Clunk! We hit the ground. Clunk, clunk! The balloon stopped moving. Safe!
Mrs. Chalms swore. “Let me out.” She didn’t wait for help but just threw herself over the side, collapsing in a heap on the ground.
Lacey followed her and held the basket for the rest of us.
“I can’t believe you would take children on that!” Mrs. Chalms scolded while still huddled on the ground.
Scratch bent to touch his mother’s arm. “C’mon—that was the ride of a lifetime.”
“It was nearly the death of me.” She looked pale and seemed to be breathing hard.
“I’m sorry,” Dad told her. “We were in good hands at all times.” He glanced at Lacey who pushed the gondolier onto its side again. The balloon was already deflating at a rapid rate.
“If I’d known about that wind, we wouldn’t have flown today,” Lacey said, crouching down to roll the balloon back up. “But we maneuvered over the wires in textbook style.” She smiled.
“Not by my books.” Mrs. Chalms scrambled to her feet.
Scratch and I helped Lacey with the balloon.
The van pulled up a few minutes later. Mike’s head popped out of the window, “Time for a first-flight glass of champagne?” He stepped out and lifted a picnic hamper from the back.
A cork popped and liquid bubbled and fizzed from the top of a large black bottle.
The rest of us each took a glass and Mike poured. We raised our glasses.
“To your first ride in a hot-air balloon. May the road rise up to greet you, the sun warm your face, and the wind always be at your back. Till you ride with us again.”
Mrs. Chalms chugged the whole drink down and then snorted some out her nose. “May the road rise up to greet you!” she repeated, giggling.
“Hear, hear! It definitely did that.” Dad grinned and downed his champagne. “Lots of wind at our backs, too!”
Mrs. Chalms chortled again.
Scratch rolled his eyes and finished his in one pass.
Meanwhile I watched my father and Mrs. Chalms for more signs of a potential great love affair as I sipped and tasted the champagne, the bubbles sizzling up into my nose. Bitter and sweet. Like my life.
Chapter 25
NEVER SAY DIE
“I’m sorry we had that little toss up near the wires. You were always safe, I assure you,” Lacey said when the balloon and basket were loaded back on the trailer.
“Come on, everyone. Let’s head back,” her brother Stew called.
Tired, we all climbed into the van.
It was only 8:00 by the time we got back to the garage and into our jeep, but Devon was yawning and it was catchy.
“Thanks so much, Lacey,” Dad called to her as we waved.
The ride back into town was up and down and around again, rougher than the balloon ride, I thought, and Mrs. Chalms gripped the door tightly just as she had on the way in.
“Why don’t we all go to Waffletown for breakfast?” Dad suggested. Maybe there was still hope for him. Instead of rushing off to work on a Sunday, he was trying to smooth things over with Scratch’s mother. They were both overanxious parents; maybe her hysterics in the balloon proved they had something in common.
“I’m game,” Scratch said.
“I’m starved,” Devon agreed.
Scratch’s mother turned toward Dad and smiled . It was a pure Scratch grin, complete with dimples. “All right.”
The mood in the jeep lifted.
“I’m sorry, Kevin,” she continued smiling at my father. “I should have told you. I’m the one afraid of heights.” There was something nice about a person admitting to a fear and apologizing.
“Not at all. I shouldn’t have kept the details of our outing a secret from you.” Dad answered, smiling himself now. Not looking away from the road, he drove smoothly to the strip of restaurants close to his work and pulled into the Waffletown parking lot.
What day couldn’t be improved by any kind of waffle, topped with a mound of whipped cream and a strawberry or two? We went into the restaurant and all of us ordered a couple. Everyone except Mrs. Chalms. “I have a gluten allergy,” she told the waitress. “How do you make your omelettes?”
Next she grilled the waitress about whether the ketchup in the bottle was really the name brand that the label suggested. Apparently some diners replaced brands with discount grades of ketchup that used flour thickeners. Mrs. Chalms could get very ill from those. “The steak and eggs special, please,” she finally told the waitress. “Sorry,” she said to Dad. “Eating out can be a challenge.”
