Mr. Alden stopped the car just inside the park’s entrance. “We have to sign in,” he said.
Henry pointed to a big wooden arrow on a post. The word Campers was carved into it. “The arrow says campers should go to the right,” Henry told him.
“I know,” Mr. Alden said, “but I’m sure the ranger’s station was to the left last time I was here.”
“Maybe they moved it?” Benny asked.
Mr. Alden turned the car to the right. “There’s only one way to find out,” he said.
They drove along the unpaved road slowly. Half a mile in, the road ended.
“I guess we should have turned left,” Benny said.
“Right you are,” Mr. Alden agreed. He drove around the circle and headed the car back the way they had come.
When they came to the arrow, Henry said, “Stop the car, Grandfather. I’ll turn the sign around.”
Mr. Alden slowed to a stop.
Henry got out. He had to stretch to reach the arrow.
“Who do you suppose pointed the sign the wrong way?” Jessie asked when Henry was back in the car.
“The nail that attaches it to the post is loose,” Henry said. “Maybe it just slipped around the other way.”
“Could it slip that far by itself?” Violet asked.
“Violet’s right,” Jessie said. “If it slipped, it would point down.”
“Or up,” Benny put in.
“Maybe a strong wind blew it all the way around,” Henry offered.
“It was probably someone playing a joke,” Mr. Alden said.
Just ahead, they saw a freshly painted, green guard house. Avoiding a stack of old boards near it, Mr. Alden pulled up to the window.
The man inside the house wore a brown uniform with a state park insignia on the pocket. He smiled broadly. “Welcome to Blue Mound State Park,” he said.
“We’re the Aldens,” Grandfather said. “I called ahead to reserve a campsite.”
The man checked their name off his list. Then he handed Mr. Alden a map of the grounds. “You can have your pick of sites,” he said.
Mr. Alden gave the map to Jessie. “It’s your trip,” he said to the children. “You choose the place.”
Jessie turned in her seat so that her sister and brothers could see the map. It clearly showed the numbered campsites. Several were clustered in a clearing. Others stood alone in different parts of the woods. They quickly agreed on a location near a stand of pine with a brook running alongside. It reminded them of the place where they had found their boxcar.
Jessie pointed to the spot on the map. “May we camp here?” she asked the ranger.
“It’s yours,” the man answered.
“We didn’t expect a choice,” Mr. Alden said to the ranger. “We thought the campgrounds would be crowded. This is usually a busy time, isn’t it?”
The ranger’s smile faded. He looked toward the woods. “It has been, yes,” he said. “In the past.”
“Maybe people are getting lost,” Benny said. He told the ranger about the sign.
“I’ll have to check that out,” the man said. He smiled again. “Well, you’re all set. I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
The Aldens thanked him and drove on to the parking lot beyond the guard house.
“I’m glad we’re finally here,” Benny said. “I’m hungry.”
Jessie laughed. “It’ll be a while before we eat,” she said.
“Yes,” Violet agreed. “We have to take everything to our campsite first.”
“And set it up,” Henry added.
Benny hopped out of the car. “Well, let’s hurry,” he said. Mr. Alden opened the back of the station wagon and Watch jumped out. His tail wagged wildly. He was obviously happy to be out of the car.
Each of the Aldens slipped on a backpack.
Jessie knelt beside Watch. She put his pack on his back and wound the straps under and over him. He stood very still. When she had buckled the straps, he turned his head to look at the pack. Then, he glanced up at her.
She laughed. “If you’re going to go camping,” she told him, “you have to carry your own load.”
“There’s still a lot to carry,” Henry said. “We might have to make two trips.”
Mr. Alden studied the map. “It’s a long hike to our campsite,” he said. “If we have to make two trips, it might be dark before we’re settled.”
“We’ll each carry something,” Benny suggested.
“The groceries are heavy,” Henry said. “I don’t think it’ll work.”
“Come with me, Henry,” Jessie directed. “I have an idea.”
The others waited while the two oldest ran back to the ranger’s house. Shortly, they returned carrying a board.
“The ranger said we could use this,” Jessie said. “It’s an old board from one of the park buildings. They’ve been making repairs.”
Henry set a box near each end of the board. The tents and their other things went in between.
“That should work,” Jessie said. “The weight is even.”
“Who wants to help me carry the board?”Henry asked.
“I will,” Mr. Alden said.
“Violet and I will carry the cooler,” Jessie suggested.
“What about me?” Benny asked. “I can carry something.”
“Would you carry my violin?” Violet asked.
Benny beamed and took the case from her. “I’ll be very careful with it,” he said.
Violet smiled at him. “I know you will, Benny,” she said.
Single file, they started off down the path to their campsite. Watch took the lead. He ran ahead, his nose to the ground. Every so often, he would stop and look back to make sure the others were coming.
The air was clear and cool. High above them, birds sang. They passed through a stand of pine. The pine needles were soft underfoot. They could hear the murmur of rushing water.
“We’re nearly there,” Henry announced.
And sure enough, on the other side of the pine grove was a small clearing. A perfect setting except for the cans and paper bags and plastic cups and tableware.
“Somebody must have been camping here recently,” Jessie said.
“And it looks like they left in a hurry,” Benny said. |