The Katie Chronicles Installment 5

Chapter 16 – What’s Missing?

     Reveille crackled through the speaker system as the girls in Cabin D began to stir. Unusually quiet, they went about their morning routine. Caroline was no longer pink. Instead, her face was puffy and her eyes were red. She dressed without speaking to anyone and headed up the path to the dining hall alone. Erin and Katie were the last to leave the cabin, purposely lagging behind so they could talk.

     “That was some scene last night,” began Erin. “Caroline totally lost it.”

     “I know,” replied Katie. “I feel really awful.”

     “Yeah, well, I do too, but honestly, Katie, it wasn’t our fault. She never even knew her bed was short-sheeted.”

     “What do you suppose was missing?” Katie asked, “It had to be something small enough to keep under her pillow. Did you notice anything when we were messing with her bed?” asked Katie.

     “Nothing,” answered Erin.

     “What do you think we should do?” asked Katie.

     “I don’t have a clue,” Erin replied. “How can we help her find something, if we don’t know what we’re looking for? Let’s just play it cool for now and see what happens.”

     “I guess,” mumbled Katie, even as her conscience filled her head with guilty thoughts. After all, they had messed with Caroline’s things, and something had turned up missing right after their prank. Even Katie could see where they were the most logical suspects. She had heard Caroline snuffling late into the night. Whatever was lost had to be pretty important for Caroline to freak out the way she had.

Chapter 17 - Making Plans

     Katie and Erin reached the Dining Hall and seated themselves at Cabin D’s table. Caroline’s head hung over her plate of pancakes, and an awkward silence hung over the normally chatty group of girls.

     “Where were Lizzie and her jokes when they needed her?” thought Katie.

     “Well, ladies,” piped Lou, “We have some planning to do. This Friday night is our cabin camp out. We’ll be hiking into the woods where we will pitch camp for the night. Has anyone ever put up a tent or built a fire?

     The girls all eyed one another. Surely, there was a girl scout in the group.

     “I’m not allowed to play with matches,” mumbled Rachel as several girls nodded in agreement.

     “I saw them do it on Survivor: Pearl Island,” offered Alicia. “They had some kind of magic rock and dry grass.”

     “It’s not a magic rock,” Caroline said with a sneer. “It’s flint. And, the dry grass is called tinder. Making a fire is not a big deal. My dad let me do it the last time we went camping, before . . .”

     Caroline stopped abruptly.

     “Before what?” asked Ava.

     “Nothing,” snarled Caroline. “I’m just saying, it’s not a big deal.”

     “Great! Caroline will be the keeper of the flame,” said Lou. “Now, any pup tent pros on the premises?”

     “I can put up a tent, if that’s what you’re asking,” stated Erin.

     “Alright,” said Lou. “Cabin D girls rock! We’ll head out Friday afternoon after rest period. Now eat up. It’s almost time for your first activity.”

     Having broken the silence, the girls began to chatter enthusiastically about Friday’s camp out. The events of the night before were forgotten in their excitement.

     Still, Katie couldn’t help noticing Caroline’s puffy eyes. Whatever was missing was important, and Katie somehow felt responsible.

     Erin gulped her juice and nabbed the last piece of bacon as the girls pushed their chairs in and headed out the door.

     “I’ll race you,” Erin said to Katie, but Katie’s answer surprised her.

     “You go on ahead,” replied Katie, “If anyone asks where I am, tell them I went to the Infirmary.”

     “Are you sick?” asked Erin.

     “Just cover for me. OK?” said Katie as she headed back in the direction of the cabin.

Chapter 18 - The Photograph

     Making her way up the path, Katie tried to think of all the things that were important to her. She had an opal ring, her birthstone, that Nanny had given her on her tenth birthday. However, she would never bring anything that precious to camp. She also had a lucky coin her dad had given to her. Even now, it was in her pocket. She reached in and rubbed it, all the while hoping she would find Caroline’s lost item.

     The screen door squeaked as Katie pulled it open, and the floorboards creaked as she walked across the cabin. Katie was not comfortable breaking camp rules, but she was determined to make things right where Caroline was concerned. Her eyes scanned the room looking for anything unusual. As she reached Caroline’s bunk, she began to search in earnest. Katie crawled on the floor to check under the bed. She swept her arm back and forth beneath it, but only managed to grab a hand full of dust.

     Disappointed, Katie stood and tried to think where to look next. Her eyes fell on the dresser positioned at the end of the bunk. Perhaps something had rolled under it. The furniture was sturdy, made to withstand many summers of campers. Katie grasped one end and tried to pull it away from the bed. It was heavy, but she finally managed to make it move. When she had created a tiny space between the dresser and the bed, she squeezed behind the dresser and started to push. Looking down she saw more dust and . . . something else. The corner of what looked to be a piece of paper stuck out from under the dresser. Katie reached down and picked it up. As she turned it over, she saw that it was a photograph. A man, about the same age as Katie’s dad, dressed in army camouflage standing by a jeep. At first, Katie couldn’t make a connection, but suddenly she realized its importance. She had to talk to Erin. Carefully, she slid the photograph up under her shirt and ran toward the stables.

