Never Grow Up

by Karen Kingsbury

  Sometimes it was fun to put herself in the drawing.

  The air got colder and Ashley joined her family for dinner. Everyone went around the table and said what they liked most about the day. Brooke was glad for no homework and Kari was happy about Mom’s apple oat bars. Erin was thankful for time with their family and Luke was excited about training Bo to sit.

  “What about you, Ashley?” Dad smiled at her. “I bet you’re happy about your drawing. It’s one of your best.”

  “Yes.” Ashley tapped her fingers on the table. So many good options. “That’s a nice one. But I think my very favorite is that today is one day closer to tomorrow.”

  Her family waited a few seconds and then Kari giggled. “What’s that mean?”

  “It means…” Ashley stood and spread her arms out to her sides. “Tomorrow is our class trip to the pumpkin patch! And today… is one day closer.” Ashley pointed at her mother. “Also Mom is going to chaperone!”

  Everyone was happy for Ashley, and after dinner she counted the hours till bedtime.

  Finally it was Monday morning and Ashley felt buzzy about the fact. With everything in her, she knew it was going to be the best pumpkin patch day ever!

  * * *

  The school bus pulled up to Bloomington’s Blossom Farm and the students and chaperones all piled out. The bus happened to park right next to a puddle.

  “Please step over the muddy water,” Mr. Garrett shouted more than once.

  Even still Elliot plopped right into it. Water sprayed everywhere, and two of the chaperones screamed. But Elliot just laughed, like maybe he preferred muddy shoes on a pumpkin patch day.

  Ashley understood. Mud was a pretty fun situation.

  On the way to the ticket booth, Mom walked with Ashley. “That boy who jumped in the puddle… is he a troublemaker?”

  “No.” Ashley shook her head. A thought hit her. “Elliot is a… trouble-faker.”

  Mom took Ashley’s hand in hers. “I haven’t heard of that.”

  “Well. It’s when someone likes to be goofy and make people laugh.” She looked back at Elliot. He was jumping along while the other kids walked. Ashley raised her eyebrows at her mother. “Adults might think he’s making trouble. But he’s only faking, Mother. You know, to be included in the jokes and stuff.”

  “Ashley’s right.” Suddenly Landon Blake was walking with them. “Elliot’s had some low moments. Like when he blew gum into Ashley’s hair.” Landon winked at Ashley. “But he’s a good friend.”

  Then Ashley remembered. Her mother didn’t know this unlikely friend! Ashley pointed at him. “This is Landon Blake.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered toward her mother. “I thought he was a menace. But he’s fine. I checked.”

  “Landon! Come look at the hogs!” Chris shouted from a ways ahead.

  “See you later, Ashley.” Landon jogged off toward Chris. He looked back. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Baxter.”

  “Bye.” Ashley watched Landon go. She turned to her mom. “He’s the boy who won the other half of the medals at Field Day.”

  “I see.” Her mother smiled. “He seems nice.”

  “Yes.” Ashley smiled. “He’s one of my unlikely friends.”

  Once they were past the gates, the kids broke into groups. Everyone had to be back at the barn for lunch, which gave them three hours to explore. Ashley’s group had Natalie and Elliot and Chris and Landon.

  The tractor hayride was first for their group. Ashley and her friends climbed onto the trailer behind the tractor and found seats on bales of hay. Ashley’s mom sat in the middle between Ashley and Natalie.

  “Mrs. Baxter.” Natalie grinned at Ashley’s mother as the tractor set off across the field. “I’m glad I’m in your group.”

  “Because…” Ashley kissed her mother’s cheek. “You, Mom, are the chaperone extraordinaire.”

  They passed five cows and Elliot began making mooing sounds.

  “Elliot!” Ashley tapped his shoulder. “Cows don’t like people pretending to be in the flock.”

  “Really?” Chris gave her a funny look. “A flock of cows?”

  “Yes.” Ashley tried to stand but the tractor hit a bump and she crashed back to the hay bale. “Flock means lots, Chris. Lots of cows, of course.”

  Natalie gave Ashley a nervous look. Then she whispered, “Herd. It’s a herd, Ashley.”

