Claudia groaned and clutched her head in her hands. “You had to remind me!” She turned to me. “How about you, Dawn?”
I shrugged. I never eat ice cream (I like frozen yogurt and Tofutti) but I didn’t want to sound rude. I was just about to make up some excuse not to go to Claudia’s when a car horn tooted behind me. I turned automatically and saw — Travis!
“Ohmigosh!” I muttered under my breath.
Mary Anne spotted him at the same time. “Isn’t that —”
“Yes, yes,” I said quickly, practically fainting on the spot.
“Look, he’s pulling over to the curb,” Stacey said, grabbing my arm. “And he’s waving to you.”
My mind went blank. What was Travis doing here? Did he really want to see me?
“Go over to the car,” Stacey whispered, giving me a little shove. “What are you waiting for?”
What was I waiting for? The best-looking boy I’d ever seen in my whole life was offering me a ride, and I was frozen like a statue! I probably would have stood there forever, except that Stacey jabbed me with her spiral notebook.
“Move!” she ordered.
Travis had already pushed the passenger door open and was flashing his million-dollar smile at me.
“Hop in,” he said casually. “Are you on your way home?”
“Yes, but —”
“I’ve got a better idea,” he cut in smoothly. “How’d you like to go shopping with me? I’ve got to pick out a birthday present for my dad.”
I hesitated. Going anywhere with Travis would be fantastic, but I knew I should check with Mom first. I shifted from one foot to the other, trying to stall for time. Maybe I could duck back into school and call her first? But then Travis would think that I was a baby! Besides, Mary Anne could always tell Mom and Richard where I was — if she absolutely had to.
Another horn beeped, and Travis patted the front seat of his car. “C’mon,” he said urgently. “This is a no-parking zone.”
I made up my mind. I dumped my books on the front seat, slid inside, and a minute later we were zipping down the street, with the sounds of hard rock filling the car.
Travis waited till we stopped at a red light to turn to me. “I’m glad you decided to come,” he said simply.
I grinned, relaxing a little. “So am I. There’s just one thing I should warn you about. I’ve got to be home by six.”
“No problem. We’ve got plenty of time. I thought we’d hit Surf and Sail first, and then we’ll play it by ear.” The light changed and he turned left.
“Surf and Sail?” I repeated.
“It’s a sporting goods store. My dad has had his eye on a new compass for a long time, and they go on sale this week.”
I nodded, happy to be with him. He looked terrific in a blue cotton workshirt and faded jeans. I could hardly believe my good luck.
As soon as we stepped into Surf and Sail I knew I was out of my league. I’ve been sailing plenty of times, but I don’t know a whole lot about serious boating equipment. Travis stopped in front of a display case filled with compasses, and I decided to speak up. “Travis, I’m afraid I’m not going to be much help to you. Are you sure your father wants a compass?”
Travis laughed and slid his arm around me. “I just wanted an excuse to see you today.”
“Really?” I felt a little light-headed. Travis picked out a compass very quickly, and we were back on the sidewalk a few minutes later. Now what? I wondered. I was totally confused. (And a little disappointed. I’d been hoping that Travis would take a long time to make up his mind, so we could spend more time together.)
I started for the car, but he grabbed my elbow and steered me toward Burger Bite. “Aren’t we going back home?” I asked.
“We’ve got hours ahead of us. I thought we’d stop for a snack and then do some more shopping.”
I’ve got to tell you that Burger Bite is not my favorite kind of restaurant, and I was surprised that Travis wanted to go there, too, since he’d said once that he likes health food. Still, I was glad to be sitting in a back booth with him. I reached for a menu, but Travis closed his hand over mine. “We don’t need that. I come in here all the time.”
But I don’t, I longed to say. Travis was obviously planning on ordering for me. I know some girls like it when a boy takes charge like that, but I like to make up my own mind. Besides, how could Travis possibly know what I felt like eating?
