“To the classroom! Here we go!” Ashley stood tall, eyes straight ahead, like she was at the starting line of the Olympics. “One… two—”
“Wait!” Natalie shouted. “Who are we racing?”
“Us!” Ashley raised her hand in the air. “One, two, three… Go!” And like that they were off. Natalie kept up, which surprised Ashley. Together they did a sort of hobble skip to the classroom. Not the smoothest three-legged race. But neither of them fell. And as they tagged the wall at the same time, Ashley knew something. Not only was Natalie a new best friend.
But she was the perfect partner for Field Day.
* * *
Mr. Garrett was Ashley’s teacher. They hadn’t gotten off to the best start. Ashley accidentally spilled ice cream on Mr. Garrett’s head at the back-to-school night, and there was the time she got lost at the school field trip to the zoo. Also her teacher hadn’t given her the sea animal she wanted in the class ocean presentation. But at the end of the day, he was a fun teacher. And she was thankful for that.
Now Mr. Garrett stood at the front of the room holding a stack of books. “We have a new class book to read.” He held up the cover. It had a lovely drawing of a pirate ship. “J. M. Barrie’s classic, Peter Pan.”
The class started talking at once. “I love Peter Pan.” In the chair next to Ashley, Natalie clapped her hands. “This is our best book yet!”
Ashley searched her head. She had seen the Peter Pan movie, but it was a long time ago. Pilots and fairies and pixie dust. Something like that. Also a boy who wanted to become a crocodile. Ashley lowered her brow. No… that wasn’t it. A boy who didn’t want to throw up. Or was it—
“Peter Pan is the story of a boy who didn’t want to grow up,” Mr. Garrett explained as he passed out copies of the book.
“That’s it!” Ashley slapped her desk. The other kids turned to look at her. “Not throw up. The boy who wouldn’t grow up!”
The story was coming back to Ashley now. “Peter had a bunch of pilot friends, right?”
“Pirates, Ashley.” Mr. Garrett frowned. “Not pilots.” He sighed. “And they certainly weren’t his friends.”
From the back row, Chris shouted, “Pirates are my favorite!”
No surprise, Ashley thought. Based on his aggressive and sometimes hard-to-handle attitude, Chris might be an actual pirate.
Elliot, another one of Ashley’s new best friends, raised his hand. “Peter Pan can fly. Is that right?” Elliot talked with a bit of a lisp because of his braces.
Mr. Garrett looked impressed. “Good, Elliot. Yes.”
“He goes high up into the clouds and then on into space. Like aliens.” Elliot talked very fast and breathless. Especially when it came to space and aliens. Elliot loved aliens.
“No, Elliot. Not aliens.” Mr. Garrett walked through the classroom giving out books to the students. “In the story, Peter goes on a fantastical adventure up to the clouds.”
Natalie nudged Ashley. “Like you!” she whispered. “Spinning your way up to the clouds.”
Ashley felt a thrill run through her. Natalie was right. She was just like Peter Pan!
Mr. Garrett was still passing out books. “Peter Pan takes with him a group of siblings, the Darling children.”
Ashley raised her hand.
Mr. Garrett paused. “Yes, Ashley?”
She drummed her fingers on the top of her desk. “Why were they darling?”
Mr. Garrett tilted his head to one side. “Excuse me?”
“You said they were darling.” Ashley threw her hands in the air. “So. What made them that way? Were they teeny tiny babies? Those are darling. Or were they loved by everyone in their village? Sometimes that’s a clue that someone is darling.”
“No, no.” Mr. Garrett laughed and handed Ashley her copy of the book. “Darling is their last name. But good question, Ashley.”
Ashley studied the picture. She loved the glittery stars and the kids flying through the sky. If the cover was anything like the book, then she was in for a real treat. She looked at the cover again. Peter Pan.
Ashley thought about Peter Pan and his life. Never growing up. Flying in the clouds. Going on adventures with pirates. He didn’t have to worry about new schools or making friends or gymnastics. Or falling on the playground.
It seemed like the perfect life.
