Finding Home

by Kingsbury, Karen

  “Well.” Ashley moved her spoon around in her ice cream. “I’m still jury-out on the whole boy teacher thing.”

  Just then Mr. Garrett walked into the cafeteria. Ashley slouched down. “Do you think he’ll make us run laps?”

  Kari giggled. “No, Ashley! He’s not a PE teacher.”

  The closer Mr. Garrett came to their table, the more jumpy nerves seemed to come over Ashley. Finally she leapt from her chair. “I see Marsha. I’m going to go say hi.” And without waiting another second, she left with her chocolate ice cream.

  Just then, Ashley’s teacher walked up and introduced himself to their dad. The teacher sat down and talked about how he was looking forward to having Ashley in class.

  Kari watched as Ashley left Marsha and hurried back to their family’s table. She was holding her ice cream, and there was a paper plate on the floor in front of her. Kari could already see the disaster about to unfold.

  Before Kari could warn her, Ashley stepped on the paper plate and started sliding.

  “Ashley!” Kari stood up. But it was too late.

  Completely off balance, Ashley slid and tripped and her ice cream dish flew out of her hands. For a second, Kari watched the dish spin through the air until…

  It landed splat on Mr. Garrett’s head.

  Kari dropped to her seat and stared, right along with everyone else in the cafeteria.

  Like a statue, Ashley stood—not moving—right behind her teacher. Her face turned a shade of red Kari had never seen before. Kari shook her head. Poor Ashley. How could this happen?

  For the longest time, Ashley’s ice cream dish sat upside down on top of Mr. Garrett’s hair like a small white hat. Then slowly it slid down his face onto his shoulder and his dressy blue shirt. That’s when he grabbed it and wiped the chocolate ice cream from his cheek.

  “Ashley, quick.” Their dad pointed to the ice cream station.

  Ashley didn’t answer. Didn’t move. Almost like she was frozen in time.

  Instead, Kari jumped up and ran to the ice cream table for something to clean up the mess. The second disaster of the day. Even still Ashley wasn’t moving.

  Kari ran the stack of napkins to Mr. Garrett.

  People were still watching as the teacher wiped his face and shirt, best he could. Then he laughed. “I guess I’ll be leaving.” He didn’t sound angry or embarrassed. He stood and looked at his shirt. “Chocolate doesn’t go with this color.” He waved at Kari’s family. “I’d better wash up.”

  As he walked by Ashley, he smiled at her. “See you Monday.”

  Ashley’s mouth hung open. She moved to the table, slithered back to her chair, and buried her head in her hands. At the same time, Mom covered her mouth and closed her eyes. Her voice got very quiet. “Ashley.” She called after the teacher. “So sorry, Mr. Garrett.”

  The teacher saluted as he headed for the door. His entire head was matted with ice cream. Kari tried to stop herself, but a small giggle came out. Ashley’s teacher was a good sport.

  After a minute of silence at their family table, Ashley lifted her head. “I can never come back here again. Clearly.”

  Other people around them seemed to get back to their own business. Kari took Ashley’s hand. “It’s okay. Mom said with mistakes you just have to find a way to straighten them out.” She winced. “As soon as you can.”

  Luke did a quiet little laugh. “It was sort of funny.”

  Next to him, Erin joined in.

  “Thank you.” Ashley nodded to their youngest siblings. “Glad to be so entertaining.” Then she turned to their mother. “I need a redo. There’s no way to straighten this one out. Unless we move back to Ann Arbor.”

  “Just tell him you’re sorry, honey.” Mom’s voice was gentle. “On the first day of school.”

  Ashley tossed her hands onto the table. “The first day?” She rested her forehead in her fingers. “I’m extra-destroyed.”

  Dad patted her back. “At least you made a big first impression.” He smiled a little. “He won’t forget you.”

  “My future at this school has been decided. Forevermore.” Ashley covered her face again. “I’m the ice cream girl!”

  Something about that sounded funny and this time everyone started laughing. First Ashley, then Mom and Dad, and then Kari and the other kids until the whole family was having the best time.

