After stumbling quite a few times on skates and words, Allie and Amy finally made it to the pool. They tossed their things into lockers and headed out for some fun.
Standing at the edge of the deep end, Allie called, “One, two, three, jump!”
Splash! As soon as they were in, they swam underwater all the way to the shallow end. They swam right into a pair of feet. These looked like the very same feet they’d seen walking around at the fair.
Allie and Amy popped up out of the water.
“MARVIN!!!”
cried Allie. “Why don’t you watch where you’re standing?”
“Watch where I’m standing? Watch where you’re swimming!” said Marvin.
“We have to be at this end of the pool. We’re going to play Marco Polo,” said Allie.
“Well, this end of the pool is taken,” said Marvin.
Allie and Amy looked at each other and nodded.
“It just so happens, we need three players,” said Amy. “Marvin, you can be it.”
“Me? It? Sorry, I just forgot how to play,” said Marvin.
“Let us remind you,” said Allie. “You close your eyes and call out, ‘Marco.’ Then we say, ‘Polo,’ and you have to catch us.”
“Let me think about it,” said Marvin, getting a funny look on his face—funnier than usual. Then he said, “Okay, I’ll play.”
He closed his eyes, but instead of calling out “Marco,” he called, “Martha!”
“That’s not funny,” said Amy, trying not to laugh.
“So sorry,” said Marvin. “I’ll try again.” He closed his eyes and called, “Macaroni!”
Allie got a gleam in her eye. She was supposed to answer, “Polo!” Instead she said, “Cheese!”
Now Amy got the idea. “Tomato sauce!” she called.
Marvin splashed through the water after Amy. Amy slipped past him.
“Massachusetts!” called Marvin.
Amy tried to think of a state. “Michigan!” she called.
“Minnesota!” called Allie from a corner of the pool.
Marvin dived in Allie’s direction. His hand swatted her toe.
“You’re it!” he shouted.
It was Allie’s turn to close her eyes and call out, “Marco.” Instead she closed her eyes and called, “Marvin!”
“The Great!” Marvin answered.
Amy groaned loudly.
“Gotcha!” said Allie, tagging Amy.
Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep. The girls’ alarms went off.
“Oh no, not again,” said Marvin.
“We’re very busy people,” said Allie, rushing out of the pool. “I’m going to camp tomorrow. I’ve got to get home and pack,” she called over her shoulder.
“What camp?” called Marvin.
But Allie and Amy were already too far away to hear him. They quickly dried off and jumped into their clothes. Then they headed home.
Allie and Amy stood in front of their buildings. They looked at their list. They had crossed off the first four things. There was still number five: Make a new list of things to do.
“I guess there’s no point in making up a new list now,” said Amy.
“I guess not,” said Allie. “We can make another list when I come home.”
Allie and Amy just stood there. Neither one wanted to go inside.
Then Amy’s mother called to her, “Amy! Please come upstairs!”
“I guess I’d better go,” said Amy. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll write. I promise.”
“Me too, and we’ll be together again after the summer,” said Allie.
“See you later, alligator,” said Amy.
“In a while, crocodile,” said Allie.
Amy and Allie hugged each other. Then they disappeared into their buildings.
7 Let’s Go!
Ring! Ring! Allie hadn’t been home five minutes when the telephone rang. It was Amy.
“Guess what! Guess what!” Amy shouted happily.
“What? What?” asked Allie.
“There was another opening at Camp Merry Moose,” said Amy. “And I’m going!”
“Hooray!” yelled Allie. “We are so lucky! I can’t believe it.”
“I’ve got to go pack,” said Amy. “I’m so excited!”
“Me too,” said Allie. “See you tomorrow!”
The next morning, the families met outside and walked around the corner to the bus stop. Allie and Amy skipped ahead, singing and holding hands.
The camp bus was waiting for them. The girls hugged their parents and jumped onto the bus.
They stopped at the door and waved, calling, “Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!”
Just then, they heard the sound of skateboard wheels scraping the sidewalk.
“Look, it’s Marvin,” said Amy.
“You know, I’m going to kind of miss him,” said Allie. “He can be obnoxious, but he’s pretty funny, too.”
“You’re right,” said Amy. “It was fun playing Marco Polo with him. Oh well, we’ll see him when we get back.”
Allie and Amy found two seats together on the bus.
“Oh, Marvin! Here’s your camp bag,” called Marvin’s mother, running after him.
Amy looked at Allie. Allie looked at Amy.
“Did she say ‘camp bag’?” asked Amy.
“It isn’t possible!” said Allie.
But it was possible. Marvin got on the bus wearing a Camp Merry Moose T-shirt!
Allie’s foot was sticking out in the aisle. Boom! Marvin tripped right over it.
“MARVIN!!!
Why don’t you watch where you put your feet?” said Allie.
“Watch where I put my feet? Watch where you put yours!” said Marvin.
“Eewww, look out, Allie,” cried Amy, ducking down in her seat. “There’s a big googly-eyed bug climbing up Marvin’s T-shirt!”
