Ready! Set! Hawaii!

by Annie Bryant

  Tim laughed. “We watch Dad get married! Scott and I hafta stand up there…we’re the best men.”

  “You mean the best bozos!” Avery gave Tim a shove. Andie had asked Avery if she wanted to be a bridesmaid, but she said she’d rather just watch. Kazie was going to be the maid of honor, though.

  “I helped Kazie pick out a dress at that Bananas boutique!” Katani whispered as the BSG all sat down together with Mr. Ramsey on the groom’s side. “She looks sooo gorgeous in it!”

  Captain Bob, wearing his white captain’s uniform, took his place at the bow of the ship next to Avery’s father. A steward dressed in a ship’s uniform entered, carrying a violin. He tucked it under his chin and began to play.

  Captain Bob cleared his throat. “Will everyone please rise?”

  Avery stood up, but her legs felt like jelly. She turned to see Kazie walking down the aisle ahead of her mom. Kazie wore a yellow mini dress and had matching ribbons laced in her hair. The beaming bride looked stunning in a simple white sundress with silver sandals. She carried a bouquet of tropical flowers, and a single hibiscus was tucked behind her ear.

  Avery had never seen Andie smile like that, like she couldn’t stop smiling even if she wanted to. When she turned back to her dad, she realized he was smiling the exact same way. He couldn’t take his eyes off Andie. It was like there was a magnet pulling them together!

  Kazie stepped off to the side, across from Scott and Tim. Just as the violinist ended his song on a long, high note, Andie took her place next to Mr. Madden, and Avery realized her dad had never looked happier. Not ever. Not even after executing a perfect 360 surfing, or tearing up a black diamond on the slopes of Colorado.

  Avery felt someone tug at her sleeve.

  It was Charlotte. “You can sit now,” she whispered.

  Avery slid down into her seat. She had seen plenty of weddings, at least on TV, thanks to Maeve and those romantic comedies she forced everyone to watch at sleepovers, but Avery had never been to an actual ceremony. She wondered for a moment what her parents’ wedding had been like. She pictured her mom smiling like Andie, and for some reason it made her feel better. I’m going to go up to Andie after and tell her how pretty she looks, Avery promised herself.

  “Do you, Jake Madden, take Andie Walker to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

  Mr. Madden smiled even wider. He nodded. “You bet I do.”

  Maeve dabbed at her tear-filled eyes with a hanky. One day—she sighed—someone will look at me that way!

  Captain Bob turned to Andie. “And do you, Andie Walker, take Jake Madden to be your lawfully wedded husband.”

  Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I do…I really do.”

  What would it be like if Dad got married again? Charlotte wondered. She snuck a peek at him from the corner of her eye to discover he was looking right back her! Was he wondering the same thing? Whoa! Charlotte wasn’t quite ready to think about that. One wedding at a time!

  “Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife!”

  And stepsisters, thought Avery, glancing up at Kazie, who looked to be in shock. Sort of like me, Avery thought.

  “You may kiss the bride!” Captain Bob exclaimed.

  Mr. Madden took Andie in his arms and dipped her for a kiss. The guests broke out in applause.

  “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Madden-Walker!” cried Captain Bob.

  Everyone rushed around the couple. Scott and Tim high-fived their dad and Mr. Madden twirled Avery around. Charlotte snapped pictures of the chaos. These were going on the last page of her travel journal! The rest of it was completely full.

  Just then, Avery noticed Kazie sitting off by herself on the bride’s side of the deck next to Kara-Lee’s empty seat.

  She turned to Katani. “I think you should go hang with Kazie.”

  “Are you sure?” Katani asked, shocked.

  “Yeah,” Avery decided, “I’m sure. Grab Kara-Lee too. It can be the Kgirls’ last party.”

  Katani excused herself and Avery watched Kazie’s face light up when Katani and Kara-Lee sat down next to her.

  After a staff photographer had taken at least a hundred photos of the happy couple, Andie motioned for all of the girls to gather around. “Since you were all a part of this day, I wanted you to have something to remember it by.” She took apart her wedding bouquet and gave a flower to each of the girls. She saved the biggest and brightest hibiscus for Kazie. Her daughter’s cheeks looked a little shiny, but she was smiling.

