What about lions asks Becky Nope says Mom A few squirrels maybe Possibly a skunk or two It’ll be Becky’s birthday while we’re away I’ll bake a cake on the trip says Mom Mom Baking on a camping trip Becky asks if she can bring Blanky Blanky’s a baby blanket she’s had forever It used to be yellow Now it’s closer to gray Sure bring Blanky says Mom We can sleep in the tents Aunt Sharon gave us I say Actually it’s not that kind of camping says Dad We’ve rented a cabin Like the pioneers lived in That’s not camping I say What’s a pioneer Becky asks They’re those long-ago people who didn’t have televisions or bathrooms I explain They hunted for food because there were no supermarkets Becky says she doesn’t want to be a pioneer 3
There’ll be a bathroom where we’re going Mom says And we’ll take food with us Josh stop scaring your sister What about tv says Becky There isn’t one says Dad Can’t we be pioneers in a motel Becky asks We don’t need tv says Dad We’ll play board games and talk to each other It’ll be fun Now where did I put Snakes and Ladders Talk Board games No tv How is that fun Can Bagels come I ask Dad gives me a look that says Does he have to As I said Bagels isn’t perfect But Becky and I love him Besides he’s a talented stage actor I know acting isn’t much use on a camping trip But a couple of months ago Bagels appeared in the Marpole Players production of Peter Pan Okay he wasn’t supposed to be in Peter Pan Mom and Dad were the lead actors Bagels was supposed to be at home But he’s an escape artist 4
Becky and I think that on Peter Pan night our cat Creamcheese opened a window for him She likes to get him into trouble Bagels arrived at the theater and ended up onstage It was my fault so I’m lucky the audience loved him In fact the director wants him in next year’s production of Pup in Boots Since then we’ve had our windows fixed Now they’re dog and cat-proof There’s just one thing Becky and I haven’t told Mom and Dad that Bagels can also open doors bagels steals the show 5