  Mom winced and gave her a little nod. Her face said Natalie was right.

  Ashley did a small cough and stared around Natalie to Chris. “Flock herd. That’s what I’m saying. Cows flock in their herd.”

  Elliot mooed again and Ashley responded with a moo of her own. The others did the same, but not like Ashley and Elliot. They were the best mooers in Mr. Garrett’s class.

  The tractor sputtered up a grassy hill where they had a view of the whole farm, including the goat pen and the corn maze. Then as they passed a coop of chickens, a huge field of pumpkins came into view.

  They stopped and Ashley’s group scampered off the trailer. Ashley ran ahead of her mother. She zigzagged through the patch, jumping over vines and examining each pumpkin. “I know you’re here, perfect pumpkin!” She skipped over another vine. “Where are you?”

  Just then Mom held out a pumpkin. “Here! Ashley, look!” It was perfectly round and had the best stem in all the patch.

  Ashley squealed. “I love it.” She grabbed the pumpkin and hugged it. “I will name him Clancy.”

  Her mother brushed her hands on her jeans. “That’s a nice name.”

  “Thank you.” Ashley held Clancy the pumpkin tight. “Just so you know… I’m having the best day with you today.” She hugged her Mom’s waist.

  “So am I, sweetheart.” Mom held Ashley tight. “So am I.”

  The group decided on the corn maze next. Only Mom stayed back with a few of the chaperones. Everyone except Natalie was excited to make their way through the maze. Natalie was worried about her radiant red rain boots. That’s what she called them.

  They were partway through the confusing trail when Elliot stopped. “Um. I think we made a wrong turn.” He was definitely trying to sound brave. But his knees were shaking. He sneezed. “Plus I think this corn is getting the best of my allergies.”

  “We should’ve brought my mom.” Ashley tossed her hands. “Now we’ll live the rest of our lives out here in this maze.”

  “I told you this was a bad idea.” Natalie stared at her new boots. They were brown now, covered in mud. “My boots are ruined!”

  “Well what did you think they were for?” Elliot wiped his nose with his sleeve.

  Natalie crossed her arms. “I thought they were for being cute.”

  Landon and Chris had gotten ahead of them, so it was just Ashley, Natalie and Elliot now. Ashley stood between Natalie and Elliot. “Stop! We won’t find civilization by fighting about rain boots!”

  At that exact moment a loud shout came at them through the corn. “BOO!” Chris jumped through the stalks onto the path next to them. Ashley, Natalie and Elliot all dropped to the ground at the same time. Ashley and Natalie screamed.

  “Gotcha!” Chris doubled over laughing. “I got you all good!”

  Elliot picked himself up off the ground. Mud clumps stuck to his chin, and he sneezed again. “That’s not funny, Chris.”

  “It was pretty funny.” Chris peered into the corn. “Landon! Come out here!”

  Landon came out seconds later. He looked embarrassed. “Sorry. We… didn’t really mean to scare you.”

  “Yes we did!” Chris was still laughing. “Landon, you should have seen it. They all fell to the ground.”

  The expression on Landon’s face looked angry. “Quit it, Chris. That’s not nice.” He walked over and helped brush the mud off Elliot’s face. “It’s only funny if no one falls.”

  Chris actually seemed to think about that. His shoulders sank. “I guess you’re right.” He helped brush mud off Natalie’s rain boots. “Sorry.”

  Ashley wiped a
few mud smears from her knees. Then she looked at her two messy friends. “Should we take a vote?”

  “For what?” Elliot’s eyes were getting red.

  “Whether we should accept Chris’s apology.” Ashley raised her chin and stared down her classmate.

  A slight smile lifted Natalie’s lips as she looked at Chris. “Yes.” Natalie nodded. “We accept your apology.”

  “I accept it, also.” Elliot was really sneezing now. If they didn’t find their way back to the real world soon, he would melt into the mud.

  “Me, too.” Ashley shook Chris’s hand. “Don’t let it happen again.” She felt a shiver of concern. “Either of you two know the way out? I don’t want to live here forever.”

  “Follow me.” Landon took Ashley’s hand and the two of them ran ahead. “Lunch is in ten minutes. Come on!”

