Chapter Fourteen

I hand Justin a big box. It’s filled with glue and birdseed and glitter and rolls of ribbon and netting.

“What’s this stuff for?”

“You’ll see. It’s a surprise for the bride and groom. Take it out to Max’s car.”

I carry my dress. It’s on a hanger and covered by a garment bag.

I give Justin the front seat, partly because I want to ride in the back to protect my dress . . . . . . partly because I want to give Max and Justin a chance to get to know each other.

Aunt Pam leads the way. She honks as she heads out with Mom.

Mr. Daniels sticks his head out of the car and yodels.

Justin rolls down his window and yodels back.

“We’re like a caravan,” I say to Justin. “Well, except for the yodeling. The only thing missing is the camels. Remember when Mr. Cohen turned our classroom into a caravan to Egypt?”

“That was one of my favorites.”

Back in third grade, when Justin and I were still in the same class, we loved our teacher. He had us make passports, and we took “trips” to countries all around the world. We got a stamp for every country we visited.

We explain all this to Max. “Well, this caravan is going to Camp Sukkatukket,” he says.

Justin sticks his head between the seats so he can see me. “Maybe they should call it Camp Boogertukket,” he whispers.

I know he thinks I will laugh at this. And I kind of feel like I should. But I even more feel like I shouldn’t.

Justin looks puzzled and turns so he is facing forward again.

We get out into the country. Max says, “You should have been with us the first time Amber brought us out here, Justin. Everything was a mix of snow and mud.”

“We almost never get snow in Alabama. I miss it. My dad says that’s because I don’t have to drive in it.”

I look out the window. The cherry trees are covered with pink and white blossoms. The willow trees have turned that light green I love. Bright yellow patches of daffodils decorate many yards. I realize that I like living in a place with four seasons.

When we pull into the narrow road that leads to Camp Sukkatukket, Max shouts, “Look!”

He stops the car.

Beside the road is a sign that says

 

 

“This makes it so real,” Max says. “Wait a second while I get a picture.” He bounds out of the car.

“I bet Fredrich and his father made the sign,” I tell Justin.

“Do you think we should check it for Fredrich’s boogers?”

Max gets back into the car before I can say anything. That’s probably good, because I’m starting to get a little angry about Justin’s jokes.

When we pull into the camp, the others are already there.

Fredrich and his father are standing with them.

Mom runs to Max and hugs him. “Did you see our sign? Wasn’t it sweet? Mr. Allen was just telling us that he and Fredrich made it.”

Justin pokes me in the ribs. I am about to tell him to cut out the booger jokes when Fredrich shouts, “Hey, Justin! I didn’t know you were going to be here!”

Before I know it, Fredrich is taking Justin and Danny down to the waterfront to show them the boats.

Nobody even thinks to ask me.

I suddenly remember they’re boys. At least they’re being friendly. I’m glad they like each other. They just can’t like each other more than they like me.