Buddies — Barbara Park

ME AND MY SHADOW
All my life I've been known as "Dinah Feeney--The Kind One." You know, the type of person who can never say no to anything: the neighborhood hand-me-downs, my old dog Rollo, or the dumb poodle hat my Aunt Maude knit for me. Let's face it, I'm a sucker. So when my parents said I could go to Camp Miniwawa for two weeks, I decided it was time to say good-bye to the old, nice, and boring me and become a member of the "in crowd" for the first time in my life.

At first camp was great. Two of the most popular girls became my friends. But then Fern Wadley happened. The grossest person I had ever met decided I was going to be her best buddy. How could I possibly be friendly with someone who picked her teeth, walked around with lettuce stuck to her face, and wouldn't leave me alone for a second?

I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but I had to get rid of Fern! My vacation, my new friends, and "Dinah Feeney--The Popular One," were all at stake.