Moms Summer Camp

By Kristen Landon
Bethany covered her ears with her hands. Stop it, Mom! Youre going to drive me crazy if you keep this up all summer! A mothers job is to drive her daughter crazy, dear. Come on. Which U.S. state lies farthest south? Florida. Can I go shoot some hoops now? Her mother shook her head. The answer is Hawaii. I can see we need to work your brain harder. If you dont use it, you lose it. Mom, its summer vacation. Im not supposed to study more than when Im in school!
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Family Ties

Fine, her mother said with a sly smile. Go play some hoops. Bethany dashed outside before her mother could change her mind. She found a note taped to the basketball: Before you play, work out the diameter of this ball. Bethany slammed the ball down with a disgusted growl and stomped back inside. Mom, Im going to Merediths house. Okay, Mom said with that same smile. Bethany ran across the street and knocked on the door. Merediths mother answered. Meredith cant play with you yet, she said. She pulled out a piece of paper and read, In Katherine Patersons Newbery Medal-winning book Bridge to Terabithia, who was Jesse Aaronss best friend? If you dont know the answer, youd better get cracking. The books on your summer reading list! Youve got to be kidding, Bethany said. Im sorry, said Merediths mom. Your mother gave me that question. Im afraid
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Moms Summer Camp

Meredith cant play with you until you answer it. Bethany stomped back home. Her mother had been busy. Bethany found notes almost everywhere she looked. She found one on the milk container in the refrigerator: How many cups are in a gallon? One dangled from the handlebars of her bicycle: Find an example of each type of matter (solid, liquid, gas) on this bike. Bethany scratched her head when she read the one stuck to a tree in the backyard: On which two continents do elephants live in the wild? Think trunks, her mother called from where she was bent over, weeding the ower garden. Very funny, Mom, Bethany said with a roll of her eyes. The question taped to the television was a word problem:
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Family Ties

If you start to watch a two-hour-long DVD at 11:00 am and take a twenty-minute lunch break and two three-minute bathroom breaks, what time will the DVD end? A note was attached to the front of the hoop skirt on her porcelain Civil War doll. What vice president of the United States became president after Abraham Lincoln was shot? Bethany even found a note oating in the toilet! How much of the earth is covered with water? Moms nally lost it, Bethany decided. How was she going to get her mothers crazy obsession under control? She went to her room to do some thinking. Later, she headed out to the backyard. Whats the deal, Mom? Why are you trying to turn me into Einstein this summer? Her mother sighed as she stuck her spade in the dirt. I met up with Mrs. Brannon while I was out on my power walk this morning. She
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Moms Summer Camp

wouldnt stop bragging about what a genius Teresa is. Shes even going to an academic camp this summer. I know youre every bit as smart as she is, so I decided to put on an academic camp of my own. Mom, Teresa Brannon spends her whole life studying. She never does anything else. I like learning stuff, but I like doing other things, too. I suppose participating in a variety of activities is good for you, her mother said. It wouldnt hurt you to give your brain a little exercise every day, though, would it? Okay. A little. And I have a few things to share with you. Nine-point-oh-seven inches, Leslie Burke, sixteen cups, the bike frame is solid, the water in the water bottle is liquid, the air in the tires is gas, Africa and Asia, 1:26 pm, Andrew Johnson, and over two-thirds. You answered my questions! Of course, said Bethany as she headed for her basketball. Didnt you just say Im a genius?
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Questions to Think and Talk About

Moms Summer Camp

1. Bethanys mom wants Bethany to work her brain all summer. Do you think kids should have to work their brains during summer vacation? Why or why not? 2. Do you think its best to focus on just one activity youre really good at, or should you spend time participating in a variety of activities? Whats good and not so good about each option? 3. Bethanys mother left each note on an object that related to the question. If you were to write questions like these, what would you write? Where would you leave the notes? 4. Do you think this story would be different if the main character were a boy? Why or why not?

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