“But Derrick is in juvenile detention now,” said Emily.
“And his old friends have changed their ways,” added Morgan.
“In fact,” said Carlie, “I think Jeff Sanders has a big crush on Emily.”
“Does not,” said Emily.
“Does so,” said Carlie.
“You guys!” yelled Morgan.
“Sorry.” Emily giggled.
“Back to our history.” Morgan peered at Emily. “Are you getting this down, Ms. Secretary?”
“Oh, yeah.” Emily got busy writing again.
“Anyway, after we became friends, we did a major cleanup on the trailer park,” continued Morgan. “We knew it looked pretty shabby and that it was probably one of the reasons we were being teased. So we really cleaned it up.”
“And then Mr. Greeley, the owner of the trailer park, gave us the bus,” said Carlie. “It had been sitting here empty for about ten years.”
“It was pretty dirty and messy. We fixed it up,” added Amy.
“And then there was the sand-castle-building contest,” said Emily. She told Chelsea how they made SpongeBob SquarePants.
“But Derrick Smith destroyed it,” said Amy.
“And we still won the People’s Choice Award,” finished off Carlie.
“So what’s next?” asked Chelsea.
“That’s what we need to decide,” said Morgan. “That’s why —”
“I know!” said Amy suddenly. “I know!”
“Uh-oh,” said Carlie. “Miss Ngo It All has just arrived.”
Amy scowled at Carlie.
“Sorry,” muttered Carlie.
“Do you have an idea, Amy?” asked Morgan.
Amy frowned. “Not if I’m going to be teased.”
“I said I was sorry,” said Carlie.
“Okay …” Amy looked at the other four girls in the bus. She wasn’t sure they’d be up for this or even able to pull it off, but it was worth a shot. “How about if we help fix up McPhearson Park?”
The girls got quiet again so Amy went on. “I used to spend a lot of time there. When my family was busy at the restaurant and I was too little to help, I’d go and swing on the swings … or ride the merry-go-round. I can’t believe that it could turn into a big, ugly cement parking lot.”
Morgan nodded. “Yes, that does seem wrong.”
“But fixing up a park sounds like a huge project,” said Chelsea. “And we’re, like, five girls.”
“We got the trailer park fixed up,” Emily reminded her.
“And we wouldn’t have to do it all ourselves,” said Morgan. “We could rally support from the community, get the ball rolling.”
“Or start a big old war,” said Chelsea. “I mean, with people like my dad and Amy’s parents — the ones who want a parking lot — it could get ugly.”
“But what about the kids in this town?” said Amy. “The park is for them. Shouldn’t we stand up for the kids?”
“That’s right,” said Morgan. “And it might help that we’re kids too. I mean, older kids, obviously, but we’re still young enough that grown-ups might feel guilty to think they’re taking away our park.”
“I like this idea,” said Carlie. “And maybe we could get more permits to dig plants from the woods. I’m sure my dad would take us up there again.”
“And maybe we could do a fund-raiser,” said Chelsea. “My old school used to do fund-raisers every year. My mom was usually the head of the committee.”
“Are you getting all this down, Emily?” asked Morgan.
“Writing as fast as I can,” she said.
“I think we should check it out for ourselves,” said Morgan suddenly. “You guys wanna walk to town and take a look at McPhearson Park?”
So it was decided that they would take a field trip. As they walked toward town, Amy felt like crossing her fingers. She so wanted this to work.
“Oh, my!” said Morgan when the girls turned the corner and came into sight of the park.
“What a total wreck!” said Emily.
Tears filled Amy’s eyes as she looked at the ruined park with yellow police tape surrounding it like a crime scene, which it was. “This is so wrong!” she said, stamping her foot.
“Where would we even begin?” asked Chelsea. “I mean, the whole place seems ruined.”
“We’d begin by getting support from the community,” declared Amy. “And the sooner the better.”
“So are we in?” asked Morgan. “Can I see a quick show of hands here? Who is in favor of saving McPhearson Park?”
They all raised their hands and said “Aye.”
“So be it,” said Morgan.
Amy looked across the street to where her parents’ restaurant, Asian Garden, was located. She thought she spied her mother looking out the window toward the vandalized park. And, okay, maybe she was imagining things now, but she thought she saw her mother rubbing her hands together in happy anticipation of what might soon be a cement parking lot!
Not if I can help it, thought Amy.
chapter two
On Sunday afternoon the girls met at the bus to begin planning their strategy for cleaning up McPhearson Park.
“I’ve done some research,” said Amy as soon as their meeting began. She opened the notebook that she’d been making notes in since yesterday.
“Oh, no,” Carlie groaned. “This is feeling like school.”
“It’s just a little historical background,” said Amy, trying not to sound offended. “I’ll try to keep it short, okay?”
“Go ahead,” said Morgan. “It might be interesting.”
Amy cleared her throat. “Boscoe Bay was discovered by a sea captain named Henry McPhearson in 1859. He named the bay in honor of his fiancée, Amelia Boscoe, whom he soon married. About a dozen years later, the couple settled here and eventually founded the town of Boscoe Bay in 1880. And in 1911, Captain McPhearson died, and his family purchased a parcel of land in the center of town, which they dedicated to his memory and turned into a park.”