  Maeve clutched her flower to her chest and sighed.

  “I don’t think any of us could ever forget it.” Katani tucked her orange flower in her hair. It matched her dress perfectly!

  Isabel and Charlotte nodded, but they noticed that when Andie turned back to Mr. Madden, she left her flowers on her chair.

  Scott picked one up and waved it under Avery’s nose. “Aren’t you supposed to, I don’t know, dry this and hang it on your mirror or something?”

  Avery shook her head back and forth. “Do I really look like that sort of girl?”

  “I’m going to dry mine, and then hang it above my mirror!” Maeve exclaimed.

  “Me too!” replied Kara-Lee as she took a sniff of her pink orchid.

  Scott laughed and looked over at his sister, who definitely wasn’t laughing. He guided her to a quieter part of the deck. “What’s up?”

  “What’s up?” Avery couldn’t believe he was taking this so well. “Um, Dad just got married, Scott.”

  Scott shrugged. “To an über-cool lady who’s a ski bum and free spirit just like him. We just talked about this a little while ago, right?”

  “Yeah, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Now he’s got this new family. Now when we visit, it’s not going to be just us and Dad,” Avery protested.

  “You’re totally right,” said Scott. “But now when we leave, we’re not leaving Dad alone.”

  Avery paused. “I never thought of it that way. But, Kazie—”

  “Is like you, Ave,” he insisted.

  “She is not!” Avery retorted.

  Scott shook his head and laughed. “You have tons in common, but stubborn is at the top of the list.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “But Ave, there’s only one you. Kazie’s not going to replace you, just like Andie’s not going to replace Mom. They’re just making our family bigger. And more fun.”

  “That’s what Mom said,” Avery admitted.

  “Are things gonna change? Well, yeah. They are. But it’s going to change for the better, Ave. Trust me.”

  “For the better?” Avery wanted to know.

  “Yeah. I won’t have you tagging after me when I go ’boarding. I can pawn you off on Kazie now,” he replied.

  Avery elbowed him. “If we were in Telluride, that would have bought you a fistful of snow down your coat.”

  “Then you can owe me one. C’mon, we’re missing out on all the action.”

  Everyone gathered around the newlyweds at the railing of the deck to watch the sun as it made its descent down the horizon. The sky burned from orange to red.

  Maeve cleared her throat. “I think we need to thank Mr. Ramsey for a trip that we’re never going to forget in our entire lifetimes!”

  “Even if we wanted to,” Avery joked. She made her way over to where Katani stood with Kara-Lee and Kazie.

  “I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you,” said Avery.

  “For what?” asked Kazie.

  “For getting me as your sister,” Avery replied.

  Kazie snorted. “Good one. Shake.”

  Kazie held her hand out for the secret handshake that Kazie and her friends used back in Telluride, but then pulled back her hand.

  Typical Kazie, Avery thought. I tried, but—

  “Y’know what?” Kazie said, interrupting Avery’s thoughts. “We should come up with our own handshake. A stepsister thing. What do you think?”

  Avery was stunned. Does Kazie actually want to be my fri
end?

  “Earth to Short Sta—I mean, Aloha Jedi! Are you there?” Kazie said, waving her hands in front of Avery’s face.

  “A sister handshake is an awesome idea,” Avery exclaimed.

  “Everyone, if I could have your attention!” Captain Bob bellowed from the railing.

  “I hope everything’s okay?” Isabel murmured to no one in particular, worried that maybe Franco wouldn’t be able to come home with her after all!

  Captain Bob peered through a set of binoculars. “Everything’s just great. Look to eleven o’clock, about two hundred yards out, and it’ll get even better.”

  A pod of humpback whales sailed through the water, cascading through the waves. Isabel burst with joyous laughter. “Whales!” she shouted.

  “Humpback whales,” Captain Bob said. “Amazing creatures. Never forget where they come from, never forget where they’ve been. The bonds of friendship and loyalty run strong through their pod.”

