China Charlie, the AGA Bus Driver, drives to the Postal Bus Stop to wait for the arrival of three campers.

"Look!" cries Hitty-Kit, "I think I see them coming!"

Sure enough, there is a faint puff of dust way down the road. The Postal Bus pulls in front of the AGA Person's mail box and honks. The first campers have arrived!

Hitty Lavina (from North Carolina) and China Charlie wait patiently for the Campers to gather their boxes and bags and descend from the Postal Bus.

"Last year, we had a camper arrive by Jet Pack," says China Charlie.

"Wow!" says Hitty Lavina. Do you think he'll be back this year?"

"No, his sister is coming," says China Charlie. "Besides, I heard there was a big mess with his rocket fuel while traveling so it's not likely he'd bring one again."

The Mini-Hittys giggle and shout out greetings. Hitty-Kit remains by the bus, very aware of her new job of helping keep the Camp Mini-Hittys corralled. The boys wait patiently in the bus, too. Hitty-Kit thinks it is because they are well-behaved, but really it's because Mrs. Plum threatened dish washing for a week if they misbehaved on the bus.

"China Charlie has enough to do with driving the bus," Mrs. Plum had said. "Behave, or it's dishes for a week."

The first camper has gotten off the bus. "Look!" cries Bitty Boy Josh. "It's a Hogwarts cape! Cool!"

"Yeah, but it's another girl," says Bitty Boy Charlie.

"But she's a Raikes," says BB Josh. "So she'll be pretty fun and not want to sit around embroidering and talking about shoes."

"Shoes?" says Hitty-Kit. "Did you see my new shoes? They're stylish yet affordable."

Hitty Kit and Hitty HesterB embrace. Raikes Cousins! What fun! They are already whispering about what they will do during Camp Week. "We have a plan," whispers Hitty-Kit. I'll fill you in later."

Hitty HesterB grins. "I can't wait."

Hitty-Kit coaxes a Mini-Hitty to meet Hitty HesterB.

"Come on, don't be shy," says Ruth Ann.

But the Mini-Hitty is convinced Hitty HesterB is really Harry Potter, because of the Hogwarts cape, and she scrambles back towards the bus to tell the others.

They all laugh. HesterB can't be Harry Potter. For one thing, there's no scar. For another, she's a girl!

"Maybe it's Hermoine," whispers the Mini-Hitty. Everyone laughs again.

Hitty Geneva says "Come on, back in the bus, Mini-Hitty!" You aren't supposed to get out, remember? It just makes it hard to keep track of you girls."

But Mini-Hitty is determined to stay outside. She's very curious about everything, and while this is encouraged at the AGa, at times it can get out of hand. (Like, when you have 20 Mini-Hittys attending camp!)

"Surprise!" yells Hitty Thankful, the next camper to get off the Postal Bus.

Hitty Geneva laughs. "Well, you come on up, then! If we had known you were arriving today, we would have brought the other Vollum Hittys along. But they're back at the school, getting ready for our picnic tomorrow."

Hitty Thankful clambors aboard the bus. "I'm looking forward to meeting some of my sisters. And I know there's even a Bitty Boy Vollum here, named Ronivin."

"I'm sorry," says Hitty Geneva, "But Ronivin went to Boston with Our Person Anne, to visit Our Sara and Our Robert, and their New Baby Charlie. He won't be at Camp this year."

Hitty Thankful is disappointed, but not too badly. After all, there is still camp to look forward to, as well as the other Hittys to meet!

"Hey," says Hitty Thankful. "It's nice up here. I think I can see the school."

"No, that's the Pink Flamingo Cottage you see. We'll go there during Camp for a Cookout and Sleepover," Hitty Geneva says, pointing off towards the Pink Flamingo Cottage.

"Fun!" says Hitty Thankful. A Pink Flamingo Cottage sounds interesting. She remembers seeing the pictures of the Cottage last year, and wonders if that is where the Big Camp Secret will be revealed.

"Why are we waiting?" Asks one of the Mini-Hittys.

"There's one more camper on thePostal Bus," says Hitty Thankful. "She is really shy, but fun when you get to know her. She taught me a new song. It's called '99 Bottles of Bugs on the Wall'."

"I know that one!" yell the Bitty Boys. "Let's sing it real loud!"

China Charlie takes two aspirin and groans. And here he'd thought being a Bus Driver for the AGA would be a nice, restful job for his retirement years!

The last camper to arrive on the Postal Bus today is Hitty Whit.

"I'm allergic to onions," she blurts out. "My Mom said I was to tell everyone."

"Don't worry, we already know," says Hitty Lavina. "We'll make sure you don't eat any onions."

"I like your Scout uniform," says yet another of the Mini-Hittys. "Girls Scouts are fun. I wish we had Girl Scouts here."

"Maybe you'll be the one to go home with Hitty Whit," says Hitty Lavina. "Then you will get to be a Girl Scout too. Or, maybe a Brownie to start."

Mini-Hitty bounces up and down on Hitty Lavina's shoulders with excitment. She might be the one! You never know!

:"OK," yells China Charlie. "Everybody get on the bus! We're ready to head for the Academy."

The Campers scramble for the bus. No one wants to be left behind and miss one single second of fun.

Hitty Whit helps one of the Mini-Hittys aboard. Hitty Thankful would have liked to have ridden right on the hood of the bus, but she knew that was not safe, so she climbs down into the bus.

..Everyone crowds in and holds on.

..'99 Bottles of Bugs on the Wall! 99 Bottles of Bugs!" sing the Campers as loudly as ..they can manage.

.."Ohhh, what the heck!" says China Charlie. He throws the bus into gear, and then ..opens his mouth and yells "If one of those Bottles should happen to fall, 99 Bottles of ..Bugs on the Wall!"