Ava grimaced at her slice of pizza.
“I have an extra tent,” Bergita said. “It holds two adults. It should be plenty big enough for the girls. Colin has a single pup tent, so we are good as far as shelter goes.”
Great, I’d be sharing a tent with Ava.
Ava wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Why do we need a tent?”
Claudette dropped her legal pad onto the table. “Because we have to be there as early as possible to see the birds. It’s best to camp the night before.”
“I — I can’t do that,” Ava stammered.
“Are you afraid of the ghost?” Colin teased.
“No,” Ava snapped with her old confidence.
“Yeesh.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I was just kidding.”
“Well don’t,” she snapped again.
Claudette pointed her pen at them. “I don’t like the sound of this. There will be no squabbles out in the field. Do you hear me?”
We all nodded. Ava was tough, but Claudette — she was tougher.
Ava wrinkled her forehead. “I will have to check and see if I can come. I have some stuff I have to do at night. I’ll have to ask my mom.”
“Ava, if you need me to talk to your mother about the camping trip, I can,” Bergita said.
“No,” Ava said, more quietly. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Okay.” Bergita resumed dicing. “What about binoculars? Does everyone have those?”
Colin and I nodded, but Ava shook her head.
Bergita smiled. “That works out well because I just so happen to have an extra pair.” She dumped the last of the tomatoes into the salad bowl and walked across the room to the buffet, which ran along the wall. Usually, the buffet was covered with Bergita’s best dishes, the ones no one is allowed to eat on. Now, in the dishes’ place there was everything a camper would need for a night in the wild.
I popped my last bite of pizza into my mouth and hopped off the stool for a closer look. Ava and Colin did the same, but Colin grabbed another piece of pizza and brought it with him.
Bergita handed Ava a pair of binoculars from the buffet.
“Thank you,” Ava mumbled. She said the words like they had actually caused her physical pain.
“Bergita, is that a grappling hook?” Colin asked, pointing at the pointed object in the middle of the buffet.
She winked. “We must always be prepared. We don’t know what we are going to come across out there.”
Ava looked through her binoculars. “It’s Shalley Park, not the Grand Canyon.”
Bergita shrugged. “You never know where adventure will lead.”
Ava dropped her binoculars from her eyes. “What does the warbler look like?”
“I have it.” Claudette flipped through her well-thumbed bird guide and pointed to a page, then handed the book to me.
There were several similar-looking birds on the page. All of them had the same shaped body and at least a little yellow on them. The bird that Claudette pointed out didn’t appear that much different from the others. It had a bright yellow underbelly and a bluish-gray back with black markings on the sides of its body. “That’s it?” I asked.
Claudette sneered. “What do you mean ‘that’s it?’”
I licked my lips. “I thought it would be more impressive. Rainbow colored or a crest of feathers shooting out from the top of its head? Maybe something a little more interesting?”
Claudette took the bird book from my hand. “First of all, it’s a real bird, not a Dr. Seuss character, and it sounds to me like you are thinking of a painted bunting. You won’t see any of those around here. They live in the southern part of the country. Second of all, didn’t you notice the bright colors on this bird? It’s beautiful. I have waited my entire life to see it. Finally, I have my best chance.” There was awe in her voice.
“You’ve never seen one before?” Colin asked.
The lines around Claudette’s mouth deepened. “No.”
“Oh,” I said.
Claudette slammed the book closed. “While the three of you are in school tomorrow, I will do some preliminary birding in Shalley Park. Then, when you get home from school, we will leave for camp. I suggest that you pack tonight. We need to get into the field as soon as possible. We can stay two nights out there.”
Bergita shook her head. “I think one night is more than enough. If you want to stay longer, Claudette, that’s up to you, but I don’t want the children missing church on Sunday for this.”
Claudette scowled but didn’t argue.
Bergita patted Ava’s shoulder before she walked back behind the counter. “Ava, if your mother would rather you came the next morning, that will be fine,” Bergita said. “I could meet you in the parking lot if Claudette already has Colin and Andi out searching for birds.”
A horn honked outside. Ava’s hour was up.
Ava gathered up her backpack. “That’s my brother. I have to go. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” She nodded at Colin and me.
Colin and I followed her out of the house.
“Don’t forget to ask your mom about camping tomorrow night,” I said as she opened the front door.
She glanced over her shoulder and a strange look crossed over face, almost as though she was in pain.
“Are you okay, Ava?” Colin asked. He must have noticed her expression too.
She forced a smile. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? We’re going to ace this project and then we can go back to not liking each other.” She went through the door.
When we walked down the porch steps, I was surprised to see my sister outside the house. She stood a few feet away from Ava’s brother, who was leaning on the hood of his truck. His black hair was wet and slicked back as if he had just washed it, and he had a lazy smile as he spoke to Bethany. Something he said made her laugh. I hadn’t heard her laugh like that since her best friend Kaylee from our old neighborhood visited a few weeks ago.
