TBH #4
DEDICATION
For Sonia, who’s been my friend
since we were CPG4eva’s age!
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Prianka, Vishal
Mom, Prianka
Home Home Home Home Home
Home Home Home Home Home
Gabrielle, Colin
These Photos
R U Guys Home
Heyyyyyy
Unknown, Gabrielle
Gabrielle, Cecily
Hearts 4 Days
Prianka, Victoria
Vishal, Prianka
Prianka, Victoria
Mama Anderson, Prianka
Mom, Prianka
Prianka, Victoria
Unknown, Gabrielle
Gabrielle, Cecily
Silver Girls Pool Day
Best Summer Ever 2.0 Party @ the Pool Day Woo
Mom, Prianka
Mom, Gabrielle
Silver Girls 2gether 7th Grade?!?!
Mama Anderson, Prianka
Prianka, Victoria
Mama Anderson, Prianka
Silver Girls Swimming Together Forever
Gabrielle, Cecily
Eli, Gabrielle
Gabrielle, Cecily
Mom, Prianka
Unknown, Prianka
Pool Day!!!!
Colin, Gabrielle
Ivy, Gabrielle
Outdoor Explorers 4 Life
Definitely Not Best Summer Ever 2.0
Vishal, Prianka
Victoria, Prianka
CPG4eva 4 Real
Victoria, Prianka
Eli, Gabrielle
Ivy, Gabrielle
Victoria, Prianka
Hello from India
We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG
We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG
We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG
Mom, Cecily
Gabrielle, Cecily
Gabrielle, Victoria
Victoria, Cecily
Intervention?
Victoria, Cecily
Miss My Girls
Where Are My Girls
Mara, Cecily
Longest Group Text in the History of Texting
Cecily, Gabrielle
Mara, Cecily
Mom, Cecily
Coming Home from India Early
Coming Home from India Early
Original CPG4eva
Mara, Cecily
Mom, Cecily
Ingrid, Cecily
Victoria, Cecily
CPG4eva
Cecily, Victoria
Home Home Home
Mara, Cecily
Sooooooo . . . . . .
Where Are My Camping Peeps
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by Lisa Greenwald
Back Ads
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prianka, Vishal
PRIANKA
OMG I am sneaking 2 use the phone
Don’t like being so disconnected
Don’t like camping either
R u there
VISHAL
Yes hi
PRIANKA
That’s all u can say?
I am breaking rules here
VISHAL
Sorry
PRIANKA
Grrrrrr I gtg just got cau
From: Outdoor Explorers Staff
To: Mr. And Mrs. Basak
Subject: Screen policy
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Basak,
Prianka was caught using her phone earlier today to text a friend. As you know, we are completely screen-free on Outdoor Explorers. The counselors have confiscated her phone and will return it at the end of the trip.
She has received a warning. Any further infractions will require us to take more serious action.
With best wishes,
The Outdoor Explorers Staff
Guysssss, can you believe after all that buildup we only have a few days left of our camping trip? OMG. I was totally dreading this and I loved it beyond belief. It went so fast. I am so sad it’s over. Although it will be good to get away from Darren’s 24/7 guitar playing! xoxo Gabby
I know! I feel like it was one of those life-changing experiences where we look back and are so amazed it even happened. I mean, for the rest of our lives we are going to remember waking up at 5 a.m. and going on that crazy long hike and watching the sunrise. I really want to do it again next summer. Maybe even the longer one. Gabby, you’re like a different person when living in a tent. You’re like so hyper and friendly and silly all the time. I love it! Bring this Gabby back to school with us! :) Love u guys forever, Cece
You guys! OMG. You are all crying about this trip ending and I am soooo excited to get home. SO happy I only got in trouble one time. And hahaha they have no idea how many times I snuck my phone. Who knew I was such a rebel? I guess camping brings out something different in each of us—and not all good things!
Is there something wrong with me that I hate hiking and really don’t like being outside that much? I am nervous that I am more of an indoor person. What does this mean for my future life? Netflix, I miss you!!!!!
But for real—since I was SO not into this camping thing, can we please make a pact that when we get home we make it the best summer ever (for the time I’m around which isn’t much bc of India). Okay? Promise? Respond below. Xoxoxoxoxo PRI THE EXTRAORDINARY
Lol, Pri! You like being outside, though. You love the beach and that’s nature too. Duh. I am amazed we kept this notebook going the whole time and no one stole it. Or tried to snoop. Do you think we’ll keep in touch with Ivy? I like her a lot but I don’t know. Is it rude that we talked about her here? Do you think this notebook is the same as group chat?
Ack. What if she does try to snoop? She’s just so amazing, though, right?
Yes to the pact. When we get home it will be Best Summer Ever 2.0!!!
Yes to the pact. Of course.
And am I really that different here? I don’t know. But thanks for the compliment!
