Summer Camp Queen Read online

  For Kenzie, with love for Rick

  —MP

  Table of Contents

  All About Me, Kylie Jean!

  Chapter One - The Saddest Day Ever

  Chapter Two - Calling All Campers

  Chapter Three - First Day Fun

  Chapter Four - Cabin Chaos

  Chapter Five - Campfire Sing-a-long

  Chapter Six - Game Day

  Chapter Seven - Splish Splash

  Chapter Eight - Double Trouble

  Chapter Nine - Jamboree

  Chapter Ten - Queen for a Day

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Glossary

  Talk!

  Be Creative!

  From Momma's Kitchen

  Copyright

  My name is Kylie Jean Carter. I live in a big, sunny, yellow house on Peachtree Lane in Jacksonville, Texas with Momma, Daddy, and my two brothers, T.J. and Ugly Brother.

  T.J. is my older brother, and Ugly Brother is . . . well . . . he’s really a dog. Don’t you go telling him he is a dog. Okay? I mean it. He thinks he is a real true person.

  He is a black-and-white bulldog. His front looks like his back, all smashed in. His face is all droopy like he’s sad, but he’s not.

  His two front teeth stick out, and his tongue hangs down. (Now you know why his name is Ugly Brother.)

  Everyone I love to the moon and back lives in Jacksonville. Nanny, Pa, Granny, Pappy, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins all live here. I’m extra lucky, because I can see all of them any time I want to!

  My momma says I’m pretty. She says I have eyes as blue as the summer sky and a smile as sweet as an angel. (Momma says pretty is as pretty does. That means being nice to the old folks, taking care of little animals, and respecting my momma and daddy.)

  But I’m pretty on the outside and on the inside. My hair is long, brown, and curly.

  I wear it in a ponytail sometimes, but my absolute most favorite is when Momma pulls it back in a princess style on special days.

  I just gave you a little hint about my big dream. Ever since I was a bitty baby I have wanted to be an honest-to-goodness beauty queen. I even know the wave. It’s side to side, nice and slow, with a dazzling smile. I practice all the time, because everybody knows beauty queens need to have a perfect wave.

  I’m Kylie Jean, and I’m going to be a beauty queen. Just you wait and see!

  Today is the last day of school before summer vacation. I can’t believe that all of my fun school days are over for this year! While I finish getting dressed, I think about how much I am going to miss my teacher, Ms. Corazón, and my bus driver, Mr. Jim.

  Momma hollers, “Kylie Jean, breakfast is ready!”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I call.

  Ugly Brother barks, “Ruff, ruff.” Two barks means yes.

  I look at him, all wiggly and full of excitement. He’s glad school is nearly over and we can play every single day of the summer. Summer days are longer than regular days. We can play until it gets dark outside, but I’m not sure I’m ready for summer just yet!

  “You better be good until I get home,” I tell him. “Then we can play tag in the backyard.”

  I head downstairs. In the kitchen, there are some pretty roses in butterfly paper on the counter. I press my nose into the bouquet, taking a deep breath.

  I gasp. “Momma, these flowers smell like heaven!”

  Momma laughs. “Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know your teacher is an angel,” she says. “Now, if you don’t hurry and eat your breakfast, Mr. Jim will have to wait for you.”

  I eat three spoons of fruity rings cereal before I hear the bus pull up in front of my house and the horn goes BEEP, BEEP!

  I grab my backpack and run for the door. Then I have to run back because I forgot my teacher’s flowers. I can’t forget those!

  When we get to school I see my best cousin, Lucy. We walk to class together. She is feeling a little blue about the end of school, too.

  It’s hard to stay sad, though, because our teacher has a surprise for us! Lucy spots them first. She asks, “Do you see those bags on our desks?”

  “Sure do!” I reply. We can’t wait to see what’s inside them, so we skip right over and look.

  I peek in.

  The first thing I see in my bag is a book. That makes me happy. I just know that beauty queens love to read. They like to read so they can be extra smart.

  Lucy dumps her bag out on the table. Candy, a toy ring, bookmarks, and other goodies scatter over her desk like little birds in the sky.

  “Yay!” Lucy shouts.

  Cara and Paula run over. “We’re having a pizza party, too!” Cara says.

  Paula adds, “And cupcakes!”

  We are so excited we can hardly wait.

  The day zooms by. After lunch we get to play board games. I like old-fashioned checkers. Pa taught me how to play like an expert. I’m always red and Lucy is always black.

  While we play, I have a great idea! “Do you know what I’m thinking?” I ask Lucy. “Wouldn’t pink checkers be just divine?”

  Lucy says, “Well, the boys wouldn’t like them, but I would.”

  When the three o’clock bell rings, I can’t believe it. Just like that, school is over.

  Lucy starts to cry a little. She does that sometimes. Reaching over, I give her a squeezy hug.

  I whisper, “Don’t be sad. Just think about all of the swimming you’re going to do this summer.”

  Maybe I am trying to convince myself, too! I don’t say much on the bus. Mr. Jim is probably worried about me, since I usually talk all the way home. He doesn’t know that the last day of school is the saddest day ever!

