Take Charge

by Melody Carlson

  “Yes,” said Emily. “It’s not like we want to exclude anyone.”

  Morgan held up her hand with the rainbow bracelet. “After all, our motto is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves … so we need to have open hearts.”

  “Still, we can’t just let everyone in,” said Emily.

  “For starters they have to be girls and our age,” said Morgan.

  “Our same grade,” Amy corrected her. “I mean, since Morgan is thirteen and I’m still eleven — but we’re all going into seventh grade.”

  “And we talked about allowing only girls who live here in the trailer court,” said Morgan.

  “But then we realized there aren’t any more,” said Emily.

  “Also,” said Morgan, “we understand that you seem to be making friends with this Chelsea girl and she doesn’t live here.”

  “Plus, limiting it to Harbor View does sound exclusive,” said Amy.

  Emily laughed. “Yes, this trailer court is so exclusive!”

  “You know what I mean,” said Amy.

  “So anyway,” concluded Morgan. “That’s about as far as we’ve gotten. Do you think we should put it to a vote now that we’re all here?”

  “I move that we vote,” said Amy.

  “I guess I should be taking notes,” said Emily as she reached for the notebook. “What exactly are we voting on anyway?”

  “First of all, we’ll vote whether or not we’ll invite new members to join,” said Morgan. “Then we’ll vote as to how many more we think we can have.”

  So they voted and it was unanimous to expand their numbers by inviting others. The next vote — to limit it to only two more members — was passed three to one.

  “It’s just for the time being,” Morgan assured Amy, the one opposing vote. “We can always decide to have more members later.”

  “Okay,” agreed Amy. “It’s not like girls are pounding down our doors to join up.”

  Morgan laughed. “I’m sure some girls would think our club was pretty corny.”

  “Too bad for them,” said Emily as she closed the notebook. “They just don’t know what they’re missing.”

  “Speaking of that,” said Morgan. “Should this be kind of a secret club?”

  “What does that mean?” asked Carlie. “Because I already told Chelsea a little about it.”

  “Meaning that we don’t talk about it,” said Morgan, “you know, once school starts. We don’t want to set ourselves up for trouble.”

  “Let’s vote,” said Amy.

  “First let me explain my thoughts,” said Morgan. “Like I said, it’s not as if we want to exclude anyone. But the thing is if girls find out and are interested … well, how do we tell them they can’t join?”

  “Especially if we already have a full bus,” said Emily.

  “So I’m thinking we need to keep it quiet.”

  “Let’s vote,” said Amy again. And when they voted it was unanimous.

  “But it’s okay that I already told Chelsea?” asked Carlie.

  “Yeah. And you can invite her to come visit,” said Morgan.

  “We want to meet her,” said Emily.

  So Carlie agreed to invite her. But she had to admit, if only to herself, it was a relief having a day off from Chelsea today. Sure, Chelsea was fun, but she could be difficult too. And even though the other girls seemed eager to meet her, Carlie wasn’t so sure she was eager to have Chelsea meet them just yet. For now she was enjoying just hanging with her old friends.

  chapter seven

  That evening, Carlie started feeling guilty about Chelsea again. Maybe she should’ve called her and apologized earlier today. She looked at her club bracelet and realized she hadn’t been exactly loving to Chelsea — not in the way that Carlie would want to be loved or treated. But, in all fairness, neither had Chelsea.

  Carlie was heading for the phone when it rang, and — to her surprise — there was Chelsea on the other end. Carlie was about to invite Chelsea to come over and meet her friends, but she didn’t get the chance.

  “Hey, I’m sorry I hung up on you yesterday,” said Chelsea quickly. “I know that was pretty childish on my part, but I just felt really left out.”

  “I’m sorry too, but I wanted to —”

  “Anyway, before you brush me off again, I’m calling to invite you and your friends over to my house tomorrow. We’ll just hang out and get to know each other. My mom will send out for pizza or something, and we can hang out by the pool and watch movies and whatever.”

  “That sounds great,” said Carlie. “And I don’t even have to babysit or anything tomorrow.”

