by Maya William
“My idea always included three teams. The first two competitors eliminated would be her teammates—in this case, Archibald and Barbara,” he explains, moving from one side of the line to the other.
“When I told them they were to return to the field, they came up with a plan and assigned Samantha as their leader. Whatever decisions they made during the exercise, she approved them—as crazy as some of them were. However, during all that time, she used both their strengths and all of your weaknesses.”
He turns to Abigail.
“At the planning stage you didn’t listen to her ideas, and she was right: you became predictable. During several occasions, Lyra was close enough to take Samuel out. And he got lucky that Barb didn’t shoot him. She was getting ready to when Joy shot her. Abigail, don’t become predictable. Listen to your team—even the most inexperienced. They usually bring new ideas to the table.”
She focuses her eyes on him and, with a severe expression, gives him a curt nod.
“Zach, Abigail was spot-on with your strategy. If she followed Samantha’s or Archie’s plan, this competition would have lasted fifteen minutes. My advice for you is the same as my advice to Abigail: be adaptable with your strategies.”
Just as his twin did, Zach nods.
“Kellan, you knew they eliminated Barb from the competition. You hesitated when you saw her back in the game, and Lyra was the price your team paid because of it.
“Lyra and Joy, you did something similar. Lyra, Barbara knew you wouldn’t shoot Abigail. Therefore, Samantha managed to zip-line with no trouble, and I know you spotted her and did nothing. Joy, Abigail was on the other side of the field. Why didn’t you shoot Samantha when she ran right in front of you? I have the same advice for you three: trust your instincts and don’t hesitate.”
He then turns and looks at Samuel.
“Samuel, you didn’t follow your leader’s orders, and instead, you shot her.” Oliver shakes his head. “If you decide to disregard orders, at least do it for something you think will help your team, such as getting the flag while your opponent is immobilized. Don’t let your feelings rule your actions.
“Archie, Barbara, and Samantha, your plan was crazy, especially the zip line. I honestly didn’t believe you would go through with it. Archie, next time, make sure before putting Samantha in such a dangerous activity that she has basic training.”
Archie nods.
“Barbara, I liked the way you suggested using Abigail and Samantha’s similar looks to confuse the teams.”
Barbara’s lips stretch into a wide smile.
“Samantha”—he focuses on me—“I’ve watched you working in the kitchen, and how confident you are there, not just with cooking but with leading anyone who tries to help you cook. Today, I saw a glimpse of it outside of the kitchen. I liked the way you made sure to use your teammates’ knowledge and took advantage of the situation. You listened to their ideas and considered them before accepting or dismissing them. You played it smart by first securing your flag before going after the others.
“Like your siblings, you inherited charisma, which makes people follow you, however, your greatest weakness is your lack of confidence. Don’t let people overpower you. Remember, you are a part of this team, so make sure they listen to your voice and ideas.”
I nod, agreeing with his assessment.
“Okay, on a final note”—he turns and looks at all of us—“there are no boys’ or girls’ teams in our project. We are the Calvary team, and as so, we operate as one. If we don’t, one of you might get hurt.”
Would that include me as well, Big Guy? Or does that apply only to the Phoenix students?
Milestones
After my driving lesson and the paintball game, I studied for the driving test alone and the physics test with Lyra. Because of today’s events, my body and mind were exhausted, and my nerves fried, so the moment my head touched the pillow, my eyes shut on their own.
Church on Sunday morning felt like a fresh breath of air and an opportunity for my brain to relax and enjoy my freedom before returning home to my little prison.
Oh well, I enjoyed it while it lasted.
“Father Gomez, please talk to Samantha and convince her to eat lunch with us,” Miranda calls out after Samuel already explained to her a couple of times I’m still being punished.
“Mom, asking for Father Gomez’s help won’t get her ungrounded.” Samuel rubs his temple in a circular motion. “Abigail and Zach agreed on another week.”
David’s head snaps up at the realization I won’t be joining them for next week’s family dinner.
