The Perfect Summer

by Morgan Billingsley

  The Perfect Summer

  By Morgan Billingsley,

  Jackie Lee

  and Gabrielle Simone

  Houston, Texas * Washington, D.C.

  The Perfect Summer © 2015 by Morgan Billingsley, Jackie Lee and Gabrielle Simone

  Brown Girls Publishing, LLC

  www.browngirlspublishing.com

  ISBN: 9781625178701 The Perfect Summer (ebook)

  9781625178718 The Perfect Summer (print)

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying or stored in a retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages to be included in a review.

  First Brown Girls Publishing LLC trade printing

  Manufactured and Printed in the United States of America

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It is reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped” book.

  Dedication

  Gabrielle

  For the Wimberly Family.

  Thanks for years of unconditional love.

  Jackie

  I dedicate this book to all the girls with big dreams.

  Morgan

  To my mother for her hard work teaching me to become the lady I am.

  Acknowledgements

  Gabrielle

  I would like to thank God for making all of this possible. As I continue to grow, I am glad He’s on my side. To my writing partners, this has been a fun ride to take with you both, here’s to many more books. I would also like to thank my school, Pulaski Academy and Garbo Hearne with Pyramid Books for their tremendous support, nothing like hometown love! To my mom, who has been more than I could ever ask for, I love you and thank you for always having my back. Finally, to the Brown Girls Publishing family, thank you for believing in us and giving us the platform to share our talents with the world.

  Until the next book,

  Gabrielle Simone

  Jackie

  First, I would like to thank God for allowing me to be a part of this project. Thank you Ms. Victoria Christopher Murray and Ms. ReShonda Tate Billingsley for allowing me to be a part of The Brown Girls Publishing Family. I want to congratulate Morgan and Gabrielle for their amazing stories. I also want to thank my parents James and La Sheera Lee. They are always there to support my dreams. I want to thank my brother, James (Jay) and sister, Jakeeta. They are always there to help me. I want to thank my grandparents, Ireatha Lee and Carl and Zeldeliea Wagstaff for their love and support. I would like to thank my aunts Linda Harris, Joreatha Lee, Marionette Lee, and Lesley Dabney for their encouragement. Thank you Kushana Galloway for making me smile. Thank you Uncle Joe Lee for giving me rides to places. I also want to thank Ms. Traci White, Ms Tootie, and Ms. Selena. A big shout out to Jada McCain and her mom, Roveta McCain. I would also like to thank Renee Sunday, Vanessa Richardson, and Aleigh Butler and all the bloggers. Thank you for buying the book.

  Love,

  Jackie Lee

  Morgan

  Thank you Lord for blessing me with the opportunity to do what so many others only dream about. Thank you so much to my family, my parents Dr. Miron Billingsley and ReShonda Tate Billingsley, my siblings, Mya and Myles. My auntie, Tanisha Tate, and my cousin, Justin. You all are big supporters! To my publishers, Brown Girls Books, thank you for believing in me! To Gabrielle and Jackie, I am so happy to be taking this journey with you.

  Thank you to all my readers. I could not be even close to where I am today without your support.

  A big shout out to all my friends and teachers at Baines Middle School, thank you for your support as well.

  This is only the beginning, so hope you enjoy all that is to come!

  Peace and Love,

  Morgan

  The Perfect Summer

  Table of Contents

  Too Big for Teacups

  By Gabrielle Simone

  A Lesson for Summer

  By Jackie Lee

  A Country Summer

  By Morgan Billingsley

  Too Big For Teacups

  By

  Gabrielle Simone

  “Old McDonald had a farm!”

  Marlena’s family had been singing for the last ten miles. Even though she had on her pink Beats that she got for Christmas, they didn’t drown out the sound. How did she get stuck in the truck listening to toddler tune remakes? Oh yeah, Marlena remembered. It began with a family meeting back in January.

  Marlena had just gotten home from dance class when her mother called out to her and her siblings.

  “Everyone to the kitchen,” her mother yelled.

  Marlena wondered what was going on. The last time her mother called a family meeting it was to announce that, Chloe, her now two-year-old baby sister, was on the way. She hoped that was not the case this time. She had both a brother and a sister and was not interested in any more siblings. She tossed her gym bag down by the door and headed to the kitchen.

  “How was dance?” her dad asked before giving her his usual kiss on the top of her head.

  “Great. We are learning our first Hip Hop routine. It’s a lot of work.”

  “Work?” her brother, Kyle, chimed in. “Dance isn’t work.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Marlena did her best ballerina turn before making her right foot touch the back of her head.

  “Let’s see you do that,” she said with a grin before she sat down at the table. Kyle took a seat as well. He was a basketball player who couldn’t do that move, no matter how hard he tried.

  “Well,” her mom said, “we have made a decision about our summer vacation.”

  Marlena listened closely. This was a big summer for her dance team. No way could she take a week off. She wanted to stay home.

  “We are going to Disney,” her mom exclaimed. “Got the tickets today.”

