Friday morning Robert woke up extra early. He needed to take care of business before anyone else could find out. He rolled out of bed and quietly crawled down the ladder. At first, he thought it was an adventure to sleep way up high. But now he was looking forward to going home and sleeping in his own bed.
When he walked into the tumbling room, he saw Josh and Kiley whisper-arguing about something. He walked up just in time to hear Kiley hiss, “It’s none of your business!”
“Oh, it is my business,” said Josh. He turned to Robert. “I think I’ve caught our ‘ghost.’”
“I know you have,” said Robert.
Josh looked surprised. “You do? I was just kidding.”
Robert would have felt smug if he wasn’t so mad.
“Kiley, I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out,” he said.
The color drained from Kiley’s face. “What do you mean?” she said.
“I remembered that you were at my house the day that my little brother got locked in the bathroom and we had to get him out,” said Robert.
“But you knew to open the door with a knife!” she said. “That’s why I played that prank. I thought it would be easy for you to get Maryam out.”
“Why didn’t you just admit it was a prank?” Robert asked.
Kiley looked away.
Robert put his hands on his hips. “How many millions of times have we gone to Tootsie’s Ice Cream?” he asked. “And what do you always order?”
“A chocolate and caramel sundae,” Kiley said, in a small voice.
“Dude, you’re so smart,” said Josh. He looked at Robert in awe. “I really thought the ghost was you.”
“I pay attention,” said Robert.
He took a step toward Kiley. “Also, what camp have you gone to for the past six years?”
Kiley let out a long breath. “Girl Scout camp, okay?” she snapped and turned away.
“And what did you learn at Girl Scout camp?” Robert asked.
There was a long silence. “How to tie knots,” Kiley finally admitted.
“You are the ghost!” shouted Josh. He pointed his finger in Kiley’s face. “I was just giving you a hard time before. I didn’t actually know anything. But Robert Holmes figured it out! Yes!” Josh fist-pumped the air.
Robert was mystified. “But why?” he asked. “Why would you do this to your friends? And to your own poms?”
Kiley started to cry. “Here’s the deal. I don’t want to be here. I hate cheerleading. I just want to go home.”
Robert’s eyes widened. “But you’re such a good cheerleader!” he said. “Your roundoff back handsprings are the best in the squad.”
“Just because I’m good at something doesn’t mean I like doing it,” she said.
“So why didn’t you just ask to go home?” asked Robert. “Why go to all the trouble to plan these pranks?”
“I was afraid that if I asked to go home you and Maryam wouldn’t want to be my friends anymore,” Kiley said. “I didn’t want to go to camp, but you and Maryam talked me into it. You kept saying how much fun it was going to be, and I almost believed you. But I haven’t been having fun. After we heard about the camp ghost, I decided to pull a couple of pranks.” She hiccupped.
“I actually thought I would get caught right away and would be sent home. But no one figured out that it was me, so I kept coming up with new ideas.” She wiped her eyes. “I’m not gonna lie, tying those knots was fun.”
Josh looked impressed. “You certainly did a good job tangling them up. They’re still tied together. Even between the three of us, we couldn’t figure out how to untie all the knots. We were worried we might have to perform today in flip-flops.”
“Bring them here, and I’ll fix them for you,” she said.
Coach Amber stepped out of her room. “Well, Kiley, it looks like Robert solved the mystery of the Ghost of Oak Manor.”
Kiley swallowed. “Coach Amber, I am so sorry for getting you in trouble with Head Coach Jennifer. I didn’t want to hurt anyone or get anyone in trouble. I just wanted to go home.”
Coach Amber put her hand on Kiley’s shoulder.
“It looks like you’re getting your wish,” Coach Amber said. “Unfortunately, you can’t participate in any more camp activities. I’ll have to bring you down to Head Coach Jennifer’s office. Since it’s Friday, you can stay at camp until your parents come to pick you up. But we’re going to have to call them as well.”
Kiley nodded and wiped her eyes.
Maryam walked into the tumbling room. “Why is everyone down here so early?” she asked.
Kiley really started to wail. “I hate cheerleading. I’m the ghost!” she said.
Maryam looked confused, but she walked over and gave her a big hug.
Kiley wiped her face on her purple T-shirt. “You and Robert are my best friends, and now you’re never going to talk to me again.”
Maryam patted her back. “We will always talk to you. And I feel bad that you thought you couldn’t tell us how you felt. And even if you’re not a cheerleader, you’re still part of the Dream Machine.”
Robert realized something.
“How can the Dream Machine participate in the camp performance this afternoon?” he asked. “It’s hard to do a cheer with only two people. Plus, our routine is choreographed for three.”
Not being able to compete might be the only thing that could make him upset at Kiley.
“Hold on, I have an idea,” said Josh.
He went to the girls’ room and called for Madison and Ellie. The three of them huddled and whispered. They turned, nodding and looking excited.
Josh turned to Coach Amber. “Do you think the Dream Machine and the Destroyers could merge into one team?”
Coach Amber shrugged. “I don’t see why not. When I walk Kiley up to Head Coach Jennifer’s office, I’ll talk to her. But I’m sure it will be fine.”
Josh grinned and looked at the clock. “Let’s go to breakfast now, and we can talk it over in the mess hall. Then we can come back and practice all morning.”
Coach Amber nodded. “That’s a good plan. I’ll stay back and help Kiley pack up.”