Party Summer Read Free Page B

I’d ever seen. And there’s a sandbar a short distance fromthe island that keeps the ocean waves low and gentle. Perfect for swimming.”
    â€œBut I brought my surfboard!” Eric protested.
    â€œFor sure, dude. Gnarly,” Cari said, doing her best California airhead impression.
    â€œGnarlatious!” Craig added.
    â€œYou can probably surf on the other side of the island,” Rose said. “The island is quite small, remember.”
    â€œI hope it’s big enough to hold all the really fabulous babes I’m going to meet!” Eric said.
    â€œGuess Eric’ll be hanging out around the pool all day,” Craig said.
    â€œYeah. Maybe I can be recreation director, or something,” Eric said, grinning.
    â€œRecreation director? Is that what they call it these days?” Jan asked, rolling her eyes.
    â€œTell us more about the hotel, Rose,” Cari said, changing the subject.
    â€œYeah. How’d it get that name? The Howling Wolf Inn,” Jan asked, turning around to face the front and adjusting her seat belt.
    â€œI don’t know,” Rose said, turning onto the expressway, the station wagon hesitating under all the weight. “We’ll have to ask Simon when we get there. I just remember that it’s very big. It sprawls out in all directions. And it’s very beautiful. I remember an enchanting outdoor terrace in the back by the swimming pool.”
    â€œAnd lots of fabulous babes,” Eric said.
    â€œEric, give us a break,” Cari pleaded.
    â€œYou guys
will
have to put in a few hours working, you know,” Rose scolded.

    â€œParty summer!” Craig cried.
    â€œParty summer!” Eric took up the refrain.
    As the miles rolled by, they talked about the hotel, the island, the beach, and all the things they planned to do and all the new kids they hoped to meet. Cari realized that she had never been this excited, never looked forward this much to any summer.
    Here she was, away for two whole months, away from her family, on her own with her best friends, heading to a beautiful, luxurious island resort hotel.
    Her friends seemed as happy and excited as she was. They rolled toward the Cape, the windows down, the radio blaring, singing along, laughing and talking the whole way.
    This is
already
a great summer! Cari thought.
    Their happiness didn’t fade until they were on the Cape halfway between Wellfleet and Provincetown, and Aunt Rose suddenly fell ill.

Chapter 4

A CHANGE OF PLANS
    â€œO w!”
    The station wagon swerved to the right, bumping onto the narrow shoulder of the road.
    â€œAunt Rose—what’s wrong?” Jan cried, leaning toward her aunt, a worried expression on her face.
    â€œMy stomach—” Rose groaned.
    She tried to pull the car off the narrow road, but there really wasn’t room. “Ohh. What a pain!” She slowed to about thirty-five, somehow managing to keep the car on the road.
    â€œThere’s got to be a place to pull over,” Jan said, staring out her side of the windshield.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Cari asked.
    Everyone had gotten silent. Jan reached over and clicked off the radio.
    â€œOhh,” Rose groaned, holding her left side. “Such a sharp pain. It just came up. All of asudden.” She groaned again, but forced herself to hold the car steady, both of her hands gripping the top of the wheel.
    â€œNever had pain like this,” she said.
    â€œPull over. There’s a field,” Jan said, pointing, her voice trembling.
    Rose pulled the car off the road, stopping just in front of a Route 6 sign, and shifted into Park. “Maybe if I stand up, walk around,” she said, grimacing from the pain in her side. Her face, Cari saw, was white as cake flour, and a heavy sweat had broken out on her forehead.
    Rose pushed open her car door. The others climbed out to help her. The narrow roadway was jammed with cars, most of them loaded down with