In the van on the way home, Ashley pulled out her sketchbook and began to draw. She sketched a different picture every day. This time it was herself midspin. One hand held a sword, to fight off pirates, of course. And with the other she threw pixie dust in the air. Like Peter Pan. But this time Ashley wasn’t on the ground like a regular girl.
She was dancing on the clouds.
3 Brooke’s Breakdown
KARI
One day, Kari was going to write a book about her family. The Baxters, she would call it. And when she did, their new house was going to be a character. That’s how much she loved it.
That afternoon when they got home from school, after her siblings had gone in, Kari stood outside the two front doors and stared at the house. The white porch that wrapped from the front to the back, and the windows to each of their bedrooms. Plus the pond and stream and the million miles of green grass and trees that surrounded the place.
She loved everything about it.
Kari ran inside and took her backpack upstairs. They had only moved here a few months ago, but already her bedroom was her favorite place in all the world. The room she shared with Ashley. She dropped her bag and stared out the giant window. Beneath it was a built-in reading bench. Where Kari had already spent a thousand hours.
Yes, the house would be a very special part of her book, for sure.
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz had said it best: There really was no place like home.
Kari hurried back downstairs with her journal.
Mom was slicing apples for their snack. “Who has homework?” She pulled a plate from the cupboard. The house smelled like warm cinnamon.
“Not me.” Luke’s arm was still in a cast from falling out of the backyard tree. But he could use his fingers now. He unzipped his backpack, pulled out a wadded-up sheet of paper and handed it to Mom. “I finished it in the car. So can I go play outside?”
“Son…” Mom uncrumpled the paper. “You need to be more careful with your schoolwork.” Mom pressed the wrinkled page along the kitchen counter. It didn’t help.
Luke grinned. He had lost a tooth last night, so he had a big hole in the front of his mouth. “At least I did it.”
“No. Not at least…” Mom put her hands on her hips. “You are a Baxter. That means we do our best. No matter what.” She looked down at Luke’s shoe. “And please, tie your shoelace.”
Luke covered up his laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Go play.” She handed the messy page back to Luke. “But be more careful next time.”
“I will!” Luke seemed to be a little more cautious as he put the page back into his backpack. Then he ran outside. Within seconds Kari could hear the sound of the basketball on the pavement.
Mom sighed. “Making baskets is more important to that boy than making good grades.” She looked at Kari. “What can we do?”
Kari shrugged. “He does make most of his shots.”
This time the laugh came from Mom. “True.”
Brooke wasn’t home yet, but none of the other kids had homework. Mom set a plate of apples on the kitchen table and joined Kari, Ashley and Erin there. She looked at the girls. “I need to make participation prizes for Field Day. You three want to help?”
“Yes!” they all said at once. Doing projects with their mother was always a fun way to spend the afternoon.
Mom explained the project. “Each student who participates will get a bag with a letter from the principal and a number of prizes.” Mom organized piles of gel pens and small notebooks, colorful pencils and yellow smiley-face key chains. The last pile consisted of small candy bars, plus there was a stack of letters.
“I’ll put the candy and a letter to the parents inside a bag and pass it around the table. You girls fill it with one item from each pile.”
It took them a few tries to get the rhythm of the assembly line down, but once they had it, they were able to work and talk at the same time.
“How were your days?” Like always, Mom sounded happy. “Give me the highlights.”
“Good.” Erin answered first. She was in charge of the colorful pencils. “I sat next to a new friend at lunch. His name is Max.” Erin passed the bag to Ashley.
“Max. That’s nice.” Mom placed a parent letter and a candy bar in a few of the open bags to get the assembly line started.
“I had a dancing day.” Ashley was getting behind on the key chains. She picked up her pace. “What does the winner of Field Day get?” She looked at their mom. This seemed very important to her.
“Hmm.” Mom grabbed another bag and slipped her items inside. “I’m not sure. Why?”
“Because, Mother.” Ashley’s mouth hung open. Five bags were piled up beside her on the assembly line. “Prizes are the most important thing.” She lifted up the nearest bag. “These are nice, but I mean real prizes. For the winners.”