But also, Pri, not everyone likes the same things. Duh. That’s why there’s chocolate and vanilla (thanks to my grandma for teaching me that expression).
Yes to the Ivy thing. She is SO cool. She taught us how to change under our towels. Hello, life skill! We have to keep in touch with her. I am just so glad we had so many cool bunkmates. How will I go back to just living with my mom at home? Boo hoo.
Luv, Gabs
I didn’t expect to be homesick! I don’t even like my parents that much. JK. I love them, but for real. I leave for India pretty soon after we get home. Then I’ll be homesick for you two!
WAHHHH.
Anyway, Operation Best Summer Ever 2.0 starts in a few days! Xo Pri
Mom, Prianka
MOM
Prianka darling, I hope you do not see this message, since you are not supposed to be on your phone. But if you do, we are sorry you do not like camping. But that is not an excuse to break the rules. We will discuss more when you return home. We love you. Mama and Papa
From: Yorkville Middle School Administrators
To: Yorkville Middle School Students
Subject: Summer assignment
Hello, Students!
Hope you’re enjoying summer. Don’t forget to work on this summer’s writing assignment: How have you changed since this time last year?
With permission, some of the essays will be posted (without names).
All the best,
Yorkville Middle School administrators & staff
OMG, Pri. I can’t believe you
snatched your phone back. But pls stop showing us. I don’t want to know about school right now. Feels so far away and I like that. Will deal with assignment when home.
Xo Gabs
Same. Love, Cece
OUTDOOR EXPLORERS ROSTER
Dear Explorers,
Well, our camping trip is sadly coming to an end. Together we learned so much—how to work together, how to live together, how to enjoy our beautiful planet Earth together. We learned how to be 100% screen-free!
And now we will return home. We will share all that we have learned and experienced with our friends and families.
Together we can heal the world. (Yeah! Yeah!)
Please find a roster of all the participants and please keep in touch with everyone—including your counselors!
We’ll be sharing our online photo album with all of you as soon as we get home and return to our screens. You will be able to update and add to it, so we can all stay up-to-date on each other’s lives.
We miss you already!
Your fabulous counselors—
Darren, Aviva, George, Marley, Everett, and Vee
I am back to poetry
That’s how sad I am on this trip
Cece and Gabs love it
I do not
They are happy outdoors
I am not
I am alone with my feelings
So alone
I am not meant for camping
And I was so excited to do this trip
Life is odd
Um, Cece, do we really have to write a note to each person on the trip? Wahhh. I know you will love it but I am wahhh. So this is your note. LOL. Xoxo ILYSM, Pri
Gabs, you’re the best. Thanks for sitting with me all those nights when I was homesick. I still think the cheese here tastes like toothpaste. LOL. Potty pals 4ever. Will miss u when I have to pee alone at home. ILY4evs, P
Hi, Jake—it was fun getting to know you this summer. Good luck with your science fair thing. —Prianka
DEAR CECILY, I HOPE YOU CAN READ MY HANDWRITING. IT’S REALLY BAD. HAHAHA. ANYWAY, IT WAS SO FUN GETTING TO KNOW YOU. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WERE ABLE TO DIVE FROM THAT HIGH BOULDER INTO THE WATERFALL. WOW. HOPE YOU’LL KEEP IN TOUCH. —JAYLEN
Hi, Gabby, never forget slimy rocks and heaps of potatoes. LOL. You’re so funny. You’re also the most fun, daring, adventurous, chill girl I’ve ever met. Can I please come sleep over? I know everyone loves you, but can I be your BFFFFFFFFFF? Say yes. I LOVE YOU! xoxo Ivy
Dear Prianka,
What can I say? I know this trip was a struggle but you powered through and our group was better because you were here. Aren’t you glad you didn’t go home early? I hope you will always stay the bold, confident, powerhouse girl that you are. It’s okay to say what’s on your mind and I am glad you know that. The world needs strong superhero girls like Prianka Basak! Please keep in touch. Lots of love, Vee
Ummm guys I’m tucking this note into shared notebook because I don’t want anyone on this bus to see it and I am scared I will drop it. Read asap and tell me what you think. OMG.
Dear Gabby,
Well, we were supposed to write a note to every person and I did but I saved the last one for you and it took me so long to figure out what to write so that’s why you are getting it so late. The whole time we’ve been on this trip I wanted to talk to you and get to know you better but I was so shy. I will never forget the night we had to do clean up together. You were so funny the way you were trying to sweep the eating area. Anyway, I think you’re really awesome. It would be great if we could keep in touch. I know it’s weird because we didn’t talk a ton on the trip. But maybe we can get to know each other better now. My cousins live kinda near you. I hope you don’t think I am totally crazy. I just think you’re really fun and smart and super pretty. Also, I don’t usually write these notes to girls. Just in case you were wondering.
Okay, bye.
