How to (Almost) Ruin Your Summer Read Online Free Page A

that?” I said.
    â€œSure, why not?”
    â€œAll campers inside for orientation!” a voice hollered.
    The inside of the mess hall reminded me of our school cafeteria; just like at school, it was filled with several large, circular tables, except here, there was a large soda machine with free refills. That was a definite bonus in my book. I hoped the food would be tastier than school food. Or at least edible, which, let’s face it, is not always the case with school food. Even though it was only three o’clock, delicious smells of garlic and butter already wafted through the air. I had high hopes.
    â€œFind a table and take a seat,” hollered the same voice.
    The only tables with any seats left were in the back. At the center of each table stood a flagpole with a numbered flag.
    â€œThere’s a table with empty seats back there.” Pogo pointed. “Let’s go before it fills up.”
    Table seven. I scowled.
    Most people have lucky numbers. Not me. I have an un lucky number.
    Seven.
    On my seventh birthday I got the flu.
    During the seventh inning stretch at my dad’s annual office softball game, I tumbled off the back of the bleachers and sprained my ankle.
    On the Seven Twisters roller coaster, I sat—or rather, hung—upside down for an hour last summer when the ride malfunctioned.
    I couldn’t help but think this was a sign of bad things to come.

Sunday, June 13
    Leave Pine Needles in Your Hair
    Pogo yanked my arm. “C’mon. There’s a spot next to that kid with the soccer jersey.”
    She pointed.
    A boy who seemed our age, wearing a Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol jersey, stood on a chair, staring into the crowd. He also looked familiar.
    Standing next to him on the floor was a lanky, blond boy in a gray T-shirt with MARINES stamped across the front. I couldn’t believe my luck.
    â€œSebastian! Nathan!” I yelled.
    They turned toward us. I jumped up and down and waved madly. Nathan saw me before Sebastian did. He smiled and waved back—and my heart might have skipped a beat. Pogo yelped as I grabbed her arm and made for the back of the mess hall.
    I pulled and squeezed Pogo through campers to unlucky table seven and to Nathan and Sebastian.
    â€œHey, guys.”
    Nathan pointed at my head. “You’ve got pine needles sticking out of your hair. What did you do? Roll in the bushes?”
    I blushed and snatched at the needles the best I could. How embarrassing.
    I turned to Nathan. “I can’t believe you’re both here! How crazy is that?”
    â€œI know, right?” said Nathan.
    Sebastian lightly punched Nathan in the shoulder. “I am here because Nathan’s parents think he has no amigos .” Sebastian was from Ecuador. He slipped in and out of Spanish more often than I daydreamed about Nathan.
    I tilted my head to the side and looked at Nathan. “What’s he talking about?”
    Nathan laughed. “My folks are always nervous I’ll have a hard time making friends since we move around so much. My dad heard about this place and thought it’d be fun. They said I could invite a friend.” Nathan came from a military family and was new in town. Despite what his parents believed, he’d made lots of friends.
    â€œSpeaking of friends”—I turned to Pogo—“this is Pog—Paulie.”
    Sebastian turned to her and flashed a smile. “ Hola. ”
    â€œHi.” Pogo was bouncing on her toes again and didn’t seem to notice I’d stumbled over her name. “Y’all wanna piece of gum?”
    Nathan had to time his hand to the same rhythm as she bounced in order take the moving stick of gum.
    â€œI took Spanish last year,” Pogo said. “Check this out, Sebastian: Yo canto dulce como un sapo. ”
    Sebastian raised his brow. “You sing sweet like a toad?”
    â€œOops.” Pogo giggled. “That’s not at all what I