  As they drove home, Kari relaxed into her seat. Everything was going be okay. School was about to start and there was no telling all the happy times ahead. And one day soon, Ashley would forget about the ice cream social disaster. After all, everyone made mistakes.

  And Mom and Dad would help straighten out even the worst of them.

  7 The Worst First Day

  ASHLEY

  Ashley pulled the covers up over her head and lay perfectly still. She’d been awake for an hour, maybe longer. But she couldn’t make herself get out of bed.

  Today was the first day of school.

  Already Kari was up and humming in the bathroom. A song about being happy, of all things. Because of course Kari was joyful. She had not spilled ice cream on her teacher’s head.

  Just then a light came on and Ashley heard her mother’s voice. “Breakfast!” She paused. “Happy first day of school!”

  The covers stayed over Ashley’s face. She did not move a muscle, not even her toes. Maybe if she pretended she was asleep, her mother would let her miss today. Instead, Mom sat on the edge of her bed and lowered her covers. When daylight hit Ashley’s face, her mom smiled. “Good morning! Big day!”

  Before Ashley could respond, Kari bounced into the room. “I can’t wait!” She was dressed in her favorite jeans and shirt. She buzzed into their closet. “Where are those white tennis shoes? I can’t find them.”

  “Top shelf, honey.” Mom turned to Ashley. “What about you?”

  “Actually…” Ashley sat up. There was no getting around it. “I have an idea.”

  A smile lifted her mother’s lips. “What’s that?”

  “World travel.” Ashley slid her legs over the edge of the bed. She might really be onto something here. “I think I should go around the world in eighty days. Like the book.”

  Mom tilted her head to one side. “That would be an adventure.” She moved Ashley’s bangs off her forehead. “But it’s not an option.”

  “Are you sure?” Ashley felt sick.

  “Yes, Ashley.” Her mom stood. “Come on.”

  Another thought hit. “How about we stay here? You and me.” The nerves in Ashley’s voice sounded louder than her words. “I could brush up on my art skills and… you know, maybe help around the house.”

  “Ashley.” Her mother took hold of Ashley’s hands. “You have to go.” She smiled. “Even if I’d like you to stay here forever.”

  Ashley climbed out of bed and faced her. “Mother. I don’t know if you remember last week’s ice cream incident. But it officially ended any chance of a good school year.” She straightened a little. Her mind felt very serious about this decision. “Perhaps I could get a job?”

  “Come here.” Mom stood and pulled Ashley into a hug. “Today is going to be great.” Mom pulled a navy blue pair of pants and a white shirt from the dresser and set them on the bed. “These are perfect.” She sighed. “Trust God, Ashley. He’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  “Maybe He could make me invisible. So no one remembers me as the ice cream girl.”

  Mom laughed a little. “That happened late in the evening. Most of your classmates were probably already home.” She kissed Ashley’s forehead. “No one will remember it, Ashley. I promise.” She paused. “Plus there are a lot of kids in Mr. Garrett’s class who don’t know what a treat they’re in for.” Her smile looked extra-kind. “There’s no one like you, Ashley Baxter!”

  Kari skipped out of the closet. Her white tennis shoes were laced up. “Ready!” She grinned at their mother, and then at Ashley. “Hurry! So we’re not late.”

  Mom headed for the door.
“See you downstairs, Ash.” Mom sounded like she was trying to stay positive. “It’ll be a great day. I promise.”

  Ashley took a deep breath. Fine. She had no choice. With slow steps she got dressed and laced up her own white Chuck Taylor shoes. A ponytail might be best today. So no one would recognize her from the ice cream social. Ashley pulled her hair back and stared at the mirror. Mom was right. There really was no one like her. “Okay, God. Take me to my new best friends.” She stared at herself. Then she did a wink. “You can do this, Ashley.”

  Downstairs, Ashley ate three bites of eggs and a single piece of toast. Hunger wasn’t her thing today. Then she sat on the couch and waited for her siblings. The extra time gave her a chance to grab her sketchbook and draw a picture of herself. She studied it. Yes, that was a confident look. She would use that one. Beneath the drawing she wrote, Ashley Baxter: One of a Kind. Then she added a dozen friends on either side of herself.

