Diary Entry

I am keeping my diary with me at all times because strange things are happening, and I don’t want to forget anything.

First, today, Abigail told me that she can’t find her camp roll-call list. That isn’t weird by itself, but other things are happening, too, that make it highly suspicious. I feel like Boxcar Bonnie, super sleuth and star of my favorite mystery book series, getting the sniff of a mystery.

Second, I saw the kids from Adventure Camp hanging out together in the town square. I was surprised to discover it was all of them at the same time. They looked as if they were having a serious conversation. When I went by to say “Hi,” and see what was going on, they scattered as if they shouldn’t have been there at all. Even Stella hurried away, and I would have thought she’d have stayed around to tell me everything that was wrong with camp and what she’d like to see improved when we met up again on Monday.

Third, as I rode to where Abigail and Pru were meeting me, I noticed Julian coming out of the general store. Actually, Spirit saw him first, and pointed him out. Gotta give Spirit credit—he’s like a watch-horse sometimes!

It was then that I saw Oliver hurry over to Julian. That was odd because I’d also seen Oliver a few minutes earlier with the other campers. Oliver talked to Julian and pointed at the campers; then the two of them went to where the campers were standing around. They all gathered around Julian while he stood in the middle, talking in a low voice that I couldn’t hear.

I didn’t understand. Why would Julian be hanging out at a camper meeting? What was going on?

I had many questions, but no time to figure out the answers. I was late to meet up with Abigail and Pru. When I got to the barn, I told them that my cousin was acting suspiciously.

Pru reined back Chica Linda to a walk, so we could speak. Abigail turned sidesaddle on Boomerang and told us she thought it was nice that Oliver was hanging out with the other kids. She even suggested that he might participate in the O-Mok-See at camp on Monday.

I hope he’ll get involved.

Pru was worried that we’re starting to focus too much on just one kid. She was mad about the whole apple thing, and I had to agree with her.

There was something strange happening that I couldn’t put my finger on.…

Spirit interrupted our serious talk with a loud neigh. I followed his eyes and could see several small dots on the horizon.

“Are those our campers?” Pru asked, cupping her hands like binoculars and looking through.

“That’s nice,” Abigail said. “They want to hang out so much that they aren’t even taking a day off.”

“I think Julian is leading them to the rocky outcrop,” Pru said.

The rocky outcrop is a forbidden canyon wall. The huge rocks and boulders are stacked like marbles, stretched high toward a high cliff edge. They look fun to climb, but the boulders aren’t secure. Rock slides happen pretty often, and since the rocks are big and heavy, the area’s considered very dangerous.

We spurred our horses into a gallop and took off to see what was going on.

Pru was right. Julian was leading, and he had the entire camp with him. Not just that, but I could see he had Abigail’s roster as well. It was folded and sticking out of his shirt pocket, but there was no mistaking Abigail’s handwriting.

I was so mad that I shouted at him instead of asking politely what he was doing.

Julian didn’t flinch. He calmly thanked Abigail for the list and offered to give it back to her.

She took it, but we all knew she hadn’t given it to him.

“It took an extra nickel, but Oliver brought it home,” Julian explained as if it were no big deal. I realized I’d seen the payoff the first day of camp. It must have taken Oliver time to snag the list when Abigail wasn’t looking. “How else was I going to contact the campers for Julian’s Giant Adventure Camp?”

I thought Pru was going to jump off Chica Linda and strangle my cousin.

“Those are our campers,” she told Julian, her voice gritty with anger.

“Not anymore,” Julian said with a chuckle. “The kids have spoken—and they’re saying your camp is, well, a bit dull. So I decided to host my own better camp.” I realized that he’d been planning this since the day he’d come to town. Boxcar Bonnie would’ve told me the clues were there all along. She’s such a great detective. It just took me all this time to realize that Julian never intended to pay us two dollars. He’d said he had a job plan the moment I told him there were no openings in town. He’d meant he’d be taking our job.

He’d said he’d pay us, then paid Oliver instead, knowing that without talking, Oliver—the chattiest kid on the planet—would have a terrible time. That meant he’d never have to pay us. He’d paid Oliver to ruin camp for the others and then paid him to steal our sign-up sheet.

He’d used his brother to convince the other kids to switch camps.

This was Julian at his worst. He’d conned us all! And still, here the kids thought he was just more fun, and they liked that.

“You see, the truth is, no one likes your camp. Your camp doesn’t have enough adventure,” Julian explained. “Mine will be double the danger and double the fun.” He pointed to the rocky outcrop up ahead. “Today’s a free trial day and if they like it, they can come to my camp instead of yours on Monday.”

“You’re a camper stealer!” I argued.

“No, I’m a businessman,” Julian said. “You and your friends had a great idea… I just made it better. So don’t be mad, RF. It’s all for the benefit of the kids. And when they all like my camp better, you can just transfer the money the kids already paid you—to me.” He patted that pants pocket of his. Now I knew it was empty. “I’ll take care of the finances from here on.”

“Imitation is the best form of flattery,” Abigail said halfheartedly.

Pru grunted at her.

“Not only did I promise my mom I’d get a job, but with all these campers, and only one counselor”—he pointed to himself—“I can get her a gift with my earnings. There’s this beautiful crystal bubble bath bottle in the general store that I’d like to buy.”

“No, no, no!” I couldn’t believe he was that cruel. “That’s mine!” I said. He knew about the bubble bath, and he knew that was why I needed to earn enough to buy a new bottle. I was back to yelling. “I’m getting that bottle for Aunt Cora!”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t succeed.” Julian shrugged innocently. “When you pass the money to me, and the kids have fun, you can brag about how you helped launch my fabulous camp.”

Every memory I had that made me think Julian was a decent guy disappeared. “You’re awful,” I told him.

“Awful-ly fun!” he said, encouraging the kids to all laugh at his joke.

“Oliver?” I looked at my little cousin. “Please don’t turn out like Julian.”

Oliver grinned happily. “But I want to be just like him,” he said. “My brother’s going to have the best camp in all of Miradero.”

I threw up my hands. It was too late. Oliver was a mini-Julian!

The group moved forward, leaving me, Pru, and Abigail behind.

What were we going to do?

Pru stepped up. “We have to stop them from going to the rocky outcrop. Not only is Julian a camper-napper, but it’s too dangerous.”

The battle had begun. This was war. I galloped on Spirit until I was side by side with my cousin. I climbed off Spirit and stepped close, nose to nose with Julian.

“Are you up for a challenge?” I asked, repeating the way he’d asked me earlier.

“Possibly.” Julian stopped and turned, intrigued. “What do you have in mind?”

I said, “We’ll have PALs Adventure Camp in the morning on Monday with the O-Mok-See, and you could have your Julian camp in the afternoon, after lunch.”

“And the kids will vote?” Julian asked, getting into the idea.

“Yes,” I agreed. “Whoever has the best day at camp will win the campers, their payment, and the right to buy the crystal bottle. It’s an all-or-nothing contest.”

“Done,” he said.

“Fine,” I agreed.

We shook hands.

Pru and Abigail couldn’t believe what happened, but I figure I saved the day. Just as Pru wanted—no one was going to the forbidden rocky outcrop. At least not that very minute.

Of course, now we have a new challenge. We have to work hard to win the campers over, have fun, and convince Oliver that his brother is nobody’s hero.

Our old camp is not going to be enough. We have to throw out everything we’ve done and start fresh. New games. New prizes. New ideas.

It’ll be difficult, but the PALs are going to throw the best O-Mok-See that Miradero has ever seen.