The next day, Corinne received a letter from her friend, Abigail:
Dear Corinne,
I'm having fun! I went to Rose's party. Rose was mean. She wouldn't let ANYONE touch her presents. But I still like her.
From, Abigail
Corinne sighed. She disliked Rose, Abigail's best friend--other than herself. Abigail refused to see the meanness and the cruelty in Rose.
Kenna leaned over. She scanned the note. "Oh, it's a quicknote," she said. In Kenna's school, quicknotes were a kind of fashion. "Let me write one back."
"No, me!" Corinne grabbed her paper before Kenna could reach it.
But Kenna was strong. She grabbed the paper...
And doubled up with laughter.
Corinne laughed too. Soon Mira joined in, and then Lisa.
It was Kenna who started IIIIIITTTTTT.
Apr 3, 2010
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 12
Next after breakfast was swimming. It was mostly a test. The lake was another good thing about the camp: it was deep enough for a nice challenge and had water slides. Corinne excelled at swimming, so naturally she passed the test and spent the main part of the morning on the water slides with other kids. The slides were of varying height and twistyness. Corinne sampled all of them and chose a tall green one that went almost straight down as her favorite. Eventually she was cleared to go. Lisa told everyone in the cabin that they passed, which they knew, of course.They had each swam considerably well.
They had free time next. Mira and Corinne grabbed the first ball they saw and played a mini game of soccer. Kenna was the judge. She was fair and impartial. But then she called the game to a halt. "Stop, stop!" Kenna waved her arms in the air until Mira and Corinne obeyed. Then she pulled them to the side of the grassy field. "Who's that strange person?" she asked, pointing towards Cabin 3. But no one was there.
It was kind of creepy. Lisa knew how they felt, but not why. She and Nory joined in the game. There was no judge. It got kind of strange, but at least it helped everyone take their mind off the strange person.
It worked until that night. In bed, Corinne wondered: Who could it be?
Notice: The new backround is where Corinne's camp is located. Yes, it is windy.
They had free time next. Mira and Corinne grabbed the first ball they saw and played a mini game of soccer. Kenna was the judge. She was fair and impartial. But then she called the game to a halt. "Stop, stop!" Kenna waved her arms in the air until Mira and Corinne obeyed. Then she pulled them to the side of the grassy field. "Who's that strange person?" she asked, pointing towards Cabin 3. But no one was there.
It was kind of creepy. Lisa knew how they felt, but not why. She and Nory joined in the game. There was no judge. It got kind of strange, but at least it helped everyone take their mind off the strange person.
It worked until that night. In bed, Corinne wondered: Who could it be?
Notice: The new backround is where Corinne's camp is located. Yes, it is windy.
Feb 25, 2010
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 11
Corinne awoke to golden sunlight streaming in through the window. She sounded the morning bell in her mind: "Bring-a-ling-ling!" Ever since Nory had told the story of the history of the morning bell in Babyland, she'd imagined the bell here, in the U.S.
A loud thump came from the floor near the door. Mira had scampered out of bed and was doing cartwheels on the creaky wooden floor of the cabin. She launched herself into the air, did a flip, and landed. "Am I bothering anyone?" she asked innocently.
"Yes," Kenna grumbled. She rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Mira and Corinne laughed. A few seconds later, Kenna joined in.
Kenna's hair was straight, since it hardly ever got messy. Mira's sleek black hair was as straight as ever. Only Corinne's hair was as tangled as if each of the hairs was a snake and she was Medusa. She grabbed a brush out of her camp bag, which was under her bed, and began combing her hair. She got dressed along with Kenna and Mira.
Lisa entered through the wooden door. "It looks like you've settled in," she said, walking around the cabin. Mira had sorted her things into neat piles. Kenna had rarely taken anything out of her jammed suitcase. Corinne had made her one large pile as neat as possible, but it wasn't easy.
"Breakfast time," Lisa said. "I'm supposed to get you into a straight line, but I don't like straight lines. I'd prefer if you were in a group."
