Mimi and Eva come by to see me off, but I think there’s more to it than that.
“I’m so sorry you have to leave.” Mimi hugs me.
“I think it’s going to be fun.” Eva joins in the hug. “If I was leaving Brooklyn for the summer, I’d be ecstatic!”
“That’s because you’ve never been to North Carolina. You guys don’t understand. My cousin is a snooty little princess, and I hate being someplace where I don’t know anyone.” I can’t help how I feel. The South just sucks to me. I’m a city girl, born and bred, and that’s how I’ll stay for the rest of my life.
“I’m sure you’ll make new friends. Maybe even meet a boy,” Mimi says as she nudges me with a smile. I know she’s trying to cheer me up, but I just give her a crazy look and continue to pout. Really? Like a boy is better than jumping double Dutch.
“Well, uh, since you’re going to be gone, uh, we’re going to have to replace you,” Eva says hesitantly, then, “Oooh, I think I know someone!” I look at her like, I haven’t left yet. I’m still standing here. Hello?
“Whatever. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do,” I say as they stare at each other. “I mean, yeah, you should. Make sure you find somebody good. Even though I’ll be gone, I am still a Jet.”
“Of course you are,” agrees Mimi. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“Yeah, she won’t be here to boss us around all summer,” Eva mutters under her breath. Mimi shoots her a look. “What? I’m just agreeing with you,” Eva says, cleaning up her comment. “I mean, who’s going to push us to make it past the semifinals?”
“No worries. You guys can make it without me,” I say truthfully. “It’s our—well, your—big chance. If I were you, I wouldn’t blow it either.”
“We won’t,” Mimi responds.
I somehow get the feeling Eva is honestly happy I’ll be away for the summer. She probably hates me for making her turn all the time, but the other girls are just better jumpers than she is. There’s nothing I can do about that. As captain of the team, I have to call the shots how I see fit. I just try not to dwell on the negative and instead “accentuate the positive,” as they tell us at school. Or maybe Eva is really glad she won’t have to deal with me bossing everyone around. I can admit, I’m bossy at times. That’s just me. And my real friends accept me that way. It’s probably my bossiness that got us closer to the competition at Madison Square Garden anyway, and if they make it without me, I’ll be happy for them. They’re my girls and I’m going to miss them, including Eva.
My father finally pulls up in front of the house. Cameron drags his last bag to the top of the steps while my mother straightens the jacket she put on him, which he quickly takes off. It’s like a hundred degrees in the shade! My father waves at my mom from the car, but she just ignores him. One thing I won’t miss is all the tension and loud, embarrassing arguments between them.
“It might be cold on the plane, so keep your jacket handy, sweetie.” My mother babies my brother, which he soaks up until he sees my friends.
“Okay, Ma.” Cameron makes his way down the stairs to my dad, who’s standing outside the car, waiting.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you guys when I get back,” I tell Mimi and Eva as I grab my bags. My dad comes over to help me.
“You all act like it’s the end of the world,” my father says, attempting to make a joke.
“It might as well be,” I say as I turn to my friends. “Make it to the Garden. No matter what, you guys better bring it.”
“We got you, Kayla,” Mimi says unconvincingly. The three of us have another group hug. My mother is suddenly by my side. She looks at my sad face, then kisses me on the cheek.
“Here.” Mom hands me a picture of my North Carolina relatives.
“Ma, I know what they look like,” I say, annoyed that she thinks I have forgotten them. I could never forget them.
“I am just making sure, sweetie,” my mom says. She hesitates, then adds, “I can’t promise you that everything will be the same when you get back, but I need to count on you to be strong, okay?”
I just nod somberly. My parents possibly splitting up isn’t something I want to think about. What will happen to us? Will my father leave us? Will we have to choose sides? Will my little brother and I be split apart? And now I won’t even have double Dutch to take my mind off the situation.
“Have Aunt Jeanie call me when you get there,” my mom orders. I nod again.
My father takes the bag out of my hand with a smile. “Hey, baby girl,” he says.
By the look I give him he should know I’m not happy with him right now. Can’t he tell? I know I’m being punished for something he did. He stares at my mother for a few seconds, but she looks away. “Hop in, Kayla. GPS says we’re looking at traffic.” My father hurries me along. As he shuts the front passenger door, I wave to Mimi and Eva, who start walking down the block. Eva smiles a bit, which makes me feel like she’s definitely not sad about me leaving. My mother solemnly waves from the top of the stairs, hiding her tears.
Within minutes there’s an awkward silence in the car. Even Cameron is quiet. Maybe because my mother packed his tablet. My father starts trying to make small talk about the weather and how much hotter it’s going to get, stuff I couldn’t care less about right now. Really, Dad? I pull out my earbuds, stuff them into my
