Z On Location

by J. J. Howard

  For my mom

  Contents

  Half-title Page

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1: Summer Adventure

  Chapter 2: Z … Out!

  Chapter 3: Roxie the Robot

  Chapter 4: The Wrong Kind of Mic Drop

  Chapter 5: Don’t Ask Me Anything

  Chapter 6: Be in the Now

  Chapter 7: Drama Queen

  Chapter 8: Overshare

  Chapter 9: Reboot

  Chapter 10: Second Chances

  Chapter 11: Girl Power

  Chapter 12: The Best Kind

  About the Author

  Learn more about Z

  Preview of Gabriela

  Request a catalogue

  Copyright

  I leaned way back in my chair and nearly fell onto the floor laughing. My friend Lauren was doing a ridiculous dance to the song playing in the Beanery and lip-synching into her tea like it was a microphone. “I almost shot bubble tea out of my nose!” I said, wiping up a bit that had spilled on the floor.

  Lauren’s goofing around only added to my great mood. Today was the day I’d been waiting for—and counting down to—for what felt like forever: the first day of summer vacation.

  And first on our summer vacay bucket list was hitting the Beanery, our favorite hangout in town, which lucky for us was owned by our friend Mariela’s parents. Lauren had to get in her last bubble tea before going to San Diego for soccer camp. I was going to miss her so much.

  “When are you going hiking with your parents? Do we have time to work on an idea for another American Girl stop-motion movie?” Lauren asked.

  “We could, but I’m not sure how much we can get done. You’re leaving tomorrow and won’t be back for a month! I wish you were going to be here for some more summer adventures …”

  “I know.” Lauren nodded. “I’m missing out on so much with you guys, but I thought having an idea for a movie would help keep me going. Like it would give me something to look forward to when I got home.”

  Lauren was right. Mari and I had made a list of fun things to do over summer break here in Seattle, like trying kayaking in Moss Bay, picnicking at an outdoor movie at Magnuson Park, and I wanted to get some funny “footage” at the Giant Shoe Museum. (Mari told me that joke sounded like one of my dad’s.) I knew Lauren was going to have an awesome time at camp, but I was sad she was going to miss out on our adventures, too.

  Just then, an alert dinged on my phone. It was a new video post by my idol, superstar vlogger Winter Costello. She constantly knew about the most interesting stuff, like where to find the best music videos or hottest new books or cool magazine articles. Plus, her videos were amazing. She was always doing something unusual and fun. Sometimes, if I needed a surge of inspiration, I’d rewatch one of her vlogs on filming or video editing, and it always worked.

  I read the title of the video in disbelief. “Lauren, you’ve got to see this.”

  Lauren stood up behind me and I read out loud: “Winter Costello: #summeradventure challenge.” I turned to look at Lauren. Her eyes were wide with the same surprise I was feeling.

  “Oh. My. Gosh.” I looked around. “I think Winter Costello can hear me! I was just talking about …”

  “Summer adventures!” Lauren continued. “Let’s hear what she has to say.”

  I opened the video in full screen, turned the volume up, and pushed PLAY. Winter’s hair was a different color in every vlog she posted, and this time, it was a light silvery blue with rad baby bangs.

  “Hi, gang, Winter Costello here. Happy summer! I hope you guys have lots of fun plans, because I’d like to share a new idea with all of you.”

  I made a happy little squeak, but Lauren held her finger to her lips in a shh sign.

  “When I was a kid, I always tried to cram as many new experiences as possible into summer vacation. So this year, I’m challenging myself to recapture some of that same spirit. Whether you’re still a student, or if you’re mostly grown-up like me, I challenge you to get outside your comfort zone this summer. Go somewhere you’ve never been, even if it’s in your own neighborhood. Learn a new skill. Tell me about the new things you try using the hashtag #summeradventure. I’ll be posting my first one soon—and I can’t wait to see what all of you are up to. And the best part, because I love you guys so much, at the end of the summer, the person with the most adventury adventure will be featured right here on my vlog! Happy summer, and good luck!”