The entirety of Cabin 14* crowded, as best as they could with such a small group, against the door. Lisa, who was naturally the tallest of the four, leaned over, and with a long-fingered hand, opened the door. Everyone burst out into the open area and breathed in the morning's fresh air. Then they set off into the woods, towards the dining hall.
It was a noisy place, warm because of the constant moving. Lisa directed the group towards a wooden table that was so smooth that there was no thought of getting splinters from it. The food was bagels and toast, which Corinne enjoyed every minute of.
But something unexpected was happening while Corinne--and most other people--were eating. The mysterious camper** concentrated, and then teleported herself in such a way that when she reappeared, she was close enough to the table where the people of Bunk 14 sat to hear what they were saying, but far enough so no matter what, no one knew what she was doing. "Yes, we have them here," she hissed into her phone. "They're ready for convincing."
*Why is it Bunk 14? Corinne P. : Chapter 5
**Hear more about the mysterious camper: Corinne P. : Chapter 9
A loud thump came from the floor near the door. Mira had scampered out of bed and was doing cartwheels on the creaky wooden floor of the cabin. She launched herself into the air, did a flip, and landed. "Am I bothering anyone?" she asked innocently.
"Yes," Kenna grumbled. She rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Mira and Corinne laughed. A few seconds later, Kenna joined in.
Kenna's hair was straight, since it hardly ever got messy. Mira's sleek black hair was as straight as ever. Only Corinne's hair was as tangled as if each of the hairs was a snake and she was Medusa. She grabbed a brush out of her camp bag, which was under her bed, and began combing her hair. She got dressed along with Kenna and Mira.
Lisa entered through the wooden door. "It looks like you've settled in," she said, walking around the cabin. Mira had sorted her things into neat piles. Kenna had rarely taken anything out of her jammed suitcase. Corinne had made her one large pile as neat as possible, but it wasn't easy.
"Breakfast time," Lisa said. "I'm supposed to get you into a straight line, but I don't like straight lines. I'd prefer if you were in a group."
The entirety of Cabin 14* crowded, as best as they could with such a small group, against the door. Lisa, who was naturally the tallest of the four, leaned over, and with a long-fingered hand, opened the door. Everyone burst out into the open area and breathed in the morning's fresh air. Then they set off into the woods, towards the dining hall.
It was a noisy place, warm because of the constant moving. Lisa directed the group towards a wooden table that was so smooth that there was no thought of getting splinters from it. The food was bagels and toast, which Corinne enjoyed every minute of.
But something unexpected was happening while Corinne--and most other people--were eating. The mysterious camper** concentrated, and then teleported herself in such a way that when she reappeared, she was close enough to the table where the people of Bunk 14 sat to hear what they were saying, but far enough so no matter what, no one knew what she was doing. "Yes, we have them here," she hissed into her phone. "They're ready for convincing."
*Why is it Bunk 14? Corinne P. : Chapter 5
**Hear more about the mysterious camper: Corinne P. : Chapter 9
Feb 1, 2010
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 10
It was slightly after dinner. The food had been macaroni and cheese, one of Kenna's favorites. Speaking of Kenna, Kenna's counselor had agreed to a switch, which meant that Kenna was now in Corinne's cabin!
Kenna was sitting on her new bed. "I'm so glad I can be with you!" she was saying. "I didn't know anyone in my cabin! They had all been to camp before and had friends and..."
"Now you know how I felt when I first came to America," Mira said, interrupting Kenna. It was the first time she'd spoken this evening.
Corinne stroked Kenna's baby doll, who was named after a character in a good book. This baby doll was wearing a pink dress with parallel/perpendicular fuchsia lines running through it, and it had been the subject of many earlier fights. She considered how lucky she was to have stolen it from Kenna without notice.
Lisa came into the cabin. "I see you're all settled in," she said. "It's nearly time for bed."