I hurried over to them. “Bethany, what are you doing?” The question popped out of my mouth.
Bethany scowled. “Geez, Andi, what’s the problem? I’m talking to Ava’s brother while we waited for you kids to come outside. Romero and I know each other from school.”
Romero smiled. “That’s right. Beth and I have the same study hall. It’s the best fifty minutes of the day.”
Beth? No one calls Bethany, Beth.
“Romero, let’s go,” Ava said climbing into the truck. She refused to look at us.
Romero pushed himself off the truck hood and smiled one last time. “See you in study hall, Beth.”
Bethany blushed. My sister actually blushed.
He got in the truck and drove down the street.
I dug my fists into my hips just like Claudette had done earlier that afternoon.
Colin looked from Bethany to me and back again, before running into the house. “I’ll go talk to Claudette and Bergita about the camp out,” he called.
I didn’t even bother to respond. All of my energy was focused on my sister. “What are you doing talking to Romero? How do you know him?”
She pulled her long blonde hair back into a ponytail and secured it with a band from her wrist. “He just told you we have the same study hall. He’s a sophomore at my school. Relax, Andi. What’s your problem?”
“How can he have a car if he’s a sophomore?”
She rolled her eyes. “He turned sixteen the first week of school, that’s how.”
I crossed my arms. “He’s Ava’s
brother. Ava, who hates me. He’s her brother.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just because he’s Ava’s brother, and you and Ava don’t get along, doesn’t mean I can’t talk to him. I thought you and Amelie wanted me to make friends in Killdeer. You’re always nagging me about it.”
I dropped my arms. “We do. It’s just,” I paused. “I don’t know why, I think he’s trouble. He looks like trouble to me.”
Bethany’s face flushed. “All I was doing was talking to him. Chill out. And your opinion of which boys I talk to or don’t talk to doesn’t matter. You aren’t my mother. Mine’s dead, remember? And so is yours.” She spun around and stomped back to our house. She slammed the door so hard that the fall wreath Amelie had hanging on it fell off.
CASE FILE NO. 4
During science the next day at school, I wanted to go over our plan for camping and birding with Colin and Ava. Ava had emailed Colin and me late the night before saying she could come to the bird campout. Bergita and Claudette were at Shalley Park that very moment, scouting out the best places to look for the elusive Kirtland’s warbler.
There was just one problem. Ava wasn’t in school all day.
When Colin and I got home from school, I hopped off my bike. “How could Ava be gone today of all days? It’s our only chance to talk about the project before the campout tonight. What if she doesn’t come?”
Colin frowned. “Maybe she’s sick.”
“If she’s sick she can’t go camping. Then what are we going to do?”
Colin sighed. “We’d better call her and find out. Claudette’s going to want to leave as soon as possible.” Colin handed me his cell phone.
“You want me to call her?”
He grinned.
I rolled my eyes and dialed the number Ava had given me yesterday.
“Hello?” a male voice asked.
“Hi, this is Andi. Is Ava there?”
“She’s not here,” the guy said and hung up. It had to be Romero.
I stared at Colin’s cell phone. “I think her brother just hung up on me.”
Colin opened his mouth, but before he could say anymore, Ava came up the sidewalk. A pack was strapped to her back, and Bergita’s binoculars dangled from her neck. “What are you two doing standing out here? I thought you’d be helping Bergita pack her granola or whatever she plans to feed us on this campout.”
“You weren’t in school today,” I accused.
She dropped her pack in the grass. “Are you in charge of taking attendance now?”
“We were going to plan out the trip during science.”
“We can do it tonight. We’ll be trapped in a tent together for hours, won’t we?”
“You could have told us if you planned to miss school. We were afraid you weren’t going to show up.”
“If I say I’m going to be somewhere, I’m going to be there. Don’t worry your pink little head about it.”
I touched my hair self-consciously.
The screen door to my house opened, and my aunt Amelie ran down the porch stairs. She was barefoot and the skirt of her flowered maxi dress brushed the tops of her toes. All she needed was a ring of daisies in her hair to finish the free spirit look. She was only twenty-six. She was young, especially for having one child in high school and one in middle school.
“Ava,” Amelie said. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Ava narrowed her eyes as if she wondered what I had told Amelie about her.
“I hope you kids have fun.” My aunt grinned. “And try to keep Bergita and her sister out of trouble. I just met Claudette a little while ago. She’s a trip. I don’t think I have the bail money to cover all of you.” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “Andi, can I talk to you a minute?”
She led me a few feet away and sighed. “I know you will be fine with Bergita, but I can’t help being nervous. It’s the first night you’ve spent away from home since you and Bethany moved here.”
“It’s only one night, and Bethany has spent a night away at her friends’ back home,” I said.
