Strawberry Summer Read Online Free

some financial difficulties, all because of some strange goings-on that no one’s been able to figure out. The number of kids who come here each summer keeps getting smaller, year after year.” She sighed. “As much as I’d hate to see it, it looks like Mr.and Mrs. Reed might even have to close down after this season.”
    The four girls were quiet for a few moments as they thought about the terrible fate that seemed destined to befall the Reed family, for reasons that were entirely out of their control.
    “Well,” Linda finally said, “there’s no use in us worrying about that right now. What we can do is make sure that all the kids who do come to Camp Pinewood have a great summer! They should start arriving in a couple of hours. In the meantime, anyone for breakfast?”
    “I’m ready for a second breakfast.” Sam grinned. “I’ve been on a bus since seven, and even though I ate when I woke up, it seems so long ago that I can’t even remember what I ate!”
    “The cook always makes sure there’s lots of food around on the first day of camp,” Linda explained. “I’ll bet if we go down to the dining hall, there’ll be an entire feast waiting for us. Eggs, sausages, cereal—anything you want!”
    “I sure hope so,” said Chris. “I’m starving!”
    The four girls trooped off in search of breakfast. Already it was obvious to Chris and Susan that they and their new cabinmates were going to become fast friends.
    After a breakfast that was just as hearty as Linda had promised it would be, Chris went down to the lake, anxious to check out the boathouse and see if she could find any of the other counselors who taught swimming. Susan ventured off in search of the arts and crafts building. With the campers arriving soon, she wanted to get an idea of what kinds of supplies she had to work with.
    The arts and crafts building was like an old-fashioned schoolhouse. It consisted of a single room, with lots of light and air streaming in through the huge windows that were on all four sides. The furniture was simple: big tables, chairs, and shelves, everything made of wood. She felt at home there immediately.
    All it needs, she thought, is some color. And as soon as I get the kids involved with paints and crayons, every square inch of the walls will be covered with their artwork!
    Then she noticed a small door at the back of the room. Wanting to become familiar with every aspect of her new “classroom,” she walked over to see where it led. It was not until she got close that she noticed it was slightly ajar. Even though it was dark inside, she surmised that it was a closet of some sort—probably a storage closet for supplies. But as she reached for the knob, planning to pull the door open, she jumped.
    Something was moving inside! She was certain she heard someone ... or something.
    Susan’s heart began to pound. She suddenly realized that she was all alone. Everyone else was down by the lake or back at the cabins. Yet she was unable to move. She just stood there, her eyes glued to the blackness beyond the opened door, listening.
    And then, with a loud creak, the door began to swing open slowly. Susan could scarcely breathe.
    Run! Run! she thought wildly. But she didn’t. She stayed perfectly still, watching and waiting, as if paralyzed.
    The door opened wider, the blackness of the closet faded as the room’s light seeped in—and a boy emerged, his sandy hair covered with dust and his expression apologetic.
    Susan gasped, partly from surprise, but even more from relief.
    “What on earth are you doing in there?” she cried.
    “I hope I didn’t startle you.... Did I?”
    “Oh, no. Not at all. I was just ... surprised, that’s all.”
    The boy laughed. “Well, you’re as white as a ghost. By the way, that’s not by any chance what you thought I was, was it?”
    “No, of course not!” At first, Susan tried to sound indignant. But then she started to laugh, too. “But I certainly wasn’t expecting a