fingers were very bony. “I’m starting to think about not going. Those girls are going boy crazy. That’s all they e-mail about anymore. And they’re so silly. All they do is read links to fashion magazines and news about movie stars.” She flushed. “I mean, movie stars besides Natalie’s dad. It’s okay to read about him, I guess. Since he is her dad.”
    Her mom opened up a drawer in the double bureau and laid in some white T-shirts. “Sometimes silly is good,” she said, as she shut the drawer and leaned against it. “I remember having all kinds of fun at sleepovers when I was your age.”
    Chelsea almost said, “Poor Mom, you’re sure not having much fun now,” but she kept her mouth pursed in a straight line.
    Since her father’s illness, so much had changed. Chelsea didn’t go to boarding school anymore. She lived at home with her parents and her sister. Her sister spent most of her time hanging out with her own friends—she had already left for school with a big crowd—and Chelsea couldn’t understand how she could have fun when their dad as so sick.
    Her father studied her. “Are you having second thoughts? You don’t have to go, but I have to admit I’m puzzled by your lack of enthusiasm. You came home from camp with all kinds of great stories about your summer.”
    “Yeah, I had a really great time,” Chelsea blurted. Then she took a breath and quickly added, “But I’ve changed since then. After all, it’s been six months since the end of camp. A lot can happen in six months.”
    Her parents exchanged a look. Chelsea was used to those looks, and she knew what this one meant. They thought she was talking about her father’s cancer. After two years of good test results, his disease had come back in September, and it had gotten worse since then.
    Chelsea’s mom said, “Well, we can talk about it on the way to school. We have to go now, or you’ll be late. Give Daddy a kiss.”
    She carefully kissed his hollow cheek.
    She stood, picked up her invitation, and placed it on the nightstand, next to her father’s amber-colored bottles of pills and a big box of tissues.
    They put on their heavy winter outerwear at the front door. Chelsea slipped on a pair of mittens she had gotten for Christmas. Then she picked up her backpack.
    Her mother put on her gloves. Then they went out the front door, her mom first, into a flurry of snowflakes. As they hurried to their SUV, her mom stopped in the middle of the driveway. She tipped back her head and stuck out her tongue. Chelsea burst out with a giggle and said, “Mom!”
    “Mmm! Cherry-flavored snow! We’re getting our own private snow cones! Try it, Chelsea!” her mother urged her. “Oh, my gosh, it’s root beer now!”
    “Oh, Mom,” Chelsea said laughing. “You’re so crazy!”
    “My mistake! They’re Skittles!” her mom cried. “Chelsea,