Camped Out Read online

  “Um, Bella. About the other day. I’m sorry–”

  “That’s okay, silly.” She pats my leg. “Everybody has bad days. Even me!”

  I shake my head. “You’re too much, Bella. I think I’m going to miss you.”

  “Me too, cutie.”

  “Hey, watch it. She’s my girlfriend,” Sam says.

  “Oh, I know, Sam. Don’t you worry.”

  “Hey, can I sit with you guys?” Ainslie has appeared out of nowhere.

  “Sure.” I’m glad it’s too dark for anyone to see my face.

  Sam nudges me and whispers loud enough for her to hear, “Is she your girl?”

  I can’t look at Ainslie, but I think she might be smiling.

  Today is backward day. We’re supposed to wear our clothing backward, have supper for breakfast and breakfast for supper. Wouldn’t you know it, for once Duncan puts his shirt on the right way. I’m about to tell him, but he looks so proud standing there.

  “Tag’s in the back,” he says.

  And then it dawns on me.

  It doesn’t matter.

  Instead, I suggest he turn his Spider-Man cap backward.

  “Is my surprise today?” he asks.

  “Yup, today’s the day.”

  After rest period I hear the rumble of the camp van zooming up the driveway. I can’t wait for Duncan to see his surprise. “You have to close your eyes,” I tell him. I wait until we’re standing right in front of the van before I say, “Now open.”

  Plastered on the outside of the van is a sign made out of construction paper—The Superheroes.

  When the van door opens, out jump all the counselors, dressed in costumes.

  Ben is the last one to get out, dressed as Darth Vader. Duncan goes nuts when he hears him hissing through the mask.

  “That’s the bad guy!” Duncan squeals.

  I put a foam sword in his good hand. “Go get him, Spider-Man.”

  Batman and Superman help Duncan chase Darth Vader around the field. I move to the steps of the pavilion to watch all the action.

  “So you organized all of this?” Ainslie says, joining me.

  “Yup. I promised Duncan a surprise.”

  She rests her arm on my shoulder. “I’m impressed.”

  I glance at my watch. “Mom should be here soon.”

  “Really? So soon?” Ainslie asks. “I’ll be right back.”

  When the Batmobile pulls up a few minutes later, Duncan races over and immediately hops into the front seat.

  “Mom? Do we have to leave right away?” I ask.

  “A Hello? How are you? would be nice,” she says, kissing me on the cheek. She looks me up and down. “I think you’ve grown an inch or two!”

  “I’m serious, Mom. Can we wait a bit?”

  “Of course we can,” she says, smiling. “Besides, I think someone is looking for you.”

  I turn around, half expecting to see Jen, who’s been crying ever since she found out I’m leaving, which creeps me out. But it’s Ainslie.

  She hands me a note. “You can read it when you get home.”

  “Actually, Max,” Mom says, “there’s been a slight change of plans.”

  I look at the note, then at Mom.

  “How would you like to stay for a while?” Mom asks.

  “Why, are you and Derek going somewhere?” As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to take them back.

  Mom raises an eyebrow. “No, Ben called and said there is an extra CIT spot for the next session, and it’s yours if you’d like it. He was very impressed with how you handled yourself here.”

  “Are you serious?” I hug her and twirl her around.

  “Put me down,” she says, laughing.

  “I’m staying!” I yell over to Ian.

  Ainslie’s cheeks turn pink. She tries to snatch the note back, but I manage to read it before she can take it.

  Dear Max,

  You’re a good brother. Remember that.

  Ainslie

  p.s. I’m going to really, really miss you!

  A hand-drawn heart covers the rest of the page.

  “Hey, Max?” Duncan says, leaning his upper body out the window from the front seat.

  “What?”

  “You’re smiling.”

  Acknowledgments

  Deep gratitude always begins with my writing group: Lisa Harrington, Jo Ann Yhard, Jennifer Thorne, Joanna Butler and Graham Bullock.

  To Tanya Trafford for her keen editorial eye and her effortless way of putting me at ease.

  To organizations such as Reach for the Rainbow that see beyond disabilities and to the wonderful staff of RKY summer camp, who each year make my nephew Michael Rodriguez a very happy guy. One summer in particular they surprised their very own Spider-Man (Michael) by dressing up as superheroes. The day he leaves, Michael starts counting down to the next summer.

  To the Gibson family, who sat around the campfire jogging my memories of Big Cove Camp with their updated version of camp life—including real toilets.

  To the Big Cove YMCA Camp, where I spent many summers working, and to the lifelong friendships I made there. A special nod to Keith Publicover, who taught me how to be a good leader, and to my dear Julia Rowell, waterfront director, who taught me I was braver than I thought. I had to walk her down to the waterfront cabin each night because she was too afraid to do it alone, even though I had to walk back alone to my cabin. In the dark.