“At our old school, the winners got medals.” Kari placed another gel pen and small notebook in a bag and passed it to Erin. “Didn’t you get a bunch of them, Ash?”
“I did.” Ashley looked satisfied. “Medals would work.”
“Medals aren’t guaranteed, Ashley.” Mom looked at her. “Field Day is about having fun.”
Ashley didn’t look convinced. “Medals are better.”
“Fine.” Mom filled another bag. “What about you, Kari?”
“We learned about the meteor shower coming to Bloomington!” Kari glanced at Ashley and then Erin. “It’s completely safe. Ms. Nan said so.”
“Meteors raining down on us?” Ashley frowned. “I think I’ll stay inside.”
“No.” Kari tried again to picture the stupendous event. “Meteors flashing across the sky. Like a light show.”
Erin’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to see that.”
Mom nodded, impressed. “Sounds amazing. When is it?”
“Forty-one days.” Kari felt her excitement leave. “But then… the worst part of the day was after lunch. Ms. Nan gave us a new assignment.”
“What’s that?” Mom was curious.
“We have to write a paper on what we want to do when we grow up.” Kari let her hands fall to her lap. “But, the truth is, I don’t know.”
“I do.” Erin’s happy voice rang across the table. “I want to be a teacher!”
Ashley didn’t hesitate either. “I’m going to be an artist.”
“I’m doomed.” Kari passed another bag to Erin. “I have no idea.”
“Kari, it’s okay.” Mom smiled. “You can write about something that interests you. But you don’t have to have all the answers. Not yet.”
Just then, they heard the front door fly open and slam shut. Brooke rushed into the room, out of breath and teary-eyed. “My life is over.” She tossed her backpack to the floor and dropped to an open seat at the table.
“Hello to you, too.” Mom looked at Brooke. “Maybe you should tell us about it.”
“Right. Hello, everyone.” Brooke covered her face for a moment. “Sorry. It was the worst day.”
Kari did not like when one of her siblings was upset. It made her stomach ache and her mouth dry.
Brooke looked around the table. “I have two tests and five assignments. All due this week. Plus, Carly said she heard Stephanie Black tell Crystal Cummings that Donnie Baker is taking Stacy Campbell to the Fall Ball.” Brooke was clearly out of breath. She took a quick gasp. “And Donnie is supposed to like me.”
“Wow.” Mom moved to the seat next to Brooke. “That’s a lot, honey.”
Brooke leaned her head on their mom’s shoulder. “It’s not like I even care about that. Donnie is immature. But I wish he would have at least asked me. I would have said no. But, like, it would have been nice. You know?” She took another quick breath.
Kari couldn’t believe it. So much to deal with.
Their mother put her arm around Brooke. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’re a little young for all that.”
“No I am not. I’m not a child, Mom.” Brooke pulled away. Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “Life is so hard!”
“Girls.” Mom took a deep breath. She looked at Kari, Erin and Ashley. “Brooke and I need a little privacy.” She smiled. “Maybe go join Luke out at the basketball hoop.”
Kari and her sisters immediately jumped up and headed outside. Brooke didn’t usually talk to Mom that way. In fact, no one in the family talked to their parents that way.
“I’m worried,” Kari whispered to Ashley as they walked out.
Ashley shrugged. “Brooke’s dramatic. The oldest, and all.” Ashley clapped her hands. “Luke. Brooke’s having a meltdown. Pass the ball.” She waited for Luke to send it her way. “Come on! Let’s have a game!” Ashley motioned to Kari and Erin. “All of us.”
“No. We’re missing Brooke.” Kari crossed her arms. “I think I’ll wait.” She sat on the ground. Brooke had looked so sad. Distraught, even. If that was how people felt in middle school, then she never wanted to be there.
She would stay in sixth grade forever.
“I feel sad for Brooke.” Erin took a shot from under the hoop. She missed. “Maybe we should make a card for her.”
“We could clean her room.” Ashley swished a shot from the foul line.