  “And my mom can pick you guys up too,” suggested Chelsea. “I mean, if you don’t have a way to get over here. I’m thinking around eleven or so. Does that sound okay?”

  Carlie considered the idea of Mrs. Landers and Chelsea driving their pretty Mercedes convertible into Harbor View Mobile-Home Court. And then she considered what their reaction might be to seeing where Carlie and her friends lived. Not that Carlie was ashamed of the trailer court — especially after they’d all worked so hard to fix it up — but it was so hugely different from what the Landers were used to. “How about if I see whether or not my friends can come first,” she told Chelsea. “Then I’ll call you back.”

  “Cool!”

  So Carlie called the other three girls. All of them sounded very eager to meet Chelsea, and Amy couldn’t wait to see her house.

  “I can ask my grandma to take us over there,” offered Morgan. “Since I know it’s too far to walk.”

  “That’d be great,” said Carlie with relief. At least this would postpone having Chelsea and her mom coming over here just yet. Even if it was shallow on her part, she just wasn’t ready for that. So she called Chelsea and told her the good news.

  “I’ll see ya tomorrow then,” said Carlie.

  “Can’t wait to meet your friends,” said Chelsea.

  Carlie felt more than a little nervous as Morgan’s grandma drove them across town the next morning. She felt like crossing her fingers in the hopes that everything would go okay today.

  “My aunt can give us a ride home,” Carlie told Morgan’s grandma as they got out of the car. “It’ll be a tight squeeze, but we’re not that big. I think we can all fit.”

  Carlie started to go into the house through the garage, but before she reached the side door, she heard Chelsea calling.

  “Hey, you can use the front door,” said Chelsea as she waved to the girls in the driveway. “Come on over here and enter the house like civilized folks.”

  Carlie laughed nervously as she walked over to Chelsea. Then trying to be polite, she started to introduce her friends.

  “I already know who’s who,” interrupted Chelsea. She pointed to Morgan first. “You’re Morgan, and I already met your mom down on the waterfront.” Then she pointed at Amy. “You’re Amy, and I met both your sisters at your family’s restaurant.” Finally she nodded to Emily. “And that means you’re Emily.”

  “And you didn’t meet any of my family?” teased Emily.

  “Nope. Not yet anyway.” Chelsea studied the four girls then smiled. “Well, come on in to my humble abode.”

  Carlie noticed Emily rolling her eyes, and Amy actually snickered.

  “Thanks for inviting us over,” said Morgan as they went inside. “This is a beautiful house, Chelsea.”

  “It’s okay, I guess,” said Chelsea in a tone that sounded like a cross between snobby and bored. “Our other house was lots nicer.”

  “Are you going to introduce me to your friends?” asked Mrs. Landers as she came down the stairs wearing a pale pink jogging suit. Carlie could tell Chelsea’s mom was studying the girls carefully. And Carlie suspected by the slightly raised brows that she was surprised. But she just smiled politely as Chelsea did some quick introductions.

  “So have you decided, Chelsea? Pizza or sub sandwiches or what for lunch?”

  “Pizza?” asked Chelsea as she glanced at th
e others, and they nodded their approval.

  “Good,” said Mrs. Landers. “One-ish okay?”

  “Sounds great,” said Carlie.

  “You girls have fun. I’ve got to run some errands. I’ll call in the pizza while I’m out. And Maria is here if you need anything before I get back.”

  “Does she mean your aunt?” whispered Emily.

  Carlie nodded, watching as Mrs. Landers whooshed away.

  “Is Maria the maid?” asked Amy.

  “Yes,” said Chelsea.

  “Not exactly,” Carlie corrected her.

  “Yes, she is,” insisted Chelsea.

  “Sure, she’s been coming every day the past couple of weeks, but that’s only to help them get settled and unpacked,” explained Carlie. “After that, she’ll come once a week to clean.”

  “Meaning that she’s our maid,” said Chelsea.

  “She’s your weekly cleaning lady,” said Carlie.

  Then Chelsea laughed. “See, you can tell we’re old friends because we’re already fighting half the time.” The other girls laughed too. But Carlie didn’t think it was all that funny.