“Well, Mrs. Solis, sadly I agree with your son.” Father Gomez shrugs.
Miranda looks at the priest. “Can you do anything about it?”
Father Gomez chuckles at my suegra’s desperate attempt. “If it involved a sin she needs to be forgiven for, I would gladly help you out, Mrs. Solis.” The corner of his mouth quirks up. “But, if I understand correctly, this is her brother and sister giving her a penance for whatever she did wrong.”
Annoyed at not getting the chance to get my sentence reduced, I shake my head.
“It’s not fair.” Miranda raises her shoulders and quickly drops them. “They grounded her because she praised our Lord’s good work.”
Heat floods my face, while the priest bites his lips, suppressing his laughter.
Samuel’s eyes widen as he stares at her. “Mom! You’re embarrassing Samantha.”
Of course, that only makes me blush more.
Oh, Big Guy, Samuel told his mom about the whole situation, didn’t he?
“Sorry, Nuera, but nobody should be grounded because of singing.” She pulls her shoulders back and places her hands on her hips. “Plus, she already spent time in detention to give her time to think and repent.”
Samuel runs his hand over his forehead. “Mom, don’t minimize what she did.”
“I don’t understand what the big deal is.” Father Gomez rubs his chin.
“See! He agrees with me!” Miranda beams at Samuel as if saying, I told you so.
Judging by his confused expression, I don’t believe Father Gomez is really aware of the situation.
“There’s a right way to do things.” Samuel continues his next argument in Spanish.
They speak too fast and the words are too complicated for me to understand with what little I know of the language.
David quickly adds something to the conversation.
Father Gomez throws his head back in laughter.
Jeez! Even the priest speaks Spanish. Well, I should have seen that one coming. His surname sounds kind of Latin American.
“Really? At the library, Little Dove?” The priest raises his eyebrows in amusement.
Oh man! Now, he knows, too.
Somehow, I’m suddenly very interested in my shoes.
“Samantha, do you repent for singing in the library?” Father Gomez asks with a glint in his eye.
“Poorly,” David corrects. “Her detention slip said she was singing Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ inside the library at the top of her lungs and out of tune.”
How did he know?
My head snaps toward Samuel, and I glare at him.
He also blushes profusely now, probably as bad as me. He clears his throat. “I had to show it to my mom, otherwise, she would’ve thought you didn’t want to join us anymore.”
Miranda moves her hand dismissively. “Nonsense, the idea never crossed my mind.”
“Your actual words were, Samantha must be tired of spending so much time at our house,” David informs us from his spot next to his mother.
Miranda narrows her eyes at her youngest son.
Ha-ha-ha, David’s really outdoing himself today.
I immediately look at her. “I would never say that,” I quickly correct her. “I really enjoy the time I spend with you three. Plus, how would I learn about My Little Pony if it wasn’t for your son?” I tilt my head toward David, who straightens at th
e mention of his favorite show.
Miranda smiles at me.
“Plus, I love your cooking,” I add for good measure. “If it were up to me, I would be there right next to you when you prepare the food, to learn such wonderful recipes.”
Miranda lights up at my words.
Samuel immediately shakes his head.
Oops, perhaps I went a little overboard with the last part.
As she opens her mouth, he cuts her off, “No, Mom. Remember, Maria already expects us for ballet training.”
Really? I didn’t know about this arrangement.
I glance at Samuel for confirmation, and he nods.
“I was only going to say”—Miranda brings her hand up to her chest—“that I want her to know she’s welcome to help me cook anytime she wants or ask for any recipes she likes.”
She winks at me, and I smile back.
“Okay, but like all good things, this, too, must come to an end.” Samuel approaches me. “I need to take her back home before Abigail and Zach think I kidnapped her and send a search party, getting her in deeper trouble.”
“You should kidnap her!” Miranda nods assertively. “And take her on a date. I promise to vouch for you and lie that you were at my house the whole time.”
