Free Shadows of Caesar's Creek by Sharon M. Draper Page A

biggest one in the world so far”
    â€œAw, mon, I blow bubbles bigger than that every day” boasted Ziggy. “But you gotta mix the bubble gum with mashed potatoes first That’s the secret ingredient”
    â€œYuck” exclaimed the others. They were used to Ziggy’s unusual tastes in food. He stirred his chocolate milk with pickles and put mustard on his cornflakes.
    â€œSo tell us, Ziggy,” Jerome said finally. “What’s up?”
    â€œThe mailman just left,” Ziggy told them, “and my letter from Camp Caesar came today We’ve been waiting forever, but the trip is finally here We’re going camping at Caesar’s Creek State Park next week”
    â€œWe got our letters today too,” Rico said. “It’s gonna be a cool trip.” He had almost finished pulling the bubble gum out of his hair.
    Rashawn cheered. “Let’s hear it for my dad” Rashawn’s father was a member of the Black Heritage Club. They had decided several months ago to sponsor field trips for the young people of the community, and this camping trip was one of the first activities.
    â€œI’ve never slept outside in the woods before,” admitted Jerome. “I wonder what we ought to take.”
    Ziggy pulled a folded piece of paper from the back pocket of his red jeans. “Not to worry, mon” he announced. “Here’s the list of things to bring. Let’s see here … flashlight, sleeping bag, backpack, extra socks, bug spray …”
    â€œBug spray?” asked Jerome. He hated insects. He carried bug spray every day in his book bag, just in case. “You know how I am about bugs I’ll probably never get to sleep, looking for bugs in the night.”
    Ziggy laughed and said again, “Not to worry, mon It will be so dark in those woods at night you’ll never even
see
the bugs that bite you”
    Jerome picked up a handful of dry leaves and threw them at Ziggy. “Hey, you really know how to make a dude feel better, man”
    â€œWho else is going?” asked Rico.
    â€œI’m not sure,” Rashawn answered. “I think a few more kids from school. There might be some kids from other schools near the campsite, my dad said.”
    â€œAny girls?” asked Rashawn.
    â€œWho cares, mon” Ziggy replied. “I’m more concerned with the lions and tigers and bears”
    â€œThere are no lions and tigers in the woods here in Ohio,” Rico declared. “But I’m not sure about bears.”
    â€œBears?” asked Rashawn fearfully.
    â€œThere’s no bears around here,” Jerome stated, “but I know the woods are full of bugs”
    â€œDon’t forget, we’ll have bug spray,” reminded Rico.
    â€œBug spray won’t do much against a bear” muttered Rashawn, who didn’t want to admit he was a little worried.
    Ziggy checked the list again. “Not to worry,mon,” he announced again with cheerful assurance, “nothing on here about bears”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean there aren’t any,” Rashawn continued, smiling in spite of himself.
    â€œWhat about Indians?” asked Rico.
    â€œI don’t know,” Jerome said with a frown. “There used to be millions of Indians in Ohio—a long time ago.”
    â€œWhat do you suppose happened to all of them?” Rico wondered.
    â€œHey, mon, I bet there are thousands of Indians living in the woods up there right now”
    â€œNo, Ziggy,” Rico said thoughtfully, “I think they got pushed out—from their own land. My dad told me that it used to be really beautiful around here before there were roads or bridges or even houses.”
    â€œCan you imagine,” Rashawn thought out loud, “nothing but forests for miles and miles? The Indians had it so good”
    â€œYeah, except for one thing.” Jerome grinned.
    â€œWhat, mon?”
    â€œThere was no