August 13th, 1997

It was dinner time on the final Wednesday of camp, which also meant it was the last mail day. Annie was getting anxious now. She had asked her Aunt Blair to send her some makeup, so she would have it for the square dance that was going to be held the next day. The package never came and tonight was her last chance to get it.

Hayley stood on a chair and whistled. Everyone in the mess hall quieted down.

"It's time to hand out mail for the last time. It should go quickly, since there isn't that much today."

Annie looked over at the mail pile. There really wasn't that much. There were two packages available. Annie hoped one of them was hers. Luckily for Annie, she didn't have to wait too long to find out. They always gave out the packages first.

The first one belonged to a boy. The other one was a little smaller.

"Annie Robinson," Hayley called.

Annie jumped out of her chair and took the package from a boy that was helping hand out the mail. Annie stood behind the other boy in the moose line.

August 14th, 1997

Tonight was the square dance, the night Annie had been waiting for. Everyone was in their cabin's getting ready. The young campers were treating the square dance as if it was a high school dance. Some of the girls had said they didn't want to go and dance with the boys. The counselors had told them that this was just a fun activity that wasn't that serious. They didn't have to dress up, they didn't have to dance with the boys, partners would be switched and an uneven ratio of boys to girls would mean not everyone would have a member of the opposite sex to dance with. Some of the campers didn't really believe that this would be fun. Annie didn't care, she wanted to look nice for Scott.

Annie had opened the package Blair had sent her. Inside was lip gloss, nail polish, and body glitter. That was it. Annie was a little disappointed, but there was a note from Blair saying she would give her a proper makeup lesson, when she was older and with her mother's permission. Annie realized she didn't really know how to use makeup, she didn't really even know how to paint her own nails, having never done it herself before.

Annie decided she would ask Kelsey to help her. She was sure that Kelsey probably knew how to use this stuff, being Blair's daughter. Annie asked Katie if she could go over to Kelsey's cabin. She was given permission as long as a buddy went with her.

Annie took Mary with her and they went over to Bear cabin.

"What are you doing here?" Kelsey came out on the porch.

"I need you to help me put this stuff on." Annie showed Kelsey the contents of the package.

"Why should I? You were nasty to me and Elsie. You said one of us was evil and that my parents gave Elsie away."

"Kelsey, I know I said those things and I'm sorry. I was a jerk. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just being me. I can't help it sometimes. Sometimes I forget that what comes out of my mouth can be hurtful. Will you forgive me?"

"Well, maybe…" Kelsey eyed the nail polish. "… If you share it with me. My nail polish is chipped, although that really isn't my color. I'll have to have my mom give me a manicure, when we get home."

"Fine, whatever, I'll share it with you. Just please, help me."

"Come in, I'll do Mary's nails too."

"Yay!" Mary said as she and Annie followed Kelsey into the cabin.

Scott was waiting for Annie at the entrance to the mess hall. He had decided to wear a cowboy hat, he had bought at the camp shop. It had his name embroidered on the brim. Some of the other boys were also wearing hats.

"Hey Annie," Scott greeted her. "You look nice."

"You like it? I was wondering if you would notice."

"Yeah, you look… sparkly."

The mess hall was cleared of all the tables and chairs in preparation for the square dance. It was decorated with bales of straw. Tisha and Jamie were standing against a wall talking.

"I'm not dancing with nobody," Jamie stated.

"Come on, Jamie. It can't be that bad," Tisha said.

Jason had emerged from his office to serve as the caller. He grabbed the microphone and told everyone to find a partner.

Annie and Scott held hands as everyone else looked for a partner. Brett ended up with Katie, Kelsey chose Elsie as her partner, and Tisha and Leah were partners.

"If you don't have a partner, try the lost and found over against the wall." Jason pointed over to where Jamie was standing.

A boy walked up to Jamie and asked her to be his partner.

"Bug off," Jamie said. Jamie walked away from the wall and leaned against a hay bale.

Jason had Jessica and a boy camper demonstrate the moves that would be called out. Then he had everyone get into a square formation. "Cotton Eyed Joe" played on the stereo as Jason called.

"Heel, toe, heel, toe, slide, slide, slide."

"One and three, do-si-do."

"Two and four, do-si-do."

"Promenade your partner."

"Everyone join hands and circle left."

"Circle right."

"Switch partners."

Brett was now partnered with Elsie. Kelsey was with Tisha. Katie was with Jessica, Leah was with Scott, and Annie had dragged Jamie away from the hay bale.