Marvin jumped back and started brushing at his shirt.
“Gotcha!” said Amy.
Marvin’s face turned bright red. “You got me this time. But we’ve got a whole summer,” he said, smiling. “I’ll get you back.”
Suddenly a familiar sound filled the air. Clink! Then a familiar voice called, “Buckle up, everyone. We’re off to Camp Merry Moose!”
“It isn’t possible!” said Amy.
But it was possible. Madame Lulu had just stepped onto the bus!
“Hi, Madame Lulu! What are you doing here?” called Amy.
“I looked into my crystal ball. It said I would be going to a special place. And I am. I’m the Camp Merry Moose drama counselor,” explained Madame Lulu.
“Wow!” Amy whispered to Allie. “She even tells her own fortune.”
“Okay, kids!” called the bus driver. “We’re on our way!”
The driver closed the doors and started the motor. As soon as she did, some kids started to sing the Camp Merry Moose bus song. In no time, everyone was singing together.
“Let’s go, let’s go
to Camp Merry Moose!
It’s time to have fun.
Just turn us loose.
Our camp is the best.
It beats all the rest.”
Suddenly a paper airplane marked M flew toward Allie’s and Amy’s heads. They each ducked just in time. A few seconds later—Clink! Clink!—Madame Lulu was swatting the airplane off her head.
“This summer is going to be so much fun,” said Amy.
“We’re going to need a new list of things to do, after all,” said Allie.
Allie took out paper and a pencil.
“Number one. Learn to sail,” she said.
“Number two. Make things at arts and crafts,” said Amy.
“Number three. Star in Madame Lulu’s play,” said Allie. She stopped with her pencil in the air. “What else do you do at camp?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” said Amy.
“How about this for number four?” said Allie. She wrote in great big letters:
HAVE THE BEST SUMMER EVER!
“
That will be easy,” said Amy.
“For us,” said Allie.
“Because we’re together,” said Amy.
“Forever!” said Allie.
And they gave high fives as the bus bounced down the road.
Word List
burst (BERST):
Sprang out or said suddenly
crumpled (CRUM·pulled):
Crushed
drama (DRAH·muh):
The activity of performing in a play, movie, or TV show
hazy (HAY·zee):
Cloudy or misty
humid (HYOO·mid):
Damp or steamy
husky (HUH·skee):
Sounding deep and rough
obnoxious (ob·NOK·shus):
Annoying or unpleasant
palms (POLMS):
The flat inner parts of the hands between the wrists and the bases of the fingers
perked (PURKT):
Became lively or cheerful
seekers (SEE·kers):
People who are trying to find something
separation (seh·puh·RAY·shun):
The act of moving apart
shivers (SHIH·vers):
Body shakes
trance (TRANCE):
A sleeplike state during which one is not fully aware
veil (VALE):
A thin piece of cloth worn to cover one’s face
yelped (YELPT):
Said with a short, sharp cry
Questions
What makes a friendship special? Name three things that matter to you.
If you went to see Madame Lulu, what would you ask her?
When you have an important question, who’s the person you go to?
It worked out great when Allie and Amy gave Marvin a chance to join them doing something fun. Is there someone you’d like to get to know better? What would you invite that person to do?
What’s your idea of the best summer ever?
More from this Series
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Our Principal Breaks a…
Our Principal's in His…
Our Principal Is a Wolf!
Our Principal Is a Frog!
Artemis & the Awesome…
About the Authors and Illustrator
Stephanie Calmenson and Joanna Cole have written many books for children, both on their own and as a team. Stephanie is best known for her popular picture books and early chapter books (including Dinner at the Panda Palace and Our Principal Is a Frog!) and for her books about dogs (including May I Pet Your Dog?). Joanna is best known for her famed Magic School Bus series. With the Adventures of Allie and Amy, Stephanie and Joanna bring together their high-spirited humor and true-blue friendship.
James Burks is the author and illustrator of many popular children̻s books, including the graphic novel series Bird & Squirrel and the picture book Pigs and a Blanket. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two kids.
Aladdin Quix
Simon & Schuster, New York
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Stephanie-Calmenson
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Joanna-Cole
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/James-Burks
Read more ALADDIN QUIX books!
By Stephanie Calmenson
Our Principal Is a Frog!
Our Principal Is a Wolf!
Our Principal’s in His Underwear!
Our Principal Breaks a Spell!
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN QUIX
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Aladdin QUIX paperback edition January 2020
Text copyright © 1995 by Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Illustrations copyright © 2020 by James Burks
The text of this book was originally published in slightly different form as The Gator Girls (1995).
Also available in an Aladdin QUIX hardcover edition.
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
ALADDIN and the related marks and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Designed by Heather Palisi
Cover designed by Heather Palisi
Cover illustration copyright © 2020 by James Burks
The illustrations for this book were rendered digitally.
Library of Congress Control Number 2019938115
ISBN 978-1-5344-5251-0 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-5344-5250-3 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-5344-5252-7 (eBook)
The Best Friend Plan Page 2