  Both Kyle and Chloe were excited. Chloe because she took her cue from Kyle. Kyle, because well, because it didn’t take much to excite Kyle. He was so happy that he ran out of the room.

  Marlena was hoping that her mom wasn’t finished. If she had to go on vacation, she wanted to go some place new. Surely her mother wasn’t going to make her miss dance for Disney. She had already been four times and now at age 13, she simply wasn’t interested. There was a time when she believed in the magic of it, but those days were long gone.

  “Marlena,” her mom turned to her, “I know you don’t want to miss dance, but we really want to keep the family together.”

  “But I don’t want to go, why can’t I stay with Gammy?”

  “Gammy is going to Aunt Sharon’s.”

  “What about Jennifer’s?” Jennifer was her best friend. She knew her mom would say no to that. Jennifer lived with a foster family. Although her mom said they were very nice people, she thought they had enough responsibility.

  “Not for a week. That’s too long.”

  “Please, Mom? Disney is for little kids. I’m not a baby anymore.”

  “Sorry, Honey. It’s important to your father and I that we take a family vacation — together.”

  Marlena had tried arguing with her parents before, it only got her grounded. However, she did not want to go to Disney. She and a few girls from her dance team were planning on taking a Hip Hop class this summer. They all wanted to get better at it so they could do a routine in the school talent show.

  Marlena folded her arms across her chest. “What about dance?” She pouted.

  “It’s only a week, you will be fine,” her dad chimed in with a tone that told her it wasn’t open for dis
cussion.

  She glanced over at her mom, who was now calling to order a pizza for dinner. Chloe sat in her high chair singing, “Let it go” and Kyle had returned to the table with an entire list of things he wanted to do at Magic Kingdom.

  “First, we have to ride Splash Mountain,” he said. “It was so much fun last summer. Then we have to get in the teacups for our family picture. Remember last year, we looked like the family from the commercial.”

  Kyle was right, they did take a great picture, but the last thing Marlena wanted to do was ride the teacups. She was a teenager and had simply outgrown them.

  “I’m too big for teacups,” she said, still mad.

  “Teacups!” Chloe shouted. Normally the cute way Chloe repeated the last word everyone said made Marlena laugh, but not today.

  “See, teacups are for babies.”

  “Baby!” Chloe repeated.

  “Marlena, Honey,” her mom said, “give it up, you are going, and that’s that.”

  ***

  Now Marlena sat in the back seat, texting her friends and praying that the sing-along would end.

  Class was so awesome today, Jessica wrote.

  I’m totally bummed about not being there.

  We learned a dope new step. I’ll show u when u get back. How’s the ride?

  It’s torture. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to stay alone. No more family trips for me.

  I wish I could go to Disney.

  Really? Have you ever been?

  Nope. We can’t afford that.

  Marlena had not even thought about the fact that some people could not afford to go to Disney. She had been every year for as long as she could remember. Since Chloe was born, it was like they were starting all over. Now, Marlena had a feeling that she would have to spend many more summers there.

  Maybe you can come with us next year. I’ll ask my parents.

  Cool. That would be fun.

  IDK. I’m over Disney.

  Well don’t be until you get to take me!

  LOL

  K. I have to go. TTYL

  Laters.

  Although Marlena did not want to be ungrateful, she still wished that she was at home dancing. In her opinion, Jessica was the lucky one. This Hip Hop class was only offered one week — this one. The thought of it made her mad all over again. She cranked the volume up on her headphones, and soon she was fast asleep.

  ****

  The drive seemed to take forever. It was fifteen hours from her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, and they had not even made it halfway. Marlena had only slept two hours. The plan, like always, was to stop in Birmingham. Her mom travelled a lot for her job, so they usually stayed at a Marriott. Marlena liked the free breakfast and the fact that she could swim, so she didn’t mind staying in hotels so much.

  “Mom, I need to stop for a bathroom break.” Marlena’s bladder was screaming.

  “Me too,” Kyle chimed in.

  “We will at the next exit,” her mom said.

  “Wanna play rock, paper, scissors?” Kyle asked.

  Since she was stuck in the truck, she decided to make the best of it. “Sure,” she said.

  They faced each other and prepared for battle.

  Rock, Paper, Scissors shoot!

  Kyle: Rock.

  Marlena: Paper.

  Marlena won!

  Kyle pouted a little. Round two.

  Rock, Paper, Scissors shoot!

  Kyle: Scissors.

  Marlena: Rock.

  Marlena won again!

  Kyle pouted a little more. Round Three.

  Rock, Paper, Scissors shoot!

  Kyle: Paper.

  Marlena: Scissors.

  Marlena won!

  “You cheated,” yelled Kyle.

  “I didn’t cheat, you just lost.”

  “Lost,” echoed Chloe who was now awake and making matters worse.

  “Shut up, Chloe,” Kyle said which made their mom chime in.

  “What did I tell you about that word?”

  Kyle looked down.

  “Do you hear me talking to you?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What did I tell you about that word?”

