Free Over & Out by Melissa J. Morgan

Sarah said. “We heard about the prank you played on Blake the other day with the snake in the bed. That was genius. You deserve the best seat in the house for sticking it to that preppy boy.”
    â€œBut . . . that wasn’t me,” Jenna stammered.
    â€œSure it wasn’t.” Tiernan winked. “No worries. Your secret’s safe with us.”
    Jenna started to protest again, but just then Dr. Steve called the meeting to order. Once it started, Jenna remembered why, as much as she loved the final banquet, planning it had never been something she’d been interested in. First, none of the campers could agree on a food choice. Then, no one could agree on decorations. Finally, everyone gave up trying to agree altogether and just started arguing among one another.
    â€œSimmer down, ladies and gentlemen,” Dr. Steve said calmly. “No need to throw the camper out with the bug juice.”
    â€œHuh?” Tiernan whispered.
    â€œThat’s Dr. Steve lingo for let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Jenna interpreted. Dr. Steve was always using strange camp expressions that even she sometimes had a hard time figuring out.
    â€œWhat we need is a theme first,” Dr. Steve explained, “and that will help us pick the music, food, and decorations.”
    â€œHow about a baseball theme?” Sarah said. “Hot dogs, french fries, and ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ ”
    â€œHow about a fairy tea party?” one of the third-year girls suggested timidly, her eyes twinkling. “We could all make crowns to wear and paint unicorns on posters and sprinkle sparkly fairy dust all over the tables.”
    â€œThose are both good ideas,” Dr. Steve said encouragingly. “Let’s keep thinking so we have a variety to choose from.”
    Ten minutes of brainstorming brought ideas for everything: from country hoedowns (too much like last summer’s square dance) to Mexican fiestas (too spicy) to masked balls (too fancy). Even Dr. Steve was starting to look a little weary, when Jenna hit on the perfect idea.
    â€œWhat about an Italian feast?” she said. “We could put red-and-white-checkered tablecloths on all the tables, and candles, too. And we could have spaghetti and meat-balls, and chicken parmesan, and—”
    â€œGarlic bread,” Sarah jumped in, getting excited.
    â€œWe could even decorate a couple of the canoes to be like the gondolas they have in Venice,” Tiernan suggested.
    Dr. Steve smiled, and soon all the kids were coming up with ideas for drinking grape juice out of plastic goblets, building a Leaning Tower of Pizza, and a make-your-own gelato station.
    â€œCould there be Italian fairies?” the third-year girl asked, making everyone smile.
    â€œWe’ll see,” Dr. Steve said. “But it sounds like we might have a banquet theme. All in favor of an Italian feast, raise your hand.”
    A sea of hands shot into the air.
    â€œThen it’s decided,” Dr. Steve said. “The counselors and I will get the supplies, and at the next planning meeting, we’ll get started on the decorations. And a big thank-you goes to Jenna Bloom for coming up with such a terrific idea.”
    Jenna smiled and blushed. For the first time since her accident on the soccer field, she really felt good. Maybe Andie had been right. Being on the banquet committee would help her take her mind off her leg. And now she could make sure it was the best banquet ever.
    As she was pulling herself up onto her crutches to leave, she caught sight of Adam standing in the far corner of the mess hall, his camera to his face.
    â€œHey, Adam.” She waved. “What are you doing here?”
    Adam put his camera away and walked over. “Dr. Steve asked me to take some photos for the newspaper.”
    â€œDo me a favor,” Jenna said. “Don’t take any of me in my cast. It’s something I’d rather