“That’s nice,” said Carlie. “But what’s your point, Amy?”
Amy forced a smile. “Just be patient, Carlie. Who knows, maybe you’ll actually learn something.”
Emily held back a laugh.
“The good news is that the city doesn’t actually own the park,” said Amy. “So they don’t have control over the land, and it can’t be turned into a parking lot.”
“So it can remain a park forever?” asked Morgan.
Amy frowned. “Well, according to my online research and a phone call to the mayor —”
“You called the mayor?” said Carlie.
Amy nodded. “Why not? Anyway, he told me that the city has been trying to get control of the land for a few years now, but the McPhearson family still owns it, and it seems they’re unwilling to sell.”
“Good for them,” said Carlie. Then she frowned. “But I still don’t get your point.”
“Yeah, and what’s the bad news?” asked Morgan.
“The bad news is that we can’t touch the park or do a thing to help it without getting permission from the family first.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“There’s only one member of the family still living in town,” she told them.
“And?” persisted Morgan.
“And the mayor said she’s a crazy old spinster woman named Viola McPhearson who won’t talk to anyone — not even the mayor.”
“Oh …” Morgan frowned. “So what happens to the park?”
“The mayor said that the city attorney will send Miss McPhearson a letter informing her that she has thirty days to make repairs to the park.”
“What if she doesn’t do anything?” asked Morgan.
“Then the property will be confiscated by the city.”
“And turned into a parking lot?” asked Emily.
Amy shrugged. “The mayor didn’t admit it, but I’m sure that’s the plan.”
“What do we do now?” asked
Carlie.
“Do you think we could talk to the old lady?” asked Morgan.
“The mayor said she’s crazy and has been known to greet unexpected visitors with a shotgun.”
“Whoa.” Chelsea shook her head. “That sounds a little scary.”
“Yeah.” Amy sat down at the table and sighed.
“Maybe we could call her first,” said Morgan. “Explain who we are and how we want to help save her family’s park.”
“I looked in the phone book,” said Amy, “and even called information … There’s no listing for Viola McPhearson, or any other McPhearsons in Boscoe Bay.”
“So maybe there’s nothing we can do,” said Morgan.
“Maybe …” said Amy. “But it’s hard to let it go. It just seems so wrong to allow it to become a parking lot.” She slammed her fist down onto the table. “Kids need trees and swings and a place to go where they can just play and be kids.” She felt tears burning in her eyes again. Why was this thing with the park making her so upset?
Morgan put her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “We agree with you, Amy. But it doesn’t seem like there’s anything we can do about it.”
Amy looked up suddenly as an idea hit her. “Okay, maybe we can’t do anything about the crazy lady. But we can try to influence the city.”
“How?” asked Emily, looking up from her note taking.
“We’ll all write letters to the editor. My dad is always reading them, and I think a lot of other people read them. We’ll start a Save the Park campaign that’s directed at the city.”
“Why not?” said Morgan. “Maybe we can make them see how important it is for Boscoe Bay to keep the park.”
“Right,” said Emily. “I’d be glad to write a letter.”
Carlie groaned. “See, this is becoming like schoolwork. And I hate to write. Which reminds me, I have a book report due in English tomorrow. I should probably go work on it.”
“Well, we don’t all have to write at once,” said Emily. “I’ll make sure I get a letter out today, then maybe it’ll get printed in Tuesday’s paper. But we can stagger our letters to make sure there’s one in each edition.” She pointed to Carlie. “And I’ll help you write a letter, Carlie.”
Carlie smiled. “Will you help me write a book report too?”
“Sure,” said Emily.
“And will you read the book for me?” asked Carlie.
“Carlie!” scolded Emily. “You can’t expect me to do everything for you.”
The girls laughed and Emily began working on her letter.
“I’m going to have to go,” said Amy, glancing at her watch. “I have to work at the restaurant this afternoon. My sister An has a date.”
“An has a date?” echoed Morgan. “Is it serious?”
Amy laughed. “Let’s hope it’s serious for An. Good grief, my older sister, Ly, is going to be thirty in December, and I don’t think she’ll ever get married.”
“I don’t get that,” said Emily. “How is it that your sisters and your brother are all still single?”
Amy shrugged as she paused by the door. “I guess it’s because my parents insisted on them working in the restaurant to help pay for their education. And between college and work, there’s not much time left for a love life.” She didn’t mention that her parents insisted that each of her siblings date and marry only someone from their homeland. And there weren’t too many Vietnamese people around to choose from.
“See you guys later,” she called as she left. She wished she could stay and hang with her friends a little longer. But after the fight with her mother earlier, she knew she better not press her luck. Not only that, but her parents’ mood would only get worse when they discovered that An was going out with a guy who was NOT Vietnamese — although Amy had no plans to tell them.
She walked back to the trailer park, going directly to the mobile home that was inhabited by her three siblings. She tried not to envy them their independence — after all, they were all in their twenties. It was so much more relaxed and fun in their house.
“Hey, squirt,” said her brother, Tu’. “You ready to head out to the salt mines?”