“Not at all! Steak and eggs it is,” he replied with a smile. “Change my order to the same.”
They seemed to be getting along just fine. Still was Mrs. Chalms too “high maintenance” for Dad? He needed tons more fun in his life, not more work. Maybe I should still hook him up with Friend for Life. A back-up plan couldn’t hurt.
***
This last afternoon, I dozed, head on Scratch’s shoulder, while we watched another Disney movie from Dad’s collection: Up. Scratch chose it because the main characters floated away in a house attached to some balloons. Ironically, it was the old man’s character in the movie that I could relate to the most—wanting to go on an amazing adventure before he died.
Dad was working from home and when the movie ended, I begged him to take us to the beach.
“It’s too late for a long drive,” Dad answered, barely looking up from the screen.
“Just down to Lakeshore,” I begged. “You love their fish and chips.”
“Hmm. I could just drop you two off and pick you up later.” He stood up from the computer.
“Okay.” I sighed. I wish he could have stayed, too, to enjoy the view and the fresh air and the time left with me. Still, I’d get one more chance to hold hands with a boy and stroll along the beach.
Dad drove across the lift-bridge and dropped us off near the restaurant.
“I’ll pick you up after supper.”
Neither of us had brought a bathing suit, nor did Scratch have his waterproof cast protector with him. Instead we took off our shoes and socks and rolled up our jeans. His hand grabbed mine and I felt his warmth even as our bare feet cooled in the water. The sand ruffles pushed up between my toes, the sun smiled into our faces.
Hi, hi, hi, a seagull called from the sky.
A wave lapped at the hem of my jeans. I leaned back against Scratch. He kissed my neck. I couldn’t breathe. We walked in deeper.
“Can you imagine taking all your clothes off and skinny dipping?” he asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “Nah. There’s always too many people around.”
“You’re right. Let’s just go in with all of our clothes on!” He didn’t wait for an answer; he just tugged me along as he began to run.
“What about your cast!” I shrieked as the water splashed around us.
“I’ll be careful,” he shouted, suddenly throwing himself in, holding his left arm high above the water. I fell in beside him, laughing. The lake was still shallow here. We could sit and the water hit us at chest level.
He bent his arm so that the cast rested against the back of his head.
I’ve waited all my life for this moment. I reached my lips to his and we kissed a long time.
Then we both stood up and walked back to shore, the water dragging at us.
“Wet jeans are the worst,” Scratch said as his pant legs flip flopped against each other.
We sat on a bench and put our socks and shoes back on. Then we ordered our food and waited for the waitress to call our number. The ultimate summer experience, hot fish and chips, for Scratch and chicken, of course for me. We enjoyed it all as we sat at the picnic table in our soggy jeans, the breeze cooling us down. And then we ordered ice cream and traded our cones halfway through so we could taste each other’s flavours. I shivered and Scratch leaned in close to keep me warm. When we were done, we sat quietly watching the lake. The sunsets came earlier with each day like a sad reminder. Summer would b
e over soon, so would my life. As we watched, the pink and orange drained from the sky. I wiped at my cheeks. Mom would be waiting for me—it would all be all right. Still as the sunlight left, the world became suddenly so much darker.
***
The following day was Monday. I hoped for rain but instead enjoyed my last sunrise and then glorious bright sunshine, no wind, puffy white clouds. I took a deep breath and headed for the computer to print out Friend for Life’s information to give to Dad. He could decide about her himself.
I brought the profile sheet to the kitchen counter and placed it over his smartphone so he couldn’t ignore it.
“What’s this?” Dad asked.
Time was running out, I had to be direct. “Do you ever want to fall in love again?” This might be the last conversation I ever had with my father. It had to go right.
“Sure I do.” He held the profile away from him as though it were a dead fish. “But who is this?”
I frowned. Just give her a chance, I wanted to scream. Now that I knew what it was like, I wanted him to have the experience another time, too. Instead I spoke ever so softly. “Doesn’t she look like Mom?”
