Aunt Nola came racing on the porch. “Buddy! You gonna have the cops show up here again!”
Cops? I had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, it had all the kids cracking up laughing. Even Max was laughing. Was I the only one that didn’t know what was funny. Ugh. This family, my brother included, was so weird. They were always laughing.
“Come on, kids, let’s go before the cops get here.” He raced over to his pickup truck and I paused.
“Umm, how are we all going to fit in there.”
“Duh,” Junie said, jumping into the back of the truck. “We ride back here.”
“OMG. That is so dangerous,” I said.
“Is your sister always such a drab?” Lil Junior asked Max, who was scrambling into the back of the truck.
“She’s more dweeby than she usually is.” He fell over into the bed of the truck, then jumped right up. “Come on, Sissy. It’ll be fun!”
“Max Martin, if you don’t get off the back of that truck I’m gonna call Daddy!”
“How you gonna call? We don’t get a signal out here,” he said, before busting out laughing again.
“Fine! When you fall out and bust your head wide open, don’t say anything to me.” I climbed into the front seat wondering how I was going to break the news to our parents that Max had become paralyzed when he fell out of the back of a pickup truck.
But five minutes later, as we sped down the road, and the dust kicked up behind us, not only did it not seem like my brother was going to fall out, but he seemed to be having the time of his life.
“Why you so mean, baby girl?” Uncle Buddy asked.
“I’m not mean. I just don’t like doing dangerous things.”
“We’re just having fun. You’re so serious. You’re too young to be serious. This is what summer is all about, having fun, especially with family.”
I turned around and folded my arms. They were always talking about family around here. I understood family was important, but they went overboard. My family was fine just the way we were!
Chapter 7
Max
This had been the best day ever!
I had actually caught four fish! I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my friends, Ricky, Alan and Chris that I had caught real life fish. With worms I dug up myself.
How cool was that? The only thing was that my sister’s bad mood was ruining it for everyone.
That’s why I was out here trying to talk to her. She had refused to eat “disgusting fish that came out of the nasty pond.” Uncle Buddy had tried to tell her where did she think the fish sticks she loved so much came from. Mickey had replied that “at least she didn’t have to see them die.”
I walked over to Mickey, who was sitting against a gigantic oak tree in the back yard, reading a book.
“Mickey, you really should come inside with us. We’re cleaning the fish and Aunt Nola gutted it. You should’ve seen it. It was way cool.”
“You stink and there’s nothing cool about cutting the guts out of a fish,” she replied.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re such a sourpuss,” I said.
She closed her book and turned to me. “No, what’s wrong with you? Neither of us wanted to come here and you’re acting like we’re at Disney World or something.”
“No, I didn’t want to come here at first, but it really is kinda fun. They get to roam all over town. At home, we don’t even get to leave our street.”
“And when one of them turns up kidnapped and sold as a slave to a Mexican drug lord, how cool will that be?” she snapped.
My sister really needed to stop watching so much TV.
“And how can you stand them? They’re all so, ugh, yucky.”
“They’re our family. And why are they yucky? Because they live here? Because they don’t have nice things like us?”
“They wear hand me downs,” Mickey said, her nose turned up. “Their clothes are raggedy. Their hair is a mess and they’re so. . .so country.”
“That’s really mean, Mickey.”
“I don’t care! I hate that they’re even related to us and I can’t wait to get away from this disgusting place and forget these yucky people. They. . .” Mickey stopped talking and her mouth dropped open as she looked over my shoulder. I turned to see what she was looking at and saw my cousins – all ten of them standing there in silence. Laqueesha had her fists balled up and if she was a cartoon, she’d probably have smoke coming from her ears.
“Hey guys,” I quickly said. “Mickey didn’t mean that. I mean, she, she. . .” I didn’t even know what to say to my sister’s defense.
“She said exactly what she meant,” Big Junior said. “Come on, y’all.” He motioned for all his brothers and sisters to follow him. One by one, they glared at Mickey, then turned and left. Miles was the last one standing there.
“Why don’t you like us, Mickey?” he asked, looking at her with big puppy dog eyes.
“I – I. . .”
Before she could get her answer, Laqueesha walked back over, grabbed Miles’ arm, and pulled him away.
I didn’t know what to say. Mickey was my twin and I loved her. But right about now, I didn’t like her very much. I turned and followed my cousins back inside.
Chapter 8
Mickey
Okay, I messed up. My comments yesterday were like a black cloud hanging over the house. Even Aunt Nola didn’t look at me with the same happy smile. She just shook her head when she saw me and walked back inside.
Everyone had finished dinner and chores and was now sitting around watching a Transformer’s movie. For the first time since we’d arrived, the place was really quiet.
“Hey, everybody, what are you guys watching?” I said, walking over and standing over Laqueesha.
Not a single person responded to me. They acted like I wasn’t even here. Even my brother wouldn’t look at me. I don’t know why, but their ignoring me really bothered me.
“So, everyone is just gonna pretend I’m not here?” I asked.
Laqueesha grabbed the remote, turned the volume up, and kept staring at the TV.