I practically held my breath when the waitress appeared, and wondered if I should mention that I don’t eat meat. I lost my nerve at the last minute, but luckily, Travis ordered grilled cheese sandwiches for both of us.
“So,” Travis said when the waitress had left. “What’s been happening with you today?”
“Not much, how about you?” I still felt a little tongue-tied around Travis and decided it was easier to let him keep the conversation going. Anyway, he always seemed to have something to talk about.
“I tried out for track today,” he said earnestly. “You wouldn’t believe what happened. I was the first guy the coach picked. I guess all that running I did in California paid off …” I let Travis’s words drift over me, thinking how wonderful it was to be sitting there with him. If I had to describe the ideal boy, it would be Travis. Tall, good-looking, with a fantastic smile and a great personality. And he liked me even though he was three years older than I was.
When the sandwiches arrived a few minutes later, he had moved on to another topic, football. “You see, Coach Larson was demonstrating an intricate play for us,” he said, looking into my eyes. He took a bite of sandwich and moved a salt shaker next to the napkin holder. “The quarterback ran down to the twenty-yard line like this …” I watched, caught up in the sound of his voice. “And then the tight end zigzagged over here …” He picked up a ketchup bottle and plunked it down next to the sugar bowl. “Bingo! Right over the line for a touchdown.”
“That’s amazing,” I said, trying to look impressed.
“And you know what?” he added, sliding the pepper shaker across the table. “I was the only guy there who knew what he was talking about.”
“That’s wonderful. You really know a lot about football.”
Travis grinned. “What can I tell you?” He wolfed down the rest of his sandwich and I hurried to keep up with him.
It was almost four by the time we left Burger Bite, and I was starting to feel a little edgy. I knew Mom wouldn’t be thrilled if she found out that I had spent the afternoon with Travis (but I also knew that she and Richard wouldn’t be home for another two hours). So I was safe, at least for the moment.
We walked around downtown, and Travis surprised me (as usual) by leading me into the Merry-Go-Round. “I saw some pierced earrings in here that would look great on you,” he said. He led me to a display counter and spun an earring tree with his thumb. “Good! They’re still here.” He lifted a pair of delicate silver earrings off the tree and held them out to me. “Do you like them?”
They were perfect. Tiny butterflies in flight. “I love them,” I said softly.
Travis held them up to my ear and smiled. “I knew they’d be right for you.”
“I’ll wear them under the stars,” I promised him. (I should explain that I wear two earrings in each ear.)
“No,” Travis said flatly. “You should wear them up higher. Just get another hole punched in your ear.”
“Three holes? I don’t know,” I said doubtfully. I remembered that I’d had to persuade Mom to let me get my ears pierced in the first place.
Travis laughed. “It’s no big deal. All the girls in California wear them that way. It would look really cool on you.”
“I’ll have to think about it,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“There’s nothing to it,” Travis answered. We were standing side by side at the cashier. “They could probably do it for you right now.”
“No!” I was starting to feel a little panicky. I could just imagine Mom’s reaction if I did something like that
without asking her.
I felt relieved when we left the Merry-Go-Round a few minutes later and headed back to the car, even though I knew that Travis was a tiny bit annoyed with me.
“Thanks for the earrings,” I told him, trying to smooth things over.
“I’m glad you like them.” He squeezed my arm. I knew I would never, ever forget this moment.
My happiness didn’t last long though, because when I got home I had the surprise of my life. Mom and Richard were waiting for me in the kitchen.
“You’re home early,” I said casually, tossing my books on the kitchen table.
“You’re home late,” Mom answered, frowning a little. She was cutting up vegetables for a salad.
“Um, not really.” I nibbled on a carrot, stalling for time. I could tell that Mom and Richard were both annoyed with me. What an ending to a perfect day!
“Mary Anne said you went shopping with someone named Travis,” Mom went on. “I’d like you to tell me about it.” Mom can be really direct when she wants to.
