“Speaking of magical, we gotta check and see if that headlamp has a Bible verse on it!”
Kendall’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, yeah! And now we know that you needed that headlamp too. Who would have thought you’d bring two headlamps with dead batteries?”
“I know!” I ran back in the bedroom, pulled my suitcase up on the bed, and unzipped it. My Bible sat right on top of everything. I grabbed it and headed for a wingback chair. Kendall followed.
“Okay, Matt 51415. We’ll start by looking in Matthew. What chapter? Five? Fifty-one? No, I’m pretty sure there’s no fifty-one.”
Kendall knelt next to me. “Try chapter five, verse one.”
I flipped through till I came to the worn pages in Matthew. I’ve read that book a lot.
“Here it is. Matthew 5:1: “One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down.”
“Hmm,” Kendall said. “We’re kinda sittin’ on a mountainside right now.”
I shook my head.
“I’m gonna keep looking. How about . . . Matthew 5:14?”
I took my finger and moved it from the bottom of the page to the top.
“How about this? Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”
“Whoa. Kendall, I think this is it! This verse is on a headlamp—and it’s about light.”
Kendall crowded in closer to my Bible.
“It says 51415. Maybe you should read verse fifteen too.”
“Okay, here goes. ‘No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a light is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.’”
“Wow, that’s just like this house.”
“Allie!” Kendall just about blew out my eardrum. She poked her finger in my Bible. “Read the next verse!”
“Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before men so they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.
I dropped the Bible in my lap. “That’s the verse in the frame downstairs. Kendall—this house, and this headlamp, have some kind of connection. And now—for some reason, I’m part of it too.”
Kendall gasped and jumped to her feet. “And that’s not all!” She ran over to the bed, snatched the headlamp, then grabbed my hand and pulled me down the three levels of the house, out to the entryway, past the bright chandelier, down the dark walkway, until we were at garage level.
“Why are we outside? Do you want to run into the Hollywoodlum?” I huffed and puffed, and looked both ways.
“No.” Kendall pointed to the stone wall.
“Shine your light on the wall. Check out the address. I just realized what Ryan said it was.”
I poked the button, pointed it toward the wall, and the light reflected off the white stones.
51415 Star Drive.
CHAPTER 16
Sleepless on Star Drive
For most of the night, I lay awake, staring at the starlight out the slider door and trying to figure out what in the world was going on.
This is just a vacation, right, God? Are you trying to tell me something? I know I wanted to run from reality, so are you playing a trick on me, letting me run into something totally unreal?
“Allie, are you awake?” Kendall lay on her back, and her arms were out of the covers. Her hands were folded on her stomach.
“Yeah. I can’t sleep.”
“Me either. My cuts are throbbing.”
I smoothed my hand over one of the bandages on my forearm.
“Was that just today when we piled up on the moving sidewalk?”
“Yeah. It seems like a long time ago. I wish we had a video of that.”
“It was kind of hilarious.”
“Yeah.”
“I miss my phone with all the music on it. I usually fall asleep listening to songs.”
“Oh. I guess you’ll have to settle for the crickets.”
“I guess.”
Kendall hit the bed. “It’s so quiet! How do you normally fall asleep?”
“Me?” I had to think about that for a minute. “I mostly fall asleep talking to God.”
Kendall turned on her side and looked at me.
“Really?”
“Well, either talking or listening. I guess I’m kinda rude, because I fall asleep in the middle of our conversations all the time.”
“God’s probably okay with that.”
“Yeah.”
Kendall returned to her back. “Okay, I’m gonna try it.”
“Try what?”
“Having a conversation with God. It’s been a while.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m sure he misses you.”
“We’ll see.”
Silence.
“Good night, Allie. I’m glad we’re gonna share a room soon.”
I smiled. “Me too. Good night, Kendall.”
Kendall fidgeted for a little while, but then I could hear her breathing even out, so I knew she had fallen asleep.
But I couldn’t. I kept going over the entire day in my mind. Starting with Nathan and his azure blue eyes.
Who are you, kid? And what’s with your bag?
CHAPTER 17
Hair and Hills
I woke the next morning to Kendall singing in the bathroom.
And then a little yell.
“Oh, I love being a redhead!”
I sat up and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
“Allie, come in here. I need your honest opinion.”
Oh, boy, this was going to be interesting. Everyone knows not to ask me for an honest opinion if they don’t really want it.
I put on my slippers and padded into the attached bathroom. I rounded the corner, and had to rub my eyes again.
“You look like a poinsettia,” I said.
“Don’t you just love it?” Kendall raked her fingers through her shoulder-length, now red hair.
“It’s . . . bright red,” I said.
“I know. That’s the point. People will look at my hair and not my face, so they won’t recognize me as Kendall Carroway. Ta-da!”
“But what if they see you from a distance and think, ‘Hey, is that hair, or is that girl wearing a Santa hat,’ and then they come closer and realize it’s you?”
Kendall kept flipping her bright hair while looking in the mirror.
“Well, I doubt that will happen, but if it does I have these!” Kendall ran to her suitcase in the bedroom and brought back a pair of large round sunglasses. “And for this trip, I’m goin’ choker-less!”
