When My Sister Started Kissing

by Helen Frost

  that’s all. I don’t know if he knew whose clothes those were,

  or how they happened to be on our dock. I don’t have to

  explain it to him. Or to you. If I want to give him a TINY little

  thank-you kiss on his cheek, how exactly is that hurting you?

  Rivals

  Claire

  How did I get in the middle of this? TJ sees me out

  on our dock, dangling my feet in the water. He rows

  over and says, Hey, Claire, can I ask you something?

  I nod, and he says, Do you know how those clothes

  got on your dock last night? I don’t care what Abi says;

  I know TJ wants to be her boyfriend, and I bet he thinks

  he could be. He has a right to know. A boy, I answer,

  left them there when he went in swimming. TJ blinks

  a few times as he puts the story together in his mind.

  Would this boy be named Brock? He laughs out loud

  when I don’t answer. So when I thought I was helping

  Abi, he says, I was helping my rival even more. Proud

  to be of assistance, sir, he jokes. His rival! I knew it.

  At least he thinks it’s funny, and I bet I can make

  him laugh even more. I tell him the whole story, and he

  does laugh—but then he gets serious. This lake,

  he says, has a strong current that goes around the

  island. I see that guy, Brock, out running all the time,

  but I don’t see him much out on the lake, or swimming

  long distance like Abi does. No surprise he couldn’t do it—I’m

  just surprised Abi didn’t tell him it’s a lot harder

  than you think it will be. Tell her to be careful. As if

  I could. She doesn’t listen to warnings like that, I say,

  especially not from me. TJ holds his boat still with

  his oars and says, Thanks for letting me know, Claire.

  (I’m not sure I should have, but he’s welcome.) How’s it

  going? he asks. For you, I mean. I splash my foot in the water

  and think about that. Okay, I guess. The baby can get a little bit

  annoying. He’s cute and everything, but sometimes that’s all

  Dad and Pam can think about. TJ gives me a friendly smile.

  I know, he says, and adds, I could row out to the island with you

  sometime, so you can try swimming back—that’s a tough half-mile.

  It Means a Lot

  Claire

  Is Dad trying to make us feel guilty, or is he doing it

  without trying? Thanks for babysitting last night, girls,

  he says. It means a lot to have daughters I can trust.

  I don’t look at Abi. I stir my soup, making little swirls

  of noodles as Dad goes on. Since Pam and I went out

  for dessert last night, why don’t the three of us go

  somewhere tomorrow—maybe over to Pizza Pete’s?

  I say, Okay! And Abi says, Sure, Dad. Does Dad know

  how much we miss doing things with him? This

  makes me happy—it shows Dad really does care

  about Abi and me as much as he cares about Blake. Plus,

  for once, I won’t be Abi’s babysitter—Dad will be there.

  A Quick Turn

  Claire

  I’m going into town this afternoon, but I’ll be back by four

  at the latest, to take my two special girls on our big date.

  Dad can be so corny. So, he says, if you go to the beach,

  make sure you’re home by then. I don’t want to be late

  for our exclusive reservation at Pizza Pete’s. I requested

  the best table, and the maître d’ will be waiting for us.

  Pam smiles; on her birthday, they did go to a

  fancy restaurant like that—Pizza Pete’s is just

  the opposite. Check the weather, Dad says. There could

  be storms coming through later on. Abi says, Okay,

  but once Dad’s gone, she’s more interested in how

  to get Brock’s clothes back to him sometime today.

  She thinks he’ll be at the beach, and she puts his clothes

  in her backpack before we set off in the canoe. It’s hotter

  than it’s been all summer, so we’re sticking close

  to shore, where weeping willows hang over the water.

  We’re coming to the place where I went around the bend

  and surprised Abi and Brock that day she fell off his dock.

  I start to paddle harder, in a hurry to get past his house,

  but then I hear Abi’s startled whisper: Is that Brock?

  She lifts her paddle to point at him. He’s not looking

  our way, but Abi is staring at a girl, who is. She sits

  on the end of his dock, and Brock is putting sunscreen

  on her shoulders. Abi squints, trying to see them, but it’s

  bright; the sun is in her eyes. She twists her paddle

  to make a quick turn. The girl gives a little wave,

  which Abi does not see, as we paddle back the way

  we came. I turn to face Abi and say, Don’t we have

  to take Brock’s clothes back to him? She looks like she’s

  about to cry. Why would he have another girlfriend

  so soon after he told me he liked me? It doesn’t even make

  sense. True, I guess—so does this mean the end

  of her sneaking out and lying and deceiving Dad,

  which I am completely sick of? I can’t resist

  saying out loud: I wonder if this is how TJ feels.

  (Was that mean?) That’s different! Abi tries to insist,

  but that’s all she says. Maybe she’s actually thinking

  about it—she’s quiet the rest of the way home.

  Thunder rumbles in the distance as we pull up the canoe

  and tie it to the tree. Abi mutters, I just feel so dumb.