  At home, I drag my backpack into the kitchen.

  “Don’t be so down, darlin’,” Momma says. “I think I have something to cheer you up.”

  Then she hands me an envelope. I tear it open.

  I’m over the moon with happiness. Momma went to Mariposa Ranch Camp when she was a girl, and she tells me that Lucy is going to go with me. My saddest day ever just turned into the happiest day ever!

  One week later, I am packing for camp! They sent me a list of things to bring. I’m using my prettiest pink pencil to check off each thing that I put in my duffel bag. That way I won’t forget a single important thing!

  The first thing I pack is my sleeping bag. It’s pink. Granny sewed my name on it and decorated it with a pretty little crown. Then I check my list.

  Things to Bring to Camp:

  1. clothes

  2. sneakers, flip-flops

  3. towel

  4. bathing suit

  5. hair brush, shampoo

  6. toothbrush, toothpaste, soap

  7. flashlight, batteries

  8. stamps, envelopes, pencils, pens, paper

  9. water bottle

  10. bug spray

  11. sunblock

  12. raincoat

  13. backpack

  14. laundry bag

  15. magazines, books

  16. sleeping bag, blanket, and pillow

  Then I pack my clothes. Momma wrote my name inside all of my shirts and shorts with a black marker. They’re easy to pack because I fold them first.

  T.J. comes in with a flashlight. He says, “I just put batteries in this for you. Use it when you walk at night, so you don’t step on a snake or anything.”

  I groan. “Are you tryin’ to scare me, T.J. Carter?” I ask.

  “Nope,” he says. “I’m just warnin’ you to be careful. That’s all. Hav
e fun, too!”

  Going to camp seems like a huge adventure. My head is so full I can hardly go to sleep for wondering and wondering about this and that.

  But before I know it, morning comes and I am all loaded up in the truck.

  Momma and Daddy are both taking me to camp. I let Ugly Brother kiss me goodbye, because I am going to miss him so much. He looks lonely sitting in the driveway when we leave. I have to think about making new friends or I might just start to cry like a baby, and I haven’t even had to say goodbye to Momma or Daddy yet.

  We drive and drive and drive some more, right into the pine woods.

  “Look!” Momma says. She points out the window at a sign that says, “Welcome to Mariposa Ranch Camp.” The letters are green and all around the edge are painted butterflies.

  Daddy pulls into a parking spot. We climb out, unload, and tote all my stuff over to a tall girl with a clipboard.

  “Hey, y’all,” she says. “I’m Jane Ellen, camp counselor.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I tell her. “I’m Kylie Jean, future queen.”

  She laughs. “I like your spunk, girl.” Then she checks her list. “All the cabins are named after butterflies. You are in the American Lady Butterfly cabin. And aren’t you lucky, I’ll be your counselor! Follow that path and you’ll see it at the end.”

  When we open the door to my cabin, I see a big room with eight beds. Then I get the best surprise ever. My cousin Lucy is an American Lady, too! We scream with happiness when we see each other. Now I won’t be so sad when Momma and Daddy leave.

  Momma gives me a hug. “Be sweet and have fun,” she says. “And don’t forget to write home. Okay?”

  “Okay, Momma,” I say. “I’ll write home every day.”

  Daddy kisses the top of my head and says, “Bye, sugar bean. I love you to the moon and back.”

  “I love you a bushel and a peck!” I reply.

  Quick as a wink, they hit the road for home. Then Lucy and I introduce ourselves to the other girls in our cabin. Their names are Ella, Pearl, Annabelle, Maggie Mae, Lola, and Charlotte.

  Pearl asks, “Who’s a first timer?”

  Lucy and I both raise our hands. All of the other girls have been here before.

  “You’re going to just love camp,” Ella says. “It’s so much fun!”

  Suddenly, we hear a bell ringing and ringing, just like Nanny and Pa’s dinner bell.

  Pearl says, “That bell means they’re calling all campers. It’s time for our welcome dinner.”

  “We better go or we’ll be late and lose points,” Charlotte says.

  She explains that they have a contest at the camp to see who gets the most points. That girl gets to rule the camp for a day.

  “Kylie Jean already has lots of experience being a queen,” Lucy tells the other girls. “She’d be a great ruler!”

  Ella says, “No one from this cabin ever won the contest before. Usually a Monarch wins.”

  “There’s a first time for everything!” I say, but no one agrees with me.

  Just then, Jane Ellen walks in. “You heard the bell, girls,” she says. “Let’s go!”

  We head down the path to the dining hall. As we pass the Monarch cabin, I see a girl who looks just like me!

  But that can’t be true. It must be my imagination playing tricks on me.

  Inside the dining hall, there are two lines for food trays. We American Ladies get in the line to the right. Just as we get to the end of our line with trays full of cook-out chow, I come face to face with myself!

  The girl looks at me and I look at her. She lifts her tray and I lift mine. She blinks and I do, too. That’s when I see that her eyes are brown, not blue like mine are. In every other way, she looks just like me! Momma always says everyone has a twin somewhere.