  To Nancy Allen, whose devotion and love for her brother is sprinkled throughout this story, and Alison Rodriguez, who keeps me in endless supply of story ideas for my beloved Duncan.

  To my youngest daughter, Grace, who came up with the title for the book, and to my husband, Ken, who is the biggest cheerleader a girl could ever ask for.

  Daphne Greer has worked with children/ adults with special needs for many years, including at a summer camp much like the one in this book. Maxed Out, the first story featuring Max and his brother Duncan, was a 2013 YALSA Quick Picks nominee. Daphne’s books have been finalists for the Hackmatack and Silver Birch awards, as well as appearing on the Best Books for Kids & Teens list from the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Daphne lives in Newport, Nova Scotia. For more information, visit www.daphnegreer.com.

  Titles in the Series

  121 Express

  Monique Polak

  Ace’s Basement

  Ted Staunton

  Agent Angus

  K.L. Denman

  Alibi

  Kristin Butcher

  Bad Business

  Diane Dakers

  Bear Market

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Benched

  Cristy Watson

  Beyond Repair

  Lois Peterson

  The Big Apple Effect

  Christy Goerzen

  The Big Dip

  Melanie Jackson

  Bio-pirate

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Blob

  Frieda Wishinsky

  Bones

  John Wilson

  Branded

  Eric Walters

  Bullies Rule

  Monique Polak

  Bungee Jump

  Pam Withers

  Cabin Girl

  Kristin Butcher

  Caching In

  Kristin Butcher

  Camp Disaster

  Frieda Wishinsky

  Camped Out

  Daphne Greer

  Camp Wild

  Pam Withers

  Caught in the Act

  Deb Loughead

  Chat Room

  Kristin Butcher

  Cheat

  Kristin Butcher

  Chick: Lister

  Alex Van Tol

  Cracked

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Crossbow

  Dayle Campbell Gaetz

  Daredevil Club

  Pam Withers

  Death Drop

  Melanie Jackson

  Destination Human

  K.L. D
enman

  Disconnect

  Lois Peterson

  Dog Walker

  Karen Spafford-Fitz

  Explore

  Christy Goerzen

  Eyesore

  Melanie Jackson

  FaceSpace

  Adrian Chamberlain

  Farmed Out

  Christy Goerzen

  Fast Slide

  Melanie Jackson

  Finding Elmo

  Monique Polak

  Flower Power

  Ann Walsh

  Food Freak

  Alex Van Tol

  Fraud Squad

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Gold

  John Wilson

  Hate Mail

  Monique Polak

  High Wire

  Melanie Jackson

  Hold the Pickles

  Vicki Grant

  Horse Power

  Ann Walsh

  Hypnotized

  Don Trembath

  In a Flash

  Eric Walters

  Jungle Jitters

  Lisa Dalrymple

  Junkyard Dog

  Monique Polak

  Laggan Lard Butts

  Eric Walters

  Leggings Revolt

  Monique Polak

  Living Rough

  Cristy Watson

  Lost

  John Wilson

  Manga Touch

  Jacqueline Pearce

  Marked

  Norah McClintock

  Maxed Out

  Daphne Greer

  Medusa’s Scream

  Melanie Jackson

  Mirror Image

  K.L. Denman

  Nine Doors

  Vicki Grant

  On Cue

  Cristy Watson

  Oracle

  Alex Van Tol

  Out of Season

  Kari Jones

  Payback

  Deb Loughead

  Perfect Revenge

  K.L. Denman

  Pigboy

  Vicki Grant

  Power Chord

  Ted Staunton

  Pyro

  Monique Polak

  Queen of the Toilet Bowl

  Frieda Wishinsky

  Quiz Queens

  K.L. Denman

  Rebel’s Tag

  K.L. Denman

  Reckless

  Lesley Choyce

  Rise of the Zombie Scarecrows

  Deb Loughead

  See No Evil

  Diane Young

  Sewer Rats

  Sigmund Brouwer

  The Shade

  K.L. Denman

  Shatterproof

  Jocelyn Shipley

  Siege

  Jacqueline Pearce

  Skate Freak

  Lesley Choyce

  Slick

  Sara Cassidy

  The Snowball Effect

  Deb Loughead

  Special Edward

  Eric Walters

  Splat!

  Eric Walters

  Spoiled Rotten

  Dayle Campbell Gaetz

  Stolen

  John Wilson

  Storm Tide

  Kari Jones

  Struck

  Deb Loughead

  Stuff We All Get

  K.L. Denman

  Sudden Impact

  Lesley Choyce

  Swiped

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Tampered

  Michele Martin Bossley

  Taz’s Recipe

  Diane Tullson

  Three Good Things

  Lois Peterson

  Vanish

  Karen Spafford-Fitz

  Watch Me

  Norah McClintock

  Windfall

  Sara Cassidy

  Wired

  Sigmund Brouwer

  For more information on all the books in the Orca Currents series, please visit www.orcabook.com.