“What?” Sally asks.
“Why? We already have our team,” I add.
“Hi, girls,” a voice from across the room calls. “Why don’t you come in and sit down.”
There are two people, a guy and a girl, both dressed in jeans and button-down shirts, semibusiness, I guess. I’ve never seen them before, but they look somewhat official. Our team settles down on the gym floor across from the Belles. And like a jar of nutty peanut butter, the air is still thick and rough. Now I’m starting to sound country like my uncle Larry. We pretend to be on our best behavior, and we pay attention to Coach Kirsten.
“Okay, you guys,” she says. “You know I’m Coach Kirsten, but I’ve been coaching the Belles outside of camp for…”
“Well, that’s not fair!” Melissa starts right away.
“Well, where’s your coach? Oh, you don’t have one, and who are you, again?” Ivy retorts.
Melissa is up on her feet. Tina, Sally, and I jump to join her. The Belles are on their feet too. We’re all yelling at each other, mostly saying how we can’t stand each other. Kirsten steps in the middle.
“Quiet down, you guys!” she demands. “Everyone sit down!” We all do, out of respect. “Now, I can help you guys get into this competition or not. What’s it going to be?” We all murmur in agreement. “All right, that’s more like it,” she continues. “I know you guys love double Dutch or you wouldn’t be here.”
“Got that right” slips out of my mouth.
“Please don’t sass.” Kirsten gives me a sharp look. With attitude, I zip my lips.
The couple standing in the back comes forward as some sort of representatives of the National Double Dutch League. They explain the rules to us and that there’s a new part of the competition called fusion. It’s kind of like freestyle, but you can have a maximum of six jumpers and there can be dance, acrobatics, and music incorporated, crammed into a two-minute routine. Sounds like crazy fun!
“Wait!” I suddenly have a question. “There’s four of them and four of us?”
“You guys are going to have to drop someone,” Brie says matter-of-factly.
“I suggest Sally,” Ivy says. The Belles laugh.
“I wouldn’t be on the same team with you if you paid me,” says Sally with dignity.
“No one wants to be on their team,” chimes in Tina. “They’re so mean.”
“We’re not mean! We just don’t want to work with amateurs!” Ivy says.
“Call us amateurs one more time…,” Melissa threatens, and the arguing in the gym gets loud again. I just want to fill Ivy’s face with my fist but restrain myself. That little girl is not worth me embarrassing myself or, worse, getting in trouble for beating up some Southern girl with all that mouth. I feel the old me suddenly creeping back into my veins, but I’m not going to let her do it. I’m not gonna do it! Kirsten whistles really loudly. We calm down and sit back on the gym floor.
“There’s not enough time for this childishness. If you guys want to compete, you’re going to have to work together,” insists Kirsten. “Now, Sally, I know there’s some history with this team, but it’s time we all bury the hatchet and move on.” Sally and Ivy share a look and try not to show any emotion, but I can tell they were once the best of friends. “I’ve been informed that two of the Belles won’t be able to make the trip because of family vacation conflicts.” Two of the Belles slowly put up their hands to indicate whom Kirsten is referring to. Ivy and Brie shoot them a look and moan in disgust. “Now, if you guys don’t join forces, you won’t be able to compete in fusion, and the sponsors won’t pay for the trip.”
“What sponsors?” I ask.
“Our sponsors,” says Brie.
“Well, excuse me,” I say, surprised, as I hold my hands up. The Belles just smirk like they’re special because they have “sponsors.” Well, it is kind of special, considering they only just finished seventh grade, but I’m not showing them I’m impressed. Not after the way they’ve treated my cousin.
“So, do we have a deal?” asks Kirsten.
I turn to the rest of my team and create a huddle. It is clear that the last thing we want to do is work with the enemy, but competing on a higher level and a trip to Madison Square Garden, which of course is what I’ve been wanting all summer, seem like no-brainers. Then I have a thought: Who’s going to coach us? So we come to a conclusion: we are in under one condition.
“We get a coach too,” I say with my arms crossed. My girls back me up with their arms crossed too.
“That’s right. If we have someone who knows how to work with us, we’re in,” says Sally. “No offense.”
Their coach looks more confused than insulted.
“Sure,” Kirsten says with her eyebrows raised. “Who do you have in mind?”
