CHAPTER 5

Help, Hannah!

When Mega Splash Hour ended, Ellie ate a lonely lunch. An ant offered a little company. It snacked on a corn chip that had fallen off her tray.

“I wish you were the comic book superhero, Astro Ant,” she said to the bug. “We could hang out and play asteroid baseball.”

Just then Wendy came into the dining hall. “High-Flying Trampoline Dodgeball starts in ten minutes!” she announced. “Meet me at the rec center, and get ready to soar, heroes!” Her cape flapped behind her as she skipped out.

In a flash, everyone jumped up from their seats. Kids quickly piled their dirty dishes in the sink. Then they left for the activity, ignoring the trash still sitting on the tables.

Ellie frowned. “Heroes should have better manners,” she said.

Her pick-up trick would take care of the litter. Spinning into a vortex, she pulled in crumpled napkins and mayonnaise packets. She stopped over a wastebasket to let everything drop in, then hurried to the rec center.

The place was hopping when Ellie arrived. Campers bounced on a trampoline court. Wendy was splitting everyone into teams and passing out dodgeballs.

“Guess I’ll have to sit this game out,” Ellie said as Wendy gave away the last ball. She turned toward the bench when she spotted Mona waving in her direction.

Mona held up a dodgeball. “I got one for you!” she called.

“For me?” Ellie’s heart leaped like a turbo-powered toad. Maybe she was wrong about her cabinmates. Maybe they really were friendly!

With a springy step, Ellie went to join Mona. But before she’d gone far, Leona glided past her from the drinking fountain.

“Thanks!” Leona said, sliding up to her sister. She took the ball, and they jumped onto the court.

Mona wasn’t being nice to me after all, Ellie realized. Disappointed, she blinked herself invisible and left the rec center. She didn’t feel much like playing anymore.

Ellie skipped activities for the rest of the day. Instead, she curled up with her comic books. She spent most of her time with Princess Power and the princess’ sidekick, Steel Blossom.

If only I had my own super friend, Ellie thought as Steel Blossom helped battle the evil Troll King. At least then I would have company at the campfire on Friday. I wish Hannah were here. . . .

That gave her an idea! Ellie put her comic down, then took out her stationery, and wrote:

Dear Hannah,

I MISS YOU! Camp isn’t going very well. My cabinmates are cold—literally! They’re superheroes who can freeze stuff, but they’re acting frosty to me too. They only hang out with each other and pretend I’m invisible. Even when I’m not using my powers!

How can I be their friend? If I have to spend the whole week alone, I’m DOOMED.

YSB (Your Super Bestie),

Ellie

P.S. Write back soon!

Ellie stuffed the letter into an envelope. As she dug through her suitcase for a stamp, the Ultra Hypno Change-O fell out.

I could use the Hypno Change-O on Mona and Leona, she thought, eyeing the gadget. Then they would be friendly to me.

It would be a nice change. She’d have to keep her promise to Mom and be careful. But how could anything go wrong? The gadget was invented to do good. It wouldn’t make anyone behave badly.

Her spirits lifting, Ellie dropped Hannah’s letter into the mailbox. It wouldn’t be long before she made a camp friend—times two!