  Glad We Can Talk

  Claire

  Dad gets back from town and helps Pam

  feed Blake and put him to bed. Okay, who

  is ready for our big evening out? he asks. Abi, is

  anything wrong? She shrugs, and he says, You

  seem quiet. I just wondered. We drive to Pizza Pete’s,

  sit in a booth by the window, and the waiter

  brings us our drinks. Dad proposes a toast:

  To my girls—who are growing up too fast. We lift our

  plastic cups. Don’t worry, Dad. We’re still kids, I say.

  Speak for yourself. I’m not a kid, Abi has to add.

  Either way, says Dad, as I’ve said before, it means

  a lot to be able to trust you two right now. Abi, I’m glad

  your week of being grounded is almost over. I hope

  it hasn’t been too hard on you, and that you’ve learned

  a little bit. He takes a big bite out of his pizza, and

  doesn’t seem to notice that Abi’s face has turned

  bright red. She looks out the window, away

  from Dad. He and I each eat two whole pieces

  before Abi takes a bite. Is something wrong? Dad asks

  for the second time. No, nothing’s wrong, she says.

  I’m not too hungry. That’s all. Dad looks from her

  to me, a question on his face. Well—he’s trying

  hard—how are you two feeling about Pam and Blake

  by now? Abi looks like she might start crying,

  but she doesn’t want Dad to think she’s having

  a hard time about that. Fine, she says, and Dad

  turns to me. I like Blake, I say, but I miss Mom’s

  books and everything. I don’t know why you had

  to get rid of everything. What did you do with them?

  Dad looks surprised. They’re in boxes out in the shed.

  I tho
ught we could take them home when we leave.

  Sorry, I didn’t think about it. You should have said

  something. I don’t know why he didn’t think about it,

  but at least he’s listening now. I look down at my plate

  and say, It’s okay. We’re all quiet for a few minutes. Then

  Abi blurts out, Dad, I thought things were going great,

  but what if I was wrong? Dad goes, Huh? And she takes

  a deep breath and says, See, there’s this boy I kind of like, he’s

  cute and nice, and I thought he liked me—that’s good, right?

  Dad says, Right, but he shakes his head. Abi—please

  start from the beginning. When and where did you meet

  this boy? Who is he? he asks. Abi says, A few weeks

  ago. I can tell she’s being careful not to say more

  than she wants to. I met him—Brock—at the beach.

  And now I think he likes someone else, and he didn’t even

  tell me why. I mean, I’m good enough—right? I’m not funny-

  looking, am I? Dad gets that “Where’s Pam when I

  need her?” look, thinks for a minute, and says, No, honey,

  never think that. You’re perfect. He looks at me

  and adds, You both are. That was nice of him.

  You might think this boy is the best person in the world,

  and I wish he thought the same about you. I’m

  not so sure he doesn’t, in fact. Sometimes you have to

  talk to someone a little more. Get to know each

  other. Take things one day at a time. One boy at a time.

  He pats Abi’s hand. She reaches for a piece

  of pizza, takes a bite, does not look at me.

  Dad says, I’m glad we can talk about it. Abi nods. So

  am I, she says. Dad says, Good. Meaning: “The end.”

  If he only knew how much he doesn’t know.

  Later, as we’re driving home, a few raindrops

  hit the windshield. Then more. Then hail.

  The wind picks up and Dad drives carefully, glancing

  at Abi and me, with a tight grip on the steering wheel.

  Splashing Water on Blake’s Hands

  The lake

  After last night’s storm,

  people want to talk. They all come

  out to see what the wind blew down.

  Where are the swans? In the channel on my

  eastern shore, their nest survived the storm. TJ

  rowed in earlier, to check on them. Then he went

  out with Devon and the twins, hoping to catch some

  fish, but Sadie talked so much that TJ has turned back.

  Blake is coming now. I’ll meet him for the first time.

  Usually, Claire and Abi run quickly down the path,

  taking the stairs two at a time, but with the baby

  they walk carefully. Down at the shore, the girls

  enjoy splashing water on Blake’s little hands.

  Right when they’re laughing together, the

  four Johnsons go by. Sophia says, TJ,

  look! The baby! Can we stop? TJ says

  Yes, and pulls up to the dock.

  One Boy at a Time

  Abi

  Everyone is crowding around Dad and Blake.

  When I step back so Devon can get a better look,

  TJ comes close to me and whispers, Abi, do you

  want to see the swans? I rowed in early this morning

  and found their nest at the far end of the channel.

  I could take you to see them sometime if you want.

  I’ve been thinking about what Dad said: One boy

  at a time. That would also mean one girl at a time,

  right? Apparently, Brock likes someone else, and

  I do want to see the swans’ nest. Okay, I whisper

  (because TJ whispered first). But why are we

  whispering? Who is not supposed to hear?

  Maybe he doesn’t want to take his little sisters

  and brother. Or maybe my sister? Claire would love

  to go along. But this is my first day not being grounded—

  I can finally go where I want without her tagging along.

