Old Stories Part I: The ABC Generation Series Ch2

Are all of ya ready for Chapter Two? 

This chapter will be split into two parts because it is really  long :D So here is part 1! 

CHAPTER TWO

Packing was tiring, especially for Bri. She hated to pack, unlike Amy who was amazingly fast with the packing and could finish it in minutes, all perfectly organized. Or like Cindy who could just throw her clothes and supplies into bags and leave it at that. Bri, a perfectionist, had to have everything done ahead of time and in the right order and perfectly packed, even more organized than Amy’s suitcase.

It took her three hours to pack and after she finished, she was dreadfully hungry and horribly tired.

“Done yet, BB Gun?” her father called, using Bri’s other nickname, BB Gun. Since her first name and middle name started with a B, Dad had made up the name soon after Bri had proven her gift with shooting.

Bri dove under her bed, trying to find something, just when Dad poked his head into her room. Peeking under the hanging blanket, she watched as his eyes widened. Bri bit her lip. She knew why he looked so surprised. She scanned her room — or what she could see from under the bed. Clothes lay everywhere, stuffed animals thrown hither and yon, and dresses hanging by their sleeves on chairs, bedposts, and drawers.

“Dear, what happened? And where have you gone?” asked her father.

Bri  poked out from under the bed. “I’m about done, Dad. It took me a full hour to figure out what to take to Texas considering pants, another hour to figure out which shirts, and another getting my socks, underwear, T-shirts, and shirts, including my sweatshirt into my suitcase, and the clothes in my closest out of the closet.” She huffed an exasperated breath. I never knew I could be so messy.

“I can see that.” Her dad walked over to a miscellaneous shirt and picked it up. “One you aren’t taking?”

Bri wiggled back under the bed, rummaging through the dust bunnies. “Where is that—ugh, urgh—ACHOO!”  Rubbing her nose, she squirmed out from under the bed once more. “Dusty.” She sneezed again.

Dad bent down.
“Yes, all of these”—she motioned around the room—“are staying here.” She crawled out all the way, stood, and held up a dusty shirt. “I need this to be washed. It’s my favorite and I want to bring it.”

“Why was it under the bed?”

“I hid it when Charlie and Arthur came over.” Bri paused. “And then I forgot about it.”

“Ah.” Dad’s mouth twitched. “When you’ve tidied up this room, Ivy wants the ABCs to come downstairs for a before-you-leave meeting.”

Bri nodded. “Okay.” And took the shirt from her father. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, Honey Bri.” He kissed her and left.

Bri sighed and turned to her room. Better start picking up. She’d hate to come home to a messy room.

—

While Bri was sneezing under her bed, Cindy was slamming her suitcase shut and zipping it up. “Since I finished early,” she said, “I’ll go play outside. Maybe the neighborhood kids would like to play tag.”

She tossed her suitcase near her door and glanced at the calendar. Only twenty-four more hours until the ABCs left for Texas.

Cindy rushed downstairs and found her mother cooking pies. Hoping Mom wouldn’t see her and ask for help, Cindy sneaked around the counter and burst out into July sunshine. Then she flew down the lane and towards her friend’s house. She pulled up to the door and rang the bell.

Mrs. Ramos opened the door and smiled. “Cynthia! How are the ABCs doing today?”

“We’re fine.” Cindy frowned. “But Bri’s anxious about the trip to Texas.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Mrs. Ramos stepped back. “Come on in, dear.”

Cindy stepped onto the wood floor of the Ramos’ house and smiled. It smelled like roses in here.

“Callie’s upstairs, darling,” Mrs. Ramos instructed. “Writing.”

“Thanks!” Cindy raced up the stairs and found her BFF hurriedly scribbling on notebook paper. Slowly Cindy made her way to Callie’s bed and sat down. Time ticked past, for Cindy knew that disrupting Callie would make her mad.

Finally Callie threw the paper down on the floor and stepped on it. “I can’t think!” she cried and turned around. “Cindy!”

“Hi, Callie.” Cindy grinned. “Sorry I scared you.”

“You didn’t.” Callie hugged her. “How’s the ABCs?”

“Fine, except for Bri.” Cindy took Callie’s hand. “I wanted to say goodbye before we left. Only twenty-three hours till departure.”

Callie smiled wanly. “I’ll miss you.”

“I will too.” Cindy nervously grabbed her dark hair and twirled it around her fingers. “Callie, you’ll write, won’t you?”

“Of course!” Callie hugged Cindy viciously and whispered, “Tell me if you meet any boys.”

“Ha! Like I would,” Cindy joked. She shoved Callie down in mock fury. Callie yelped and shoved her back, and both girls collapsed on the bed, giggling.

—

Bri stared at the plane, eyes wide. She barely knew her father’s father and mother, and now she was headed right for them—without Mom and Dad.

“Go on, BB Gun,” said her father. “We don’t want the plane to take off without us.”

Bri clutched her honey-colored hair—something she did when nervous—and followed Amy and Cindy onto the plane. Amy and Cindy laughed  and kidded around, both comfortable with the plane. Amy had gone to a surfing camp in Hawaii once, all by herself and on a plane, so she looked fine. And Cindy acted brave and never flunked on anything, so she looked more than fine.

But me? I’m scared silly.

Bri shuddered and found her spot in the plane. I hope this doesn’t crash. She looked hopefully at Mom. “Please come with us.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you’ll be fine.” Her mother kissed her forehead and waved goodbye. “I’ll be praying for you three.”

“I love you, ABCs,” said Dad. They stepped off the plane and disappeared.  

Bri felt even more nervous. Looking at her sisters, she realized they were suddenly nervous as well. Bri flashed her brown eyes across the people sitting in the plane and bit her lip. One man caught her eye, a bald, middle-aged dude in black. He wore a mustache and was reading a book about army generals.

Bri poked Amy. “Look.”

Amy and Cindy looked. “Do we know him?” asked Amy.

“I think so.” Cindy narrowed her eyes. “Ah-ha! He’s from the mall, seller of those—” She was cut off by a loud rumble and soon the plane was driving down the runway, faster, faster, faster. Wumph, wumph, wumph, and—

Bri shrieked as the plane took off. She clutched her chair with one arm and wrapped the other around Amy’s neck. Then, as the plane floated higher, she took her other arm off the arm-rest and squeezed Amy’s head tight. No, no, no!

“Brianna Bella Key!” came muffled from Amy. “Let me go!”

“Settle down, Honey Bri,” said Cindy calmy. “Everybody’s looking.”

Bri swallowed her cries and took her arm from Amy’s face. “Sorry, Amy.”

Amy snorted and rubbed her red cheeks.

BB Gun looked around and shuddered. That creepy guy stared at her. She turned away and glanced at her sisters. Both of them were red and staring at their lap.

Bri couldn’t help thinking, This is going to be a long trip.

Push HERE to go to Part 2 of Chapter Two