Lake Rescue Read Free Page B

offended a king or something, wondered Charlotte. But then she thought about Ms. Weston, who was kind of klutzy in her own way. Maybe Charlotte could set a goal of writing a book about each state. Fifty books! She wondered, could she ever in a million years write fifty books?
    Nick poked her arm. Everyone was standing. Charlotte jumped up, and in a single graceful move, managed to spill her books all over the floor and bump heads with Nick as they both bent to pick up her books. Charlotte closed her eyes and groaned.
    Score another point for “Charlotte the Klutz.” The only book she had any chance of writing was Fifty Ways to Make a Fool of Yourself in Front of a Guy You Like .
    CHAPTER 3
Fitness Training
    N o one got out of gym class at Abigail Adams Junior High
    School…ever. “It’s because of some kind of ancient rule made up by some mean principal, who said ‘gym class could never be missed, even if you were dying of smallpox and you had a broken foot,’” said Maeve.
    Betsy Fitzgerald overheard them. “Actually, it was President John F. Kennedy who made gym classes mandatory,” she pronounced in a very official voice. “Gym is supposed to help keep kids healthy.”
    “Oh,” shrugged Maeve. She wasn’t going to argue with Betsy. Most people didn’t. Betsy knew too much.
    The BSG were quiet as they changed clothes in the locker room.
    As she bent to tie her shoes, Charlotte announced, “My goal for the next hour is not to make a fool of myself in front of the whole class.”
    “I wish the whole world was watching.” Avery tugged on her cross trainers. “Maybe I’d get an offer to play on a worldclass soccer team, or at least a scholarship to play in college.”
    “Maybe I’ll get an offer to play a role like the Perils of Pauline .” Maeve sighed.
    “ Perils of Pauline ?” Katani said, her hands on her hips. “That’s a new one to me.”
    Maeve reminded them of the silent movie film classic at the Movie House. “Pauline was always tied to the railroad tracks and some handsome guy had to rescue her.”
    “Oh, oh, save me please. I’m just a helpless girl.” Avery waved her hands back and forth in front of her face and squeaked out her plea for help. “How pathetic.”
    Maeve, being Maeve, refused to take offense and instead pumped up her arms and lowered her voice. “I will save you if you are the wealthy heir to the Madden fortune, and you will promise to marry me and sign over all your rights to the money. But if you’re not, forget it.”
    Pushing and giggling, they stumbled into the gym. Coach McCarthy clapped his hands immediately. “All right, campers in training, start with a warmup mile around the gym. I’ll time you. Pick up the pace, Kaplan-Taylor.” Maeve could dance for hours, but running was not her thing. “Most dancers,” her instructor told her, “save their knees for the dance.” The truth was, Maeve just didn’t like to run.
    “Just wait until you’re a famous actress in Hollywood, Maeve,” Avery whispered. She held up a make-believe microphone. “I’d like to thank my junior high gym teacher for making me angry enough to succeed.” Avery took off jogging, catching up to Charlotte.
    “Why does he keep picking on her?” Charlotte whispered. “Just because she isn’t a fast runner…I think it’s mean.He doesn’t even care that she is probably the best dancer in the school.”
    Nick jogged up behind them. “Race you, Madden.”
    “Beating you isn’t satisfying enough. I’m saving myself for a higher goal in life, Montoya.” Avery left Nick jogging beside Charlotte. Charlotte couldn’t talk and run really fast at the same time. But it was great having Nick beside her to help her keep up her pace.
    Katani was turning out to be a pretty decent runner. She was running just behind the Trentini twins by the end of the mile.
    The BSG caught their breath while Maeve finished her last lap. She had started out okay, but kept falling behind. “You know,