Get Lost! Read Free Page A

I think Science Camp is a real drag.”
    Jeremy nodded. “This isn’t like the camp I went to last summer,” he agreed. “But maybe today we’ll get to to play some games or something.”
    Just then, Genie passed by the table. Jeremy smiled nervously in her direction. “Excuse me, Genie.”
    The head counselor glared down at him. “What is it soldier ... I mean student?”
    “Are we going to have some free time today?” Jeremy asked. “Maybe we can play soccer or basketball or something. You know, have a little fun.”
    Genie’s eyes opened wide. “This is not summer camp!” she shouted. “This is Science Camp. You are not here to play. You are here to learn. And nobody said learning has to be fun!”
    Jeremy gulped. Genie sure sounded mad.
    “I have a full schedule for you kids,” she continued. “It begins with inspection. I’m going to check each of your cabins for neatness. And your beds had better be made well. I want those sheets pulled so tight I can bounce a quarter off them!”
    “What does bouncing quarters on beds have to do with science?” Manny wondered aloud, after Genie walked away.
    As the kids chowed down on their eggs, Katie glanced over at George. He seemed very quiet. She was worried about him. Finally, she got up and walked over to sit beside her friend.

     
    “Hey, George,” Katie greeted him.
    George didn’t say anything. He just shoved a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “These are gross,” he muttered between bites.
    “I know egg-zactly what you mean,” Katie joked.
    George didn’t laugh. Instead, he took another forkful of eggs.
    “Are you looking forward to our hike this afternoon?” Katie asked, changing the subject.
    George rolled his eyes. “No,” he snapped. “Hikes are dumb. Everything here is dumb.”
    “George, why are you being so mean?”
    “I’m not being mean. I’m just too cool for this place,” George told her. “Can I help it if you’re not?”
    Katie’s face got red. “That was a mean thing to say, George Brennan!” she shouted. “I don’t think you’re cool at all. I think you’re a jerk!”
    Then, Katie got up and stormed out of the mess hall—before Mrs. Derkman had a chance to tell her that jerk isn’t a word you use in school.

Chapter 7
    After Genie had inspected their cabins, the kids in 3A gathered on the main lawn to get ready for their hikes. They each had their own water bottles and a bag of cookout food to carry.
    Cookie, the camp cook, smiled at Katie as she handed her a bag. “There’s no meat in yours,” she assured Katie. Cookie knew that Katie was a vegetarian. “But I added extra carrot sticks and potato chips. I don’t let kids go hungry.”
    “Thanks,” Katie said with a grin.
    The class had been split into small groups for their hikes. Katie, Suzanne, Jeremy and George were in the same group.
    “Who’s our leader, anyway?” George asked. “Mrs. Derkman,” Suzanne said.
    Katie frowned. “I was hoping Tess or Carson could be our leader.”
    Just then Genie walked toward Katie and her friends. “Mrs. Derkman has a bad case of poison ivy,” she told them. “She fell in a patch of it while running away from an oncoming fly. I’ll be taking you on your hike.
    “Okay, troops. March,” Genie ordered. “Left, right, left, right.”
    Katie got in line behind George. He was going very slowly. “You’d better march faster,” Katie told him. “Genie the Meanie is going to yell at you.”
    George reached into his pocket and pulled out a hard candy wrapped in shiny paper. “What’s the hurry?” he mumbled as he sucked on the candy. “It’s not like we’re going anywhere. It’s a hike to nowhere.”
    “We’re supposed to be looking at the plants and animals in the woods,” Katie reminded him. “See, there’s a chipmunk.” George was not impressed.

    After they’d been hiking for a while, Katie marched up to the front of the line. “Genie,” she asked quietly. “Are we anywhere near a