Penny scurried in and out of the house, wearing the little blue backpack that Mom had given her for the trip. She kept stuffing things in—two Barbie dolls, a coloring book and crayons, her new dragon book, a couple of juice boxes, and of course Doodle.
I sat in my power chair while Dad loaded the manual one into the back of the SUV. He and Mom darted back and forth as well, adding blankets and bags and more bits of my life here. Dad would have packed both chairs and a locomotive if he thought I needed them! But we had all agreed the manual chair probably would be easier to handle on woodsy paths.
At the last minute, Mom went racing back into the house, then running back out, arms full. She tossed in a couple of pillows, some extra clothes, and a small yellow quilt for Penny, a first-aid kit, a case of water, and even candy bars! Normally she’d never let us have those. I think she forgot we were only driving for a couple of hours, not two days.
“We still have room for the washer and the dryer,” Dad teased as he helped her shove the case of water into the far back.
She swatted his arm but cracked up as she looked at our supreme overpacking.
“So tell me again why this camp is so far away?” Dad asked as he wedged in a sleeping bag, even though I probably wouldn’t need it. “Couldn’t you have found anything closer—in case we need to get to her in a hurry?”
“This is the only camp for kids like Melody that is within driving distance and sounds supersafe,” she told him in her talking-to-Penny voice. “We talked about this!”
He mumbled something I couldn’t hear, but I smirked. Dad was worried, and he didn’t know what to do with all the stuff he was feeling!
It was nine a.m. Time. To. Go. Check-in was at noon. We always like to leave early for stuff these days, because of that time I was left behind by that group of kids I thought were my friends. I’ve been obsessed with being early ever since.
So now I had Elvira shout out the time. “Hellooo, folks! Nine o’clock! Time to get the Melody show on the road!”
But Mom wasn’t ready. She peppered my dad with a whole slew of questions.
“Did you load her meds?”
“You just did, not two minutes ago,” Dad replied patiently.
“Safety straps for her wheelchair?”
“Check.”
“Bug spray?”
“Check—two different kinds.”
“Her favorite blanket?”
“Check and double check. I think we’re good, Diane.” He gave her arm a rub. “Our Melody is going to be just fine. Relax a little, okay?”
Mom exhaled in little puffs, then looked up at him with a small smile. “But she’s never been away from us for so long. I’m not sure if I can do this! She’s my baby girl!”
“Are you worried about her, or about yourself without her?” Dad asked, his voice teasing.
“Probably both!” She sniffled, then sniffled again. “I’m fine,” she said after taking a deep breath. “I’m totally fine.”
Dad wrapped Mom in a huge bear hug. “And Melody is going to be just great!”
I reached out to my mother. She grabbed my fingers and squeezed. Kids go to camp all the time! We’d be fine.
And, it was time. I didn’t want to be the last camper to arrive. So I turned the volume up on Elvira and I tapped out, “Powerful adventures await! Let’s get this show on the road!”
Mom ran her fingers through my tangle of curls. “Okay, baby girl. We’re ready!”
Just as Dad was about to start the engine, Mrs. V bounded out of her house in a neon-pink dress covered with large blue tulips. I’ve never seen a blue tulip before, but I bet Mrs. V could grow them if she decided to.
She squatted down in front of me and gave me her eagle-eye, no-nonsense stare. “I am so proud of you, Melody! You are brave, you are intelligent, and you are ready for this adventure!”
Then she reached into one of her dress pockets, pulled out a little orange bag, and spilled several circles of braided embroidery out into her hand. I looked at her, a little confused.
“These are friendship bracelets,” she explained. “I made them myself.”
I still didn’t get it.
“I hope you meet lots of new people. And if you want, when camp is over, you can give one of these to a friend or a counselor to remember you by. But know that the best memories will be in your heart.”
She leaned in and gave me the biggest hug, engulfing me in that blindingly pink dress. “You got this, kid,” she whispered. Then she tucked the packet of bracelets into my backpack.
“Oh, Violet, how very thoughtful of you!” Mom exclaimed. I flung my arms out in agreement.
“Enjoy every second!” Mrs. V rubbed her hands over her face. Was she getting teary?
It was time.
Mom fastened Penny into her car seat, then Dad placed me in the back next to her. Mom double-checked my seat belt, Dad tucked Elvira in the back by my wheelchair, and then I heard him breathe a sigh of relief as he slammed the trunk with a thud. I was amazed it was able to close!
Was this it? Would we actually drive away?
Mrs. V called out, “Don’t worry, I’ve got the power chair, and I’ll take good care of Butterscotch!” We all waved. I held my breath. Would Mom run back inside for one last thing?
No. We were off!
CHAPTER 9
Penny’s nonstop chatter helped pass the time and kept me from getting nervous. Not that I was nervous or anything… well, maybe.
“Why do red cars go faster, Daddy?” she asked as a cherry-colored convertible, roof down, zoomed past us.
“Because that’s the rule, Penny,” he told her. “Red cars, especially sleek, fast ones, are required to pass all the other cars.”
“Why?”
“So they can get there first!”
Penny seemed to think that made sense, because then she asked, “And why are trucks so big?”
“Because they have to carry a lot of stuff!”
“Like what?”
“Well, every single thing you see in a store came from a factory, or a warehouse, or a farm someplace, and all of that has to be delivered by truck!”
“Wow,” Penny exclaimed. “I think you need to be a truck driver, Daddy—they’ve gotta be rich!”
“What? I’m already the richest man in America!” Dad said with a laugh.
“You are?” Penny asked in shock.
“Sure am. I’ve got you and Mom and Melody.”