I grabbed my neck. “Wait a minute.” I shuffled closer and looked right in her eyes. “Are you really Kendall? Or are you . . . the . . . Hollywoodlum?”
Kendall threw one of her chokers at me. “Maybe you should wear one. I don’t see you comin’ up with a disguise, and you’re the most recognized Carroway.”
“I brought a couple of ball caps. I’ll stuff my hair in them and pull the bill down over my eyes.”
“And people will think you’re the Hollywoodlum.”
“Hey, in there! Anyone awake? Turquoise streak comin’ through!”
Lola charged into the bathroom, with Ruby not far behind.
Lola looked stunning with that short dark hair of hers that lays perfectly around her head.
“I think I like the turquoise even better than the pink,” she said. Then she frowned. “Too bad Hannah won’t let me keep it.”
“You get to keep it for this week,” Kendall said.
“You look amazing,” Lola said to Kendall.
“I thought so.” Kendall fluffed her hair and stuck her tongue out at me.
“Have you looked outside?” Ruby asked. “It’s beautiful. The hills are covered with greenery and bright fall flowers. I say we go on a hike.”
“I’m up for that,” I said. “I wonder how far it is to the Hollywood sign?” I walked back to the side of the bed where I had sta
shed my backpack with the Bag of Wonders in it. I pulled out the map of Hollywood Hills and spread it on the round, gold coffee table that sat between the two wingback chairs in front of the bed.
“When did you get this?” Lola asked.
“Yesterday,” I said, and I shifted my glance toward Kendall.
Ruby put her finger on the map and followed one of the lines with it. “Is this the way?”
“Nope. Those are streets. The trails are much thinner lines. Let’s find Star Drive and then we can figure out what’s up.”
I checked the map index and got the coordinates on the map for Star Drive. Then I positioned two fingers on the letter and number, and pulled my fingers in to touch each other on the map.
“Here we are. Star Drive.”
Lola put her finger on the map.
“And here’s the Hollywood sign. Looks like there are a few ways to get there.”
“Well, let’s go get Ryan, Brittany, and Hunter and see if they want to go check it out.”
Ryan, Brittany, and Hunter were just returning from a trip to the market, and each carried two bags into the massive kitchen area.
“Oh, look, the Hollywood beauties have finally awakened!” Ryan reached into a canvas shopping bag and produced a box of bakery items. “Would you like some orange juice and scones?”
“I feel spoiled,” Ruby said, and she lifted a mini blueberry scone to her mouth, took a bite, and closed her eyes. “Yum.”
“What would you all like to do this morning?” Brittany asked.
“We would like to hike to the Hollywood sign,” I said.
Ryan reached his hand out to give me a high-five.
“Let’s do it! Meet out on the curb in fifteen minutes!”
We scarfed the scones and juice, then went to our rooms to put on long pants, sweatshirts, and jackets. I put my hair in a ponytail, pushed it through the back of my ball cap, and pulled it down so my eyes were hidden.
Once outside, we knew we had all made a mistake.
“It’s hot out here!” the redheaded Kendall exclaimed.
Ryan and Brittany—who were dressed in tank tops and shorts, just laughed at us.
“Yeah, you’re gonna want to change,” Brittany said. “It doesn’t get cold around here until . . . um . . . it doesn’t get cold around here.”
“I didn’t bring shorts,” I said. “Did anybody bring shorts? Well, besides Hunter.”
Hunter stood there smiling in his long black basketball shorts.
“Go change into the coolest things you have and we’ll go shopping later,” Ryan said, and then he shook his head. “Bayou kids. And don’t forget a water bottle. We’re going to be climbing.”
We were back in ten minutes in T-shirts, capri pants, and carrying water bottles we found in the refrigerator. My head was sweating inside my hat, and now I wondered if I should have picked a hair dye color for myself instead of a hat disguise.
“Okay, troops,” Ryan clapped his hands together. “Do you want to do the short hike to the Hollywood sign or the long hike to the Doowylloh sign?”
“Huh?” I scrunched up my nose.
“The long hike goes above and behind the Hollywood sign,” Brittany explained. “You can see more of the city, but then you see Hollywood backwards, which spells Doowylloh. It’s about a mile longer.”
“I vote short and Hollywood,” Kendall said. “We’ll still get a good view, right?”
“Absolutely,” Ryan said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
I was sweating a lot before we even got up the first hill.
Kendall caught up to me and whispered in my ear. “I wonder why your special bag didn’t come with a pair of shorts?” Then she giggled.
That reminded me that there was one more thing in that bag that I hadn’t checked out yet.
We huffed and puffed while our feet stirred up dust on the dirt paths. Runners passed us, and we passed families out walking their dogs with their children. We went by a horse stable, and some people riding horses, which now added the unpleasant task of watching every step so that it didn’t land in a horse pile. When it seemed like we had hiked two miles, we came to a sign, signifying that we were on the Mulholland Trail.
Brittany pointed out our options on the sign.
“Only .7 miles to go to the view by the water tank. That should get us close enough for a picture.”
“No pictures, remember?” Ruby said. “We made a deal with Papaw.”