  “Your house is absolutely gorgeous,” said Amy after Chelsea completed the full tour.

  “That pool looks really nice too,” said Emily. The five of them were standing around on the tiled deck now. Everyone seemed unsure of what to say or do next as they gazed out over the turquoise blue pool.

  “There’s a Jacuzzi too,” said Chelsea, pointing to a smaller round pool off in the corner. “We’ll use that more in the winter time. And my dad is going to put a pool table and some funky old video-game machines in the basement,” she continued. “After it gets finished up down there.”

  “Cool!” said Amy with enthusiasm. Carlie could tell that Amy was really impressed by all this. But then who wouldn’t be?

  “Want to get on our suits and take a dip in the pool?” asked Chelsea.

  “Sounds good to me,” said Morgan, and the others agreed.

  “Your bedroom is totally awesome,” said Amy as the girls changed into their suits. “I would so love to live in a house like this.”

  “It’s okay,” said Chelsea.

  “But your other room was lots nicer?” teased Carlie as she tugged on her swimsuit. She was getting tired of Chelsea’s superior attitude.

  “No.” Chelsea firmly shook her head. “It wasn’t nicer.”

  “Oh.” Carlie felt dumb now.

  “But I would’ve gladly stayed in my old room if we hadn’t had to move here. I would’ve lived in the garage if that could’ve kept us from moving.”

  “So it was really hard on you?” asked Emily.

  “Yeah,” said Chelsea sadly. “We’d lived in Minneapolis my whole life, and I had to leave all my friends — even my very best friend — all back there.”

  “I kinda know how you feel,” said Emily. “I moved here in June. Just before school ended. If I hadn’t met Morgan and Carlie and Amy … well, I’m sure I’d be really bummed by now.”

  “It must be so convenient having all your friends right there in your own neighborhood,” said Chelsea as she adjusted a tie on her bathing suit bottom. “You just step out your door and there are your friends.”

  “Have you gotten to know any kids in your neighborhood yet?” asked Morgan. She already had on her swimsuit and was wrapping a brightly colored beach towel around her like a skirt.

  Chelsea sighed. “No. Carlie’s the only friend I’ve made.”

  “So far,” said Amy with a bright smile. “But I think I can promise that we’re all willing to be your friends too, Chelsea.”

  Carlie studied Amy for a long moment. As usual, Amy was wearing her cute little brightly colored two-piece. And, Carlie noticed, it wasn’t so different from the one that Chelsea was tying around her own neck right now. Almost like these two girls could have something in common. Plus it was obvious that Amy was totally impressed by Chelsea’s home and room and everything.

  What if Amy was trying to take over here? What if she wanted to replace Carlie with herself in this pretty little picture? And even if she did want to do something like that, why should Carlie really care? But, to her surprise, Carlie thought maybe she did care.

  She had to admit that she’d enjoyed having someone like Chelsea and her mother taking an interest in her. And she was actually looking forward to their trip to Portland this weekend. What if Chelsea suddenly decided she’d rather get haircuts with Amy? And what if she wanted to take Amy back-to-school shopping instead of Carlie? That would not be good!

  chapter eight

  As the girls hung together — swimming and splashing and joking and playing — Carlie worked hard to maintain her position as Chelsea’s friend. Was she her best friend? Who could tell? But she went out of her way to say nice things to and about Chelsea. Still, the harder she tried, the less Chelsea seemed to notice her at all.

  In fact, it seemed that most of Chelsea’s attention was focused on Morgan just now. And Carlie almost got the feeling that Chelsea was testing her out.

  “What’s your dad do?” she asked Morgan as they were lounging around on the deck, drying in the sun.

  “I don’t know,” said Morgan.

  Chelsea looked shocked. “You don’t know?”

  All the girls got quiet now, as if they were holding their breaths so they could listen to her answer. As far as Carlie knew, Morgan had never mentioned her dad to any of them before. Of course, none of them had ever asked either.

  “My parents split up when I was really little,” said Morgan. “All I know is that my father was from New York and he was really into his music — more than he was into being a husband or a daddy.”