She nodded. “Yeah, can’t wait.”
“Thanks for filling in for me tonight,” called An. “I owe you one, Amy.”
“Are you going to drop by the restaurant later on tonight and introduce the parents to your new beau?” asked Tu’.
An laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“Let’s go,” said Tu’, opening the door for her. “Ly will probably yell at us if we’re late.”
Amy nodded. Ly was the slave driver among her three siblings. Maybe it was because she was the oldest, but Amy couldn’t help but think it was because Ly was unhappy. Ly was short and stocky and not very pretty. But An was taller and willowy and pretty. Amy hoped that she would grow up to look like An, not only in appearance — although that was important enough to Amy — but also in disposition. Between the two sisters, An was by far the most kindhearted. If Amy ever needed anything, she always went to An first.
Amy told Tu’ a little about the research she’d done on McPhearson Park for their Save the Park campaign.
He laughed. “Well, the parents are not going to like that, Amy.”
She smiled. “I know. But I’m an independent person, Tu’. I can think for myself.”
He laughed even harder now. “Well, it’s about time. But don’t forget that we’ve helped to pave that road for you. Even today,” he continued. “An is really pushing it to go out with this guy.”
“Are you against it too?” asked Amy.
He shook his head. “Not at all. I met him the other night, and he seems really nice. Did An tell you that he finished med school last spring and recently started interning at a hospital in Newport?”
“No,” said Amy. “You’d think that would impress Mom and Dad.”
He sighed. “You’d think.”
“How about you, Tu’?” she asked. “Don’t you ever want to date?”
He gave her a sideways glance. “You don’t know everything about me, Amy Ngo.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, if I could trust you, I’d answer that.”
“You can trust me, Tu’.”
He grinned. “Well, did it ever occur to you that maybe I do date?”
“You do?”
He nodded. “I just don’t go around telling the parents about it.”
“Oh … ”
“Not that I’m saying we should be sneaky. But I am twenty-six and old enough to make my own decisions. I just don’t like telling the parents because I know it’ll only cause trouble.”
“So I’m guessing you’re not dating nice Asian girls then?”
He chuckled. “They’re nice girls. Just not Asian.” He glanced nervously at her. “But you won’t tell, will you?”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Thanks.”
They were at the restaurant now, parking in the small gravel lot out back. Tu’ locked the car, and they went in through the back door.
“It’s about time,” said Ly, tossing a towel at Amy. “Get to work on those pans, will you?” She glared at Tu’. “You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”
He shrugged as he glanced out the little window to the dining room. “It’s okay, Ly. There’s hardly anyone out there anyway.”
She muttered something to him in Vietnamese and returned to washing cabbage. Amy started drying pans and placing them on the shelves, listening as her parents talked to Ly and Tu’ in Vietnamese and wishing they’d work harder on their English skills. Her father’s English was a whole lot better than her mother’s, but it could use some serious work. Amy had offered to help them — lots of times — but they were either too busy or too tired or just not interested. She had just about given up on them entirely.
She had just returned the last pot to its shelf when she heard her mother telling Ly that she had found a new kitchen helper — part-time only — and that Ly would be he
lping Amy wait tables tonight if it got busy.
“Why can’t your new helper wait tables?” asked Ly in English. Ly didn’t like being out in the public. She preferred the kitchen, and no one could argue that anyone was better than her — especially when it came to the knives. Then her mother explained — in Vietnamese — that the new helper didn’t speak very good English. Amy tried not to laugh.
“Who is this person anyway?” demanded Ly.
Her mother explained that the girl was the daughter of a friend, that they had recently emigrated here from Thailand, but that they were originally from Vietnam. And then, in a hushed tone, she told Ly that this girl would be a perfect match for Tu’.
Ly laughed loudly, and Amy glanced over to where Tu’ was helping Dad with something on the computer in the little office just off of the kitchen. He obviously hadn’t heard their mother’s comment. Not that it would matter. Sure, her mother could bring in a Vietnamese girl, but that didn’t mean Tu’ had to like her. Not for the first time, Amy thought about how strange her life must seem to her friends.
It was about five o’clock when the new employee arrived. Amy took a quick peek at her as she filled out some paperwork in the office. She seemed a nice enough person, and despite what her mother had said, she seemed to have a better grasp on English than either of Amy’s parents.
“Hello?” With her head lowered, the girl spoke directly to Tu’ when she came back into the kitchen. “Your mother say you will show me around, please?”
“Amy!” called Tu’ as he removed a large, bulky cut of pork from the cooler. “Can you help her, please? I’m busy here.”
“Sorry,” said the girl, stepping back.
“Hi,” said Amy with a smile. “I’m Amy. I can show you around.”
“Thank you.” The girl smiled. “I’m Cara.”
So Amy gave her a quick tour of the kitchen and restaurant, finally putting her to work prepping the vegetables. Not Amy’s favorite task. Especially the onions, which were next. Then Amy removed her apron and went out to the restaurant to take her place acting as hostess and waitress.
For the most part, it looked as if the tables were set and ready. Amy checked on the water pitchers and straightened a few things, and before long, people began to trickle in for dinner.
Take Charge Page 10