Something made Kenna look over at Corinne. "What are you doing with Bianca?" she demanded. Bianca was, of course, the baby doll.
Corinne sighed. She handed Bianca back to Kenna, and until bedtime, the four of them played.
Later, as Corinne was brushing her teeth, she considered the day. It had been a good day. Everyone seemed happy as they got into bed--even Corinne.
Kenna was sitting on her new bed. "I'm so glad I can be with you!" she was saying. "I didn't know anyone in my cabin! They had all been to camp before and had friends and..."
"Now you know how I felt when I first came to America," Mira said, interrupting Kenna. It was the first time she'd spoken this evening.
Corinne stroked Kenna's baby doll, who was named after a character in a good book. This baby doll was wearing a pink dress with parallel/perpendicular fuchsia lines running through it, and it had been the subject of many earlier fights. She considered how lucky she was to have stolen it from Kenna without notice.
Lisa came into the cabin. "I see you're all settled in," she said. "It's nearly time for bed."
Something made Kenna look over at Corinne. "What are you doing with Bianca?" she demanded. Bianca was, of course, the baby doll.
Corinne sighed. She handed Bianca back to Kenna, and until bedtime, the four of them played.
Later, as Corinne was brushing her teeth, she considered the day. It had been a good day. Everyone seemed happy as they got into bed--even Corinne.
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 9
Corinne gasped. "I don't want to be alone in a cabin with Mira!" she explained. "No offense to Mira, of course," she added. Mira hung her head.
Suddenly, Kenna's eyes lit up. "Can I transfer to your cabin?" she asked Lisa.
Lisa sighed. "I'll talk to your counselor. Meanwhile, it's time for dinner. Mira, show Corinne the way to the dining hall."
Mira took Corinne's hand. Kenna clutched Corinne's other hand, and the two of them were pulled along by Mira, into the forest. Kenna shouted, and Corinne grinned. "It's like going on a roller coaster," she told Mira.
The group, however small, was pulled along. A watching camper grinned. She typed something in on her miniature laptop computer, then, hidden by the abundance of trees, followed them.
It was not long before Corinne caught sight of the dining hall. It was a large brown building, seemingly made from strips of dark wood. A narrow stream of campers were going into the building. Corinne, Mira, and Kenna followed them, trying to blend in.
But not their follower. She ducked around the corner of the building and answered her ringing phone.
"Yes," the girl said. "They're here. I'm ready."
Suddenly, Kenna's eyes lit up. "Can I transfer to your cabin?" she asked Lisa.
Lisa sighed. "I'll talk to your counselor. Meanwhile, it's time for dinner. Mira, show Corinne the way to the dining hall."
Mira took Corinne's hand. Kenna clutched Corinne's other hand, and the two of them were pulled along by Mira, into the forest. Kenna shouted, and Corinne grinned. "It's like going on a roller coaster," she told Mira.
The group, however small, was pulled along. A watching camper grinned. She typed something in on her miniature laptop computer, then, hidden by the abundance of trees, followed them.
It was not long before Corinne caught sight of the dining hall. It was a large brown building, seemingly made from strips of dark wood. A narrow stream of campers were going into the building. Corinne, Mira, and Kenna followed them, trying to blend in.
But not their follower. She ducked around the corner of the building and answered her ringing phone.
"Yes," the girl said. "They're here. I'm ready."
Jan 1, 2010
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 8
Corinne Packel cautiously opened the cabin door. She and Mira timidly peeked outside.
Kenna was the one who had made the crash. She was near the cabin's doorstep, impossibly tangled in a mess of ribbon and string and more. "Hi," she said. "This place is too messy!" Then she spotted Corinne. "You mean...you're not tangled?" she asked incredulously.
Corinne shrugged. "It's easy not to," she replied.
Kenna grimaced. "Can someone please untie me?" she begged.
Mira leaned over. "Do not worry," she said. "I will do it."
In an impossibly short time, Kenna was untied. "Thanks," she said. "By the way, remind me again why Nory calls me Henna Penna."