There was nothing to do but tell the truth. “I ran into Travis after school,” I said slowly. “He’s a friend of mine, and he asked me if I’d like to ride downtown with him —”
“Ride? You went in his car?” Richard interrupted.
“Well, yes. We were going to buy a birthday present for his father,” I said quickly.
“Who is this Travis?” Mom said. “And how come he can drive?”
“He’s old enough to drive,” I told her. “He’s sixteen.”
Wrong move. Richard looked furious, and Mom looked upset.
“Let me get this straight,” Richard said slowly. “You went out with a sixteen-year-old boy in a car? A boy we don’t know?”
“Yes, but —”
“But nothing!” Mom said. “You had no business going off like that without asking me first.”
I shrugged. This was getting complicated. (And deep down, I had the nagging feeling that Mom was right.)
“Look, why don’t we just forget the whole thing and fix dinner? I’ll help you,” I said, reaching for the salad bowl.
“There’s no way we’re going to forget this,” Mom said. She put the knife down and faced me. “No one’s going to eat anything until we get this straightened out.”
I knew from the look on her face that she meant business. I sat down. I was really in for it.
Mary Anne wandered into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. She had “uh-oh” written all over her face. She took her time opening a can of cat food for Tigger, her kitten, and I knew she was listening to every word. If only she hadn’t told Mom and Richard that I had been out with Travis!
“We’ve got a problem here,” Richard said flatly. He motioned for me to sit down at the kitchen table.
“I didn’t think you would get this upset,” I began, but Richard held his hand up.
“You showed very poor judgment, Dawn,” he said sternly.
“I know it looks that way, but —”
“I’m very disappointed in you,” Mom spoke up. She sat down across from me. I felt like I was being attacked from all sides!
“If you met Travis, you’d really like him,” I protested. I stared at my hands, not knowing where to begin. “He’s really a nice boy.”
Mom stared at Richard. “I’m sure he is, but that’s not the point.”
Mary Anne took a quick peek over her shoulder and went back to feeding Tigger. I couldn’t believe all the trouble she had gotten me into.
“Then what’s wrong with him?”
“For one thing, he’s too old for you,” Richard said bluntly. “He’s sixteen and you’re only thirteen. What could you possibly have in common?”
“Well, we’re both from California. We’re interested in the same things.” I glanced at Mom, wondering if she would agree with me. She should be able to understand how I felt. Even though I love my friends in Connecticut, I miss my friends in California. So does she.
“And another thing,” Mom went on, “we’ve never even met this boy. Did you know he was going to pick you up at school today?”
I shrugged. “Nope. That’s just the way Travis is. He likes to do things on the spur of the moment. He’s impulsive.” And fun and exciting, I wanted to add.
“If he really liked you,” Richard said, “he would make plans to see you. He’d visit you here at the house and meet the rest of your family.”
I sighed. Richard is very serious about being a good stepfather, but sometimes he just worries too much. I wish he would lighten up a little and be more like Mom.
“Travis likes me,” I said. “You wouldn’t believe all the presents he’s given me. First a necklace and hair combs, and today he bought me some earrings at the Merry-Go-Round.”
“I’m not so sure I like that idea,” Mom said slowly. “You hardly know him, and he’s showering you with presents. Something just isn’t right.”
I glanced at Mary Anne, who had finished feeding Tigger and was slipping out of the kitchen. I couldn’t wait to talk to her alone! None of this would have happened if she had kept her mouth shut.
“It’s no mystery,” I said, scraping my chair back and standing up. “Travis gave me some presents because he likes me. I don’t know why you can’t understand that.” I looked at Mom. “And I really want to see him again.”
“I know you do, honey,” she said, softening a little. “And I’m sure that once we meet him, we’ll feel different.”
“You mean you’re going to let her continue to see him?” Richard exploded. “I can’t believe you’re serious.”
