Mary Anne And Camp Bsc Part 10

It was an amazing thing to ask twenty-two kids ages four to nine to do. But they did it. Lions and a tiger and an elephant and a goat and a camel and all the others sat down and waited while we had a quick emergency meeting of the BSC.

"What are are we going to do?" hissed Kristy as we huddled together. Dawn and I exchanged glances. Wow. Kristy almost never asks that question. She usually has at least an opinion about what people should do. we going to do?" hissed Kristy as we huddled together. Dawn and I exchanged glances. Wow. Kristy almost never asks that question. She usually has at least an opinion about what people should do.

Mal said thoughtfully, "I think I have an idea for the dog act. A sort of plot ..."

Jessi said, "We can rework the dance so that all Ricky and Hannie do is more or less stand still."

"With a cardboard saw, Karen might be able to pull off a pretty funny act," I said. Kristy was beginning to look more cheerful. We all were.

Logan said, "Why don't we use the high- board act as part of the down act? I think I see a way we can do it. And a way we can include all the downs."

"We can do it," Dawn said.

"No problem," agreed Claudia.

"Okay, great." Kristy turned briskly. "Let's get to work. The show must and will will go on!" go on!"

Chapter 14.

The show did go on.

On Friday morning, the moment the last parent had dropped off the last camper, Camp BSC went into fast forward.

I put Karen and Nancy to work making a cardboard saw. We all put last-minute touches on costumes. Jessi led the dancers through a revised version of the wild animal dance. Logan, Chris, and Bobby made many trips to and from the barn to where the high-board act was set up. Meanwhile, laughter and Pow's unmistakable baying came from the rehearsal of the four dogs and their trainers.

At midmorning we took a break for our last trip together to the park. The dogs went along this time, but I couldn't go. Alicia left happily, without a backward glance, and I actually thought, "Wow, they grow up so fast." I caught myself and had to laugh.

There was plenty for me to do at home while Camp BSC was at the park. I made extra batches of circus punch (fruit juice and ginger ale and chunks of fruit cut into funny shapes) for the campers to have with their last lunch at Camp BSC. And I made sure enough candy apples were ready for a surprise dessert.

I'd just finished getting organized when the campers returned. They were no longer divided into the SMS and the SES factions. They were all rambling along together. And they were singing.

When I heard what they were singing I burst out laughing. Apparently the official song of Camp BSC had become any song with the word "bowling" stuck in at strategic places.

After lunch and quiet time (spent rea.s.suring Vanessa that she was going to be a terrific ringmaster and promising Bobby and Chris that we would be right right there if anything went wrong) we began to make the final preparations for the Camp BSC Circus. Together we popped up the popcorn, arranged the folding chairs and picnic table benches, and of course sampled plenty of the food to make sure that it tasted just right for the customers. there if anything went wrong) we began to make the final preparations for the Camp BSC Circus. Together we popped up the popcorn, arranged the folding chairs and picnic table benches, and of course sampled plenty of the food to make sure that it tasted just right for the customers.

Then the parents began to arrive. And the grandparents. And the sisters and brothers and friends. Half a dozen adults brought video cameras, including Mr. Ramsey, who promised the members of the BSC copies of their very own.

"I know you'll want to have it to remember this by," he said, panning the crowd with his camera. "Looks like it's going to be a great circus!"

I said, "Thanks, Mr. Ramsey. That'll be super." My eyes met Logan's. "And you're right. It's going to be a great circus." Vanessa put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. It was a skill none of us had realized she had. It got our attention. And the crowd's.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "So you're in charge of the refreshments?"

"Sharon! You got off work early!" I exclaimed.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world. You and Dawn have been working so hard."

"Dawn's in the barn with the performers, helping them get ready," I said. "I'm so glad you came."

"Me, too." Sharon gave my shoulder another squeeze - and Vanessa gave another piercing whistle.

With an elaborate clearing of her throat, Vanessa said, "Ladies and gentlemen..."

Needless to say, the wild animal act was a huge huge success, especially when the animals success, especially when the animals jumped through the hoop of "fire." And when Alicia stopped in mid-trick to turn and wave at her parents, it brought the house down.

