Dad took the comb, and his face creased up with delight.
“My comb!” he cried, jumping into the air. “My beloved comb!” He kissed it and ran away into his tent to lock it safely in his suitcase.
When Dad came back, we sat down together next to the campfire.
“You know, Isadora,” Dad said, “I’m glad you found my comb, but honesty is always the best policy. If you had told me you’d lost it, we could have looked for it together.”
“Sorry, Dad,” I said.
Dad gave me a big hug, and we cooked breakfast together.
After that, it was time to go to the beach, and it was the best day ever. Dad came in the water and let me ride on his back, and then I showed him my underwater swimming, which was loads better after all the practice I had the night before. Dad was very impressed. We had a picnic together, and then we made the biggest, fanciest sand castle ever!
“It’s fit for a vampire-fairy-mermaid princess!” Dad said.
That night, I felt so happy as we all sat around the campfire and ate our dinner. Dad even tried a roasted marshmallow on a stick! Usually, he refuses anything but red juice.
“Isadora’s underwater swimming was fantastic!” he said. “I’m so glad I got to see it today.”
I felt prouder than ever as I licked my marshmallow.
Dad put his arms around me and Mom and Honeyblossom, and the firelight flickered on our faces. Suddenly, I felt very tired.
“You were just like a mermaid!” said Dad as I snuggled into him.
I laughed sleepily. “Don’t be silly, Dad,” I said. “Everyone knows there’s no such thing as mermaids!”
Then I turned my head and winked at Pink Rabbit. Moonlight flashed off his button eyes, and I could tell he was winking back.
I finished talking and realized that the whole class was staring at me with their mouths wide open. Even Miss Cherry.
“It sounds like you had an amazing summer, Isadora!” she said.
“I want to see a mermaid!” shouted Zoe.
“I want to toast marshmallows on a campfire!” said Oliver.
“I want to sleep in a tent!” said someone else.
I pulled the shell necklace out from under my uniform.
“This is the necklace the mermaid gave me,” I told the class. I took it off and held it up in the air so that the shells tinkled together. It sounded like Marina’s laugh.
“Ooh,” they all whispered, their eyes big and round like saucers. Zoe’s eyes were the biggest of them all. I walked over to her desk and held out the necklace.
“It’s for you,” I said to her. “A souvenir!”
Zoe beamed.
“How nice,” said Miss Cherry. Then she looked at her watch. “My goodness!” she exclaimed. “Look at the time! We will have to continue show-and-tell after lunch. Thank you, Isadora, for giving us such an interesting account of your vacation.”
I smiled. Suddenly, I didn’t mind show-and-tell so much anymore.
“I expect your family will be going camping again next year,” said Miss Cherry. “As you had such a wonderful time this summer.”
“Oh no!” I said. “Dad gets to choose the vacation next year. We’re going to the Nighttime Vampire Hotel. It’s got a spa!”
Harriet Muncaster, that’s me! I’m the author and illustrator of Isadora Moon.
Yes, really! I love anything teeny-tiny, anything starry, and everything glittery.
“We are going on a school trip,” Miss Cherry said. “To see a show!”
“A show!” said Zoe. “We were just talking about putting on a pretend show!”
“Well, here’s your chance to see a real one,” said Miss Cherry. “We’re going to see the Alice in Wonderland ballet!”
I felt my heart start to beat fast. A ballet show! We were going to see a real ballet show!
“You need to take the letter home and get your parents to sign it,” said Miss Cherry. “And we also need some parents to volunteer to help on the trip.”
“Will there be cookies during intermission?” called out Bruno.
“I expect there will be ice cream,” said Miss Cherry.
“I told you,” whispered Sashi.
“There will be quite a famous ballerina playing the part of the White Rabbit,” continued Miss Cherry. “You might have heard of her if you’re interested in ballet. Her name is Tatiana Tutu.”
“Tatiana Tutu!” I shouted, jumping up from my chair. The whole class turned around.
“Yes,” said Miss Cherry. “You obviously know her name, Isadora.”
“I do,” I said in a smaller voice, suddenly aware that everyone was staring at me. I sat down quickly, feeling my face go pink with embarrassment.
Pink Rabbit didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He did a little hop and wiggled his ears. He was beside himself with excitement that Tatiana Tutu was going to play the part of the rabbit.
As soon as I got home, I showed the letter to Mom.
“You have to sign it!” I said. “Quick! Or I can’t go on the school trip.”
“Hang on a second,” said Mom. “Let me read it, Isadora. It says here that they’re in need of parents to volunteer for the trip.”
“They are,” I said, starting to feel a bit worried. “But not you and Dad.”
“Why not?” asked Mom. “We could volunteer! It would be good for us to get a bit more involved with your school activities.”
“It’s in the daytime,” I said. “Dad will be asleep.”
“That’s true,” said Mom. “What a shame!”
I didn’t think it was a shame at all. In fact, I felt quite relieved. But when Dad came down for breakfast that evening, he seemed very interested in the trip.
“I will volunteer!” he said enthusiastically. “I will make an exception! Hand me the pen!”
I held the pen behind my back.
“There’s really no need for you both to come…,” I began.
But Mom swooped in with her wand and put a magic check mark in the “volunteer” box.
“How exciting!” she said.
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Isadora Moon Goes Camping Page 3