  Sure enough, Landon knew the way. He only held her hand for a minute, since they really weren’t that lost after all.

  When they stepped into freedom, Landon grinned at her. “I’d never let you live forever in that corn maze.”

  A warm feeling spread through Ashley’s heart. She did a slight curtsy. “Well, thank you.” The group of them began running for the barn. Ashley shot Landon one more glance. “And I would never win all the Field Day medals. A few really did belong to you.”

  At lunch, Ashley told her mother about getting lost and nearly not surviving the corn maze. And something else. How Landon Blake was a mystery. A jokester and a rival and a friend. All at the same time.

  Which was why she shared her ride home with someone she could truly count on.

  Clancy, the pumpkin.

  11 The 5K Day

  KARI

  Today was the day of Alex Hutchins’s 5K run.

  All morning Kari couldn’t get her mind off of Alex and how unfair it seemed that he was sick at the hospital with cancer. She hoped today would be a big success and, if everything went well, a lot of money could be raised for the Hutchins family. Dad said the money would go to Alex’s medical costs, like treatments and procedures.

  “When a child is sick, the whole family struggles,” Dad had told them. Kari thought that was sad but the good news was this: The whole community wanted to help. This morning, Mom and Dad were even letting them bring Bo.

  Since four-legged runners were welcome, too.

  Kari looked out the van window as they pulled into Town Square. Downtown Bloomington bustled with traffic, and Main Street was lined with tents displaying fruit and vegetables and baked goods for sale. Corn hole and horseshoes were set up on one stretch of grass and music played from a nearby speaker. People of all ages and sizes stood in groups—talking, stretching and getting ready to run. They all wore paper numbers across their shirts.

  Bo bounced around, barking and smiling. Like this was the best way to spend a Saturday morning. Dad held Bo’s leash. He petted their dog’s head and helped him calm down. Then Dad and Bo led the way to the registration table.

  Luke was the last of the family to sign up. “I always wanted to run a marathon!” He grinned at Mom, who stood nearby with the rest of the family.

  “This isn’t a marathon.” Brooke patted Luke’s head. “A marathon is twenty-six miles. This is five kilometers.” She smiled at him. “About three miles. I learned that in school.”

  Kari and the others stepped up to the next table, where a happy lady with a long red braid and a white visor gave them each a paper number. “Here you go!” She handed Kari the number 54 and two safety pins. “Attach this to your shirt. I’m glad you and your family are joining us.”

  As Mom and Dad helped them with their numbers, Kari looked back at the woman with the red braid. Did she know Alex? Or was she just helping out? Dad said Alex’s family would be here today. They must be happy so many people had come out to support Alex.

  The Baxter family found a section of grass and Ashley lay on the ground to stretch. Kari dropped down beside her. “You ready?”

  “No.” Ashley grunted. “First the corn maze… now this. All in one week. It’s a lot on a person.”

  Luke, who was doing jumping jacks, chimed in. “You’d feel better if you hadn’t gotten lost in the corn maze.”

  “That was five days ago.” Mom laughed. “I think Ashley has fully recovered.”

  “You’d be surprised, Mother.” Ashley rolled her eyes at their little brother. “Plus, we weren’t only lost, Luke. We were miles from civilization.” She reached for her toes and held that position. “We were thinking about surviving on corn. Forever.”

  Kari giggled at Ashley. Every time she told it, her story grew worse. She patted Ashley’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Dad said we don’t have to run today. We can walk if we’re tired.”

  “Right.” Brooke held her arms out and moved them in little circles. “We just have to finish.”

  Luke ran in place a few times and held his arms straight up. “And I… plan to finish first!”

  “Luke…” Erin sat cross-legged on the ground. “There are adults here. Professionals.” Just then a group of runners walked by. They wore tight-fitting runner outfits, with sleek shoes and matching water bottles. Erin giggled. “See. Those kind of people are going to win this thing.”

  Kari watched her mom and dad talk to a man who was probably Alex’s father. The man looked happy and sad at the same time. After a while, Kari’s parents joined the family again. Bo looked ready for the race, because he wasn’t barking now.

  “It’s almost time.” Dad clapped his hands.