“Then we’ll have to capture it in our memories.” Ryan pointed to his head.
“I feel like we’ve already gone five miles.” Lola sighed as her arms drooped down to her knees.
“That’s because you aren’t used to climbing mountains,” Brittany said. “Allie, how’s your breathing?”
I breathed in deep and let it out.
“It’s great. I wonder why?”
“It’s a little drier here in California. Not a mold spore in sight during this drought.” Ryan stopped and pointed to a steep trail that veered off the path and up the mountain that looked like it bypassed at least three switchbacks. “Anyone up for a shortcut?”
“Ryan, don’t go up there.” Brittany shook her head and kept walking.
I stopped and assessed the climb. A couple of guys and a kid were almost to the top.
“I’ll go,” I said. “I’m a slimy mess anyway. It looks like fun.”
Everyone else backed away.
“Oh, come on, people. Where’s your sense of adventure? I bet the Hollywood sign is right up there.”
“I’d go,” Hunter said, “but I don’t want to lose my cowboy hat.”
“It looks too steep. I don’t want to take a chance on any of you getting hurt.” Brittany—who is a third-grade teacher—is paid to be sensible.
“We’re already cut up,” I said, and I pointed to my princess bandages. “Ryan, how about just you and I go?”
Ryan’s eyes lit up. “Okay, sis, you go first, and I’ll catch you if you slide. This is going to be fun.” Then he turned to the rest of the group. “We’ll be kicking back waiting for when you arrive.”
Brittany put her hands on her hips. “You make me crazy, Ryan Carroway. Be careful!”
Ryan and I jumped off the main trail and looked up to the top of the steep hill.
“We can do this Allie-Cat. It’s not even as long as a football field.”
I took my first steps up the cracked, brown hillside. Dry brush lined the thin trail that had been worn by other adventurers before us. About a third of the way up, my foot slipped and I landed on my right knee.
“Oww.”
“Time to get on all fours,” Ryan said, and even he was puffing a bit now. “Think like a lizard. Stay stuck to the hillside and you’ll be fine.”
For the next third of the climb I kept my belly off the ground. But the last third—no chance. I had to pull with my hands, push my feet up on a few jutting-out rocks, and slither like a snake. I choked a little when I inhaled some brown dirt that swirled in the breeze.
“You can do it, Allie! We’re almost there!”
I felt a river of sweat trickle down my back, and I looked up to see a chain-link fence at the top of the hill.
“Ryan, we have a little problem. We have to climb a fence!”
“Uh . . . okay . . . just keep going. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”
I slipped on some loose gravel and kicked Ryan in the head.
“Oops, sorry.”
“No problem, squirt. I’m having the time of my life!”
I think he really was. And I had to admit, it was fun hanging out with my big brother all by myself.
“Just a couple more steps. We can do this!”
Ryan grabbed my foot and pushed it up. That’s just what I needed to make it to the top. I gave a little “whoop” when I saw that there was a little opening to the side of the fence that we could squeeze through.
“We did it!” Ryan gave me a sweaty high five as we rejoined the “official
” trail to the Hollywood sign.
I gasped and pointed to his forehead.
“You’re bleeding!”
Ryan reached up and dabbed his finger on the wound.
“Dude, you’ve always kicked hard.”
“I’m sorry. Hey, I have a princess bandage for you.” I reached in my backpack and pulled out a Cinderella. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Ryan peeled the bandage out of its wrapper and slapped it on his head. Then he pushed me toward the edge like he was going to throw me back down the hill. I squealed, and he stopped, of course. “Good adventure, Allie-gator.”
“Best thing about it was there were no cameras,” I said. “Just me and you having fun without the world knowing about it.” I reached down and knocked some dirt off my pants, and then brushed my hands together.
“Really? I think it would have been great to have the film crew here for that. Don’t you think it would make people laugh to see you kick me in the head? I think our show brings a lot of people joy.”
“Okay, now you’re sounding like Papaw.” I punched him in the arm. “Stop it.”
Ryan stretched and looked around at our new surroundings.
“There’s a sign. Let’s go find out where we are.”
We approached the short wooden sign with carved white letters.
“Hmmm,” Ryan said, and he put his hand to his chin. “We’re overachievers. Seems we may have climbed too high. The water tank trail is down the hill. I think everyone else is going the other way.”
“What? I didn’t climb all the way up here just to walk back down. What’s up the hill from here?”
Ryan pointed to the sign. “The back of the Hollywood sign is just .5 miles away.”
“Cool. Let’s go there.”
Ryan reached over and brushed some dirt off my cheek. “You never go along with the crowd, do you?”
“Only if the crowd is going the best way.” I smiled and turned up the trail. Ryan followed. “I’ll call Brit and tell her not to expect us.”
A few switchbacks later, we landed at the back of the Hollywood sign.
“Wow! You can see everything from here! Is that downtown Los Angeles? Is that the ocean?”
Ryan laughed. “Yeah, it is. We’re lucky to be here on a clear day.”
“Uh-oh.” I frowned. “The ocean looks navy blue. Lola will be disappointed it’s not turquoise.”
Running from Reality Page 9