“Nice shot, Ash.” Luke put his thumbs in the air. “Anything but cleaning.”
“Ashley.” Erin looked confused. “Brooke’s room is always clean.”
“Yes.” Ashley smiled. “Exactly.” She bounced the ball a few times.
“I have an idea…” Luke took the ball and tucked it under his arm. “We could get a dog!”
“Yes!” Erin gasped. “Great idea.” She grinned at the others. “I’ve always wanted a dog.”
Kari had stayed quiet on the bench. But she liked the idea of a dog. Especially for Brooke. Since she was getting older, and all.
“Kari, come play!” Erin waved her onto the court.
“Okay.” Kari joined the others. “Brooke would love a dog. Before she gets too old.”
“Yes.” Luke waved his cast in the air. “She’s almost a grown-up.”
A few dribbles, and Kari threw a granny shot toward the hoop. Swish!
Kari pictured a dog out here with them. Brooke by his side, petting him. Her smile relaxed. Yes, a dog would be the perfect way for Brooke to stay young. Now they just had to convince their parents about the idea.
Before Brooke got any older.
4 Field Day
ASHLEY
Ashley ate every bit of her scrambled eggs that morning. “Breakfast of champions,” she told her mother. Then she pointed to herself. “Me, Mom. I’m the champion.”
“I’m sure you will be.” Her mother patted her head. “Get your shoes on. Can’t win Field Day without shoes.”
Her mom had a point.
Ashley sang a victory song as she finished getting ready. “I’m the winner of Field Day… no matter what my classmates say!”
Somehow she made it through the very long morning and lunchtime. And finally it was time for Field Day! The brisk, sunny October afternoon was perfect for an even more perfect day. She gathered with Natalie and the rest of her friends. “Come on.” Ashley broke into a series of jumping jacks. “Winners warm up.”
“Hey.” Landon Blake came to her. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to beat you.” She gave him a friendly smile. “No offense.”
Landon laughed. “You’ll be worn out before the first event.”
“No.” She did another three jumping jacks. “I’m going to be hyperfast before you take your first step, Landon Blake.”
“Okay.” Landon shrugged. “May the best runner win!”
They
had already been placed on teams and in pairs, and Ashley was paired up with Natalie. Which was great news! Natalie was a true champion—at least on the inside. She found her friend. “Natalie. I need you to be on your A gate here. You get that, right?”
“A game.” Natalie put her hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “You’ve said that.”
“Of course.” Ashley jumped in place a few times. “Important things need to be said twice.”
“You’ve said it four times.” Natalie tied her tennis shoe laces. “Two more than twice.”
“Four times, then.” She really hoped Natalie was serious about Field Day. “Here are my final tips.” Ashley lowered herself so she could look straight in Natalie’s eyes. “Stay focused. Stay loose. Fight to the finish.”
Natalie laced her other shoe. “You should be a coach.”
“I am.” Ashley stretched her right arm across her body and exhaled. “I’m coach of Field Day, Natalie. That’s me.”
“Keep in mind I’ve never done Field Day.” Natalie stood and tightened her ponytail holder. “And I’m not very good at sports.”
“Well, Natalie, think of it this way.” Ashley took her hair band off her wrist and slipped it over her short hair. “Today is more like Feel Day. Cause of all the emotions.” Ashley felt her bouncy ponytail. She was still getting used to her hair at this length. It had to be cut last month due to an unfortunate gum incident involving a certain student.
“Elliot!” Ashley called her friend over. “Come stretch with us.”
He was flying his hand through the air. As if it were an actual spaceship. Plus he wore a cape around his neck. Elliot was one of the greatest people Ashley knew. He didn’t care what anyone else thought about him. Also he was funny. And he was nice. Even if he had accidentally spit the biggest gumball into her hair a few weeks ago.
“Are you two ready for Field Day?” He swooshed his spaceship hand down and then spun in a circle.
“Yes.” Natalie finished with her shoes. Finally. She stood and smiled at Elliot. “Are you ready?” Natalie pointed. “That cape might slow you down, I’m afraid.”
Never Grow Up Page 2