"Go, Luke!" cheered Katie.
She was waving the ribbon wand she had just made.
Luke was stomping across the room on stilts.
He was practicing for the parade.
"Left, right, left, right!" directed Mrs. Penkov.
"Be careful!" called AJ.
Campers beat on their drums, shook their shakers, and twirled their twirlers.
Today was day five of camp.
Saturday was Willow Creek's birthday, and the campers were almost ready for the parade.
But time was running out for the scavenger hunt.
In less than two days, they had to turn in their bags—ready or not.
That afternoon the Earthworms gathered at Fried Pie Heaven.
Katie took a bite of peach fried pie.
"Luke's getting his hair cut," she said. "He'll be late."
"You're not supposed to talk with food in your mouth," said AJ.
Katie took another bite.
"I'll remember that next time," she said with her mouth full.
Emily was checking the scavenger hunt list one more time.
"We're lucky my dad had that old campaign button," she said.
"Now the only thing we're missing is—"
Just then Luke ran into the coffee shop.
"Guess what I learned at the barber shop!" he said.
Luke sat down at the table.
"No one in Willow Creek is allowed to own a dog that barks too loud or too often!"
"So?" said AJ.
"So it's a law!" said Luke.
"A Willow Creek law!"
said Emily, waving the scavenger list in the air.
"Do you know what this means, team?"
"We're almost finished with the hunt!" said Katie.
Down the street at the library, the Tornadoes were checking their list too.
"Where's the note from Mr. Potter?" asked Laura.
"It's right here," said Carlos.
"Milton Christopher Potter.
Ninety-seven years old."
Now everyone turned to Manny.
"Manny," said Joy with her grown-up voice.
"We are depending on your outstanding counting skills.
Are you ready to report?"
"Yes, I am," said Manny.
"Okay," said Joy.
"How many stop signs did you count on Main Street?"
"Seven," said Manny.
"Mailboxes?"
"Two."
"And last how many streetlamps did you count?"
"Eighteen."
Laura looked up from the list.
"We're done with the hunt!"
"Hooray!" cheered the Tornadoes.
"Shh!" said Mrs. Donovan. "Use your library voices, please!"
"We're going to win!" whispered Joy.
Friday was the last day of camp.
"Teams!" said Mrs. Penkov.
"Are you ready to turn in your bags?"
"The Earthworms are ready!" called AJ.
He grabbed the team bag and carried it up to Mrs. Penkov.
"It's the marble lady!" squeaked Manny as AJ passed by.
The Earthworms' jaws dropped.
"What? That was YOU?" sputtered Katie.
She shook her fist.
The Tornadoes burst out laughing.
The other teams carried their bags to Mrs. Penkov.
She arranged them in a row on the table: Airplanes, Lizards, Watermelons, Earthworms, Tornadoes.
"When will you announce the winner?" asked Joy.
"After the parade," said Mrs. Penkov.
"And then you'll give out the prizes, right?" said Katie.
"Of course," said Mrs. Penkov.
"And since you have worked so hard, I think you all deserve a prize."
She pulled a big box from under the table.
"Surprise!" she cried. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLOW CREEK T-shirts!"
The day campers clapped and cheered.
"T-shirts for everyone!"
Mrs. Penkov laughed and tossed T-shirts right and left.
"Yellow for the Airplanes.
Blue for the Tornadoes.
Green for the Lizards.
Red for the Watermelons.
And orange for the Earthworms."
"Thank you, Mrs. Penkov!" shouted the campers.
"You're welcome," said Mrs. Penkov.
"But—we still have work to do!
The marchers can help me finish our banner.
The riders can decorate their bikes.
And Luke, get up on those stilts and practice!
Tomorrow is the big day!"