"Do you want your legs broke?" Jamie glared.

Jason took them through it again. It was too late for Jamie to back out.

"Everyone join hands in a large circle, and circle right." Jason played the music for the "Chicken Dance."

Jamie actually started having fun, when she realized how informal the whole thing really was.

It was dark when the square dance was over. Annie followed close behind the other girls as they all walked back to their cabins to get ready for bed. Annie felt a chill go down her spine. She shuddered, when they passed the remains of the old dilapidated bathroom. She kept her eyes on the lake the whole time. She hoped she wouldn't see the ice princess again.

Annie looked up at the sky and looked for the moon, it was waxing gibbous, so it wasn't a full moon. As she was looking for the moon, she had slowed her walk and she felt someone run into her from behind. Annie let out a yelp and grabbed the hand of the person walking next to her.

"Oops, sorry," Elsie said.

"Watch where you're going!" Annie yelled.

"You stopped right in front of me," Elsie said on the verge of tears.

"You can let go of my hand," Mary said.

"Oh, sorry, she just bumped into me." Annie let go of Mary's hand.

Kelsey walked up beside Annie. "What did you say to my sister?"

"Ugh, I'm sorry, I didn't know it was her. She bumped into me."

That's where the conversation ended, Annie and Mary were back at the Wolf cabin with the rest of their bunkmates. The other groups continued walking to theirs.

August 15th, 1997

After Natalie's stop in Orlando, Florida, she made stops in Atlanta and Charlotte. Natalie was now on the last stop of her book tour in Washington, D.C. Natalie was almost through the line, then she could go back to her hotel and rest, before her flight home the next day.

"Next," Natalie said unenthusiastically. Natalie was exhausted from touring all over the country. She couldn't wait to go back home to her husband and pick Annie up from the bus the following day.

A woman with red hair handed Natalie her book.

"Who am I making this out to?"

"Natalie, don't you recognize me?" the woman asked.

"No, who are you?"

"Come on, Natalie, we went to Eastland together."

Natalie looked at the woman again. Then her face broke out into a grin as recognition dawned on her.

"Molly Parker, I haven't seen you since we were at Eastland. You've changed so much. What have you been up to?"

"I'm in politics," Molly said. "I'm hoping to run for president in 2004."

"I would vote for you."

"I also started a women's shelter downtown, it's called Parker House."

"That's great," Natalie said. Natalie signed Molly's book.

"So what have you been up to?" Molly asked. "Do you still live with Tootie, Blair, and Jo?"

"No, we're all happily married and we live near each other back in Peekskill. I spent the last few years working on this book and most of the summer on this book tour."

"I'm not interested in getting married. Married life is not for me." Molly took her book back from Natalie.

"So, what did you think of the book?" Natalie asked.

"To tell you the truth, I've been so busy that I haven't had time to read it yet. I heard you were in town, so I grabbed my copy and decided I should come see you. I actually should get back to the shelter now. We're short staffed today."

"Okay, it was nice seeing you. Sorry I didn't recognize you right away."

"That's alright, it happens. Tell the others I said hi." Molly turned and left the library.

Natalie resumed signing books. She couldn't wait until this tour was over, she wanted to go home.

August 16th, 1997

The next morning, Annie woke up and looked around the cabin. Everyone else was still asleep. Annie looked out the window and realized that it was getting light out.

Annie felt something poking her arm. She looked down and saw the corner of a white envelope touching her left arm. She picked up the envelope and turned it over. It had her name written on it in fancy cursive handwriting.

Annie was just about to open it, when she heard rustling noises coming from the other bunks. Some of the others were waking up as well. Annie shoved the envelope in her sleeping bag. Annie looked over at the other girls. She saw that Katie and Beth were awake.

Katie sat up and looked at her watch.

"It's time to get up, girls. Everyone needs to pack up before we go to breakfast."

"I don't want camp to be over," Beth said.

"Yeah, I don't want to go home," Missy said, yawning.

"Yeah, that means we have to go back to school soon," Mary said.

"Well, I'm sorry, but camp is over and you all need to pack up your things and clean the cabin," Katie said.

Annie jumped down from her bunk. She walked around the cabin and picked up all her clothes. Annie couldn't wait to get out of the cabin, it wasn't any fun sleeping in the infamous ice princess cabin anymore.

Annie got dressed and pulled her sleeping bag down from the bunk. She pulled the envelope out and shoved it into the front pocket of her jeans. She rolled her sleeping bag up and tied her pillow to it.