“Her name is Gabriella, and she’s good,” Melissa says with a smile, like she knows what she’s talking about. Kirsten tilts her head to the side like she recognizes the name.
“They can’t bring their own coach, can they?” asks Brie. “That’s just rude.”
“Gabriella who?” Kirsten asks suspiciously.
“Gabriella Upton,” Sally answers. Kirsten’s eyes roll back in her head. Hmm…I take it she knows Gabriella.
“Okay.” Kirsten throws her hands up. “Okay, if that’s what you want. I guess we’ll all just have to work together.” I could be assuming, but it seems like Ms. Kirsten and Ms. Gabriella are going to have to bury a hatchet themselves. This is going to be interesting.
I don’t think these girls understand they’re going to New York, where the competition is going to be thick. If we’re going to even have a chance, especially against my friends back home—which is going to be crazy awkward—we’re really going to have to focus. Hopefully we’ll be able to get Gabriella on board. I wonder if she’ll do it knowing Kirsten is in charge of the Bouncing Belles.
I’m going to the Garden!
It’s Sunday, and instead of taking us to brunch after church, Uncle Larry says we’re heading home for an announcement. I just love how my uncle and aunt make everything a “surprise” or an “announcement.” So far I’ve liked every surprise, so I’m looking forward to this one. Even going to church was a surprise, but then again I’ve heard that a family that prays together stays together, which I always wished for my family. But while I’ve been here, I have prayed so hard that things would go okay: with my parents, that we’ll win the competition at Madison Square Garden; I even prayed for Sally. I hope she heard everything the preacher was saying about refusing to be fearful, to always be strong and have courage because God is always with you. I have never told anyone, but it’s my secret weapon. I use it against anything and anyone who tries to hurt me—ever since third grade, when I read the Bible for the first time with my mom. Since then I’ve never let anyone bully me or anything scare me, even the stuff with my mom and dad. If they break up, I will be sad, but eventually I know I’ll be okay. It’s just not what I want for me and Cameron. But that’s just me. I never told Sally about my weapon, because I didn’t want her to think I was some Jesus freak, but maybe I am…on the inside. I guess I just try to practice it before I go preaching it, since I never want to act like I am holier-than- thou. Hopefully she’ll learn sooner than later who’s really got her back.
* * *
—
When we arrive at the house, Uncle Larry announces that after three hot weeks of summer, the pool is finally finished! And while we were at the camp yesterday, Aunt Jeanie sneakily planned a surprise pool party! Melissa and Tina are at the house with their pool toys and ready to go in no time. And to my and Sally’s surprise, Auntie invited Charlie and some of his friends!
I can’t believe it. There he is…in his swimming trunks…with a big Super Soaker water gun. Um…yeah! Butterflies. I didn’t have time to think about how cute I look in this one-piece bathing suit Au
nt Jeanie picked up for me.
But I suddenly feel weird about the mosquito bites on my legs. I completely forgot about the tiny vampires of the South that multiply like New York City fruit flies. They’re everywhere, just waiting to drain my double Dutch legs of their beauty. Now I look like I have the chicken pox. Yuck! I try to cover up without looking awkward. I guess I look okay, because Charlie is watching my every move.
Sally and I just wave as we set down our towels on the new patio lounge chairs. I feel like I’m back at the beach resort my dad took us to once, when we went to Disney World when I was six. Luckily three of Charlie’s friends have come too, including the one who seemed to like Sally, so hopefully there won’t be any awkwardness between us over Charlie. I try to play it cool and not act so nervous as I walk to the edge of the pool, but I almost trip over my own two feet like I even forgot how to walk. Now I know what Auntie meant by “girls tripping over themselves.”
But before we can dip our toes in the water, Uncle Larry makes the eight of us, plus my anxious little brother and Sally’s two brothers, wait until he finds his whistle. It’s starting to feel more like a celebration for him, since his summer project is finally complete. But with every passing second of us standing in the sun, the temperature outside can’t get any hotter. With the boys on one side, we all start fidgeting around and sneaking peeks at each other like second graders playing peekaboo. Suddenly Uncle Larry pops out of the sliding doors with his whistle in the side of his mouth.
“Are you sharks ready to swim?” he asks. “Hold on. You all know how to swim, right?” Everyone nods and yells yes except me. I can flop around like a fish out of water pretty good, but I definitely can’t swim. So I raise my hand to confess.