“Anybody wanna go outside and play kickball?” Little Junior asked.
“Yeah. Because suddenly it stinks it here,” Laqueesha said, glaring at me as she stood.
I watched as they walked out one by one.
“Max?” I said as he followed them out.
My brother paused, but then Big Junior grabbed his hand and pulled him out. “Come on, Lil Cousin. You can be on my team.”
I wanted to cry. I couldn’t believe that I was getting punished for telling the truth? I walked over to the window and watched my cousins start the game. They looked like they were having so much fun. Now that I thought about it, they were always having fun. For them to have so little, they sure were happy. And now, my brother looked happy right along with them.
At that very moment, I heard my father’s voice. “Mickey, if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all. Words can really hurt.” I’d said some really hurtful things to my cousins and for the most part, they had been nothing but nice to me.
I went into the girls’ room and laid across the bed. Soon, I had drifted off to sleep. I don’t know how long I was out, but I awoke to the sounds of laughter coming from the dining room. I stretched, then got up and walked in the front room. Everyone was seated around the table, laughing and cracking jokes as they made popcorn balls.
I watched, wishing I could make a popcorn ball. Once again, no one said anything to me. I was about to say something when I noticed my suitcase sitting by the front door.
“Wait! Am I going home?” I asked.
Aunt Nola nodded.
“Max, we’re going home!” I told my brother, who had just took a big bite out of his popcorn ball.
His puffy cheeks stopped moving mid-chew. He immediately looked over at Aunt Nola.
“Well, Honey, Max isn’t going. Just you.”
That wiped the sm
ile right off my face. I stared at my brother.
“I-I like it here,” he finally said.
“Sweetie, all you ever do is push people away,” Aunt Nola said, stepping toward me. “We tried over and over but no one here meets your expectations. So, it’s best for everyone if you go back to the big city.”
I wanted to say something, but I was afraid to open my mouth. It was one thing for me not to want to be here. But I felt some kind of way about the fact that they didn’t want me here.
I walked out and sat on the porch, only because I didn’t want anyone to see me cry. This was crazy. I’d been talking about wanting to go home since I got here, so now that I was about to actually go home, why was I so sad? And what was I supposed to do the rest of the summer without my brother?
I’d been sitting outside for almost two hours when I saw Uncle Buddy’s car pull into the driveway. He walked over to the passenger side and helped my grandmother out.
“Hey, Sugar, whatcha doin’ sitting out here all by yourself?” my grandmother asked.
“Hi, Gram. Hi, Uncle Buddy. I’m just out here getting some air,” I said.
My grandma motioned for Uncle Buddy to go on inside, which he did.
“Are you okay?” Grandma asked, sitting on the bench next to me.
I nodded.
She squeezed my hand. “So, you going home?”
I nodded again.
“I thought that’s what you wanted,” she said.
“I thought so, too,” I said.
“I can’t get around like I want, but I hear real good. And I hear that you weren’t exactly nice to folks.”
I didn’t have any response to that. She was right.
“Baby, your parents and I wanted you to learn that it’s not the stuff in your life that matter, it’s the people. And you have lots of people who love you. You just need to learn to love them back. It’s never too late for that.”
Suddenly, all the cruel things I said and did just replayed over and over in my head again. At that moment I knew what I had to do.
I walked back inside and stood over my cousins, who were watching Miles and Max dance to Michael Jackson.
I waited for the music to stop, then said, “I have something to say.”
Max stopped dancing and stared at me. Mellie Sue and Miles at least looked at me, too. But no one else paid me any attention.
I hesitated, then looked at my grandmother who was standing behind me with an encouraging smile. She was right. I had to make things right before I left. “Everybody, I’m sorry, for everything – being rude,” I looked at Aunt Nola, “being disrespectful. I guess I expected everyone to be like me. But everyone and every place is different and it took me too long to realize that.”
Laqueesha snapped at me. “Look, city girl. We may not live all rich and stuff and everything we wear may not be all fancy, but you’re no better than any one of us. We happen to like our plain lifestyle. It doesn’t matter where we are as long as we’re together. Yes, it can get boring up here, but I would stay here the rest of my life if that meant I was always with family.”
I think she expected me to say something smart, but I only nodded. “You’re right.”
Aunt Nola smiled. “Sweetie, we’re not rich in money, but we’re rich in love. And at the end of the day, that’s what matters most of all.” She pulled me to her and hugged me.
“I’m sorry, Auntie.”
“You’re forgiven.” She motioned for my cousins. “Come show her we forgive her.”
I just knew they were gonna roll their eyes, but one by one they piled on me, knocking me to the floor as they tickled me.
“We forgive you,” Miles said, laughing.
“But we’re gonna tickle you until you cry uncle,” Junie said as they playfully tickled me.
“I’m still gonna call you City Chick,” Laqueesha said, but at least she was smiling.
I squirmed, wiggled and giggled as I tried to break free.
“You give up?” Junie said.
“I give, I give!” I yelled.
After a few minutes, they got off, we laughed and talked some more until Aunt Nola called us all to dinner. We all squeezed around the dining room table as Uncle Buddy shared stories of when he was a little boy growing up here in Arkansas. He had everyone cracking up – including me.