  “I’m going to win.” Luke started doing jumping jacks again. “I’m practically a professional.” He was already out of breath. “Right, Dad?”

  “One day you might be.” Dad ran his hand over Luke’s hair. “Second grade is very young to be a professional runner.” He grinned at each of them. “Today let’s just do our best.”

  Alex’s dad stepped onto a platform and took hold of the microphone. “First, thank you for showing up today.” His eyes looked damp. “I… can’t believe you would all come out to run and walk for my boy.”

  Kari and her siblings stood a little closer to Mom and Dad and Bo. Being sick must be very hard, Kari thought. She looked up as her mom leaned her head on Dad’s shoulder. Mom whispered, “It makes me thankful for our health.”

  Kari realized how important it was to be here for Alex. There were lots of ways to show someone you cared. Bringing dinner or making a card for someone who was sick. Today this was the best thing they could do for Alex and his family.

  “Some of you have asked about Alex.” From his spot on the platform, his father looked at the crowd. “Alex is in the hospital today. He… needs a miracle.” The man seemed to wipe a tear from his face. “And today you are a part of that miracle.”

  Next to Kari, Erin hugged Mom’s waist. “We need to keep praying for Alex.”

  Mom’s eyes looked watery. “Yes.” She kissed the top of Erin’s head. “We can do that.”

  A different man took over for Alex’s dad and told everyone that their registration fees from the race had raised fifteen thousand dollars for Alex’s family. Then he talked about the rules. “Stay on the path, don’t turn around and please pick up after your furry runner friends!”

  Bo gave a single bark and everyone laughed. “Good boy.” Dad patted Bo’s head. “You’re going to love this!”

  Kari and her family moved closer to the starting line. Dad had his arms around Mom and Kari. “Mr. Hutchins asked if we could swing by the hospital after the race. To see Alex and cheer him up.” Dad nodded. “I said we would.”

  Ashley skipped up alongside Kari. “I can tell him a joke!” She did a twirl. “I’m an absolute riot, you know.”

  Luke raised his hand. “I’ll show him my basketball cards!”

  Mom smiled. “Perfect.”

  Kari thought for a minute. What could she do to cheer up Alex? Maybe bring in her music and do the Dancing Queen routine for him? Or talk about her swim team? No, that wouldn’t work. Ale
x was only a year older than Luke. He wouldn’t care about swim team yet.

  Then an idea hit. Kari could tell him about the meteor shower! Yes, Alex would love that!

  “Attention, runners and walkers.” A voice came over the speaker. “The race will begin in five minutes!”

  “Kari.” Ashley looked very serious. She leaned in close and whispered. “I don’t want to scare the younger children. But… I don’t think we have enough food.”

  “What?” Kari blinked. “We’re supposed to be running. There won’t be time to eat.”

  “For five days?” Ashley shook her head. “I thought Mom and Dad would be more prepared. We don’t have tents or sleeping bags. Plus it’s practically freezing out here.” She rubbed her arms. “I know it’s for Alex. But a five-day? I didn’t train for this.”

  “Ashley.” Kari stared at her sister. “You think it’s a five-day race?”

  “Yes! Dad said so.” Ashley put her hands on her hips. “What do you think a five-day means? We run for five days. Straight. No breaks.” She slumped over. “I’m already exhausted.”

  Kari tried not to laugh. “It’s not a five-day race, Ash.” She put her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “It’s a 5K!”

  “Five Ks? What does that even mean?” Ashley stood straight again. “Walking in a K pattern five times? How long does that take?”

  Brooke must have been listening because she chimed in. “The K stands for kilometers. It’s a way to measure distance.” She blew at a wisp of her hair. “Things you learn in middle school! Weren’t you listening? I just said this a bit ago.” Brooke laughed.

  “I must have missed it.” Ashley looked relieved.

  Dad and Bo walked up. The whole family gathered around. “What’s happening?”

  Kari grinned. “Ashley thought the race lasted five days straight.” She put her arm around her sister. “She thought it was a five-day.”

  “Oh, honey.” Dad still had hold of Bo’s leash. “I’m sorry. You should have asked us about that. If we run some and walk some, it’ll take less than an hour.”