  I turned around to face Lauren. “It’s a sign! You know I want to be exactly like Winter Costello when I grow up.” I paused. “Well, a combination of my mom and Winter. This seals it. I have to have the biggest summer adventures now.”

  Lauren sipped her tea and scrunched her eyebrows together. “I wish I could stay with you guys. I mean, I’m psyched about soccer camp, too, but …”

  “Don’t worry—we still have July and most of August! In the meantime, you’re already going to have a summer adventure, starting tomorrow at soccer camp.”

  “That’s true.” Lauren grinned in anticipation. “The camp has outings planned for us on the weekends and everything, so it will be fun to explore a new city. And I heard a rumor that some of the US women’s soccer team are coming for a day! You’re right, Z. It is my summer adventure.”

  I had to admit that made me a little jealous. Summer excursions in a new place with famous athletes definitely sounded like awesome hashtag material.

  My phone dinged. “Time for the hike. I have to go meet my parents.” It wasn’t exactly an adventure, but it was still going to be fun to get out of Seattle and into the Cascade mountains.

  I walked Lauren outside, and we unlocked our bikes and hugged good-bye. Being apart was the one bad thing about summer vacation.

  I waved until she was completely out of view and then pedaled home.

  My mom was all decked out in her hiking gear when I got back. She looked so excited, I couldn’t help but smile.

  “It’s a gorgeous day! Why don’t you go upstairs and get your backpack—oh, and bring your video camera. We’ll be able to see for miles.”

  It might not win me that spot on Winter’s vlog, but it was a start.

  #summeradventure here I come!

  The views of Mount Rainier from our hike in the national park were amazing. I adjusted my camera and stopped to record the view. My parents and I came here pretty often, but it seemed different every time.

  “Come on, slow poke,” my dad called from farther up the path. My dalmatian, Popcorn, nudged my side, as though herding me to catch up to my parents.

  “Coming!” I yelled back. I continued to record as I jogged to catch up. Popcorn gave a happy bark at our little burst of speed.

  “Did you get some good footage?” Mom asked me.

  “Yeah, but just the view of the mountain—you know, the usual. I’m on the lookout for something amazing,” I told her

  “Don’t forget that the everyday can be pretty amazing, too, Z,” Mom told me, using her best professor voice. I knew she was probably right—after all, she wasn’t just a professor, she was also an incredible documentary filmmaker. But I also knew that another #amazingview shot of Seattle wasn’t going to qualify as a #summeradventure for Winter’s challenge.

  I pulled my phone out to see if anyone had posted a #summeradventure yet, but I stopped scrolling when a post about this summer’s VidCon caught my eye.

  It was an updated list of people appearing at the conference in Anaheim in ten days. I’d met my friends Becka and Gigi there last year, and this year Mariela and I were planning to meet up with them again.

  I scanned the list, looking for familiar names, and then I spotted one that stood out from the rest: Winter Costello. She was going to be
at VidCon!

  Maybe my #summeradventure could be meeting Winter Costello! But surely she’d be meeting other fans there, too. I’d just have to figure out a way to make my meeting with her the best.

  Dad appeared in front of me, frowning. “Are you going to continue the hike with us? Or are you planning to live here, just you and your phone?” Dad glanced around. “I mean, it’s nice here, but we would miss you.”

  I rolled my eyes. Dad seriously couldn’t resist an opening for a terrible joke. “No, sorry,” I answered, “I just …”

  Dad interrupted, “I know, I know. Technology. Come on, pumpkin.”

  I was energized by the idea of meeting Winter, and I went into jog mode to keep up with Dad and his much-longer legs. Popcorn ran around me in circles, happy to be moving fast again. She wasn’t the sitting-still type of dog, that was for sure.

  We caught up to Mom and fell into step with her.

  “I’m starting to worry that she’s actually going to disappear into that phone,” he teased.

  “Mom’s the one who’s been studying all the newest video technology,” I told him. “I’m sure if they invent a way to do that, she’ll be the first to know! She’d know how to get me out, too …” I mused.