  The Beacon Street Girls crowded around the railing to watch the gentle giants glide through the water.

  They knew exactly what it felt like to know your friends and family would always be there, through thick and thin, sickness and health, everyday life and life-changing adventure.

  Epilogue

  Two Weeks Later…

  Is that the doorbell?” Isabel asked, wringing her hands. “It was just a car horn, mi hija,” her mom said soothingly.

  “Relax, Isabel! You’re beginning to make me nervous,” her aunt warned.

  Isabel stopped pacing, but she couldn’t relax! She hadn’t been able to sleep a wink last night!

  Ding-dong! Isabel jumped and almost fell over the couch.

  “Now that’s the doorbell,” her aunt said. “You two sit, I’ll get it.” Aunt Lourdes got up and strode purposefully to the door.

  Isabel could hear her aunt greeting Captain Bob in the hallway. Seconds later, he appeared in the living room with Franco’s cage, which was covered by a tarp.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise!” Captain Bob whispered. He waved Isabel over. “You should do the honors.”

  Isabel nodded excitedly. She couldn’t believe Captain Bob was in her house. With Franco! She looked at her mom, who nodded. Her Aunt Lourdes, however, didn’t look entirely convinced.

  Isabel crept over to the cage and quietly lifted off the cover. Franco stretched out his wings and cocked his head to one side. Isabel slid open the latch on his cage. Franco stepped onto her outstretched arm.

  “Kiss Franco!” the bird demanded as he rubbed his beak against Izzy’s chin.

  Franco was home!

  Ready! Set! Hawaii!

  BOOK EXTRAS

  Endangered!

  Trivialicious Trivia

  Word Nerd

  Surf Lingo

  Book Club Buzz

  Endangered!

  Hi! Avery here. Did you know that Hawaii has more endangered species per square mile than anywhere else on earth? Totally crazy! If you’re as concerned as me, read on to learn more about a few of these disappearing critters and plants.

  Hawaiian Goose (nene)—Branta sandvicensis

  We got lucky and saw one of these black and white striped geese on Kaua’i! Aside from the honor of being Hawaii’s state bird, the nene is super cool because it had to adapt to life on lava flows, so it developed claws on its webbed feet! There are about eight hundred wild nenes and counting…the Hawaiian goose is making a comeback.

  Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Pe’e Pe’e Maka ‘Ole)—Adelocosa anops

  This creepy crawly isn’t your ordinary spider. Rather than spinning a web, it hunts by chasing down prey and attacking! Even weirder, it doesn’t have any eyes, and gets around by sensing chemicals on the ground. There are only three known caves on Kauai where these spiders still live.

  Hawaiian monk seal (‘Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua)-Monachus schauinslandi

  That long Hawaiian name means “dog that runs in rough waters.” Adults can grow up to seven feet long and weigh as much as six hundred pounds! They love to eat crustaceans, fish, lobsters, octopuses, and eels (ewww!). Only about one thousand of these seals are left in the wild. Too bad the BSG didn’t get to see any on our trip!

  Oahu Tree Snails—Achatinella

  Once upon a time, there were more than forty different kinds of these tiny snails. Now, there are only seven or eight species left, and some exist only in captivity! These inch-long critters spend their entire lives crawling around on the leaves of native Oahu trees and shrubs, chowing down on fungus.

  Hawaiian stilt (Ae’o)-Himantopus mexicanus knudseni

  This black and white shore bird plays a cool trick: It will pretend to have a broken wing to lure attackers away from its nest! Stilts live on most of the Hawaiian islands in marshy areas. They’re in trouble because people like to drain wetlands to build houses or shopping malls.

  Silversword (Ahinahina)—Argyroxiphium sandwicense

  Isn’t silversword the coolest name ever? This plant is basically a ball of spiky, silver leaves that grows on the slopes of the Haleakala and Mauna Kea volcanoes. When it blooms, a head of maroon flowers sticks out like a thumbs-up. Don’t walk too close or you’ll crush its roots!

  Save Endangered Species!