My hand flies to my mouth, covering the big grin on my lips that wants to agree with Miranda’s plan while Samuel makes some weird choking sounds.
Anybody against Samuel taking me on a date, raise your hand.
Father Gomez shakes his head at Miranda and eyes her disapprovingly.
She brings her hand up and leaves a small gap between her thumb and middle finger. “A teeny, tiny white lie for the greater good, Father,” she explains.
Father Gomez chortles. “You Mexican mothers are really something. If you don’t approve of a girl, your sons become little chicks who need to be protected, at all cost. But the moment the right one comes along, they become roosters, and you’re willing to sell them off.”
Wonder which rooster he means, David or Samuel?
“We are not poultry, Father Gomez, we are human beings,” David corrects him in his monotone voice. “And human trafficking is illegal.”
“Father Gomez, I never intend on selling off my sons. Instead, I plan on gaining a daughter. Is it really that wrong?” Her mouth twitches, and her head turns toward me. “Right, Nuera?”
Well, I assume she is.
“Correcto, Suegra,” I agree, putting in practice the little Spanish I’ve learned and injecting a Mexican accent into the mixture.
Although the double r gives me some problems, Miranda doesn’t seem to notice because she gives me an approving nod.
Yeah, Big Guy, I’m getting better and better at this Spanish thing.
Father Gomez and Miranda laugh, while Samuel shakes his head, takes hold of my hand, and pulls me away. “Come over here, Señorita Melbourne, before you continue to encourage this strange Mexican mother.”
When I turn to wave goodbye, Miranda touches the priest’s arm and points to our joined hands, excitement in her every feature. His eyes follow her finger, and he smiles.
“Me parece, Samuel que tú solito, te estas encargando de eso!” Father Gomez shouts.
Nuts! And I thought I made some progress with my Spanish.
Samuel looks at our joined hands.
Please, don’t let go.
A small spark reaches his eyes, as if he was unaware of doing this. When he looks at my face, I smile to let him know I’m not uncomfortable.
He chuckles, lifts the arm holding my hand to make me do a twirl, then pulls me closer and dips me. The move takes me by surprise, but I can’t complain when his face stops inches away from mine.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” he whispers.
I bite my lip and shake my head.
He wiggles his eyebrows and smiles. “Well, you do.” And then he pulls me up.
When I turn around, Father Gomez’s mouth hangs open while Miranda stares at her son, eyebrows raised to silently inquire what he asked me.
“Samantha’s my dance partner.” Samuel points a finger at himself. “It would be highly unprofessional of her to buy this rooster.”
But I like this rooster.
And with that, he walks me to the car, still hand-in-hand with me.
Silently, I open the door, trying not to alert the rest of the family when we arrive home.
“Dibs on Samantha today!” Barb shouts.
I freeze in the doorway with Samuel behind me.
“Nu-huh. Beat you to it. I already scheduled an appointment at the DMV in one hour,” Archie calls from the kitchen.
“Hold on a second. Wasn’t I supposed to tutor her for her physics exam?” Lyra asks.
Barb or Archie, please, Big Guy, but no more physics.
“Nope, she has to go with Barb and me to fit her for her costume for my birthday party,” Joy adds.
Yeah!
“But Samuel negotiated with Maria to practice today to make up for the training she missed yesterday,” Zach steps in.
Even better! I support this last plan one hundred percent.
“She won’t go anywhere. She’s still grounded,” Abigail says.
Ugh! Obviously, somebody needs to come and ruin my fun.
“And Oliver said I could take her to the DMV,” Archie fights back.
“But we need to come up with a disguise that fits her for the party—” Barb says.
“No. School work takes priority—” Lyra exclaims.
“But I requested a favor to my friend at the DMV—” Archie interrupts.
“An agreement is an agreement. Maria wasn’t going to allow her to skip training—” Zach says.
“Don’t forget about the grocery shopping. She needs to plan this week’s menu—” Kellan steps in.
I’m rather popular today, Big Guy.
