To Night Owl From Dogfish

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

  Darling, we are on our way up there now. Me. Gaga. Dinos from the building is driving us. We are on our way. We will see you soon and all of this will be said in person.

  I’m so proud to be your mother. Always. And forever.

  * * *

  From: Betty Devlin

  To: Bett Devlin

  Subject: My darling baby girls

  Bett & Avery—

  I’m writing this for me as much as for you two. I’m admitting that. I can’t sleep. Putting words down feels like I’m talking to you girls. I need to talk to you. I’ll always need that.

  I know you’re both going to be all right. You’re my little girls, the ones I never got to have, what with only one son and then a husband who died young. Bett, and then you, Avery, have filled all the holes in my life. I didn’t know they were even there until you came along.

  The main nurse at the hospital told us all to leave. The only person they let stay was Doug. He’s allowed to sleep in the chair next to you, Bett. I’m guessing the rest of us were causing too much of a racket. Sam wanted to sleep in your room, Avery, but they said no. You’re in stable condition and there’s another patient in your hospital room and I guess they thought it was too much.

  Dinos the doorman drove me & Kristina up here. It took us almost nine hours. He’s got a new Prius, which gets great gas mileage. When we got to the hospital we ran in & saw Doug & Sam just holding on to each other. Like they were in a storm & it was knocking them both over. They were crying & then we all started crying. Even Dinos, who barely knows you girls.

  You’re not out of danger yet. Sometimes these things take a while. So we’ll just let you take your time.

  Avery, you were a hero today. And so was that girl Brielle. I know you had trouble with her, but it seems she pulled you both out. They brought her to the hospital, too. For “observation.” They said she went into shock once you got onshore. Life’s one big mystery, that much I know.

  So right now we’re at the motel. They only had one room left because August is the busiest time. Dinos is on a cot. Sam’s on the bed sleeping next to Kristina. She’s got an arm flung around him. I took a picture, because I don’t want them to ever forget. I’m on the pullout couch. I know I’m not going to sleep, so why give any of them this mattress with the lumps? We’re going right back to the hospital first thing in the morning.

  My understudy went on at the theater & the report back was that she was really great. That got me thinking that I want to go home to Texas for a while. I’ll come back in a bit, but I need to see my little cat, Cinnamon, and my overgrown garden. I want to drive around town and swat flies on the back porch & complain about the heat to my friend Diamond. I want to try and “binge-watch” whatever everyone says is good on TV that I’ve been missing.

  But what I really want is for my baby girls, Bett and Avery, to be okay.

  That’s all I need in the world.

  I want yesterday back.

  Love,

  Your Gaga

  * * *

  From: Marlow Devlin

  To: Javier Martinez, Sam Bloom, Kristina Allenberry, Betty Devlin, Dinos Tombras

  Subject: THE GIRLS!

  I couldn’t sleep much in the chair so I got up and went down to the second floor for a cup of coffee. When I got back to the room I had the shock of my life. Bett wasn’t in her bed.

  I freaked and ran into the hall (spilling the coffee—anyone who brought another shirt, could you bring it over for me?). A nurse said that Bett was fine. But then we both went looking for her. Bett, pulling her IV stand, had somehow found her way to Avery’s room. And she’d climbed up into the bed alongside Avery.

  And that’s where they were when I came into the room. Bett and Avery, both fast asleep in room 304. Doing fine. Doing more than fine.

  * * *

  From: Sam Bloom

  To: Marlow Devlin

  Subject: Going back to the city

  Marlow—

  Please assure me you were telling the truth when you said it was okay for Avery and me to leave and go back to the city this afternoon.

  We would’ve stayed in Maine as long as you needed, and I hope you know that. Marlow, life is so precious. I know that’s obvious, but it was all I could think the whole time at the hospital.

  I’ll call you tonight when we get home. If there’s anything you need, well, you know the rest of that sentence.

  Sam

  * * *

  From: Jilly Holland

  To: Sam Bloom

  Cc: Marlow Devlin

  Subject: The accident on the lake

  Hi, Mr. Bloom and Mr. Devlin,

  It’s Bett and Avery’s counselor, Jilly, here. We met in the hallway of the hospital by the vending machines. You may not remember, because I know you were pretty freaked out.

  We’re so relieved that the girls are both going to be okay!!!

  I am writing today with a poem from the other campers of Pinecone House. The girls were really shaken up after what happened. Some of them went home early. We decided that those who stayed could write something. I think poetry makes everything a little bit better. We had a talent contest, so Pinecone House set this to music (we tried to do it to “The House of the Rising Sun,” but it didn’t really sound like it). We came in third.

  Sincerely,

  Jilly Holland

  The Ballad of a Scary Canoe Trip

  The Far View girls went out in a canoe.

  The morning was bright with sun and with dew.

  The day was fair and all was well

  Till an incident on the water turned heaven into hell.

  A girl made an error, and an oar it did slip.

  It happened so fast, and a canoe side Bett did hit.

  But Avery showed bravery, and Brielle did, too.

  They are both superheroes, and Tarnies through and through.