He pulled the profile closer and stared for a moment. “Maybe a bit. But I loved the person your mom was. Looks only had a little to do with it.”
“That’s great but how will you ever get to know anyone that way again if you don’t even go on a date?”
“This is a dating service?” he asked as he read the profile.
“Yes, Dad. I wanted you and Mrs. Chalms to hit it off but with her allergies and phobias…”
“I’m allergic to antibiotics,” Dad interrupted. “I wouldn’t hold a food allergy against someone.” He knocked his knuckle against the profile. “Did you enroll me with Glowing Ember?”
“Only for a trial membership. You have to activate it with a credit card to connect with her.”
“How desperate do you think I am?”
“Dad, I’m desperate. This was the only way I could think of for you to find someone. You said yourself you never meet anyone at work and work is all you do. How else would it happen?”
He frowned for a second. Then looked up from the paper to me. “What phobias does Scratch’s mother have?”
“You know, fear of heights, your driving…” I stopped.
“She’s afraid of my driving?” he asked, brows furrowed.
“Never mind that. She hikes and cooks and takes good photos from what I hear. Why, Dad? Do you like her?”
“Maybe.”
“Then promise me you’ll ask her out. Promise me, no matter what happens…”
“I will, I will. Work will slow down after next week. I’ll ask her to the movies.” He slid off his stool and hugged me. “Don’t worry so much about me, Jade. I’ll be all right.”
How could I not worry about him? I fought tears as I hugged him back hard and long. “I love you, Dad.”
“And I love you, Jade. Always, no matter what.” Too soon his arms slid away and the day rolled along as it had before, with him going off to work.
When Scratch called, I could have just told him I wouldn’t go skateboarding and holed myself up in the theatre room watching old movies, but I had faith I could make this part of the day play out differently, better somehow. I wrote a message on Facebook to my other best friend before I left so she’d have that waiting for her when she got back from her cottage.
Hey Hailey,
You’ll never guess. I’m so over my crush on Aiden. Now I’m in love with Scratch. Had the most exciting week ever while you were gone. Best friends forever,
Jade
I sighed as I pressed send. It might be my last message to her. Next I gave Oreo a yogurt and watched as he nodded over it. “I’m not going to be sad about leaving you. ’Cause it will only be for a while. Okay, boy?”
Oreo continued agreeing. I gave him a last pat.
Then I skateboarded to Scratch’s house, helmet, wrist and knee guards on, keeping my promise to Dad. When Scratch came out of the house, we kissed. If only I could live longer to enjoy this all some more.
Down the hill we coasted. I felt confident, the wheels rumbling beneath my feet, I was so much better at skateboarding. No way should I die today. At least, nobody could make me take my helmet off. I smelled the bonfire air of fall, saw the leaves shiver on the branches, faded green ready to turn rust.
We arrived at the Willow Skate Park same as last time. Aiden already stood filming, video camera in front of him. I didn’t have to repeat all the same mistakes. I skated out of his lens range and actually performed perfect ollies, over and over again. Scratch cheered. Aiden ignored me and this time I was happy about that. I could hear him talking though. Too bad I couldn’t turn his voice off.
“Hey, kid! You with the pants on the ground,” he called to the same scrappy skateboarding kid who had been there the first time—the one with the brush cut.
I turned to see the boy grin as he hoisted his jeans back up. He couldn’t have been more than nine years old.
“Want to be in my skateboard video? I’ll put you on my YouTube channel.”
No, no, no!
“Sure!” The boy skated closer and ollied into the air, flipping the board around as he landed.
“You’re Wishinsky’s brother, aren’t you?” Aiden asked, smiling.
“Tom,” the boy answered. He didn’t wear any of the other safety gear, but he did have a helmet on.
“Well, Tom Wishinsky, I’m going to make you a star. Do that move you just did again.”
I wanted to stay away, to not listen, to not have any part of it so I kept skateboarding. I skated up a ramp and then down, crash. I scraped my face, the same as last time, and wiped the blood away from my cheek.
