Witch Twins at Camp Bliss by Adele Griffin Page B

hands hurt from clapping. Her sister was amazing!
    How would that trophy be split between Claire and Ella? Luna stared at the big silver cup and pondered. Would Claire get it for half the year and Ella for half the year? Would they flip a coin? Would another cup have to be made?
    Eventually, the table lay bare, except for the trophy. A hush fell over the crowd.
    Claire leaned forward. Ella leaned forward. The audience shifted forward.
    Then Pam sat down. Mr. and Mrs. Carol, who had been sitting in the front row of the audience, now stood up and took Pam’s place at the podium. Mrs. Carol then began to read in a clear, slow voice.
    “The loving cup is given to the camper who represents those qualities most important to Camp Bliss,” she began. “They are loyalty, sportsmanship, enterprise, and bravery. This year, the counselors told me they had a tough job. There were so many outstanding competitors. So many winners!”
    Someone shouted out Claire’s name. Someone else shouted Ella’s. Then someone shouted Julianna Becker’s, who won it last year but who was not even at camp this year. Then everyone was yelling out any name.
    Pam blew on her whistle. Mr. Carol raised his hand for quiet. The noise settled.
    “This year, we decided to give the award to a camper who made an unusual contribution,” Mr. Carol continued. “This camper got to know everyone through her hard work both indoors and out. Whether she was taking out splinters or paddling a canoe, she was always testing her bravery. Her interest in other campers resulted in an enterprising newsletter available online to all Bliss parents. She participated with steady and enthusiastic sportsmanship in every sport, and she loyally befriended both counselors and campers alike.”
    Now Mr. and Mrs. Carol spoke together. “That is why this year’s Camp Bliss Girl award goes to Luna Bundkin.”
    A hush of surprise fell over the audience, followed by a murmuring. It was instantly replaced by quiet, then steady clapping.
    “Lizards and love handles!” whispered Claire. “Loon?”
    “Oh, no!” Luna whispered. She scrunched down in her seat. “I can’t!”
    The applause was gaining strength. A few girls began to shout Luna’s name. From somewhere in the back, Luna heard Justin give a wolf howl.
    Claire turned and hugged her. “I guess you do deserve it, Luna,” she whispered in her sister’s ear. “I never thought about it that way before, but you really do have all those loving-cup qualities!”
    “But I can’t walk up in front of all those people,” Luna whispered back. “My legs are shaking from nerves. Will you do it for me? Please? It was your zest for adventure that made me come to Camp Bliss in the first place. You’re the whole reason I’m here!”
    Claire looked at Luna.
    Luna looked at Claire.
    “Are you sure?” Claire whispered.
    Luna nodded. She was sure.
    While most of the campers half-knew that it was Claire, not Luna, Bundkin who stood up and walked down the aisle and up to the podium to shake hands with the Carols and the counselors and accept the big two-handled silver trophy, it did not matter. Everyone knew that Luna and Claire, though they were as different as chalk and cheese, could count on each other in a pinch. That was why they were the purest kind of identical twins.
    “See? Kismet,” said Claire later, after Justin and their dad had left for the motel, and they took one final tour around the campgrounds. “I even cleared a space for the loving cup on our bookshelf. So we both can admire it.”
    Luna looked at the cup. Camp Bliss Girl—her! She could hardly believe it. “You’re sure you’re not sad you didn’t win it?” she asked her sister.
    “I’m a little sad,” admitted Claire. “But, then again, Ella and I had a lot of fun together. Even though you won the trophy, camp is still a more perfect place for kids like Ella and me. Funwise, that is.”
    “I agree,” Luna said.
    “And it might have been kind of bad