When everyone was ready and the cabin was clean, Katie led everyone out of the mess hall where there were signs posted for campers to place their luggage in piles according to bus and a spot for the campers that were being picked up by parents.

After breakfast the kids stood outside the busses to say goodbye to their friends. Scott was talking to Annie. Elsie and Kelsey were clinging to each other in front of the bus to Peekskill.

"I'm going to miss you," Elsie said. "I don't want you to go."

"I'll miss you too, but don't worry. I'm going to make sure we see each other again. Just talk to your mom, when you get home, and I'll talk to my parents. Maybe they will know what happened."

"Everyone going to Peekskill, New York, please board the bus now." A voice called.

Annie was talking to Scott.

"Is that your bus?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, we'll be leaving soon."

"I want you to have this." Scott handed Annie the cowboy hat that he wore to the square dance.

"Really, you want me to have your hat?"

Scott nodded.

"I'll keep it forever."

"Final call for Peekskill," The voice said once more.

"I have to go, do you have my address?" Annie asked.

"Yeah, I'll write to you when I get home."

Annie looked at the bus driver, waiting impatiently. "I better go."

"Wait a minute," Scott said. He kissed her softly on the cheek. "Bye, Annie."

Annie decided she was never going to wash her face again. "Bye, Scott." Annie climbed on the bus and walked to the back in a daze. She sat down next to Tisha and clutched the cowboy hat to her chest.

Kelsey climbed on the bus after having to be separated from Elsie by two counselors. She sat next to Jamie.

Tisha noticed the envelope sticking out of Annie's pocket as the bus pulled away from camp.

"What's that in your pocket?"

"Oh, I forgot about that. I found it in my bed this morning." Annie pulled the envelope out of her pocket. She quickly opened it and read it.

Annie,

I'll see you next year.

-Violette a.k.a. the ice princess

Annie shoved the letter back into her pocket.

"What was it?" Tisha asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Yeah… um you know… the ice princess? Well, I saw her… one night, when I got up… to go to the bathroom."

"Annie, that was Katie," Jamie stated.

"No, it wasn't," Annie said.

"Yeah, it was," Tisha said. "I heard all the counselors talking about it this morning, Brett told them it was their prank to get back at you."

"Yeah, Elsie told me, it's true," Kelsey said. "Katie had her mom send her a white flannel nightgown. She snuck out after you left the cabin."

"But… I heard wolves," Annie said.

"Annie, those were the boys howling. Wolves don't live in this area anymore," Jamie said.

Annie crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. "No, one messes with me. I'll get them back next year."

"What are you going to do?" Tisha asked.

"I don't know, but I'll figure it out."

Kelsey was looking absently out the window. Jamie nudged her with her elbow.

"What?" Kelsey asked.

"Are you missing Elsie?" Jamie asked.

Kelsey nodded, she swept a tear off of her face.

"It's going to be okay," Jamie said.

"I don't believe it is," Kelsey said. "I think my mom is going to flip out."

"Well, then it's a good thing she has my mom to help her," Jamie said.

"She has my mom too," Tisha said.

"Mine too," Annie said.

"They will help her through it," Jamie said. "Grandma will too, and we'll be here for you."

"Yeah, because that's what sister friends do," Tisha said.

Kelsey smiled and went back to looking out the window.

Brett and Katie stood outside the main office building, waiting for their parents to pick them up. Elsie was sitting on a bench next to all their stuff.

"So, when's your mom coming?" Brett asked.

"Probably in about fifteen minutes," Katie replied.

"My mom probably won't be here for another hour," Brett said. "So, did you give Annie the letter?"

"Yeah, I put in her bunk when she was sleeping. She found it this morning and she shoved it in her pocket," Katie said.

Jessica and Leah walked up behind them.

"I found out what you did to Annie Robinson," Jessica said. "Not bad for a rookie."

"Yeah, I heard you got her real good," Leah said. "The other kids said she was afraid to leave the cabin to go to the bathroom at night."

"She wasn't supposed to get hurt though," Katie said. "I feel bad that her elbow was all scratched up, because she tripped when we scared her."

"She was fine though, she even toughed it out when she got attacked by the bear," Jessica said. "Is it true that she tried to switch bunks with another girl?"

"Yeah, her bunk had 'the ice princess was here' carved on the wall above it. Beth wouldn't switch with her, no one would."

"I don't blame them," Jessica said. A car pulled up in front of them. "My ride is here."

"Bye Jess," Brett said.