“Are you okay?” Scratch asked.
“Fine,” I answered.
Meanwhile Tom looked like a little pro on that skateboard of his. Maybe Aiden would be satisfied with all his terrific moves. It wasn’t like Tom had long hair he needed to showcase by removing his helmet.
“Hey, Rollo! Wanna drive my car?” Aiden called, tossing his keys.
“Sure!” Rollo caught the keys and they walked to the parking lot together. Rollo climbed into the driver’s side, helping Aiden take the roof on the Mustang down.
My blood turned to ice. I picked up my skateboard and followed. If I didn’t die, did that mean Tom would? But Tom seemed way more skilled, and like I said, he kept his helmet on. Where was his older brother? Probably over with Devon, lined up at the ice cream truck that had rolled in on the playground side of the park.
The Mustang’s engine roared to life. Tom grabbed onto the passenger side of the car behind Aiden just as I had. Aiden kneeled on the seat and angled his camera down.
“And…action.”
The car rolled forward and onto the street from the lot.
I felt my breakfast back up in my throat. I couldn’t let this go on. But I wasn’t going to take Tom’s place. No way! I wouldn’t let Dad cry at a funeral just because Aiden thought a dangerous skateboarding maneuver would make his YouTube video go viral.
I watched the boy wobble on the board. He scrunched down lower to grip the door. This was ridiculous! I whipped out my smartphone. Nobody was going to die skitching! I keyed in 911 and listened for the numbers to register. One ring, two, and then the low-battery light bulb flashed. Just in time a voice answered.
“Listen, this is important. You have to come to…” Blurp! The phone died before I could say Willow Skate Park. My mouth went dry.
The Mustang turned the corner. Tom still clung, hunched to the door. Rollo drove a bit slower than he had for me. Maybe this would all turn out all right. I lost sight of them for a while until they passed that ice cream truck parked at the far end of the park. Then they disappeared for a few moments again. Still Rollo had been driving at a reasonable pace, Tom was a better skateboarder than I was, and he was still wearing his helmet. As they came back into view, I saw Tom hanging on tight
ly till they rolled to a stop.
Then I rushed over to Tom. “Hey, that was great!” I slapped his back. “You’re a pro. Can I buy you an ice cream cone? I’ll even spring for toppings, whatever you like. What do you say?”
“Sure!” Tom tagged alongside me as I crossed the parking lot.
“Wait a minute,” Aiden called. “Come look at the footage.”
“You can do that later,” I said, draping my arm around his shoulder and steering him away from Aiden. “Truck’s going to leave any moment now.”
Tom shook my arm off. The spell Aiden cast was greater than the lure of a chocolate-coated soft ice cream. He ran back and huddled with him over the tiny viewfinder.
“Do you think you could stand taller, maybe open up your body and wave your hand?” Aiden asked him.
“I’m right handed. I can’t hold on with just my left hand.”
“What if you rode on the driver’s side? Could you hold on well enough with your right arm?”
“So I have to go around another time?”
“Yeah. If you don’t mind. I can use this footage but it really isn’t the best we can do. We want to attract viewers, right. Go viral?”
Chapter 26
EVEN IF IT KILLS ME
“No!” It had been the second ride around that killed me, too. There I stood at the edge of the parking lot. Could I convince Tom to stay away from Aiden and his car somehow? Ice cream hadn’t worked.
“Stop!” I shouted to Aiden. I waved and yelled, “Don’t!”
“What’s the problem, Jade?” Scratch asked me. “The kid is terrific. Maybe there’s a contract with Psychi in it for him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Nothing is worth that kind of risk.” Even with a broken wrist and concussion, Scratch was never going to understand playing it safe. I wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him.
Instead I walked away from him, grabbed the sides of my hair in frustration and pleaded silently, Help me, Mom. I don’t know what to do!
Rollo turned on the engine.
Listen to the voice inside you. Do what that person tells you. Mom’s voice sounded clear.
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