Gabriella sets up our ropes as we slip into our second costumes: electric jumpsuits. Then she gives the DJ a thumbs-up.
The audience seems eager to see something. The music starts, and people get into it. It’s a hot mix of the latest hip-hop and techno. My cousin Marc hooked it up for us. Brie and Melissa turn the ropes. Suddenly the lights go out, but our ropes glow in the dark and our suits are made with lights that create crazy patterns along with the beat. It’s some really cool app Marc and Gabriella have been working on. The crowd goes crazy for it! It looks incredible! Sally and Tina do a dance while I float in and out of the ropes, jumping with excitement in my step! My parents are watching!
“Sally, get ready!” Gabriella yells from the sideline. “Ivy is MIA. You do the solo!”
Sally gets that frightened look on her face.
“Sally!” I yell as she snaps out of it. “You got this!”
She cracks a smile. “I know,” she says confidently. Redemption time.
Melissa and Brie wiggle the ropes while Sally, Tina, and I do the dance portion. Brie and Melissa put down the ropes and join us in the dance for a few seconds, then pick up and get back to turning. Tina and I do a doubles routine. High kicks, leapfrog, and we both do a four-legged spider spin. It’s crazy, but we do it without a glitch. Sally has turned off her suit and runs to one end of the court. She turns her suit back on. As soon as Tina and I exit the ropes, Sally does three backflips and cartwheels into the ropes. Yes! Tina and I take the ropes to turn for Sally’s solo. She’s not frozen this time! Seconds later, a sixth jumpsuit that glows in the dark comes flipping across the stage. The crowd goes wild! It’s Ivy!
“Move down!” Ivy yells to Sally. Sally hesitates for a few seconds. Maybe this is payback. “Come on! We can do it together.” Sally moves down. Ivy jumps in and the crowd cheers. Tina and I keep an eye on their every move so we don’t mess up the ropes. Sally jumps out and lets Ivy have her moment. Brie and Melissa take over the ropes while Tina, Sally, and I dance more out of happiness than a routine. Ivy does a spectacular forward flip, then a double backflip and a slip. Tina and I grab a rope end from Brie and Melissa, and we do a pinwheel routine while Ivy and Sally jump through, and in seconds, we finish with a bang! The crowd is on their feet! Even my friends cheer for us. I can’t believe it. We did it!
—
That night, walking into my own bedroom with a double Dutch trophy that reads 1ST PLACE is the best feeling in the whole world. Then again, my parents don’t exactly explain to me that they are back together, but the fact that they are hugging and kissing each other means they don’t have to say it officially. Maybe that would jinx things.
I feel pretty silly, thinking my parents didn’t love me. Remembering all the things they taught me my whole life is what got me through this summer. And as much as I hate to admit it, I had the best summer of my life. As I lie on my bed wondering if it was all a dream, I glance at my trophy again. Nope, it was all real. I grab my suitcase and dig out my diary. I definitely have to recount every moment of this day. It’s one I never want to forget.
Knock, knock!
“Come in!” I say as I bury my diary under a pillow. I’m not ready to tell my mother about the kiss. My mom and dad are at the door.
“Hey, baby girl,” my dad says. “We’re real proud of you, sweetie, and we wanted to thank you for taking good care of yourself and your brother this summer.” I can only smile.
“You’re growing up so beautifully, baby,” Mom says. “And thank you for being honest with us about how you feel. You sounded really upset in your voice mail, and it made us realize that we really haven’t been paying much attention to you and your brother. And we’re sorry, honey.”
“I promise you, we’re going to do better,” Daddy chimes in. “I mean that.” I hope he’s being honest.
“We may not be perfect, but you and Cam mean the world to your dad and me,” Mommy says. “I hope you can forgive us?” I nod and hug her tight.
“And,” my dad says as he pulls a box from behind his back, “we got you a little something.” What? Is that what I think it is?
“Oh my…,” I gasp. I tear open the box. It’s a phone!
“Now, be responsible with it, honey,” my mom says.
“That means no talking on it all day and night,” my dad says. “Or letting it distract you at school. And if you lose it—oh well. You’ll have to get the next one on your own.”
“Johnnie!” My mom taps him. “Enjoy it, baby. You deserve it.”
“Good night, baby girl,” my dad says as he closes the door. I’m not really sure if he says anything after that, because once I turn on the phone, I find one number in the back of my diary I’ve been wanting to call ever since I’ve been back. I dial.
“Hello, Kayla from BK,” a voice says.
“How’d you know it was me?” I melt.
“Uh, area code,” Charlie says jokingly. “So tell me, what’s good?”
“Nothing, um, everything,” I stutter. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
“How about I start?” Charlie asks.
“Okay, go ahead,” I say.
“I’ll be in New York for Christmas,” says Charlie.
I’m speechless. Butterflies.
Acknowledgments
When asked whom I’d like to acknowledge, so many names and faces flooded my mind. I welled up as if I’d been asked