“Well, maybe we came down a little hard on him,” Mom said hesitantly. She cupped her chin in her hands and looked thoughtful. “You know, he really does sound nice —”
“This is ridiculous!” Richard broke in. “We don’t know this boy at all.”
“Now, Richard,” Mom said soothingly. “Maybe we’re making too big a deal out of this. As long as Dawn understands that she can’t see him without our permission, I don’t think there’s any problem.”
“Of course there’s a problem. She shouldn’t be seeing him at all. He’s too old for her.”
They were still arguing when I quietly slipped out of the kitchen. It was obvious that the argument was going to go on for a long time, and there was someone I wanted to talk to: Mary Anne. I found her upstairs, sprawled on her bed, doing her homework.
“Thanks a lot,” I told her. “You really got me in trouble with Mom and Richard.”
“Oh, Dawn, you know I didn’t want to do that,” she said, sitting up. “I feel awful that they’re mad at you, but I didn’t know what else to say.”
“Why did you have to tell them anything?” I asked, slamming my books on her desk. “You could have kept your mouth shut.”
“But how could I have?” Mary Anne said in a quavery voice. “They asked me if I knew where you were. So I had to tell them the truth. I said you had gone shopping. With Travis.”
I sighed. I knew Mary Anne couldn’t have made up a good lie. Besides, I didn’t want her lying for me.
“Anyway, you never said it was a secret.” Mary Anne’s voice shook a little, and her eyes had grown very bright. “Sharon and Dad would have been really worried about you if I told them I didn’t know where you were.”
“I know,” I said wearily. I had a feeling Mary Anne was about to start crying.
“You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” she said, sniffing. Mary Anne cries very easily. I didn’t say anything for a moment, and then I realized that Mary Anne was right. It wasn’t her fault that I was in such a mess.
“Look,” I said, putting my arm around her shoulders, “why don’t we just forget about it? There’s really nothing else you could have done.”
She looked up, her eyes teary. “Do you mean that?”
I nodded and sat down on her bed. “How was your day? I’ve hardly seen you.”
“Logan came over after school,” she said,
brightening a little. “He gave me that toy for Tigger, just like he promised.”
Logan is one of the most dependable people I know. He and Mary Anne are a lot alike. You can always count on them, and you always know where you stand with them.
“You really like him, don’t you?” I said, even though I knew what her answer would be.
“Of course I do.” Mary Anne blushed a little. “I guess that seems silly to you. He’s not exciting, like Travis.”
“I don’t think it’s silly. I like Logan.”
“He’s not full of surprises,” Mary Anne said slowly. “But that’s okay with me.”
I thought about all the problems Travis had caused me today. “Maybe surprises aren’t such a great idea after all,” I said.
Mom called us for dinner just then, and we didn’t have a chance to talk about Logan and Travis anymore. I slid into my place at the dining room table and had no idea what to expect. Would Mom and Richard argue all during dinner? Would I get a lecture? Would they criticize Travis?
Luckily, none of these things happened, and dinner went fairly smoothly, considering the circumstances. But Mom and Richard didn’t say much during the meal. Mom just stared at a spot over my head, and Richard pretended to be absorbed in his Greek salad. Mary Anne and I exchanged a look now and then, but neither one of us felt much like talking. However, I had the feeling that this wasn’t the last I would hear about Travis.
Kristy always likes to give a lot of details about her baby-sitting jobs because she expects the club members to read the notebook very carefully. It’s a great way to learn what other baby-sitters are doing with their kids, and you can get a lot of good ideas. None of us really likes to write in the notebook, but Kristy takes her job as president very seriously, and she tries to set an example for us.
“Going Camping” was the perfect way to entertain her four younger brothers and sisters. Karen has a great imagination and loves any kind of game that involves “let’s pretend.” David Michael is an easygoing kid who will go along with just about any game you suggest. And Andrew and Emily love to play, period!