  We love our dear Bett, and are glad that Fate missed her,

  And we also love Avery, who we think of as Bett’s sister.

  The summer here is a long one, without electricity to guide us,

  But in darkness and in light, we always have our friends beside us.

  Love,

  Everyone in Pinecone House

  * * *

  From: Avery Bloom

  To: Bett Devlin

  Subject: Going home

  Bett, I don’t know when you’ll read this since they told us you have to be off everything electronic for a while because of the concussion, but Papa and I came down the hall to say good-bye. The door to your room was closed and they said you were getting a sponge bath and it was going to take a while. That sounds so awkward. And also, is it sanitary? Okay, stopping that train of thought.

  I know you said not to say again that I’m sorry I got super-annoying at camp, only I have to because I have to overdo everything. It’s the nature of all owls (just made that up). You said you were sorry, too, for being insensitive and always wanting to do things your way.

  But I think it’s not bad to have a blowup with someone you really care about. Once that happens, you can be even closer. Maybe because sharing bad things as well as good things means you’re in it for real. That’s what being honest with someone does.

  I feel that way about what happened with us. And not just because after our fight we both almost died in that incredible health hazard that is called a tarn. But also because 1) I care about you, and 2) you make me feel good about who I am.

  We both know we are now lifetime Tarnies! I’m never going back there, but that doesn’t mean I won’t think about that place every day for the rest of my life. And here’s a really good and shocking thing that happened while you were in bad shape and I was recovering from taking a gallon of lake water into my lungs:

  The dads are no longer enemies. It took our near-
death experiences for them to finally have their reconnecting moment. So far I haven’t even been yelled at for going to the same camp as you but not telling Papa and Kristina. Maybe that will come later.

  The nurse told us you need to stay in the hospital until the neurologist says you can go. I wish I could be there for those tests, for all kinds of reasons. Neurology is considered the most difficult of all the medical specialties.

  I was so afraid about the canoe trip, and I was right that it would be a problem. But I’m thinking real problems are the ones you can’t see coming. Maybe that’s why they’re real problems. On the plus side, I’ve got an awesome college essay topic: “How I Sort of Saved a Life at Summer Camp, With Help from an Unlikely Fellow Camper.”

  But not just “a” life. The life of my best friend. My sister (by choice). My dogfish.

  xo

  P.S. They packed up all our stuff for us and brought it over to the hospital. Hey, news flash! Tyler was going home with Brielle but he left me his green Stone Point Camp hoodie with a note that said maybe he and Brielle would meet me sometime in the city. It could happen. Also, I met the parents.

  * * *

  From: Bett Devlin

  To: Avery Bloom

  Subject: Bravery + Avery

  Night Owl—

  I FINALLY got a laptop in here. This concussion stuff is really boring. It’s just a lot of sleeping. No phone. No TV. Nothing electronic. Until just now! I get 10 minutes to write you. They are worried about overstimulating my brain. Or something like that. So here we go: One second I’m sitting in a canoe + the next I’m whacked in the head by Markie Bishop + now here I am in a hospital on Day 5.

  Night Owl, I agree with EVERYTHING you said. I keep thinking about what would have happened if YOU hadn’t been in the next canoe. Would someone else have jumped in in time? I’ll never know.

  But I do know I’m always going to wear my life jacket when I’m boating + I’m never going in another canoe with Markie Bishop. (Although her parents DID send me a box of really fancy sea-salt CARAMELS on Day 3. But I think it’s so we don’t sue them.)

  I heard that one of the cooks shot video on her phone when they took us away. If it’s true, I want to see it. Especially if we’re both being loaded into the back of the same ambulance. I bet that won’t be something that goes into next year’s Camp Far View Tarn’s video of A Look at Our Tarnies!

  Love you, Night Owl.

  Dogfish

  P.S. It’s cool that Tyler and Brielle might come see you in New York!

  * * *

  From: Avery Bloom

  To: Bett Devlin

  Subject: Checking in

  Gaga took a picture of Kristina and Papa asleep on the bed at the motel up in Maine. She’s got her arm around him. She sent it to me, and I printed it out Tuesday and framed it. Whenever my Papa sees it he laughs.

  Did you know our dads have been speaking on the phone all the time since you guys left the city and flew back to LA? Isn’t that amazing?

  Do we get credit for all of this? My dad takes the phone into his study when he’s talking, where I can’t hear him. Can you read their email? Can we find out what’s going on with them?

  I’ll call you later today. I’m going to see my mom and I’ll also see Gaga. It’s weird that I just typed mom instead of Kristina. Wow.

  Love from

  Night Owl

  * * *

  From: Bett Devlin

  To: Avery Bloom

  Subject: NEWS

  My dad finally stopped writing his email password on an envelope in his sock drawer. He’s lost to me now. Or at least reading all his stuff is lost. I can still get into the Expedia account (he didn’t change that password).

  GUESS WHAT! I saw that there are tickets to go to New York. I’m not going to say anything. Standing by for life-changing news.

