Cool Campers Read Free

some other things we could do to be really cool, but we couldn’t think of much.
    â€œI know,” Graham said. “We need to say funny things. I don’t know how Matt got so funny, but he was a crazy man at camp.”
    I agreed. “Okay, what should we say that’s funny?” We thought for a while but couldn’t come up with anything.
    Graham shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sure we will think of funny things when we need to.” I hoped he was right.
    The rest of the ride up we played every car ride game we could think of. You know, like the license plate game where you try to find the most different states, or the alphabet game where you try to find every letter from A to Z on billboards and signs. And finally, we played ninety-nine bottles of pop on the wall. My mom made us stop after we counted down to forty-seven bottles. She said it was a fun song, but it was driving her crazy. I could tell from her voice that she meant it. But I didn’t mind, because just as we stopped singing we passed a sign that read CAMP GRIZZLY NEXT RIGHT.
    We turned under a giant arch made of logs. On the side of the road there was a big grizzly bear carved out of wood, and it was holding a sign that read CAMP GRIZZLY STRAIGHT AHEAD. Graham and I bounced up and down in our seats.
    â€œWe’re here! We’re here!” we shouted together.
    â€œThere’s the lake.” Graham pointed.
    â€œWow, it looks even bigger than last year!” I said. “And there’s Camp Wildflower way over there.” Camp Wildflower was the girls’ camp. Heidi, Diane, and a bunch of girls from our school go there every summer.
    We pulled into the dusty parking lot, where some friendly camp people directed us to a free space. One thing I like about camp is that everyone is always so happy to be there.
    Mom walked us up to the lodge to check in. A guy in a yellow Camp Grizzly T-shirt was sitting at a table. Mom told him who we were, and he thumbed down a list and put a check mark by each of our names. Then he gave us name tags, a map, and a list of rules. He also handed us each a card with our name and cabin number on it.
    â€œSweet, we’re both in cabin five!” I high-fived Graham.
    The guy told us to take our things to the cabin and then go to the mess hall for lunch when we heard someone ring the big gong in the middle of camp. After lunch, we had to be back at the lodge at two o’clock for the opening ceremonies.
    â€œSay something funny,” Graham whispered to me. I tried, but wasn’t feeling very funny.
    â€œAye aye, captain,” Graham said, saluting the camp guy and squinting one eye like a pirate.
    He gave Graham an odd look. “Um, okay.”
    Graham turned to me and gave me a thumbs-up sign. The whole pirate saluting thing must have been Graham’s joke.
    â€œShould we go find your cabin?” Mom asked.
    â€œWe can find it on our own,” I said. I didn’t think walking around camp with Mom would look too cool. “I think girls and moms aren’t allowed. I’ll see you on Saturday.” I gave her a quick hug.
    â€œNot so fast, sweetie.” She pulled me in and gave me a humongous hug. Not only that, but she gave me a kiss on the forehead.
    â€œHave fun, and be extra careful,” she said.
    â€œI will.” She had already told me to be careful like twelve times that day.
    â€œAnd don’t lose your underwear. I wrote your name in—”
    â€œShh!” I interrupted. “I know, I know. My name’s on the tag,” I whispered. Graham was giggling.
    My mom finally figured out that she was embarrassing me. She gave me one last hug. “I’ll see you bright and early on Saturday morning. Have fun! I love you,” she said.
    â€œMe too,” I said quickly.
    â€œMe too what?” she asked. I knew she’d understood what I meant. Why can’t she just know that I love her even when I just say