I couldn’t believe it. I was going to miss this place. And believe it or not, I couldn’t wait to come back next summer and spend time with my cousins.
“Aunt Nola?” I asked.
“Yes, Honey?”
“Is it too late to call my parents and tell them not to come?”
That made a big smile spread across her face.
“It’s not too late at all,” she said, reaching for the phone.
I only had two weeks left on my country summer, and I was about to make the most of it!
***
About the Authors
Ten-year-old, Gabrielle Simone attends Pulaski Academy College Preparatory School, where her teachers describe her as hardworking and passionate about learning. She is the student council representative for fifth grade, plays both basketball and soccer and has a personality bigger than life.
The confident young writer is also the daughter of young adult author Celia Anderson. Having grown up tagging alongside her mom at book signings and lectures, it’s no surprise that she has become interested in the art. Gabrielle says that one day she would like to attend Stanford University in California, but that may change as she grows older. Currently she resides with her mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, enjoys playing dress up, singing and playing with her American Girl Dolls. She lists both her mother and maternal grandmother, whom she affectionately calls FeFe, as the people who have influenced her the most.
Eleven-year-old, Jackie Lee is a lover of the letters and the arts. She has starred in three theatrical productions produced by Cherie Garland. She portrayed Crystal in “The Christmas Present,” Glenda, The Good Witch in “The Wiz” and the Ballerina in “One Night with a King.” Jackie’s love of arts also extends to church. She participates in the praise dance ministry at East New Hope Baptist Church. She also utilizes her musical talents in band. Often, Jackie can be found assisting her mother at various literary events. She also enjoys journaling and making sketches in her notebooks. She resides in Virginia with her parents and siblings. You can follow her at http://thecreativelifewithjackielee.blogspot.com.
Morgan Billingsley is a twelve-year-old, who loves writing, acting, swimming and volleyball. She enjoys helping out and making people laugh. Everyone who knows her, applauds her nurturing heart.
Morgan can often be found assisting her mother, ReShonda Tate Billingsley at book signings. She is active in her school organizations and serves as secretary for her Teen group in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Follow her on Instagram @c_momo_b
If you enjoyed The Perfect Summer, make sure you check out Morgan, Jackie and Gabby’s other book, The Perfect Present!
Get your copy wherever books are sold or online at www.BrownGirlsBooks.com (While you’re there, make sure you sign our mailing list so we can keep you up to date on new books)
Turn the page for a Sneak Peak…
From Operation: Santa is Real
By Morgan Billingsley
This all started earlier today when me and Max were eating lunch, and my friend Avery brought up what we wanted for Christmas. That got everyone at the lunch table talking.
“I think we should scam Santa into getting us a whole lot of presents. Like, give him a list, then give our parents another list,” said Justin, Max’s friend.
“Yeah, that way we get double gifts,” Avery said.
“Uh, really?” said Max’s friend, Peter. “We’re second graders. Everybody in second grade knows that Santa isn’t real.”
Me, Avery and Justin stared at Peter like he had two heads.
“Of course Santa is real,” I finally said. “How else do you think we get our gifts?”
�
�Yeah, and nobody but Santa is brave enough to go down the chimney,” Avery chimed in. “Right, Max?”
I just knew my brother was going to agree with me. But he just sat there looking stuck on stupid.
Finally, he said, “I think Peter is right. We’re too old to believe in all that fake Santa stuff.”
My granny used to say ‘bury me now’ when something was shocking to her. I had no idea what that meant when she first said it, but now I got it. My twin brother was giving up on Santa. Yep, just shoot me now.
I couldn’t even pay attention in class the rest of the day. My teacher said, “What’s twenty plus twenty” and I answered, “Santa.” That’s how crazy my brother had my head.
From Friending the Grinch
By Jackie Lee
“Girls, Lois and Jayla are here,” my mom said. “Make sure you’re smiling. We want Jayla to feel welcomed.”
I put on a big, fake smile and went to greet our guests.
Both of them were sitting in the living room. Mrs. Lois was talking to grandma. Her niece was looking around the room. Grandma Bessie liked old stuff, so our living room was full of old but nice furniture – the kind of furniture you would see in fancy magazines. She also liked figurines and paintings. Some of my friends said that Grandma’s house looked like a museum.
Momma gave Tionna and me the eye. That meant we had to move closer to Jayla. Grandma smiled and said, “Jayla, I want you to meet my grandbabies, Tionna and Jasmine.”
We all smiled at each other. But when the grown folks turned their heads, Jayla rolled her eyes at me. I was shocked, but I quickly rolled my eyes right back at her. Of course, Momma caught me and pulled me to the kitchen.
“Young lady, I don’t know what has gotten into you, but you’d better fix it,” she warned.
I wanted to protest, tell her that Jayla had started it, but I just said, “Yes,, Ma’am.”
My mother was not happy. She shook her head. “I raised you better than to be embarrassing me in front of company. That poor child needs a friend, not a bully. You don’t know what she has been through.”
The Perfect Summer Page 6
