Witch Twins at Camp Bliss Read Online Free Page B

handstand, and walked on her hands.
    “Hey, that’s pretty expert,” said Lakshmi.
    “You’re from Los Angeles, right?” asked Claire when she came right side up again.
    “Yeah,” said Lakshmi. “I took a plane here. Five hours, all by myself.” She clapped a hand to her mouth. “Oops! I’ve got to go to the office to call my dad and let him know I’m safe. I was supposed to do that yesterday.”
    “Put your tray on mine,” said Claire, reaching for it. “I’ll dump it for you.”
    Lakshmi handed over her tray. “Thanks! See you later.”
    Claire waved. “Bye.” Lakshmi jogged off.
    “See, Loon? She doesn’t hate you.” Claire smiled confidently. “The way I figure it, every one would always rather be buddies.”
    Luna nodded. It was difficult to explain to her twin that she did not have Claire’s same knack for making friends. Claire thought friends just appeared from nowhere on a sunny day and stuck naturally, like freckles.
    After breakfast, the counselors and cabins scattered for Early Meeting. That was when special announcements were made. Some counselors picked scenic spots by the tennis courts or Lake Periwinkle. Pam picked under a scrawny fir tree by the parking lot.
    “Form a semicircle around me!” shouted Pam. Then she blew into her whistle. Of all the counselors, Pam seemed to be the most excited to use her whistle. She blasted it a lot.
    Luna thought about sitting next to Lakshmi. Everyone would rather be buddies, she reminded herself. She sort of smiled at Lakshmi, who sort of smiled back. Chunky Penelope would be easier to sit next to, Luna thought. Penelope was so shy, and she looked like a girl who would be grateful for a buddy. Gorgeous Lakshmi would not be grateful. Luna could tell just by the way she was flopped at the edge of the grass, her ankles crossed, leaning back on her elbows and not noticing anybody.
    Luna sat down next to Penelope.
    “Hi,” she said. Penelope smiled gratefully.
    Pam blew into her whistle again. “Listen up, sports fans!” she said. “As you know, for the next five weeks, I run Sleepy Hollow. And this summer, as a senior counselor, I’ve decided to implement a new policy.”
    Luna gave Claire a thumbs-up, since implement was the word that Claire had won the fifth-grade spelling bee with this past spring. Claire was nuts about words. Claire gave a thumbs-up back.
    “Twins!” shouted Pam, with a chirp on the whistle. “Please don’t send each other cutesy hand signals while I’m talking. Understood?”
    They nodded solemnly. Pam continued. “Here’s my policy. We’re going to pool our resources. That means each person has to donate to the Sleepy Hollow Cabin Fund. A certain something you brought from home that will be used by the whole cabin. Nothing big. I’m talking about a bottle of hand lotion, a sun visor, or maybe some homemade brownies your parents packed. Stuff like that. It’s a great way for everyone to share! So check your trunks, your bags, or maybe even your pockets for something useful.”
    Pam unfolded a white pillowcase that she had been carrying. “I’m leaving this pillowcase by the door of our cabin. Let’s have nine donations in it by lunch. I’ll go first.” She took a pair of sunglasses from her pocket. “This is my spare pair, with UV-ray protection. For the next five weeks, anyone can use them.” She dropped the sunglasses into the pillowcase. “Who’s next?”
    There was a silence.
    Then a voice rang out, loud and stubborn. “No way.”
    The voice belonged to Lakshmi. Heads turned. Lakshmi brushed the grass from her hands. She was not smiling.
    “Excuse me?” Pam fumbled at her whistle, although it was not exactly a whistle-blowing moment.
    “I’m not donating to your pillowcase fund. All my stuff belongs to me.”
    There was a stirring of whispers. Luna let out a breath of relief. She didn’t want to donate any of her things, either. She was a careful person, and she knew she had not packed anything