this year, we’re going to win. I’m sure of it.”
“But how can you be sure?” Val asked.
“Because,” Abby began, leaning in close to the circle of girls gathered around her. “I figured it out last year. And I’ve worked all year to make sure we win.”
Abby had my attention, too. “How? What? Huh?” I squeaked.
“Knots.” Abby gave the word great emphasis. “Nobody thinks about knots.”
The other Chickadees looked as puzzled as I was.
“There are seven areas where cabins get points: Camp spirit—which means stuff like good sportsman-ship, cleanliness, being on time—swimming, canoeing, volleyball, softball, archery and outdoor skills,” Abby explained. “We’re okay in volleyball but probably can’t win against the Bobwhites in swimming or canoeing.”
“Not with Sam on their team,” Val said.
“Yeah, but softball and volleyball are team sports, so he might not be able to carry the whole team. Then there’s archery,” Abby continued. “A.J.’s good, too. And his brother, Ty.”
The other Chickadees all nodded.
“But we could wipe them out in outdoor skills.” Abby spun around so she was face-to-face with Sayeh.
“There’s a quiz on all that stuff like animal tracks and habits,” she said. “Sayeh, you can ace any test, so my money’s on you to win that.”
Sayeh looked startled. But after a few seconds she nodded and said, “I will try.”
So, there were tests at camp after all!
“Trail reading is part of outdoor skills, too. We’ve got to work on that. But since this is my third year here, I think I can train a winning team there.” Abby sounded very confident.
“And then we come to knots. Like I said, nobody pays much attention to the knot-tying competition, so I’ve been practicing all year on my knots. I can tie knots blindfolded and behind my back. If I ace the knot tying, we’ve won outdoor skills,” she concluded triumphantly. “We just need to hold our own in the other events. Anybody good at archery?”
Val pointed to a tall girl with long braids. “Marissa got a bull’s-eye today.”
Abby walked over to Marissa. “Fantastic!” she said. “Then we’re counting on you. Any questions?”
I raised my paw. I guess I forgot I wasn’t in Room 26. But Marissa asked Abby the question I was thinking. “Can we see you tie some knots?”
Abby reached in her trunk and pulled out a handful of rope pieces of different lengths and widths. “Anybody got a watch with a second hand?” she asked.
Sayeh did.
“Time me, Sayeh,” Abby said. “First, a square knot.”
I scampered up to the top of my tree branch to get a good look as Abby took two ropes and began tying.
According to Sayeh, it took her four seconds.
The sheepshank was next. It took a second or two longer. The bowline looped around and around. Abby went so fast, I could hardly see how she did it. The sheet bend was a very fancy knot, and the Alpine butterfly was most impressive.
“Go, Abby!” I squeaked in encouragement. It was quite a sight to watch her, and no knot took more than about ten seconds.
The other girls clapped and cheered when Abby finished.
“You are amazing!” Val exclaimed. “Even Sam couldn’t top that!”
“Thanks,” Abby replied. “But let’s keep quiet about this. What goes on in the Chickadees’ Nest stays in the Chickadees’ Nest. And that means you, Sayeh.”
Sayeh looked completely surprised. “Me?”
“Yeah. I don’t want you blabbing to Miranda about this,” Abby said. “I made sure she never saw me practicing.”
Miranda’s dad was married to Abby’s mom, so Miranda split her time between her dad’s house and her mom’s apartment.
“I won’t blab,” said Sayeh, but I must say, she looked miserable.
The door swung open and Katie poked her head in the door.
“Lights-out in ten minutes, ladies,” she said. “You too, Humphrey.”
After the door closed, Abby made everybody raise a hand and promise to keep their plans a secret.
I
“But how can you be sure?” Val asked.
“Because,” Abby began, leaning in close to the circle of girls gathered around her. “I figured it out last year. And I’ve worked all year to make sure we win.”
Abby had my attention, too. “How? What? Huh?” I squeaked.
“Knots.” Abby gave the word great emphasis. “Nobody thinks about knots.”
The other Chickadees looked as puzzled as I was.
“There are seven areas where cabins get points: Camp spirit—which means stuff like good sportsman-ship, cleanliness, being on time—swimming, canoeing, volleyball, softball, archery and outdoor skills,” Abby explained. “We’re okay in volleyball but probably can’t win against the Bobwhites in swimming or canoeing.”
“Not with Sam on their team,” Val said.
“Yeah, but softball and volleyball are team sports, so he might not be able to carry the whole team. Then there’s archery,” Abby continued. “A.J.’s good, too. And his brother, Ty.”
The other Chickadees all nodded.
“But we could wipe them out in outdoor skills.” Abby spun around so she was face-to-face with Sayeh.
“There’s a quiz on all that stuff like animal tracks and habits,” she said. “Sayeh, you can ace any test, so my money’s on you to win that.”
Sayeh looked startled. But after a few seconds she nodded and said, “I will try.”
So, there were tests at camp after all!
“Trail reading is part of outdoor skills, too. We’ve got to work on that. But since this is my third year here, I think I can train a winning team there.” Abby sounded very confident.
“And then we come to knots. Like I said, nobody pays much attention to the knot-tying competition, so I’ve been practicing all year on my knots. I can tie knots blindfolded and behind my back. If I ace the knot tying, we’ve won outdoor skills,” she concluded triumphantly. “We just need to hold our own in the other events. Anybody good at archery?”
Val pointed to a tall girl with long braids. “Marissa got a bull’s-eye today.”
Abby walked over to Marissa. “Fantastic!” she said. “Then we’re counting on you. Any questions?”
I raised my paw. I guess I forgot I wasn’t in Room 26. But Marissa asked Abby the question I was thinking. “Can we see you tie some knots?”
Abby reached in her trunk and pulled out a handful of rope pieces of different lengths and widths. “Anybody got a watch with a second hand?” she asked.
Sayeh did.
“Time me, Sayeh,” Abby said. “First, a square knot.”
I scampered up to the top of my tree branch to get a good look as Abby took two ropes and began tying.
According to Sayeh, it took her four seconds.
The sheepshank was next. It took a second or two longer. The bowline looped around and around. Abby went so fast, I could hardly see how she did it. The sheet bend was a very fancy knot, and the Alpine butterfly was most impressive.
“Go, Abby!” I squeaked in encouragement. It was quite a sight to watch her, and no knot took more than about ten seconds.
The other girls clapped and cheered when Abby finished.
“You are amazing!” Val exclaimed. “Even Sam couldn’t top that!”
“Thanks,” Abby replied. “But let’s keep quiet about this. What goes on in the Chickadees’ Nest stays in the Chickadees’ Nest. And that means you, Sayeh.”
Sayeh looked completely surprised. “Me?”
“Yeah. I don’t want you blabbing to Miranda about this,” Abby said. “I made sure she never saw me practicing.”
Miranda’s dad was married to Abby’s mom, so Miranda split her time between her dad’s house and her mom’s apartment.
“I won’t blab,” said Sayeh, but I must say, she looked miserable.
The door swung open and Katie poked her head in the door.
“Lights-out in ten minutes, ladies,” she said. “You too, Humphrey.”
After the door closed, Abby made everybody raise a hand and promise to keep their plans a secret.
I
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