  “Speaking of my research …” Mom said. She shrugged out of her backpack. We’d reached the point in the trail where we’d rest and have our picnic before hiking back out of the park. Mom sat down right next to me and said, “I got a filmmaking grant based on the latest work I’ve been doing with emerging tech.”

  Mom’s interested in how developing video tech helps us to communicate better, like doctors being able to see patients in hospitals all over the world in real time. In fact, she’s working on a documentary about people in different fields who are using technology to communicate better, and share their experiences. It’s pretty cool stuff.

  “I’m going to be going on the road for about ten days this summer to film my documentary in Tacoma, San Francisco, and Anaheim,” she continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “And I’d like for you to come with me.”

  “For real?” Me? On an actual film shoot?

  Mom nodded. “For real. You’ll be an apprentice—learning by doing.” I grabbed my phone to text Lauren. She would be so excited for me! And then I’d have to text Mari and tell her we’d have to postpone all the stuff we were going to do together until after I got back. But before I could open my screen, Mom put her hand on my arm.

  “It’s going to be a tight schedule, so I’ll need you to be really focused. You can’t be on your phone all the time, okay?”

  I pocketed my phone and gave her a hug. “This sounds amazing, Mom! I can’t wait. When do we leave?” Popcorn, excited by the commotion, jumped up on us, making us laugh. She always assumed that all hugs were for her, too.

  “I thought you might like the idea. We leave in three days.”

  “Wait, what about VidCon?” I didn’t want to miss my chance to meet Winter Costello—or hang out with Becka and Gigi.

  Mom’s smile grew wider. “That’s the best part. Our trip includes VidCon. I have a number of interviews set up there already, and I’m working on a few more. I have one person in particular I think you’ll be interested in meeting.”

  I stood up, suddenly too excited to sit. “Winter Costello?” I asked, hardly believing that my dream of meeting my idol might actually come true.

  “Yes. I know how much you love her! And depending on how the first shoots go, I thought you might do more than meet her. You might be ready to do your own interview with her by then.”

  “Are you serious? YES. I’m totally in!”

  “That’s what I was hoping for,” Mom said. “And then after VidCon, I thought you and I could continue our road trip for a few weeks. Purely mother-daughter time.”

  “Sounds great, Mom!”

  “Then it’s a plan! Help me lay out this blanket, okay?” She stood up and we spread out the blanket together. Dad started setting up our picnic lunch. I sat back on the blanket, in total shock, staring into space as the view of Seattle below us was replaced by my vision of all the new subscribers my channel could get if I posted my own interview with Winter Costello.

  Mom must have noticed I was daydreaming. “One step at a time, Z,” she said, interrupting my thoughts. “Remember, the interview isn’t a given. You’ll need to prove yourself on the shoot first. I’m planning to give you a lot of responsibility—starting with being in charge of the sound recording. Do you think you can stay focused to learn the skills you need?”

  I felt a little stab of disappointment. Not only because the interview wasn’t a sure thing. But it also stung a little to hear Mom say that she wasn’t sure I had the skills I’d need to do this interview yet. I felt like I’d already come a long way as a filmmaker. I’d even placed second in the CloudSong Film Festival with my documentary short a few months ago.

  I took a deep breath, then exhaled. This was a really important film for Mom, I knew that. If I wanted to be her assistant and have the chance to do the interview with Winter, I’d have to show her I was serious, too. “I can stay focused,” I told her. “I’m really excited about this trip, Mom.” I couldn’t wait to text my friends the awesome news! I knew they were going to be almost as excited as I was.

  Mom smiled and handed me a sandwich. “Good. Me, too!”

  “Cheers!” I held my sandwich up to hers.

  “I’ll eat to that!” Dad said, tapping my ham and cheese with the edge of his tuna salad.

  While I chewed my sandwich, I imagined all the chances I’d have to win the spot on Winter’s vlog, including doing the interview with Winter. I thought about what I would ask her. Who inspires you? What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your fans?