“Guys!” Oliver shouts with a warning tone.
They ignore him and keep talking.
Somehow, I expect Samuel to add something to my Sunday agenda or side with Zach. I eye him expectantly. He bends closer to me.
“I just want to spend time with you,” he whispers in my ear, making me chuckle.
Okay, Big Guy, I like his plan better. Let’s go with that one, shall we?
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Oliver orders. “Archie will take Samantha for her driving test. Afterward, we’ll ask her to work on the grocery list. Kellan, you’ll go shopping for the items. After she eats a proper lunch, she can go and practice for two hours with Samuel and Maria. When she returns home, Lyra will finish tutoring her for the physics exam. On Monday, after ballet practice, Abigail and I will be in charge of cooking while Barb and Joy take Samantha for the costume fitting. Does that sound like a plan?”
When did Oliver become my personal assistant? Never mind, he can control my schedule, as long as he extends my Samuel time further—like, all day long.
“You and Abigail cooking?” Archie whines. “I’ll accept the plan if you offer to feed us with takeout.”
A chorus of voices agrees with his proposal.
“Hey, I can cook,” Abigail snaps.
Everyone quiets down, as if afraid to disagree with her.
Before things get ugly or Abigail threatens to cook today to prove a point, I step into the house to break up the discussion. “There’s some frozen lasagna I prepared last Tuesday. We can eat it tomorrow. You and Oliver just need to make the salad that goes with it.”
“There’s lasagna, and you didn’t tell us before?”
No! I just had to tell the whole family about my secret stash. My hand flies to my forehead as Archie jumps up from his chair and runs for the freezer.
“For tomorrow, Archie.” Oliver stands and blocks his path. “Besides, there’s no time. You need to take Samantha to the DMV.”
“Dude, we’re talking Italian food here. There are priorities!” Archie replies.
“Tomorrow, you get lasagna. Now, go and drive Samantha to
the DMV. She has a packed day today.” He points to where Samuel and I stand. “Joy, you also need to stay away from the lasagna until dinner time tomorrow,” he adds for good measure.
“Oh, man!” She crosses her arms and slumps in her seat.
“Joy, your assignment today is to take Samantha to lunch and help her with the grocery list,” Abigail concedes, sparking a smile on Joy’s lip.
“What? No! That was my treat for taking her to the DMV.” Archie points a finger at his chest.
Zach shakes his head and eyes our sister. “You can go, too, Archie. Make sure to take her to the dance studio afterward and meet me here at four. Oliver, you and I need to go to Calvary and review the footage we recorded.”
“Fine.” Archie pouts and turns to me. “Twinkle Toes, go and pack your ballet bag. Samuel, I’ll text you when we’re on our way to the dance studio. Joy, are you coming with us, or do you plan on meeting us there?”
“I’ll go with you.” Joy happily jumps up from her chair.
I look at Samuel and sigh. He takes my hand and gives it a quick, encouraging squeeze.
Well, at least I’ll dance with him afterward.
After packing my bag, I meet Archie and Joy downstairs. Everybody wishes me good luck, and we’re off to the DMV. There, a fifty something-year-old guy greets us, and his features light up when he sees Archie walk in behind us.
Archie reaches the guy, and they both greet each other with a complicated handshake, laughing at the end when they bump their chests together. Meanwhile, Joy and I stay a few steps behind.
“Sorry for disrupting your weekend, Jack, but we need our little dove to drive.” Archie points a finger at me.
“The written exam shouldn’t take long. Do you want us to do the test drive as well?” Jack asks.
“Might as well. We’re already here,” Archie replies.
Meanwhile, my back stiffens, Joy chuckles at my reaction.
What? He said it was only going to be the written one.
Archie winks at me, as if telling me everything will be all right.
Easy for you to say since you’re the transportation expert.
The written exam isn’t bad; most of the questions were like the ones I found online. Jack informs me that, although I didn’t ace the test, I scored high enough to take the test on the driving range.