Leah walked over to the bench and sat next to Elsie. Katie looked at Brett.

"I don't want to say bye to you," Katie said.

"This is not goodbye, it's see you later. I'm going to convince my mom to let us move to Peekskill and I'm going to see if I can transfer to Langley." Brett said. Brett looked back at where Elsie was sitting having a conversation with Leah. "I'll tell you all about what goes down with Elsie and her new found twin."

"You have my number, right?" Katie asked.

Brett dug a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Yeah, I have it right here."

A car pulled up in front of them and the driver honked the horn.

"That's my mom." Katie said. Katie picked up her bags and put them in the back seat. She opened the passenger side door and started getting in.

"Katie, wait!"

Katie stopped suddenly and turned around. "What is… ?"

Brett smashed his lips into hers, before she could get another word out. Katie closed her eyes. She couldn't believe Brett Phillips was kissing her. She had dreamed of this moment for the last six weeks.

Brett pulled himself away from her. "I'm sorry, I don't know. …"

"Shh, it's all right, I liked it." Katie kissed him back. "Catch you later."

Brett watched Katie get into the car.

"See you later," Brett said, as they drove away.

"Brett has a girlfriend," Elsie teased.

Brett turned around, walked over the bench, with a mischievous smirk on his face, and tickled Elsie mercilessly. He would miss this if things didn't work out the way he hoped.

Jo walked in the front door and saw Mrs. Garrett standing in the living room. Mrs. Garrett held one finger up to her lips, signaling to Jo that she should be quiet. Mrs. Garrett pointed to the couch, where Tad was sitting with Blair's head in his lap. Amanda was lying on Blair's chest and all three were sleeping.

"Amanda must have worn them out," Jo whispered. "Did you take pictures?"

"Yeah, I used the rest of the film from my disposable camera," Mrs. Garrett answered. "Let's go in the kitchen, I don't want to wake them up. Blair hasn't been sleeping well lately."

Jo and Mrs. Garrett went in the kitchen. Mrs. Garrett started a pot of coffee.

"Where's Bruce?" Jo asked.

"He's lying down upstairs, he'll be down when it's time to pick up the children. He wants to take everyone out to dinner tonight."

"That's nice of him, he doesn't have to do that," Jo said.

"He wants to, he wants to get to know everyone. He feels a little out of place living here after all these years away. It would help him feel less awkward, if he got to know everyone as soon as possible."

"I'll do everything I can to make sure he's comfortable and I'm sure the other girls will too. We'll make sure the kids are quiet and well behaved too."

"Jo, he wants everyone to be themselves, even if it's noisy. He doesn't have grandchildren of his own. He thinks it will be nice to have kids around, like there was in Africa."

"Alright, just don't complain when I fight with Blair. I'll remind you that you wanted us to be ourselves."

Mrs. Garrett smiled. "You don't fight with Blair anymore."

"Yeah, we do sometimes, but they aren't as intense as they used to be."

"That's because you grew up, you've matured, and you're able to work out your own problems."

"Is it okay, if I still need you sometimes?"

"Of course it is, you don't even have to ask," Mrs. Garrett said. "Where's Natalie and Tootie?"

"Tootie's picking Natalie up from the airport. They should be here any minute."

Tad walked in the kitchen with Amanda. He grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a cup of coffee from the freshly brewed pot.

"Is Blair still asleep?" Jo asked.

Tad nodded and took a sip of his coffee. "When did you guys come home?"

"Just a short bit ago," Mrs. Garrett answered.

"Where's Rick and… is his name Bruce?" Tad asked.

"Yes, his name is Bruce, he is upstairs," Mrs. Garrett said.

"Rick is at home, he wanted to check the answering machine messages and take a shower before we pick up the kids," Jo said. "So, did Amanda start talking yet?"

"No," Tad answered.

Mrs. Garrett took Amanda from Tad and Tad sat at the table.

"Come on, you can say Grandma," Mrs. Garrett said.

"Nah, that may be too hard," Jo said. "Say 'Jo.'"

Amanda stuck her fingers in her mouth and looked at Mrs. Garrett and Jo like they were crazy.

Jo felt someone wrap their arms around her waist from behind, and place their head against her back.

"Hi Blair, I missed you too," Jo didn't even hear her come in. "I know it's you, because of the burn scars on your left hand."

"She's not going to say 'Jo' before she says 'Mama,'" Blair stated. "And you can't see those anymore."

"She might say 'Jo,' before she says 'Mama' and yes, you can still see them, they are fading though."

