Green Algae and Bubble Gum Wars by Annie Bryant

only counting two.”
    â€œShoot!” Matt exclaimed. “Don’t tell me we lost another one!”
    Sam, Maeve, and Charlotte looked around. “Katani?” Maeve called.
    â€œDon’t panic,” Charlotte said soothingly. “Isn’t that her over there in the yellow scarf?”
    Maeve sprinted over to retrieve her. When they returned, Katani had a huge smile on her face. “Too bad they’re packing up to go. I wish you could have checked out that booth, Char. If you thought the hydro-car was cool, you’d just flip over the waterwheel that spins and creates electricity. It reminds me of some stuff my dad showed me.”
    Matt used the bottom of his T-shirt to wipe sweat off his brow. “Keeping track of you kids is impossible. It’s like herding cats,” he said. “Now where in the world are Avery and Isabel?”
    Maeve tried to ignore the fact that he just said “you kids.” He must have meant everyone but her.
    â€œMaybe their workshop ran a little late,” Katani suggested.
    â€œYou’re probably right,” Matt agreed. “So I guess we’ll just head back to the entrance and wait for them. I sure wish they’d hurry up, though. I promised to have you guys back in plenty of time for dinner, and if I’m going to show you the tunnels—”
    Sam’s hand suddenly shot into the air. “Ooh, ooh! Pick me! Pick me! I have an idea!”
    Maeve groaned. “This isn’t school, Sam. You don’t have to raise your hand, you know.”
    â€œLet him talk, Maeve,” instructed Matt.
    Maeve felt stung and took a step back. Matt was totally treating her like a little kid!
    Sam, like his big sis, cherished being the center of attention and explained as slowly as possible. “Wellllll…if we’re just going to be waiting around for…we could see the tunnels now, and then meet them.”
    â€œBut Avery really wants to check out the tunnels,” Maeve protested. “We can’t do it without her!”
    â€œActually, I think Sam has a good idea, Maeve,” Matt replied. “If we don’t go now, nobody’s going to get to see the tunnels. We’ll just meet them back at the entrance to the festival like we planned— after a little underground adventure!”Matt playfully threw an arm around Sam’s shoulders. “Forward, troops. To the tunnels we go. You coming, Bailey?”
    She shook her head. “Can’t. Someone’s got to stay here and pack up the peonies.”
    The crew waved good-bye to Bailey and went off on their mission. Maeve walked slowly between Katani and Charlotte. She couldn’t believe that Matt was paying more attention to her pesky little brother than her.
    â€œWhat did you think of Bailey?” she whispered to Charlotte and Katani.
    â€œVery nice,” Charlotte remarked. “And very smart. Her fertilizer formula was pretty genius, really. Everybody wants to be green these days.”
    â€œI like her style, too,” Katani noted.
    Maeve gasped. “Seriously? Those clothes looked like they were from 1969! I swear, my mom has like, a thousand of those hippie skirts in boxes in our attic.”
    â€œGosh, Maeve.” Katani sighed. “Hippie chic is totally in vogue right now. The style’s called boho . Short for bohemian.”
    â€œBoho,” Maeve tried out the strange-sounding word. “More like hobo, if you ask me.”
    â€œMaeve!” Charlotte gasped. “Be nice!”
    A wave of shame came over Maeve when she realized how catty she’d sounded. She didn’t know what was wrong with her.
    â€œC’mon guys!” Matt called. “We can get into the tunnels through this building right over here.”
    Maeve’s stomach did a flip-flop. It suddenly occurred to her that she was going to be going underground. Whatif the tunnels were filled with spiderwebs? “Umm…if it’s