The animal dancers were next, and I admit that I held my breath. I think Jessi was a little bit nervous, too. And Ricky and Hannie were concentrating so intensely that they forgot to smile when they walked into the center of the ring.

But when the dance began and things went smoothly, they relaxed. Marge's cartwheels earned applause, as did Becca's walking on her hands. And it was amazing. Whatever Jessi had done, the four of them looked as if they knew exactly what they were doing and had practiced it a million times. It was only if you knew what had gone on that you realized Ricky and Hannie were doing a lot of spinning in place and cross-the-ring swoops.

By the end of the dance, all the wild animals were smiling and they took their bows to cries of "Bravo" from the audience.

The downs came tumbling out next and, thanks to Claudia and Shannon and Dawn's hard work, Natalie's clown costume was just as goofy as the others. The kids had (with the help of Claud's keen artistic eye) painted on great clown faces. They chased each other and "tripped" over their big feet and brandished squirt guns and pillows and had a great time. When they were done, they were completely out of breath, covered in water (and a little oatmeal), and laughing as hard as the audience. They took their bows in cla.s.sic down form: Whenever one of them bent over, another would pretend to kick him in the rear, arid send him sprawling.

And the specialty acts? Well, Nancy's "leg" fell off again the moment Karen started sawing, and the crowd burst into laugher and applause. Karen's face grew very red, but when she realized that the crowd enjoyed it, she turned into an old stage performer before our eyes. She picked up the leg and stuck it back in the hole in the box - upside down.

Karen sawed the box in half with her cardboard saw. (The box was really two boxes joined together, with Nancy scrunched up in one box with her head sticking out of the side.) The crowd applauded and Karen bowed. Nancy jumped up and poked her legs through the bottom of her box and took a bow, too. Well pleased with the roar of approval, the two girls took a final bow and left the ring for the high-board act.

It had definitely improved. I'm not sure what Logan had done, but the high-board act had become a clown act all on its own, with Bobby pretending to be afraid to climb all the way up and Chris trying to persuade him. It ended with both boys on the board, doing silly, crazy, tricks, and falling off in the end into a big pile of hay.

Then Vanessa announced the final act: Dr. Dog.

"Oh dear, oh dear," said Hannie. "Something is wrong with poor Pow!"

"Yes!" said Margo. "All Pow will do all day long is NAP, POW."

Pow looked at Margo. "That's what he does, don't you, Pow. You just NAP."

Slowly Pow sat down and then slid his front paws out. He rolled over on his side and lay still.

"Oh dear, oh dear, what should we do?" said Margo.

David Michael said, "We must send for Dr. Dog!"

"But he is so far away!"

"Don't worry," said Hannie. "We can send brave Noodle and Shannon to FETCH him. She bent toward Noodle and pointed to Linny and Charlotte, who were waiting at the other end of the ring with Carrot.

"FETCH Dr. Dog and LINNY, Noodle. Shannon, go."

Noodle got up and started to trot to Linny. Shannon stayed where she'd been told to sit at the beginning of the show, her tongue hanging out, looking cheerfully around at the audience.

"I will go, too!" David Michael cried. He ran to Noodle. Over his shoulder he said, "Here, Shannon!"

Shannon jumped up instantly and raced after David Michael.

When they reached Charlotte and Linny, David Michael told Shannon to sit. (Noodle was already sitting).

"What do you want?" asked Charlotte. "Would you like to SPEAK, SHANNON to Dr. Dog about something?"

Shannon wagged her tail.

"Yes, Shannon, SPEAK to Dr. Dog."

You could almost see a little light go off in Shannon's brain. "Arf!" she said happily. "Arf, arf."

"That sick, huh?" said Charlotte. "We'd better get going, Dr. Dog."

The doctor hurried back to the patient. Charlotte sat down on a bale of hay next to Pow (who had begun to wag his his tail). tail).

"Dr. Dog must think," announced Charlotte. She leaned over and whispered, "Say your prayers, Carrot." Carrot put his paws in Charlotte's lap and lowered his head.

"Good boy," Charlotte whispered loudly.

Carrot took his paws down and barked loudly.

"Look, Pow is getting UP, POW. He's cured," cried Hannie.