  “You told me not to use it.” His eyes were filled with tears.

  “And what did I tell you would happen if you did?”

  “I would lose my iPod.”

  His mother held out her hand. “Give it here.”

  Kyle got his iPod out of his bag and gave it to his mom.

  Marlena felt bad. She decided to give Kyle a hug.

  “Get off of me.” He wiggled away from her.

  “Well, stay mad then,” she replied.

  “Leave him alone, Marlena,” her mom said.

  “Marlena!” Chloe added.

  Luckily for everyone, they were nearing an exit. Marlena could not wait to get out of the truck and into the bathroom. Her dad didn’t dare pass up the chance to stop, they needed a break. Moments later, they pulled into a truck stop. Once they stopped, Marlena’s door was the first to open.

  “I’ve got to go bad,” she said.

  “Better run,” her mom replied.

  Marlena did exactly that; she ran as fast as she could to the bathroom. To her surprise, there was a long line. Only three stalls, all were full and five people were waiting. Marlena did a dance, trying not to wet her pants. But the more she thought about it, the more she had to go. She danced faster, it did not seem to be working. And then it happened. The redhead in the front of the line said, “Would you like to go ahead of me?”

  “Yes,” she yelled and hopped into the open stall. One move the wrong way and her jeans would be soaked. She quickly pulled a cover from the container on the wall behind the toilet, and covered her seat. She’d made it just in time.

  “Potty!” She heard Chloe’s voice.

  “Marlena, you in here?” her mom said.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Okay, we are going to get food so hurry, okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Once she was finished, Marlena washed her hands and went to find her family. As she was headed out of the bathroom, she noticed one of those fortune-telling scales and decided to give it a try. She got a quarter from her pocket, put it in the machine, and stepped on. Nothing happened.

  She stepped off and stepped back on. Still nothing.

  “It’s fifty cents,” a voice from behind her said.

  “Thanks,” she replied before putting in another quarter.

  The screen flashed red and then the words, Step On, which she did. It took a while, but eventually, it printed a small piece of paper. Apparently she weighed 110 pounds, her lucky numbers were 48, 32 and 5, and she should try new things. She guessed it was worth fifty cents. She had not gained any weight, and didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Although her school made them weigh-in, her mom thought the idea was crazy for seventh graders. Not only did she request that Marlena not participate, she wrote a letter to the principal to be sure he knew her stance. After that, they never weighed in gym class again.

  That was just one of the things her mom fought for, and won. In third grade, there was a bully at school who was making the first graders eat dirt on the playground. Although it had nothing to do with Marlena, her mom organized a meeting with the principal and the first graders mothers. The bully was expelled from school. Marlena was sad to see him get in trouble, but was happy that he could not pick on any more small children. If Marlena knew nothing else, she knew that her mom had her back and everyone else’s.

  She stuffed her paper into her pocket and went out to the parking lot. She walked out of the door, but did not see their truck. It was parked at the gas pump when she went in. She looked around and saw no signs of her family at all. She went back inside.

  “Excuse me,” she asked the cashier. “Did you see my mom and little sister come in?”

  “I saw a lady and a baby come in, but I’m not sure if it was your mother and sister,” she
replied. “They went back out and got into a Red SUV.”

  That had to be them. Her dad was a huge Razorback fan. So not only did he drive a Red Tahoe, he had Razorbacks on the back and front.

  “Did you see where it went?”

  “They pulled off, that’s all I can tell you.”

  Pulled off. Really? Surely they did not leave her at the truck stop. Her mom did say they were going to eat. Marlena patted her pockets for her cell phone, it wasn’t there. She must have left it in the truck. She decided to check the parking lot one last time. She saw plenty of other vehicles, but no sign of her family.

  She walked around the building. There it was full of huge diesels and it looked to be way busier than the other side.

  “Can you spare a dollar?” a voice asked. Marlena jumped, then ran away from what appeared to be a homeless man. Marlena was afraid so she went back inside.

  “May I use your phone?” she asked the cashier.

  “Sure,” she replied, “You will have to come around here.”

  She followed directions and went behind the counter. She dialed her mom’s cell number, but got a fast busy signal.

  “Dial nine to get out,” said the cashier.

  Before she could do so, she heard her dad’s voice, “Marlena,” he said, “what are you doing?”

  “Dad, I couldn’t find you guys.” She was relieved.

  “We drove around back to put some air in one of the tires. It seemed a bit low.”

  “I thought you guys had left me.”

  “You did say you wanted to be left alone,” he joked.

  “That’s not funny, I was scared.”

  “Not Miss Teenager? Surely you were not afraid.”

  “Yes I was, it’s one thing to stay home alone, but another to be at a truck stop.”

  “Why would we ever leave you?”

  “I don’t know.” Even Marlena had to laugh at that. Her parents would never abandon her. What was she thinking? She walked back to the truck with her father.

  “What took you so long?” her mother asked.

  “Don’t ask,” Marlena said with a smile.