  Because that was the plan, if only God agreed.

  Dad dropped Brooke off first at the middle school, and the rest of them at Clear Creek Elementary a few minutes later. They were early, which was the best news. Ashley hated being late. Already she was the new girl who’d dumped ice cream on Mr. Garrett’s head. Being late would only give the kids one more reason to stare.

  No one remembers the ice cream social, Ashley told herself. She and her siblings walked up the steps to the school. Mom was right. Of course she was. She had to be. No one remembers. No one remembers.

  In the main building, Erin and Luke turned down one hallway and Kari and Ashley took the other. “You’ll do great.” Kari squeezed Ashley’s hand as she stepped into her room. “The ice cream social was forever ago.”

  Ashley shrugged. “Thanks.” She gave her sister a quick wave and walked a little farther to Room 107. The bell wouldn’t ring for another few minutes. So she peeked inside with just her head at first. The room was full of kids, all of them chatting and wandering around. Marsha was not one of them. Apparently she was in the other fifth grade.

  That was the bad news. The good news was no one in here looked familiar from the ice cream social.

  Just breathe, she told herself. She stepped all the way inside, and that’s when she saw Mr. Garrett. His hair looked clean. He had recovered nicely from the ice cream disaster.

  He looked her way, and she waved and smiled. Then he walked to her. “Good morning, Ashley.” He squinted. “Let me see your hands.” He waited. There was a twinkle in his eyes.

  Ashley held her palms up… What would her teacher want to see?

  “Good.” He chuckled. “Wanted to make sure you’re not hiding any ice cream.”

  “Mr. Garrett, I would never…” Then it hit her. She giggled. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Well…” He grinned. “You never know.”

  Ashley laughed again. “You’re funny, Mr. Garrett. I like that about you.” She looked around. She didn’t want any of her classmates to know about the incident. “Don’t worry.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ll keep ice cream out of the classroom.”

  “And off my head, most of all.” He gave her a high five. “Find your seat.”

  “Yes, sir.” Ashley walked up and down each row, starting at the back. She finally found her name on a desk at the front of the room near the door.

  The exact place she didn’t want to sit. Too much pressure to sit at the front. She tapped her finger to her lips and looked around the room. Maybe someone would trade her. She made eye contact with the boy behind her.

  “Hi.” He nodded at her. “I’m Elliot. I like aliens.” He made some clicking noises and moved his fingers around. His voice sounded like a robot. “Take me to your leader.”

  “Hmm.” She studied him. “Hi.” Her smile took a second. “I’m Ashley Baxter.” She held out her hand, and shook Elliot’s. “I have a favor for you.”

  “For me?” Elliot’s face lit up.

  “I mean, not for you.” Ashley shook her head. “A favor for you to do for me.”

  “Oh.” Elliot wrinkled his face. “What’s the favor?”

  Ashley put her hands on his desk and leaned forward. “How about we trade seats?”

  Elliot grew very still. He gave the front row a nervous glance. “Mr. Garrett said they are assigned seats.”

  Ashley frowned. Assigned seats? She hadn’t had an assigned seat since second grade. Ashley sighed. Fine. She had no choice. She walked to the front of the classroom, where her teacher seemed to be getting his things together.

  “Mr. Garrett.” Ashley did a quick cough to get his attention. “I would like to request a window seat, please.”

  Her teacher turned to her and furrowed his brow. “What?”

  “A window seat.” She gave him her most serious nod. “That’s actually my preference.”

  Mr. Garrett took a step toward her. “Ashley”—he shook his head—“this is not an airplane.” He pointed to her desk in the front row. “Please sit where I assigned you.”

  Inside Ashley’s chest, her heart pounded like a crazy drum. She pressed her lips together. “But… I do much better by a window.” Her voice raised a notch.

  “I’m sorry.” Mr. Garrett shook his head. “Class is about to start. Take your seat.”

  So mean. Ashley kept the thought to herself. She couldn’t be rude to the teacher on the first day. Or ever. She hung her head and walked back to her desk. By now most of the students were seated. Elliot was talking to another boy about aliens. And a girl was now at the desk next to Ashley’s.