     “Psst, Erin,” Katie whispered from her hiding place behind a tree. Class had ended and all the girls were on the path headed toward the Canteen. “Over here,” she hissed as Erin turned in her direction.

     “I think I found what had Caroline so upset,” said Katie, as she pulled the picture from under her shirt. “Look at this.”

     Erin looked at the picture and then at Katie.

     “Oh, yeah. This explains everything . . . Not!” replied Erin.

     “Sure it does,” said Katie, “Who do you think the man is?”

     “Uh . . . a soldier?” answered Erin with a bewildered look at Katie.

     “Yeah, that,” said Katie, “but who? Think about it.”

     “I dunno, Katie. You’re clearly the detective here.”

     “Caroline’s dad!” exclaimed Katie in an exasperated voice. “It’s her dad, and he’s a soldier, and he’s wearing camouflage. What does that tell you?”

     “Uh, Caroline couldn’t find him last night because he was wearing camouflage?” Erin asked, grinning at her own humor.

     Katie shook her head and gave Erin a “You’re hopeless” look.

     “He’s in Iraq, Erin. Caroline’s dad is in Iraq . . . fighting in the war. How scary is that!”

     “Wow,” said Erin. “I’d be scared to death if that was my dad.”
 
     “Ya think?” Katie said. “Caroline’s not a bad person. She’s a scared person.”

     “No, I’m pretty sure she’s a bad person,” Erin insisted with a hint of a smile. “So, what are you going to do with the picture?”

     “I’m not sure,” answered Katie. “Maybe I can just slide it back under her pillow and pretend like it was there the whole time.”

     “Sounds good to me,” agreed Erin, “Now we’d better hurry if we want to grab a snack at the Canteen before we go to crafts.”

     Katie carefully wedged the picture in her waistband and under her shirt. She would place it back under Caroline’s pillow at rest time.

Chapter 19 - The Plan

     Ivy was all smiles as the girls entered the crafts room. She quickly pointed out a variety of colored rolls of plastic lace on the table.

     “Choose two colors, ladies, and you can get started on your key chains. I hope you found time to practice,” she chirped. “You might like to choose some decorative beads, too.”

     Katie noticed Caroline carefully selecting blue and white lace, followed by a handful of red star-shaped beads.

     “That combination looks great together, Caroline,” said Katie. “Do you mind if I make one like yours?”

     “It’s a free country,” replied Caroline, “Do whatever you want.”

     Katie selected her materials and slowly began weaving the laces. The “double-cross” certainly didn’t come as easy to her as it did to Caroline. However, as Katie worked with the red, white, and blue materials, she began to weave a plan in her head. It is a free country, she thought, and it’s guys like Caroline’s dad who make it that way.

     With a new motivation to complete her keychain, Katie’s hands began to fly. By the time Ivy gave the signal for clean up to begin, Katie had completed one keychain and begun another.

     As the other girls raced out the door, anxious for lunch, Katie lagged behind. She replaced scissors in the wire holder and swept up snippets of colored plastic lace that had fallen to the floor.
     “Thanks, Katie, for sticking around to help with clean-up. I noticed you made some really great progress today,” said Ivy.

     “Yeah, I finally got the hang of it, and, uh, well, I was wondering if I could take some extra lace back to the cabin with me tonight. I really like making the key chains, and well, it’s sort of relaxing.”

     “I know exactly what you mean,” said Ivy as she gave Katie a quick squeeze. “Take all the laces you want, Sugar. I’m just pleased you’re enjoying my class. And if you find this relaxing, you might like to try my knitting class on your next rotation.”

     Katie grabbed enough lace and stars to make several more key chains and scrambled out the door.

     “See ya tomorrow,” she yelled as the screen door slammed shut behind her.

     She stuffed the laces and beads into her pockets. I’m glad I wore my cargo shorts today, she thought as she made her way to the mess hall.

     The rest of the girls were half-way through lunch when Katie slid into her seat next to Erin.

     “Where have you been?” Erin whispered.

     “Later,” Katie mumbled as she reached for a taco shell and began spooning her favorite fillings into it.

     “Okey, dokey, ladies,” Lou began. “Let’s talk about the camp-out.”

     “Are we really going to sleep outside, on the ground?” groaned Alicia.

     “On the ground, definitely. Outside, if you want the full adventure. Or in a tent, if you don’t,” answered Lou.

     “Full adventure,” Erin whispered to Katie, as Katie took the last bite of her taco and nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

     “We’ve already established that Caroline can build a fire,” Lou said, as she winked and gave Caroline a thumbs-up. “Now let’s discuss our menu. The kitchen staff needs to know what items we will need to take with us. They’ll have a cooler packed for us at lunch on Friday, but we’ll have to do all of the prep at the campsite. Have any of you ever eaten a hobo meal?”