“True, and I was just a nervous wreck about that too. This parenting thing is way harder than I expected it to be. I worry about you girls all the time.”
I hugged her. “We worry about you too.”
I felt her smile against the top of my head. “I love you.” She stood and brushed at her eyes. “Bethany and I will hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“I promised your sister a trip to the mall in Canton tomorrow. She’s inside making a list of all the stores we’re going to hit. My feet are already tired. Do you need me to pick you up anything while we’re out shopping?”
I shook my head. I had enough jeans and T-shirts to get through the week. I didn’t need much more than that when it came to clothes. “Did she say anything about a new friend?”
My aunt clasped her hands in front of her chest. “A new friend? No! Bethany made a friend at school?”
“I think so,” I said.
“Maybe we can invite her shopping too,” Amelie said, grinning ear to ear. “I’ve been praying for this so hard.”
I didn’t think Romero was the answer my aunt had been praying for, but I didn’t correct her and tell her the her she was referring to was actually a him. If Amelie was having trouble parenting us through camping trips, who knew how she would handle Bethany and boys.
Claudette walked out of the Carters’ house carrying a small cooler in one hand and her phone in the other. “Saddle up, cowpokes. Birds wait for no one. I just saw a post online. A Mississippi kite was spotted near where we’re camping tonight. That will be a great start to your lists. They are pretty hard to spot around these parts too. Not as rare as a Kirtland’s but noteworthy.”
Claudette dropped her phone into the breast pocket of her shirt. She was wearing what I would call safari chic: a tan safari hat, shirt, and shorts. Despite her age, her legs were muscular. I bet she could hike for fifty miles at a stretch. I would be lucky to last five.
“Have a good time,” Amelie said. “And be careful.”
I gave Amelie a final hug, and Bethany stepped outside our house. She frowned at me. I wasn’t sure if she was more upset about our fight yesterday or the fact that Romero didn’t drop Ava off (which meant she didn’t get to flirt with him again).
I took a deep breath and ran over to my sister. Before she could stop me, I gave her hug. “Bye,” I said. “I love you.” Ever since my parents died, I knew that saying a proper good-bye was important. Sometimes you didn’t get a second chance to say it.
Her face softened. “Have fun at bird geek camp.” It was her way of saying I love you in return.
I ran to the car and climbed into the back of Bergita’s station wagon, which was already packed.
Ava sat across from me, forcing Colin into the middle seat with all of the gear.
Bergita slammed the door after us.
Ava buckled her seatbelt. “Your aunt offers to buy you something, just like that. She takes your sister on a shopping spree? It must be nice.”
“It won’t be a shopping spree,” I said. “Bethany might get a couple of new things, but not everything that she wants, trust me.”
Ava folded her arms. “Oh, thanks for clearing that up. To some of us two things from the mall is a shopping spree.”
I tried to ignore her. With a little pang in my chest, I stared out the window. Amelie waved, and even Bethany wiggled her fingers. I waved back as we drove away and couldn’t help but remember waving to my parents befor
e they left on that last trip.
CASE FILE NO. 5
In the small gravel parking lot just outside Killdeer’s forest, we shouldered our packs. Claudette heaved on a backpack twice the size of anyone else’s.
“We have to hurry,” she said. “We want to make camp fast so we can get some birding in tonight. The best time for birding is dawn. Near sunset is decent too, when the birds are tucking in for the night. We might have a chance to get an hour of scouting in before dark. If we’re lucky, we might even see a barred owl.”
“Don’t you need permission or a permit to camp in the woods?” Colin asked.
Bergita laughed. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked before, Colin. We have a permit. There’s nothing to worry about. We aren’t breaking any rules.”
“Oh,” he said, blushing.
“No more small talk. Time to hit the trail.” Claudette grabbed both straps of her pack and headed into the forest.
Bergita winked. “Claudette is an excellent birder even if she is a little” — she searched for the right word — “intense.” She was the second relative to describe Claudette that way.
We followed Claudette across the tree line, and we had only walked three feet when she barked in a hoarse whisper, “Two o’clock.” Even though she was whispering, it sounded like she was shouting in the stillness of the forest.
“What?” I asked, looking at my watch. It was almost five. Nowhere near two o’clock.
“There is a gray flycatcher at two o’clock.” She pointed in a semi-circle. “I hope you understand how to read an analog clock. That’s how we’ll identify the directions to look.”
“I don’t see anything,” Colin whispered even though he was looking in the right direction.
“Use your binoculars. That’s what they’re for,” Claudette ordered.
The three of us kids held our binoculars up to our eyes. I turned to two o’clock and saw fuzzy trees. I focused the lenses, and a tiny bird, not much bigger than a hummingbird, came into focus. How Claudette spotted the bird that far away I would never know. She really was a super birder.
Andi Unstoppable Page 3