  Tomorrow morning? TJ suggests. I nod, and he says, Let’s meet

  here at eight—he’s still whispering. Claire gives us a funny look.

  Nothing Much

  Claire

  What were you and TJ whispering about?

  I ask Abi, and she answers, Nothing much.

  But then before we go to bed, she tells Dad, I’m

  going on a boat ride with TJ tomorrow. Such

  a small thing, maybe, but why didn’t she tell me

  when I asked her? Is there some reason they

  don’t want me to know? Am I now the person

  Abi keeps her secrets from? Dad says, Okay,

  Abi. See if you can find out where he’s

  been catching all those fish! That boy sure

  knows his way around this lake. And tell him

  he’d be welcome to borrow my new lure.

  Does it occur to Dad that TJ is a boy

  and Abi is a girl and they’re going

  out alone together? Or does he think, It’s only

  TJ? I guess Dad knows what he’s doing.

  Questions

  Claire, kayaking to the beach

  Abi left the house at eight. Where

  did she and TJ go, so secretly? Does

  it mean she likes TJ now in this

  new boy-girl way? Did they leave

  the Johnson kids behind? Or just me?

  I Leave That Out

  Claire

  I’m at the beach earlier than usual this morning

  and I’m glad to see Jonilet. She’s full of notes

  and observations about what happened on the

  two days Abi and I weren’t here. Two sailboats

  got so close to shore, the lifeguards had to close

  the beach until the wind died down. Also, Brock

  was here with that girl over there. She points

  out the same girl who was with him on his dock

  the other day. I haven’t seen her here before, but it seems

  like she knows Brock pretty well. Where’s Abi today?

  she asks. She went on a boat ride, I answer, so I came

  by myself. She’s not grounded anymore. I don’t say

  who she went on the boat ride with. I’m not sure

  why I leave that out. So much depends

  on what I don’t know: Do Abi and TJ “like-like”

  each other now, or are they still just friends?

  A Quiet Place

  Abi

  TJ steers his little fishing boat

  up to the channel, then shuts

  off the motor and lets us drift

  into the reeds. I take the oars and pull us

  to a quiet place I never knew was here.

  Finger to his lips, Shhhh … TJ points.

  We sit in silence, watching a great white

  bird glide through the water toward a nest

  hidden in the reeds—and then the other swan

  stands up in the nest, and turns, and settles back.

  Four eggs, TJ whispers. For a long time, we sit still

  in the boat, silently watching the pair of swans.

  TJ turns and nods to me. Let’s see, he whispers,

  if we can get a little closer. I row toward the nest

  without a sound. The swan lifts herself again,

  nudges each egg with her beak. Oh, TJ, look!

  I whisper. The morning is so still, the two of us

  so quiet, we hear a tiny beak begin to crack its shell.

  We watch until the baby swan is hatched.

  I release the breath I’m holding, and TJ turns

  to me, smiling, as the sun climbs into the sky.

  We don’t speak. Even whe
n TJ motions me to lift

  the oars and row away, we hold our silence as we glide

  through the channel, back out on the lake. The motor,

  when TJ starts it up again, seems quieter. We take

  the long way home. When we stop at my dock, TJ

  steadies the boat, and says, Thanks, Abi, as I step out.

  Thank you, TJ, I reply. His smile comes from

  a warm, sun-bright place. After he goes home,

  I sit on the dock, my feet in the water, thinking, I love

  the swans, I love TJ’s smile, I love this lake … until

  the swans and the sun and the smile and the silence are

  impossible to separate, still and quiet, deep inside me.

  Okay, I Can See That

  Claire

  When I get home I’m still annoyed that Abi and TJ

  left me behind. I walk along the dock, and sit

  down planning to tell Abi I saw Brock with that girl.

  But there’s something different about her, and it

  makes me quiet. We listen to the lapping of small

  waves on the shore. A school of minnows swims around

  our feet. An eagle flies overhead, then dives

  for a fish. Sitting here with Abi calms me down.

  After a while, I ask: Where did you and TJ go?

  Abi takes her time to answer. We went to see

  a swans’ nest in the channel that leads to the next

  lake over. I look at her. Why didn’t you ask me

  to go along? There. I’ve asked. And Abi answers.

  I wasn’t sure about that, Claire. I think TJ was trying

  to slip away without the little kids finding out where

  he was going or who he was going with. Is she lying

  so I won’t feel bad? She goes on, We had to

  keep it quiet and he probably didn’t want to worry

  about you and me talking the way we do, you know?

  Okay, I can see that. I nod, and Abi says, Sorry,

  though. You would have loved it. Maybe now that I

  know where the swans are, we can take the canoe

  and go see them. It’s kind of far, but you’ve been

  getting so strong this summer, I’m sure we could do

  that now. We agree we’ll get up early tomorrow

  or the next clear morning and go out together.

  Let’s take oranges and hot chocolate, I suggest, like Dad