—Eli
OMG GABS!!!! What are you thinking right now? Eli was super cute, I thought.
He was super cute. And he was funny, too. That one day we did the trust falls I had a fun time with him. He liked you the whole time and never said anything? Crazy. Boys are dumb.
I KNOW. Well, there’s nothing I can do now. I guess I can email him or text him when I have my phone back.
True. Okay gotta stop writing. Getting carsick on the bus. Discuss more at home. Xoxo
Wait, Gabs, I am writing you on the back of this sheet because I can’t find paper and also don’t want to use notebook if Cece isn’t writing now. BUT what do you think? Is Eli on this bus?
No, his parents picked him up because they’re going to Vermont on vacay. I only know that because they drive like a gigantic SUV, which is weird bc we were on a nature trip. Whatever though. Crazy about the note, right?
YES! And funny we are writing this on a paper about s’mores. Way to waste paper, people! Cracks me up. Are you going to contact him?
Well, s’mores are important. And as for Eli . . . I don’t know! Maybe?
Okay out of room on this paper. Going to dig in my backpack for something else.
HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT S’MORE
By George and Marley
1. Make sure your graham crackers are ready and out of the package.
2. Make sure your chocolate is broken into small pieces.
3. Put chocolate on each half of graham cracker.
4. Find the perfect roasting stick.
5. Gently insert stick into marshmallow.
6. Stand close to fire but not directly on top of fire.
7. Roast marshmallow until one side is charred but do not let the entire marshmallow get charred.
8. Gently take marshmallow off stick.
9. Place the charred side onto the chocolate piece.
10. Put both halves of graham crackers together with marshmallow and chocolate oozing together in the middle.
11. VOILÀ! THE PERFECT S’MORE!
Home Home Home Home Home
PRIANKA
Guysssss, reunited w my & it feels soooooooo gooooooooddddddd
Where r u
R u serious?! U r not so excited 2 be back with ur
I don’t believe this
& hello - we r supposed 2 b starting BEST SUMMER EVA 2.0 rn
Where r u
Hey, Gabs, I know you’re camping and won’t see this for a while but check out what I made at art camp. We had to take a photo and then paint it and I had a photo of you from that locker clean-out day. You can keep this.
Peace, Colin
Home Home Home Home Home
GABRIELLE
Sorry missed these texts
Guess what??? Colin dropped off a drawing @ my house when I was away
Omg
PRIANKA
Gabs, u have 2 boys in love with you
GABRIELLE
Haha no
Anyway I don’t like either I don’t think
PRIANKA
Colin’s such a talented artist
PRIANKA
Why did I have no idea
GABRIELLE
IDK he really is though
His art stuff makes him so much cuter I think
PRIANKA
4 real
GABRIELLE
Haha yeah artists are amazing
PRIANKA
Haha ok
CECILY
Hi, guys, I am so behind on these texts
Was looking @ website 4 camping trip next summer LOL
PRIANKA
Of course u were
CECILY
What? I loved it
PRIANKA
I know
GABRIELLE
I did too
Don’t hate, Pri
U know I was sooooooo scared 2 go
PRIANKA
I am not hating
Gabs, u were so 2 go & ended up loving it soooo much
It’s ok 4 us to like diff things
But omg that was so not my
thing
CECILY
WE KNOW
PRIANKA
Don’t scream @ me
CECILY
Sorry
It was just super obv u weren’t into it
I felt really bad the whole time
PRIANKA
It didn’t stop u from having fun
Right?
GABRIELLE
No
PRIANKA
Cece
CECILY
No but I did feel bad
PRIANKA
Well sorry
CECILY
It’s ok
I gtg
Trying to still stay kinda screen-free
PRIANKA
U too, Gabs?
GABRIELLE
IDK we’ll see
PRIANKA
Guyssssss
Who has started school essay thingy
CECILY
We just got home but I’ve been writing it in my mind
LOL I’ve written a bit
Doesn’t need to be that long
PRIANKA
K going 2 catch up on
GABRIELLE
K smooches
Double smooches
PRIANKA
Ily2sm
Prianka Basak
Summer essay assignment
The concept of change is very strange. (I didn’t mean for that to rhyme, sorry.) It’s because we don’t see ourselves changing. It just sort of happens. But the thing is, I think I’ve changed a lot since last summer. I used to go along with whatever people wanted, and now I speak up. I’m okay with saying what things I like and what things I don’t like. I’m proud to be more outspoken and open with my feelings.
Gabrielle, Colin
GABRIELLE
Hi
COLIN
You’re home?
GABRIELLE
Yup
I got ur painting
Thank u
COLIN
Do u like it
GABRIELLE
Yeah it’s really good
COLIN
Thanx
GABRIELLE
What r u working on now
COLIN
Different stuff IDK
GABRIELLE
Take pics & send 2 me
COLIN
Maybe but they r not done yet