  “Z!” Dad snapped his fingers in front of my nose. “Where did you go?”

  I shook the daydreams out of my head. “I was just thinking about the trip.”

  “I told you she’d be excited,” Dad said knowingly to Mom. “But for now, kiddo, the chips are in your bag. Hook me up!”

  I laughed as I threw him the bag. My brain was bursting with ideas about how to win Winter’s #summeradventure challenge and get a spot on her vlog. This was definitely going to be the best summer yet.

  I pushed PLAY on the vlog post I’d just recorded, making sure I was satisfied with it one more time.

  “Hey, Z’s Crew! Major announcement time. Yours truly is getting ready to head out on an amazing summer adventure. My mom is taking a road trip to shoot her new documentary film, with me as her assistant! I’m going to be in charge of sound recording, and probably a lot of other jobs, too. I’m so excited to be on a real film shoot. I hope you’ll all follow along with me, and post your own adventures using the hashtag #summeradventure. If you haven’t seen Winter Costello’s new post about that, you have to check it out! Okay, time to leave for my road trip. Z’s Crew—OUT!”

  Perfect! I sent the video to Mom and Dad for final approval and jumped up. I’d stacked my bags by my bedroom door last night, and I had gotten up extra early to take Popcorn for a nice long walk. I’d miss her so much, but I knew she would go crazy inside the small RV Mom had rented for our trip. There wasn’t enough space in there for a dog with her energy.

  “Come on, Popcorn—let’s go get Mom and Dad up.” I bounded into their room. “Hey, sleepyheads! Time to get cracking! You have to be awake to start a road trip!”

  Mom opened one eye and then closed it. “A good production assistant would never wake up the director without coffee.” She smiled so I knew she wasn’t really mad. But I could also tell that coffee would be a very good idea.

  “On it!” I told her, and sped downstairs to brew a pot. Neither of my parents seemed able to function in the morning without coffee.

  The coffeepot soon stopped making its gurgling sounds, and I carefully carried two steaming mugs upstairs.

  “You’re a lifesaver, Z,” Dad told me as I handed him one. He was already shaving. M
om was propped up in bed, at least, and she smiled gratefully when I handed her a mug.

  “Almost there,” she said.

  “You’re a blur,” I told her, repeating the family joke about how fast Mom moved in the morning. (Not. Fast. At. All.)

  I headed back down to pour myself a bowl of cereal and brought it to the backyard to have breakfast in my favorite spot. Popcorn followed, as always, and lay down beside me in the grass.

  We live on top of Queen Anne Hill, and my seat gave me a view of Puget Sound, the Space Needle—and today, since it was clear, I could even see Mount Rainier in the distance. I was really going to miss the Seattle summer—my favorite city at my favorite time of year.

  I was happy to get to spend the summer with my mom learning new video techniques, but I was thinking about everything I’d miss this summer with my friends. They’d be doing fun things without me, like going to the Japanese Garden or Olympic Sculpture Park. They’d probably post pics from the top of the Great Wheel and the Space Needle.

  Mom walked out into the yard, holding what I knew was her second cup of coffee. “Hey, Z. You getting excited to leave?”

  I forced a smile and nodded. “Of course!”

  I could tell from the look Mom gave me that she wasn’t convinced. “I guess I’m just feeling a little FOMO.”

  “Translation, please,” Mom said.

  I laughed. “Fear of Missing Out … on everything that’s going to happen this summer here at home.”

  “Z, you know all those books and movies with daring heroes that you love so much?” I wasn’t sure where Mom was going with this, but I nodded and put on my paying-attention face. “A lot of those heroes have to leave home to find their adventure, right?”

  Mom uses movies to explain everything. And I knew she was right about how heroes had to leave home. Just like Rey from Star Wars or Mulan, I was going on a journey. Granted, I didn’t need to save the galaxy or stop the invading Huns, but this adventure was just as important to me. It was exciting that my mom trusted me so much, and I was going to learn everything I could so I wouldn’t let her down. Plus, I was determined to get that spot on Winter’s vlog.