  To find out more, visit www.EarthsEndangered.com. And if you want to get even more involved, talk to your teachers about starting an endangered species club at your school!

  Ready! Set! Hawaii! trivialicious trivia

  What is so cool about the ship’s pool? A. It has three waterslides.

  B. The swim-up juice bar

  C. You can see the ocean from the pool.

  D. All of the above

  What’s wrong with Mr. Ramsey for most of the cruise? A. He has the flu.

  B. He’s seasick.

  C. He’s allergic to parrots.

  D. He has an unknown disease.

  Where do Isabel and Charlotte first find Franco? A. On the top deck

  B. In the Atrium

  C. In Marisol’s cabin

  D. In the jungle

  What is Hawaii’s state flower? A. Yellow hibiscus

  B. Royal poinciana

  C. Bird of paradise

  D. Orchid

  Which Hawaiian island do the BSG go biking on? A. Kauai

  B. Lahaina

  C. Maui

  D. Hilo

  How do you say “beginner” in surf lingo? A. Landshark

  B. Surf Betty

  C. Gidget

  D. Snurfette

  What is the name of the onboard shopping boutique Katani loves? A. Gifts of the Isles

  B. Bananas

  C. Tropical Treasures

  D. Hula Hoops

  What song wins the Karaoke contest? A. “All My Love” by the Royal Brothers

  B. “Three Hours Till You” by Nik and Sam

  C. “BFFs” by Janey G

  D. “The Pirate Song” (traditional sea shanty)

  What kind of bird is Franco? A. Cockatoo

  B. Parakeet

  C. African Grey

  D. Scarlet macaw

  What amazing sight do all the wedding guests admire after the ceremony? A. A pod of Humpback whales

  B. Fireworks off the bow of the ship

  C. Jumping dolphins

  D. A flock of doves taking flight

  ANSWERS:

  1. D. All of the above

  2. A. He has the flu

  3. C. In Marisol’s cabin

  4. A. Yellow hibiscus

  5. D. Hilo

  6. A. Landshark

  7. B. Bananas

  8. C. “BFFs” by Janey G

  9. C. African Grey

  10. A. A pod of Humpback whales

  Book Club Buzz

  10 QUESTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TO CHAT ABOUT

  What is the coolest place you’ve ever gone on vacation? What would you pack for a tropical fantasy cruise? List the top-ten things you’d love to do on a trip to Hawaii!

  Avery is blown away when her dad shows up
on the cruise! What do you think made this surprise totally coolio, and what made it more of an uncomfortable shock? Do you think her dad should have told her about his plan?

  Katani tries to follow the saying “make new friends, but keep the old,” but sometimes that isn’t easy to do! How can Katani be a Kgirl and BSG at the same time? Think about a time you felt like you had to choose between two groups of friends. How did it make you feel?

  Why did Marisol bring Franco on the cruise? Do you think it was a good idea, even though she could lose her job? When is it okay to break the rules?

  Maeve tells Avery, “The only person who can ruin a beautiful day for you is yourself.” What do you think of this quote? What could Avery have done differently to have more fun on the cruise? Why do you think she is so upset with Katani, Kazie, and her dad?

  Mr. Ramsey is delighted that Charlotte and Isabel take over working on his article when he gets sick. How do you help your parents? Think of some things you could do this week without being asked that would make your parents really proud of you.

  Animals are not always easy to take care of! Think of three problems Franco causes in this book. If you have a pet, how do you help take care of him or her? What’s the smartest or silliest thing your pet can do?

  Why doesn’t Katani tell the Kgirls she can’t sing? Have you ever been afraid to admit you didn’t know how to do something? Katani talks to both Andie and the BSG about her problem. What advice do they give her?

  Andie and Kazie both have to be rescued while surfing. Have you ever had an accident that really scared you or your family? Do you know what to do if an accident happens?

  Avery and Kazie can’t stand each other at the beginning of the cruise. What do you think they are really competing for? Do you think they would get along better if their parents weren’t dating? What changes about Avery and Kazie’s relationship when their parents decide to get married?