The Curse of Camp Cold Lake

12

“I’m going to run away,” I told Aaron.

“Good-bye,” he said calmly. “Good luck.”

“No. Really!” I insisted. “I’m not kidding. I’m really going to run away from this camp.”

“Send me a postcard,” Aaron said.

I had dragged him away from the mess hall after dinner. I really needed to talk to him. I pulled him to the edge of the lake.

No one else was down here. Everyone was still at the mess hall in the lodge.

I glanced at the canoes, stacked in piles of three near the water. I pictured Jan’s blond hair, her red swimsuit. I pictured her swimming away, leaving me in the middle of the lake.

And then lying to Liz. Getting me in trouble….

I shook Aaron by the shoulders. “Why won’t you take me seriously?” I cried through clenched teeth.

He laughed.

“You shouldn’t shake a person after they’ve just eaten the camp meat loaf.” He let out a loud burp.

“You’re so gross.” I groaned.

He grinned. “It’s a family tradition.”

“Stop joking around. I mean it,” I snapped. “I’m really unhappy, Aaron. I hate this camp. There is no phone here we can use. I can’t call Mom and Dad. So I’m going to run away.”

His expression changed. He saw that I was serious.

He skipped a flat stone across the water. I watched the ripples spread out, then disappear.

The lake reflected the gray evening sky. Everything was gray. The ground, the sky, the water. Reflections of trees shimmered darkly in the gray water.

“Where are you going to run?” Aaron asked softly. I could see him quickly becoming the mature, “wiser” brother again. But I didn’t care.

I had to tell him my plan. I couldn’t leave camp without letting him know.

“Through the woods,” I said. I pointed. “There is a town on the other side of the woods. When I get to the town, I’m going to call Mom and Dad and tell them to come get me.”

“You can’t!” Aaron protested.

I stuck my chin out. “Why not?”

“We’re not allowed in the woods,” he replied. “Richard said the woods were dangerous-remember?”

I shoved Aaron again. I was so tense, so angry, I didn’t know what to do with my hands.

“I don’t care what Richard said!” I bellowed. “I’m running away-remember?”

“Give the camp a chance, Sarah,” Aaron urged. “We haven’t even been here a whole week. Give the place a chance.”

That’s when I totally lost it.

“I hate it when you’re so sensible!” I screamed.

I shoved him hard. With both hands.

His mouth flew open. He lost his balance-and toppled into the lake.

He landed on his back in the wet mud just past the shore.

“Ooof!” I heard the air shoot out of him.

“Sorry-” I started. “It was an accident, Aaron. I-”

He scrambled to his feet, pulling up greasy gunk and seaweed with him. Shaking his fists. Calling me all kinds of names.

I sighed. Now even my brother was furious at me.

What am I going to do? I asked myself. What can I do?

As I trudged back to the cabin, another plan began to form in my mind.

A really desperate plan.

A really dangerous plan.

“Tomorrow,” I murmured to myself, “I’m going to show them all!”