The afternoon seemed to pass quickly as Mira and Corinne played with Kenna. They ventured into the forest, and Kenna demonstrated "the climbing of the average tree." Mira brought out her photo album and told stories of what it was like in China. Corinne showed them how to make a leaf berylanditandie out of regular leaves.
Soon, Lisa came back. "I'm afraid that you girls will have to sleep in Cabin 14 alone. By the way, it's time for dinner."
Kenna was the one who had made the crash. She was near the cabin's doorstep, impossibly tangled in a mess of ribbon and string and more. "Hi," she said. "This place is too messy!" Then she spotted Corinne. "You mean...you're not tangled?" she asked incredulously.
Corinne shrugged. "It's easy not to," she replied.
Kenna grimaced. "Can someone please untie me?" she begged.
Mira leaned over. "Do not worry," she said. "I will do it."
In an impossibly short time, Kenna was untied. "Thanks," she said. "By the way, remind me again why Nory calls me Henna Penna."
The afternoon seemed to pass quickly as Mira and Corinne played with Kenna. They ventured into the forest, and Kenna demonstrated "the climbing of the average tree." Mira brought out her photo album and told stories of what it was like in China. Corinne showed them how to make a leaf berylanditandie out of regular leaves.
Soon, Lisa came back. "I'm afraid that you girls will have to sleep in Cabin 14 alone. By the way, it's time for dinner."
The Life of Corinne P. : Chapter 7
As Corinne Packel looked at her new cabin, she looked back on her life. A year ago, or even a couple days ago, she would never have imagined herself at summer camp, staring at a cabin. It was amazing.
The cabin was seemingly wooden. It had windows and one electric light hanging from the ceiling. There were three bunk beds.
A girl with luscious black hair with a barrette in it smiled at Corinne. "Hello," the pretty girl said to Corinne. "I am Mira."
Corinne managed to say, "Hi. I'm Corinne." She regarded the bunk beds. "Which bunk do I get?"
Mira shrugged. "I will take this one," she said, motioning to the top bunk of the third bed.
Corinne nodded. She selected the bottom bunk of the first bed and set her stuff down on it. Lisa went out of the cabin, probably to collect the other girls.
Mira began making her bed. "I have gone here, to this camp, since my family first came to America, when I was five. My brother and I were scared. But everyone was so nice. I like it a lot." She spread the sheets out on the bed. "Aren't you going to make your bed?"
Corinne nodded. She took the sheets out of her camp bag and began making her bed. "So you have a brother?" she asked.
Mira nodded. "He's my twin. He's very funny and good at sports. But he is annoying, too, sometimes. He kicks a ball at me. I play sports, too, but then I am caught unawares."
Mira opened her mouth to continue, but she stopped when a large crash came from outside.
The cabin was seemingly wooden. It had windows and one electric light hanging from the ceiling. There were three bunk beds.
A girl with luscious black hair with a barrette in it smiled at Corinne. "Hello," the pretty girl said to Corinne. "I am Mira."
Corinne managed to say, "Hi. I'm Corinne." She regarded the bunk beds. "Which bunk do I get?"
Mira shrugged. "I will take this one," she said, motioning to the top bunk of the third bed.
Corinne nodded. She selected the bottom bunk of the first bed and set her stuff down on it. Lisa went out of the cabin, probably to collect the other girls.
Mira began making her bed. "I have gone here, to this camp, since my family first came to America, when I was five. My brother and I were scared. But everyone was so nice. I like it a lot." She spread the sheets out on the bed. "Aren't you going to make your bed?"
Corinne nodded. She took the sheets out of her camp bag and began making her bed. "So you have a brother?" she asked.
Mira nodded. "He's my twin. He's very funny and good at sports. But he is annoying, too, sometimes. He kicks a ball at me. I play sports, too, but then I am caught unawares."
Mira opened her mouth to continue, but she stopped when a large crash came from outside.
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