Witch Twins at Camp Bliss by Adele Griffin Page A

Bundkin wasn’t the only one to thank Luna for her news updates. All afternoon and later that evening at the Farewell Picnic, parents came up to shake her hand. “Luna Bundkin? Nice bulletin! We really appreciated the reports from the front lines!”
    The attention from grown-ups was all a little bit embarrassing, especially when Talita introduced Luna to her boyfriend, Curtis, as “my best friend at camp.”
    Which was sort of true, thought Luna as she watched Talita and Curtis sitting together under a tree, sharing a plate of picnic dinner and whispering secrets. She and Talita had even exchanged e-mail addresses. But Curtis was Talita’s all-weather friend. They were traveling across Europe together next year. Talita had told her all about it.
    Sitting next to her father, Luna nibbled at her dinner and surveyed the rolling green fields. Everywhere she looked, she saw a pair of friends.
    Glad and Penelope were sitting together.
    Min Suh and Haley were sitting together.
    Pam and Tammy were sitting together.
    Even Lakshmi and Justin were sitting together.
    “I can’t believe camp’s over,” said Luna quietly, “and I never made an all-weather friend.”
    “You’re my all-weather friend,” said her father. “Right, sunshine?”
    Luna nodded and put her hand on his knee. She didn’t want her dad to feel bad, but a parent wasn’t quite the same thing. Besides, she really was happy to see her dad after five weeks away from him.
    Since it was such a warm, clear evening, the Camp Bliss awards ceremony would be held outdoors. On a flat stretch of meadow, folding chairs were arranged in rows. Up front, a table covered with badges, medals, and certificates was positioned next to a podium. After dinner, people began to amble over from the barbecue area to sit on the chairs. Luna waited for her dad to finish his third helping of potato salad, then held his hand as they joined the others.
    “Justin and I will be back here, a stone’s throw away,” said Mr. Bundkin, detaching his hand from hers. “You go sit with the other kids, Luna.”
    Claire and Ella had saved her a seat up front. Luna felt her stomach clench with jealousy. Even Claire had made an all-weather friend! Ever since Blue-and-Buff Day, Claire and Ella had become inseparable.
    Luna managed to put on a smile as she trotted down the aisle to slide into the empty seat next to her sister.
    Ella leaned forward and waved. Claire hooked her pinkie into Luna’s. Then Talita spied Luna, and she and Curtis moved seats so that they could sit next to her.
    “Look at that loving cup,” Claire said, pointing. “If Ella and I both win it, then we decided we each will hold one of its handles. I think there’s a reason it has two handles. It’s kismet .”
    “What’s kismet?” Luna asked.
    “Destiny!” said Claire and Ella together. Then they started laughing. Ever since Claire and Ella had become friends, it seemed all they did was laugh.
    Soon Pam and the other counselors gathered at the front. As she stepped into place behind the podium, Pam blew on her whistle. But it was a mournful tweet, as if she knew it would be a whole year before she would use a whistle so much and so happily again.
    “There are lots of prizes to give out,” Pam announced to the audience. “Your patience is appreciated! We’re going to start with the junior campers crafts awards and tadpole badges. Okay?”
    “Dandy!” shouted a few campers.
    Pam grinned.
    There were prizes for everything. There were ribbons and badges and medallions for good swimming, for good sailing, for good artwork, for good hiking and biking and Frisbee and horseshoe tossing. Everyone won something, and any girl who didn’t win a prize was named for an honorable mention. Even Luna’s name was called (for passing the first aid test). Of course, most of the time Ella and Claire were the ones who jumped up to sprint down the aisle. Soon their laps were filled with paper, cloth, and metal honors.
    Luna’s