The bus for Lake Majestic is now boarding. Now calling all passengers for Lake Majestic!” As the announcement came over the loudspeaker of the Whittington bus station, two travelers who’d just been dropped off at the side door began to scurry. “That’s our bus, Chris!” cried Susan Pratt as the girls hurried across the bus station toward the departure area. “We’d better hurry!” “Oh, I’m sure we have plenty of time. That was probably just the first call.” But Christine Pratt, Susan’s twin sister, broke into a slow run. It was no easy matter, trying to rush with a heavy suitcase in one hand and the huge bag lunch their mother had packed for them in the other. Chris suddenly found herself wondering what would happen if her suitcase burst open, as she feared it might, right there in the middle of the Whittington bus station. The whole summer’s clothes would spill out onto the floor: shorts, T-shirts, bathing suits, sundresses, sandals, and sneakers. Not wanting to leave anything behind, she had packed everything she could possibly think of.