  “Hi,” she says. “I’m Miley.”

  I smile. “Hi,” I say. “I’m Kylie Jean.”

  She says, “I bet you made that up. Your name can’t really be Kylie. Don’t ever bother me again, got it?”

  She spins around and marches over to the Monarchs’ table.

  Lucy’s mouth is hanging open so wide she could catch flies.

  “What just happened?” she asks.

  All I can do is shrug.

  The rest of our first night at camp goes as smooth as the lake on a calm day. We play games and get to know each other.

  Camp is going to be real fun!

  Dear Momma and Daddy,

  My cabin has six other really nice girls in it. Tonight we ate hot dogs and played games. It was fun! You'll never believe it, but there is a girl here who looks just like me, except she has brown eyes. Her name is Miley. Nanny would probably say she's a handful. Now that it is time for bed I wish I could come home, but tomorrow when I am having fun I know I'll be glad I’m at camp.

  Love,

  Kylie Jean

  XOXOXOXO

  P.S. Please give a hug and kiss to Ugly Brother for me.

  The next morning, we’re eating a huge breakfast of flapjacks, eggs, and bacon. I see my “twin” at the Monarchs’ table.

  She sticks her tongue out at me! I’m tempted to stick mine out, too, but then I remember I’m a lady, so I don’t.

  The camp leader stands up. Her name is Missy.

  Miley is busy yawning. Her counselor, Amanda, tries to get her to pay attention, but she won’t.

  Missy says, “I want to welcome y’all to camp again and remind you that camp is what you make it. Play hard, try new things, and make life-long friends. Everyone should follow the camp rules at all times. Now, I know you can’t wait to get out there. Today, campers, you can choose the ropes course or horseback riding. Before we dismiss you, Jane Ellen will explain our Ruler for the Day competition.”

  Jane Ellen explains that campers get points for every activity they complete. We can get extra points for good behavior. Also, points can be deducted for bad behavior or poor sportsmanship. The camper with the most points on the day of the Jamboree will get to rule the camp for one day.

  Then we all say the camp motto. “Flitter, flutter, flee, you can’t catch me. I create, inspire, and achieve. I’m a Mariposa girl!”

  I grab Lucy, because an idea just hit my brain like a saddle on a horse! If I do both riding and the ropes course, I can get more points. The more points I have, the better my chances are of ruling the Mariposa Ranch.

  “Let’s do both activities!” I beg.

  Lucy agrees. “Okay,” she says, “but only because I know being a queen is your big dream.”

  One by one, each cabin gets dismissed by their counselor. When it’s our turn, Jane Ellen says, “Get out there and have some first-day fun!”

  Lucy has to chase me to the stables, because I run the whole way there.

  We saddle up our horses ourselves. We’re country girls, so we know how to saddle, ride, and groom a horse.

  Caroline is the counselor at the stables. She says, “Wow! You did a great job. Five points each.”

  Then we ride all the way down to the lake and back. Miley must be at the ropes course, because we don’t see her.

  When we’re done riding, we brush our horses down and get another five points. Now Lucy and I have ten points each.

  It’s time to go to the ropes course. Amanda is the counselor at the ropes course. Miley and the Monarchs have not made it through the course yet. It must be hard!

  Amanda explains, “The ropes course has high and low parts. You need a partner to spot you for the high course. Are you two partners?”

  Lucy and I say, “Yup!”

  Amanda gives us a map of the course and we’re ready to go. We do the low course first. There is a zigzag, which is really like walking on a beam, except it’s not a straight line. We zip right through that part.

  Then we pu
t on blindfolds and go through a maze. First I give Lucy directions so she can get through it. Then she gives me directions.

  Next is the whale watch. It looks like a giant teeter-totter, and together we have to try to balance it. The wall is straight ahead. It’s a giant wooden mountain that we have to climb over. Lucy groans. “I’m tired,” she says. “How are we ever going to climb over that wall?”

  “Come on!” I say. “We’re not quitters.”

  Three splinters and ten tries later, we still are not over the wall. Now I’m ready to quit, too.

  Some other girls have shown up. One of them, Bailey, suggests, “Let’s help each other.”

  “What’s your plan?” I ask.

  Bailey says, “Let’s build a pyramid and let one girl climb up and over. Then she can help us from the other side.”

  “Count us in!” Lucy says.

  Working as a team, we get every single girl over the wall.

  The last challenge is climbing a rope with knots in it. We did this in gym class, so I know just what to do. You have to pull yourself up with one hand over the other. If you look down from the top, you might get scared!

  When I’m done, Lucy takes her turn. But her arms aren’t strong enough. Even with me cheering, she doesn’t make it. “That’s okay,” she says. “I tried hard.”

  Amanda gives us each five points for trying, plus three points for teamwork. I get two points for finishing the whole course, but no one else does.

  “Only one other girl has finished the whole thing,” Amanda says.

  “Who?” I ask.

  You guessed it! Miley the Monarch.