  Toward the back of the room a tall boy with brown swoopy hair stood in the middle of a bunch of kids. Making friends was clearly not a problem for him. Ashley looked again at the girl in the seat beside hers.

  At the front of the room, Mr. Garrett was about to talk. So Ashley dropped to her seat and turned real quick to the girl next to her. She had a long braid down her back and her eyes looked straight ahead. Like she was more ready to learn than to make friends.

  “Hi!” Ashley leaned close. She glanced at the girl’s desk and saw her name. Natalie. “I’m Ashley. I’m new. How was your summer?”

  Natalie took a few seconds before she turned and looked at Ashley. No words. Just a look. Then she turned back to the front of the class and folded her hands.

  Ashley’s mouth hung open. How rude. She was about to tell Natalie so, but there was no time. Mr. Garrett turned to the students. “Welcome to fifth grade in Room 107!”

  For the next hour their teacher went over class rules and the things they were going to learn this year. The whole time Ashley couldn’t focus. Natalie never once smiled, never looked at her. So what was the girl’s problem? Why didn’t Natalie like her?

  Ashley thought hard. Maybe she could tell a joke to break the ice? Or she could comment that Natalie’s braid looked nice.

  She was still figuring out the right approach when the bell rang for lunch. Ashley walked alone down the hallway to the cafeteria. Not a single person wanted to walk with her. Ashley held her head high. It didn’t matter. Kari’s lunch was at the same time. Her sister was on her way.

  Ashley took the closest table to the door and waited.

  Sitting there by herself, Ashley noticed something across the room. The tall boy from the back of Mr. Garrett’s class, the one with all the friends, was holding his lunch tray and coming toward her. He walked like a sports guy. Concern bubbled up inside her. He seemed to be coming straight for her.

  And sure enough he stopped right near her chair. “Hey.” The boy smiled. “I’m in your class.”

  “Hi.” Ashley wasn’t sure what to say.

  The boy gave his hair a shake to the left so it would move off his forehead. “You’re new, right?”

  “Yes.” Was he actually trying to be her friend? Ashley’s heart pounded so loud she could hardly hear. “I’m Ashley Baxter.”

  “Hi, Ashley.” He studied her for a few seconds. “Didn’t you flip ice cream on Mr. Garrett’s head?”

&n
bsp; What? Ashley couldn’t believe it. This popular boy knew her secret! If there had been a way to dig through the cafeteria floor and burrow all the way back to her house, Ashley would have found it. She felt her cheeks get hot. “How… how did you know?”

  The boy shrugged. “I was at the social. I saw.”

  Ashley crossed her arms. What a mean thing to notice! “Do you think that’s nice? To bring that up on the first day?”

  Something in the boy’s eyes looked shocked. “Uh…” He took a step back. “I was just gonna say I was sorry it happened.” He blinked. “Actually, I thought you handled it well.” He started to walk away, but he looked back over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “Wait.” Ashley stood. “What’s your name?” She should at least know that much. So she could avoid him.

  He stopped and turned back to her. “I’m Landon.” He grinned. “Landon Blake.”

  “Well, Landon.” Ashley lifted her chin. “Apology accepted.”

  Landon did a slight nod. He was still smiling when he crossed the cafeteria to his table of friends. So many friends.

  Ashley crossed her arms. Why would he talk about the ice cream disaster? She looked his way. He was laughing and talking with everyone at his table. The heat in Ashley’s cheeks grew hotter. That boy was probably telling his friends about the terrible incident. Everyone in class would know by the end of the day. Which meant one thing.

  Traveling around the world in eighty days was looking better all the time. She put her lunch away and pulled out her sketchbook. She wasn’t hungry anymore. For the rest of the break, even when Kari came and sat with her, Ashley drew herself on an adventure. Far away from here. She held the sketchbook out and studied her work. Yes, that’s what she should be doing right now. Much better than staying here in this lonely cafeteria.

  Now… if only she could find a hot-air balloon.

  8 The High Seas of Lake Monroe

  ASHLEY

  A shocking thing happened over the next few days.

  The rude boy named Landon apparently did not tell anyone about the ice cream social disaster. Because no one else said another word about it.