What’s up in your attic she asks Skeletons It’s the first thing that pops into my head Cool We’re nearly there I tell her I clang together the wire hangers again The elevator doors are about to open I can’t believe I have a friend who has her own elevator Maddie says to herself We’re there I grab her elbow and lead her out of the closet Are you ready to see skeletons Do you promise you won’t sue Yes and yes Maddie’s voice catches in her throat That is probably because she has never seen a skeleton before I spin Maddie around three more times and untie the scarf Ta-dum 5
Maddie is trembling Because the lights are out in my parents bedroom it takes her a minute to realize what’s going on There are no skeletons We are not in the attic There is no elevator Maddie hops up and down Jelly she cries out you made that story up There is another reason why Maddie is my best friend Other kids might get angry Not Maddie Because a second later the two of us are laughing so hard we end up rolling around on the floor in my parents bedroom 6
Chapter Two The yellow school bus is waiting in the parking lot The driver supervises as parents stow their kids duffel bags in the bottom hatch Counselors are wandering around checking in with parents and campers I take a deep breath I’ve slept over at Maddie’s house plenty of times but this is my first time going to sleepaway camp and Maddie is not coming Her grandmaman from France is visiting this summer 7