Natalie and Tootie walked into the kitchen from the back doorway.

"Hey guys," Natalie said. "Jo, you know Blair is touching you, right?"

"Yeah, I know." Jo said. "Alright, you can let go now blondie, I don't need your princess cooties."

Blair let go of Jo and Tad pulled her into his lap. "I don't mind princess cooties." Tad kissed Blair's head.

"So, you banged your head up real good, didn't you?" Jo looked at the new scar on Blair's head.

"What?" Mrs. Garrett asked.

"She had a seizure and split it open," Jo said.

Mrs. Garrett took a look at it. "Oh honey, you know what that means?"

"No driving for a year," Blair answered. "That's alright, Jo will just have to drive me around and go shopping with me."

"Not on this planet," Jo said.

"We can shop on your home planet. Where is it again that Neanderthals come from?"

"Alright, enough you two," Mrs. Garrett said.

"Hey, I thought you wanted us to be ourselves," Jo said.

"When do we have to pick up the kids?" Natalie asked.

"In an hour or so," Tootie answered.

"Well, better get moving, Blair, it'll take you an hour to look like someone from planet Earth."

Blair glared at Jo and went upstairs to get ready.

It was around one o'clock when the bus pulled into the parking lot of Peekskill Elementary. All of the kids got off and ran to their parents.

Blair picked up Kelsey and held her tightly in her arms.

"Mommy, you're squeezing me. I can't breathe."

Blair loosened her grip on Kelsey, a few tears ran down Blair's cheeks. "I'm sorry, I just missed you so much. You smell like camp, I'm going to have to get you out of these cotton and polyester clothes, and toss you in the bubble bath when we get home."

"But Mommy, I like cotton and polyester," Kelsey said.

"I'm going to pretend that I didn't just hear you say that."

"Will you give me a new manicure? My nails were chipped and I don't like this color."

"Of course, we can do our toes too."

"Did you have fun at camp, princess?" Tad asked.

"Yeah, but I fell in the mud and a bunch of boys threw me in the lake and I got my hair wet," Kelsey said. "And Jamie thought it was so funny."

Blair gasped and looked over at Jo, Rick and Jamie. They were all laughing at something Jamie was saying.

"… Then some older boys threw her in the lake," Jamie said. "Oh, and one night she found a snake in her bed. She screamed and woke up the whole camp."

Jo laughed, "I'm glad you had fun."

"I made a lion mask in arts and crafts," Jamie said. "I'll show it to you when we get home."

"Dad has something to show you when we get home," Jo said. "He went fishing and hooked his back and he got stitches."

"Did you get a cool new scar?" Jamie asked.

Rick nodded.

"How big is it?" Jamie asked excitedly. "I wonder if it's bigger than Annie's."

"I don't know," Jo said. "Maybe we can compare scars later. Your Aunt Blair just got a really gross one. Maybe she'll let you see it."

Natalie was looking at Annie's shoulder.

"It looks like you took care of this pretty well," Natalie said. "I think it's about time we made an appointment to get the stitches out."

"Can we get them out today, they are itchy?"

"We'll see, I'll call when we get home and see if I can get you in. We have dinner plans with everyone tonight."

"Where?" Annie asked. "I want to go to McDonalds."

"We're not going to McDonalds, we don't get to pick the restaurant."

"I better not have to wear a dress."

"You probably won't have to, Aunt Blair isn't picking either."

"Good," Annie said.

"So, did you behave at camp this year?"

Tootie and Jeff were talking to Tisha next to their car.

"I got all your letters and I had to kiss the moose a lot, but I didn't care. I missed you so much. I have so much stuff to tell you."

"Okay, you can tell us on the way home. We have to get ready to go out to dinner. I want to wash your clothes and you need to take a shower."

Jeff put Tisha's luggage in the hatchback of the station wagon. Tisha got in the back seat talking animatedly the entire time.

"You will never believe who we met at camp."

Tad was driving them home. Blair was looking in her visor mirror, while she was touching up her make up. Blair caught Kelsey watching her from the back seat and smiled at her.

"Mommy, I have to ask you a question?"

Blair opened up her lipstick. "What is it? You can ask me anything."

"It's about my sister."

"Amanda's at home with Grandma. She's not talking yet."

"No, it's about my other sister."

"What other sister?" Blair asked. Does she know about her twin? Who told her?

"My twin sister. I met her at camp."

Tad swerved the car and slammed on the brakes. Blair drew a line of pink lipstick across her face, as she lost control of the tube.