“Thanks,” Ignatius said dryly. He hesitated, looking at the other boys. “There’s one other thing. Can I move into the dorm?”
Finley blinked at him. “You mean, into our room, with the rest of us?”
Ignatius shrugged, his shoulders hunching a little. “I’m told it’s an essential part of camp. If I’m stuck here, I might as well resign myself to embracing the full experience.”
“That would be fine by me.” Finley looked around at the other boys. “But we should all agree. Rufus?”
Rufus was still watching Ignatius, brow furrowed a little. He cocked his head to one side.
“If you just said something, I didn’t hear it,” Ignatius said. He added, somewhat defensively, “My uncle had me work on my mental shields, so that it would be harder for any enemy to manipulate me with mind control powers. I don’t know how to drop them.”
“We can work on that,” Finley said, smiling. “Rufus says he’s fine with you moving in. Archie, what about you? We all need to agree.”
“Wellllll…” Archie narrowed his eyes at Ignatius. “Do you snore?”
Ignatius stiffened, a shadow of his old offense crossing his face. “No!”
“Ido,” Archie said, chest swelling with pride. “Real loud. Also, sometimes I turn into a bear in my sleep and roll out of the bunk.”
“He does that a lot,” Finley sighed. “You really sure you don’t want to stick with your private room, Ignatius?”
“I’m sure.” Ignatius cleared his throat. “And… I always thought, if I ever had some friends… maybe they could call me Ig.”
CHAPTER33
TWO WEEKS LATER…
“You’re supposed to pull it tight,Estelle!”
“I am pulling! It’s not my fault I’m small!”
“Rufus, you help her. Who’s got the hammer?”
“I thought you had it.”
“Of course I don’t have it! Why would I be asking for it if I did?”
“Will you idiots stop arguing and get this fastened? Preferablybeforemy arms drop off?”
“Well, I can’t hammer in the tent peg without the hammer. Flora, didn’t you have it last?”
“No, I gave it to Finley. Finley! Where’s the hammer?”
“It’s right—no, wait, it isn’t. Ig, did you take it?”
“How could I possibly have taken it? With my third hand?”
“Right, sorry. Archie, can you—no, don’t let go of the pole!”
Crash.
“ARCHIE!”
“Do you think we should help them?” Honey murmured to Buck.
He didn’t so much as open his eyes. “They’re building character.”
“That may be so, Buck, but what they’re failing to build is a tent.”