Pow jumped up.

And the audience broke into the loudest applause yet. Of course the dogs all barked and jumped around.

Mal, I thought, you are a genius. genius.

Everyone came running out from the barn then, and the parents gave them three ovations. Then people milled around, eating and drinking and talking. They seemed reluctant to leave and it was almost dark before the last group of parents and kids drifted toward their cars. Most of the kids had asked if we could do it again.

Best of all was Alicia, who let go of her mother's hand to come tearing back to me. She threw her arms around my legs (crutches and all). " 'Bye, Mary Anne," she said. "Camp was the funnest thing I ever did. Can we have camp again?"

"Next year, Alicia," I promised. "Next year!"

Chapter 15.

I woke up the morning after the circus feeling cheerful and contented and generally pleased with the world. And not just because Camp BSC had been such a success.

There was another reason: we were going to pick my father up from the airport that afternoon.

And we were going to spend the morning making it look like the wild and crazy bachelor girls were the neatniks of the earth.

Okay, so housework doesn't make me cheerful. Who does like doing it? But I enjoyed the morning with Dawn and Sharon. We sang and goofed and told jokes - and mopped and swept and did a gazillion loads of dishes and laundry and everything else. Even with a sprained ankle, you can get quite a lot done!

By the time we left for the airport, our house was spotless.

We made Dad a big bouquet of flowers from the garden. And we all flung ourselves at him when he came through the door into the waiting area at the airport.

"How are my girls doing?" he said, laughing and hugging us hard.

"Great," I said, and I meant it.

That night, after dinner, I had a long talk with Dad, though. I told him what had happened and how much I had missed him. "It really kind of surprised me, Dad," I said. "I mean, I'm practically grown up, but ..."

My father nodded thoughtfully.

"Do you have to travel?" I asked. "Do you have to stay away so long?"

"Well, yes, I do."

"Oh." My heart sank. I almost wanted to cry. Don't be silly, I told myself. Your dad is here now. Worry about him being away when the time comes.

My father hadn't finished yet, however. "Maybe, though, I can arrange to travel less. Or make shorter trips. And things will settle down once the details of this merger have been sorted out."

"Oh," I said again, feeling a little more cheerful. It wasn't exactly the solution I would have chosen. But it sounded better than nothing.

"You have to promise me something, though," said my father.

"Sure. What?"

And then my dad, Mr. Neat and Organized, said something I never thought I'd hear him say. "Loosen up a little," he told me. "Enjoy yourself. I know you love Sharon, but I think you might feel even closer to her if you let yourself have some fun. And try to talk to her. Don't let your feelings pile up like, like dirty dishes."

I burst out laughing. "You've got a promise!"

"Hey, guys," Sharon stuck her head into my bedroom. "What about that video?"

Jessi and Mal had biked by that afternoon while we were at the airport and left a copy of the Camp BSC .Circus Video.

"Come on, Dad," I said, jumping up. "We're about to show you a truly excellent video. Academy Award stuff at least. But if you don't don't think so," I looked at Sharon, "well, we can show you how to express yourself with popcorn!" think so," I looked at Sharon, "well, we can show you how to express yourself with popcorn!"

Laughing, we went to join Dawn.

"A quiet time for the BSC," said Kristy, sitting in her director's chair in Claudia's room. We were pa.s.sing around junk food and talking. Logan wasn't there - he was playing baseball at the park - but the rest of the Camp BSC counselors were sitting around the room, eating junk food and waiting for the phone to ring. It was almost six and, so far, we had taken only two calls.

"Lots of kids are away at overnight camp," said Jessi. "The Braddocks, Natalie."

"The Giannellis have gone on vacation," I said. "But when they get back, the kids are going to be doing stuff at the community center. Mrs. Giannelli called to tell me that Alicia is looking forward to it. She wants to know if will be like the circus she was in this summer."

"Speaking of circuses, Karen and Hannie and Nancy are already working on their circus act for next summer," Kristy said. "And Hannie and Linny are taking tumbling cla.s.ses at the community center because they think they can use it in the next Camp BSC circus!"

"So I guess we're a real circus camp after all," Claudia said.