  “So you never see him?”

  “Nope.” Morgan rolled over onto her stomach, propping her chin in her hands. Carlie could tell that this was making her uncomfortable. But what was Chelsea’s point?

  “Was he black?” asked Chelsea. “Or African American? I mean, your skin doesn’t seem as dark as your mom’s, and I was —”

  “Can you guys believe it’s only eleven days until school starts?” said Carlie suddenly, making a feeble but desperate attempt to change the subject.

  “I can’t wait!” said Amy with real enthusiasm.

  Carlie groaned. “That’s right, Amy loves school! Can you believe it, Chelsea?”

  “No way!” Chelsea turned her attention to Amy now. “Only geeks love school.”

  “She’s not a geek,” said Morgan in a flat voice.

  “No, she’s just a brainiac,” teased Emily. “Ask her a math question and you’ll see how fast she can answer it.”

  “I’ve heard that Asian kids are supposed to be really good in math,” said Chelsea.

  Amy seemed to bristle at this comment, but then she just smiled. “Well, your dad’s a banker, Chelsea, I’d suppose you’d be good at math too.”

  Chelsea laughed. “Hardly.”

  “Well, if you ever need tutoring, you’ll have to give me a call,” offered Amy.

  “Yeah, right.” Now Chelsea reached over and flipped one of Morgan’s braids. “How do you take care of these anyway?”

  “Huh?” Morgan studied her for a moment.

  “You know, how do you wash your hair and stuff?”

  Morgan kind of laughed, but it didn’t look like she thought it was funny. “Probably the same way you do, Chelsea, you know, with shampoo and water.”

  “Hey, did I tell you guys I’m getting my hair cut?” asked Carlie, although she knew for a fact she had already told them.

  “Yeah,” said Emily quickly. “But you didn’t say how you’re getting it cut. What are you going to do anyway?”

  “I’m not really sure,” said Carlie. “I was thinking I should ask Morgan, since she’s our local design and fashion expert.”

  Morgan brightened as she sat up and studied the shape of Carlie’s face. “Well, you have kind of a heart-shaped face,” she said as she pushed Carlie’s wet hair back. “So maybe you s
houldn’t get it cut too short.”

  “Why not?” asked Chelsea quickly. “I think she’d look good with it short. And I’m going to get mine cut short. You know we’re going to get our hair cut together.”

  “I know,” said Morgan, not even looking at Chelsea. “But I think you’d look better with it coming just below your chin, Carlie. Maybe layered a little around your face to bring out your eyes.”

  Carlie nodded as she considered this. “But how am I going to remember how to explain that to the haircutter person?”

  “We’ll find a picture,” said Morgan, “in a magazine.”

  “So how do you know so much about hair?” Chelsea asked Morgan with a creased brow, like she didn’t really think Morgan knew what she was talking about.

  Morgan just shrugged. “I pay attention to fashion. That’s all.”

  “Well, so do I,” said Chelsea. “And I think short hair would look totally cool on Carlie.”

  And suddenly the two of them started arguing about Carlie’s hair. Carlie glanced nervously over at Emily and Amy, hoping they might help to end this craziness, but they looked just as surprised as she felt.

  “Anyone want to run down to the beach?” asked Carlie, suddenly standing. “There’s a trail nearby. I’ll bet I can beat all of you guys down to the water!”

  “I’ll bet you can’t,” said Morgan, leaping to her feet.

  Not waiting for anyone else to join, Carlie took off and Morgan was right on her heels. Carlie knew that she and Morgan were the fastest runners of the group and, as expected, they made it to the beach far ahead of the others, tying as they reached the surf.

  “They’re not even running,” said Carlie as she looked back at the beach behind them.

  “Wimps,” said Morgan as she bent over to catch her breath.

  “Hey, Morgan,” said Carlie between breaths, “I’m sorry Chelsea is being so —”

  “It’s okay,” said Morgan quickly. “No biggie.”

  “The first thing she told me about herself was that she has no impulse control. That means she just says whatever pops into her head without thinking whether or not it will hurt someone.”