Free Pranked by Katy Grant Page B

door. Slowly Reb put out her hand and pushed gently against the screen door. It opened with a soft groan. All three of us froze and waited. Nobody stirred, so Reb waved at us to go through. We slipped soundlessly through the door.

Whew. We’d made it outside. I let all my air out like a balloon deflating. We walked down Middler Line, the only sound our sneakers padding along the soft dirt path. It felt strange to be out in the middle of the night. The air was cool and everything was perfectly quiet, but it wasn’t the same as it was during the day when everyone was at activities and the cabins were empty. You could kind of feel everyone asleep in the cabins. I looked up, and the sky was velvet black with a million little sparks of silver. Reb was right. There was enough light for us to see.
    But when we got to the steps going down to the lodge, it was pitch-black from all the trees. Now we could barely see. We were stumbling down the stone steps when I felt a hand brush past my arm. Then there was this huge thud and a scream. I could just make out a dark form at the bottom of the steps. It was Jennifer, lying there in a heap.
    â€œWhat happened?” Reb whispered at her hoarsely. Jennifer groaned in pain.
    â€œUh, I . . . slipped.” I could hear her suck in her breath.
    â€œAre you hurt?” Reb’s voice sounded worried.
    â€œUm, yeah . . . my ankle. I twisted it.”
    â€œOh great! It could be sprained. We gotta get you to the cabin . . . or the infirmary. Kelly, give me a hand.” She swung one of Jennifer’s arms over her shoulder, and I took the other.
    â€œOh, stop it! It’s not that bad. I can make it to the flagpole, at least.” She pulled away from us and took a few careful steps.
    â€œLook, I do a lot of sports, and you shouldn’t mess around with injuries. You could hurt it even more by walking on it. We’ve got to go back.”
    â€œNo way are we going back now! How can you even suggest that?” Jennifer’s voice rose, and Reb and I both shushed her.
    â€œDon’t you think your ankle is more important than some stupid prank?”
    I couldn’t help smiling. It was sweet that she was so worried about Jennifer. She really was loyal to her friends.
    â€œListen. It’s my ankle. I know how it feels. And I’m telling you—it’s fine. I know for sure I can make it. Let’s just go.” Jennifer limped ahead of us. Reb reached out and grabbed her by the elbow for added support. We really didn’t have very far to go. The flagpole was just past the lodge near the top of the hill.
    When we got there, we all looked up to the top of it at the same time. Reb reached inside her jacket and pulled out Melissa’s bra and underwear. “Give me a hand.”
    For some reason Jennifer and I both applauded softly, and then we laughed because we’d thought of the same thing.
    â€œNo kidding.” Reb sounded annoyed. “I’ve never done this before.”
    I helped her untie the rope looped around the pole. It made my hands cold to touch the bare steel. The metal clasps on the rope banged against the pole and made a hollow clang. Next we hooked the bra through the top clasp and put the bottom clasp through one of the panty legs. Then we pulled the rope to raise the underwear up and tied the rope in place.
    â€œMission accomplished,” Reb said, and we all slapped hands. We looked up at the underwear at the top of the pole. We could barely see it. One thing was for sure—Melissa’s underwear wasn’t nearly as big as a flag.
    â€œIt might be funnier if Melissa was, like, a D-cup,” said Jennifer.
    â€œMaybe we should salute and then sing ‘Under the Sea.’ Wait—make that ‘Under the Shirt.’ ” Reb snapped to attention like an army guy and was about to start singing when I clapped my hand over her mouth. We all laughed.
    All of a