  THREE MONTHS LATER

  From: InviteOnline@WeddingInvitationsTheGreenWay.com

  To: Undisclosed Recipients

  Subject: A WEDDING!

  Please CLICK below to open and respond

  * * *

  From: Avery Bloom

  To: Bett Devlin

  Subject: Important question

  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WEAR?

  WE HAVE TO COORDINATE. WE SHOULD NOT WEAR THE SAME THING, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND WE SHOULD WEAR SOMETHING THAT COMPLEMENTS EACH OTHER. THAT SPELLING IS DIFFERENT FROM COMPLIMENTS BECAUSE OF COURSE COMPLEMENTS WITH AN E MEANS “GOES WELL TOGETHER.” WORDS ARE SO REASSURING TO ME. I’M CONSTANTLY TESTING MYSELF TO SEE IF I SUFFERED VOCABULARY DAMAGE FROM LACK OF OXYGEN WHEN I WAS UNDERWATER. SO FAR SO GOOOOOOD. HA!

  ANYWAY, THIS IS SO EXCITING! JUST BEYOND EXCITING! IT’S SOMETHING ELSE. CAN’T THINK OF THE WORD, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING.

  FORGIVE THE CAPS. MAYBE I AM YELLING. I FEEL LIKE IT!

  DON’T SAY YOU SAW THIS COMING (AND SO FAST!) BECAUSE I DON’T BELIEVE YOU!

  * * *

  From: Betty Devlin

  To: Bett Devlin, Avery Bloom

  Subject: Things I want to say

  Girls—

  I’ve got a few things I want to put in writing before the big day. I’m starting with the headline. I love you.

  That sentence just can’t be worn out. I’m hoping when I take my last breath on earth, those are my last words. And fingers crossed that’s not for a long, long time, but you never know.

  With the wedding coming, I’ve been thinking about what it means to raise a child. The two of you are as bright as new pennies, and there’s a whole lot of stuff you should be telling me. But this is my letter, so right now this is my turn.

  Alden Devlin left this world too soon, but he did his job. He wasn’t perfect, and he struggled to understand his boy. But it got easier over time. He learned acceptance—they both did. Alden showed Doug (or Marlow—why he went and changed his name is just nothing but irritating) how to be a parent. That’s what this living thing is all about. There’s a lot of teaching. But it’s best by example. A good parent gets his child ready to take on his own child.

  Bett, your daddy’s been brave. He had courage about loving from an early age. And the teaching goes both ways. The child shows the parent as much as the parent shows the child.

  So your daddy taught me to be brave in life because I saw that he could be. That’s the circle. Doug (okay, okay, Marlow) met Sam in Chicago & they were both single men raising daughters. They both loved their little girls. These men wanted you two to be friends, and they were hoping (one day) sisters.

  You’re sisters now. You faced the tests & came out the other side.

  A family’s always changing shape. That’s what I wanted to say before the wedding. In the last year, ours has just gotten bigger and better.

  I love you both. And I always will.

  Your Gaga

  * * *

  From: Avery Bloom

  To: Bett Devlin

  Subject: Rehearsal Dinner

  Dogfish—

  Tonight was really fun. I love staying up so late. Right now I’m looking at the moon, which is apparently a waxing gibbous. That’s an ugly name, but the moon’s beautiful.

  Or maybe everything looks beautiful on the night before a wedding.

  THE MORNING AFTER THE WEDDING

  * * *

  From: Bett Devlin

  To: Betty Devlin

  Cc: Avery Bloom

  Subject: A toast! A toast!

  Gaga,

  This is from both of us. But I’m typing. We shouldn’t be awake, especially since we danced until 2:00 a.m. But neither of us could sleep after the sun poked through the blinds. We’re still too excited.

  So, since we’re already up, we’re doing what you asked last night + sending you our wedding toast.

  It might not read as well as
when we said it. Maybe it’s like pictures. It’s better to look BAD in them but GOOD in real life than the other way around. Only maybe in the digital world it’s better to look GOOD in pictures + BAD in real life because the pictures are shared + establish your brand.

  We worked on the toast separately. Then went back + forth, just like you’re supposed to do with group projects in school—only this was for real. (In school there’s always one person in those things who does nothing.)

  We weren’t expecting you to cry. We figured our dads would cry. They do that pretty easily.

  Avery just said even the bartender cried, but she thinks it was seasonal allergies. Or how many limes he had to squeeze.

  When you saw us give this speech we switched parts every time there was a double line space. We don’t think it matters when you read it on paper.

  A TOAST

  Tonight we are here to celebrate a wedding.

  This is the first real wedding for both of us. We can’t believe this is happening. We love you so, so much + it’s a dream come true to have an actual wedding in our own family.

  We know about weddings mostly because you can’t ever go to a haircut place without seeing a whole magazine called BRIDES. We’ve never seen one that says GROOMS, which is another example of discrimination. We will always be on the lookout for that in life.

  We’re both 13 now + compared to much older people we haven’t experienced a lot of things, but here’s what we have seen:

  The way one story ends, but then starts up again.

  The way families are made from people who want to be together more than they want to be apart.