     The girls stared blankly at one another. No one seemed to have any idea what a hobo meal was.

     “Great,” exclaimed Lou. “Another piece of the adventure has just been added. Trust me, you’re gonna love it!”

     Katie and Erin glanced sideways at each other and shrugged. Caroline would build the fire and Lou would plan the menu. There definitely was an adventure in there somewhere.

* * * * *

     “OK, give it up,” insisted Erin with a very determined look on her face. “I hope you’ve come up with a plan to get back at Caroline for that nasty trick she played on you yesterday.”

     “I’ve got a plan,” said Katie, “But not exactly the kind you were thinking of. I couldn’t stop thinking about Caroline’s dad and all of the other soldiers in Iraq. Here we are at camp, having the time of our lives while they’re over there putting their lives on the line everyday. I thought we could do something for them.”

     “Way to go, Katie,” muttered Erin. “I’m plotting revenge, and you’re contemplating kindness. I’m thinkin’ maybe I should be feeling pretty bad right about now.”

     “Sorry, Erin, I don’t mean to come off like Mother Teresa,” apologized Katie. “Revenge crossed my mind at first, too. It’s just . . . I dunno . . . I like this idea better.”

     “Well, let’s hear it then,” urged Erin.

     Katie pulled a keychain from her pocket and showed it to Erin. “See this?” she asked.

     “We’ve established the fact that I’m hard-hearted,” sneered Erin, “But I’m not blind. I see it.”

     “Well, Parent’s Day is coming up, you know.”

     “Katie. Focus,” said Erin as she pointed two fingers quickly at Katie’s eyes and then to her own. “I thought we were talking about key chains.”

     “OK,” blurted Katie. “Here it is in a nutshell. We make key chains. Lots of them, and when the parents come on Parent’s Day, we sell them. We use the money to buy . . . I dunno, stuff soldiers like, but can’t get easily. Chewing gum, mints, whatever. We’ll find out. Then, we’ll make care packages and mail them to Caroline’s dad and the soldiers in his troop. We’ll get the whole camp involved. If each girl makes just 2 key chains a day, and there are 64 girls here at camp, and we have 2 weeks until Parent’s Day, and we sell the key chains for $2.00 a piece . . . Well, I’m no math whiz, but I think that’s a lot of money.”

     “I’m pretty good at math,” said Erin, “And it is a lot of money. Don’t forget some of that money would have to pay for the supplies. And I don’t think our parents could buy all of those key chains.”

     “Maybe not, but my dad could take some to work with him and sell them there. Other parents could do the same. We could take orders. Who knows how big this could get. It’s for a good cause, and I know we can do it,” insisted Katie.

     “OK,” said Erin, “I’m in. But what about Caroline and the picture? How are you going to get the picture back?

     Katie looked straight at Erin with that oh, so familiar grin.

     “Don’t tell me,” said Erin shaking her head. “You’ve got another plan.”

     “Stick with me, kid,” replied Katie. “I’m just getting started.”

* * * * *

     True to her word, Katie had a plan. That night as the girls crawled into their bunks, Katie “accidentally" dropped her hairbrush to the floor.

     “Uh, Caroline,” Katie casually requested, “Could you hand me my brush? Clumsy me dropped it. I think it’s between the bunk and the dresser.”

     “I just got comfortable,” grouched Caroline. “Can’t you get it yourself?”

     “I could,” Katie began sweetly, “But I’m afraid,” she continued with a sneer, “that I might STEP ON YOUR HEAD, ON MY WAY DOWN.”

     Grudgingly, Caroline threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Crawling on her hands and knees, she reached under the bunk and swiped her hand back and forth searching for the rogue hairbrush. Huffing and puffing, she complained the whole time.

     “Being on the bottom bunk doesn’t make me your slave,” Caroline hissed. “Did it occur to you to be a little more careful with your belongings? It could have fallen on my head!”

     Katie waited expectantly. She had managed to place the picture of Caroline’s dad under the bunk while the girls had played their evening game of German Spotlight.

     “Did you find it?” she finally asked, as Caroline suddenly grew quiet. “Caroline? Caroline!”

     “I found it,” Caroline answered in a strange voice.

     “Great,” replied Katie as Lou turned out the lights. “Just put it on the dresser. I’ll sleep better knowing it’s where it belongs.”

     Yeah,” mumbled Caroline, “Me, too.”

* * * * *

     The rest of the week went by in a flurry of excitement. Once Katie shared her idea with the other girls, they couldn’t make key chains fast enough. For the time being, Katie kept the part about Caroline’s dad to herself. “We’ll be supporting our men in uniform,” she had said as she explained the project. The important thing was to get the key chains made and sold.

     The girls dedicated every spare minute to “Operation Iraq,” a name Erin had bestowed upon the project. Some of the girls had already written their parents letters explaining the project and asking them to take orders. Katie couldn’t wait for Parent’s Day. She was anxious, of course, to see her mom and dad, but even more excited to see how successful “Operation Iraq” would be.