CHAPTER 11
S’mores and Smiles
The Super Friend Campfire cast an inviting glow over the clearing. All around, campers sat and talked. Wendy and the other counselors stood nearby, giving out s’mores on sticks.
Ellie licked her lips at the platter that Wendy was holding. It was piled with long lollipop sticks, each topped with toasted marshmallows. The treats had been dipped in gooey chocolate and crumbled graham crackers.
“Three, please!” Ellie said.
“Wow! Heroes sure have mighty appetites,” Wendy replied. She leaned in closer and winked. “Just kidding! The treats are for you and your friends, right?”
Ellie laughed. “You read my mind.”
“We’re right here, Ellie!” Mona called, waving from her spot on a log bench. She scooted over, and Leona patted the space between them.
“We saved a seat—”
“—for you!”
With a smile, Ellie joined the girls. She was happy the twins were friends again. But she was equally glad to have their friendship. It was better than anything she could create with a do-gooding gadget.
“Here you go,” she said, handing over the tasty treats. “If the s’mores are cold, just let me know. I can warm them up with my heating power. No campfire needed!”
“Actually, we love cold treats,” they replied.
“Frozen yogurt, ice cream bars, fruit pops—”
“—you name it!”
Ellie and the twins celebrated the night in true super-friend style. They giggled together during a silly sing-along. Then they clapped and whistled as Wendy played her harmonica. She was a real music-making whiz!
Next they played I Spy. Mona spied a star that sparkled like a snowflake, and Leona saw a constellation that was shaped like an iceberg. Ellie spotted something gold with a picture of ice skates.
“It’s my figure skating medal!” Mona said, pointing to the award dangling around her neck. She turned to Ellie. “You know, you should try ice skating again. Maybe Leona and I can give you lessons?”
“I could use the practice,” Ellie replied. “But I have a favor to ask . . . could you make the ice a bit softer?”
Just then Wendy stood up on a bench. “Heroes, we have one last activity!” she announced. “We’re going to play Telephone. The rules are simple: one camper will whisper a phrase to the camper next to her or him. Then we’ll share the phrase around the circle. Let’s see if it stays the same!” She pointed at Mona. “Mona? Go ahead and get us started. Maybe you can share your favorite book character?”
Mona nodded, then whispered something to the boy next to her. Ellie covered her ears so she couldn’t listen in supersonically. She was the last camper in the circle and didn’t want to cheat.
The phrase went from one person to another. It finally came all the way around. Leona leaned over and whispered in Ellie’s ear.
Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Is it . . . Princess Power?” she asked.
“That’s right!” the twins said. “We have all the comic books.”
“They have good ideas—”
“—for busting bad guys.”
“So true!” Ellie exclaimed. “I used The Staff and the Spell to stop a royally wicked bug. It tried to take over my school spelling bee, but I taught that villain a lesson.”
“We’ll close the night with our official cheer,” Wendy said. “Ready? One . . . two . . . three . . .”
“Let’s hear it for the camp,” everyone sang, “where the action never ends!”
“Camp Hero—” said Mona.
“—Camp Hero—” Leona added.
Beaming, Ellie finished, “—the place for super friends!”
* * *
Everyone spent the next morning packing up after breakfast. Camp had come to an end.
Ellie tucked the final few comic books into her suitcase. The twins took great interest in Ice Boy, so she let them keep one of the comics. She already had plenty of books from the collection at home.
As she zipped her bag, Mona pointed to the Ultra Hypno Change-O on Ellie’s bed. “Hey, don’t forget your invention thingy,” she said. “It’s so neat! Can we see how it works?”
Ellie shivered just thinking about the mess it had made. “Um . . . I’d better not,” she replied, slipping the gadget into her pocket. “It’s really powerful. Power like that can cause twice the trouble.”
Suddenly Wendy popped into the doorway. “Hey, Kid Wonders! It’s time to head out,” she said. “I can carry some luggage if anyone needs help.”
“We’re OK, thanks!” the twins replied. An ice path formed under them, and they slid their bags out of the cabin.
Flexing her muscle power, Ellie scooped up her suitcase. Then she and the twins followed Wendy to the parking lot. Some very special people were waiting!
“Mom! Dad!” Ellie shouted. She ran over and gave them the tightest hug ever.
“Whew! I’m happy to see you too, my hero,” Mom said, catching her breath. “How was your week?”
“Did you have a nice break from doing chores and battling slime?” Dad asked.
Ellie was about to answer her parents when the girls came over with an older man. He had a frosty wisp of hair on his head.
“Grandpa, this is Ellie,” Mona told him.
Leona patted Ellie’s shoulder. “She’s our good friend.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ellie,” the girls’ grandpa said. He waved, and a few snowflakes flew off his hand.
“Can we please come back to camp next year?” the twins asked him.
“We can’t wait to—”
“—see Ellie again!”
“Maybe I can bring along my best friend, Hannah,” Ellie said. “She doesn’t stop getaway cars or runaway rockets. But she can fly high on the swings when we play Superhero Flight School. Higher than me, even!”
The twins said goodbye, then glided away with their grandfather. Ellie missed them already. She’d left for camp with only one super friend, but thanks to Hannah’s help, she would have two more waiting for her when she returned next year.