It had been like this for as long as Mia could remember. Whenever someone tried to make a rule or suggest she should do something, she always wanted to do something different. Mia had been all set to make the two o’clock deadline for today – until Lily had reminded her at lunch. Straight away it was like every part of Mia’s body decided that it didn’t want to sign up. Not even if it meant risking being put in an activity she didn’t enjoy.

Mia was confused and angry and upset with herself. She was going to get something really rubbish tomorrow, now, wasn’t she? Maybe not wildflowers. The Camp staff had probably got the message about that. But something else boring, probably.

Mia gave herself a shake. Maybe she had blown her chances for tomorrow, but there was still Tube Polo today, and she enjoyed that. She grabbed her swimming gear and a spare t-shirt from the tent, and hurried off.

2

NO CARRYING!

The umpire was blowing her whistle outside by the pool while Mia was still in the changing rooms. She quickly stuffed all her things into her locker. Something dropped out and narrowly missed her bare toes.

“Whoa!”

It was that stupid compass Joe had given to her. She hoped it hadn’t been damaged by hitting the tiled floor.

Its needle was going round and round and somehow it seemed to have five directions on it. Mia didn’t have time to study it. She put it back in the locker, strapped the key to her wrist and hurried out.

Mia was the last to arrive at the outdoor pool. Eleven other boys and girls were all there in their swimming gear and t-shirts. Inflated rubber rings bobbed in the water.

“Now, let’s give you all a quick check.” The leader walked among them. “Everyone got a t-shirt?” she said. “Unprotected backs and shoulders might get sunburnt. Tommy, no goggles, I’m afraid. I know the chlorine stings, but you could injure your eyes if someone knocked you. Mia, that looks like a new t-shirt. Do you really want to wear it? The chlorine will bleach it.”

Mia hadn’t thought of that. She had just grabbed the nearest t-shirt she had. It was a new one, a birthday present, only worn a couple of times.

“It’s fine, thanks,” Mia told her. Inside, she was cross not to have realised that herself. But now the leader had pointed it out she didn’t want to take the suggestion. Instead she quietly said goodbye to the shirt’s cheerful patterns and colours.

The leader raised her eyebrows, but didn’t say any more about it. She went on to remind everyone of the rules, and put them into teams with yellow and red armbands. Mia was in the Yellow team.