“Well, I’m not quite sure—” I say.
“I’ll teach her.” Charlie cuts me off. All my teammates giggle as Uncle Larry looks at him. Sally smiles and nods as if to say, It’s cool.
“Kayla, stay on the shallow side,” Uncle Larry says. “I’ll be watching you, boy.” He points at Charlie, who just grins kindly. Uncle Larry is so funny! “Ready, on three! Everybody count with me.”
“One-two-three!” We all jump in! Yeeeeesss!!
Not long after we jump in, Marc and Gabriella show up with beach balls and all kinds of water gadgets. Sally and the team look at each other, knowing that before the day is over we’ll have to ask Gabriella to coach us. I think we all want to jump out of the pool and ask her right away, but we are having so much fun and we are right in the middle of water tag. Too fun! Besides, I haven’t had any time alone with Charlie. Just tagging “You’re it!” is all we can think about right now.
While we play hours of water guns, Marco Polo, and water volleyball, and just float around on lounge floaties, Uncle works himself into a frenzy over the grill. Thank goodness, because I am hungry!
“Come on, you crumb snatchers!” Uncle Larry shouts. “Come get some grub!”
We can’t get out of the pool fast enough, but as soon as I try to climb out, I’m unexpectedly pulled back in. Ugh! Charlie! He laughs and I splash water in his face. He splashes back. A splash fight! Everyone is egging us on. Until I hear: “Kayla!” It’s Aunt Jeanie calling me. We stop, but not before water splashes her too. Charlie and I gasp.
“Sorry, Aunt Jeanie,” I say through a tight smile. She just blinks hard to avoid getting water in her eyes, and then wipes her hair back.
“Your mother is on the phone, sweetie,” Aunt Jeanie says, regaining her dignity.
My mother? All of a sudden my smile turns into a wide-eyed stare. I am no longer hungry, and a bunch of questions rush through my mind: Why is she calling? What’s wrong? Are my parents going to tell me and Cameron they’re getting a divorce?
“Cameron!” I shout. “Let’s go!” I don’t know why, but I think he should be with me. Who knows what kind of news I am going to get, but I don’t want to be alone. This is a family thing, and even though he’s only seven he should know the verdict.
I rush to the kitchen and grab the phone from the counter. Those butterflies in my stomach are balled up in a knot.
“Hello?” I say. “Hi, Mom, how are you? I miss you. Are you doing okay?” I can’t help the things flying out of my mouth.
“Hi, baby!” Mom says. “Wow! Don’t you sound all grown up.” She sounds happy. Well, happier than when I left Brooklyn.
“She better not be that grown up,” says a male voice.
“Daddy?” I cry.
“Hey, baby girl, I had to call and check on you. Make sure you’re keeping your cool down there,” says my dad sweetly. “And how’s Cameron? Is he behaving himself?”
“Yes, I think he’s grown an inch,” I answer, but I don’t want to talk about Cameron, who grabs at the phone; I dodge him while I’m trying to find the words to get some answers.
“So I hear you and Sally are getting along better,” says Mom. “That’s really good to hear, sweetie.”
“Yeah, I’m actually having fun,” I admit. “It’s not like I remember at all.”
“What about this little boy I’m hearing about?” asks Dad. “Do I have to come down there with my shotgun?” My dad’s jokes can be funny and scary at the same time. It depends on whether he’s smiling…or maybe not. It’s hard to tell with him. But my aunt must’ve said something, since she thinks everything is cute with me and Sally.
“Um.” I giggle.
“Um, what?” my dad says.
“Nothing, Dad.” I smile. “Remember you said that when I get to junior high I can have a phone? So can I have a phone now?”
“I’m assuming so you can call this boy, huh?” he asks. “Yeah, I’m gonna have to pull out the shotgun.”
“Johnnie, leave her alone,” my mom says. “We’ll see about that when you get home, baby. And, Johnnie, I know my girl has been a perfect lady, but she and I will talk more privately when she’s home.” Uh-oh! Not the talk. I already know where babies come from, and I didn’t learn it at home. A girl at my school was supposedly pregnant, which is crazy because she is around my age. The rumors that swirled were unbelievable and sad, but I think my whole grade learned that boys and girls can make babies even if they are just becoming teenagers. I felt sorry for the girl, but I never found out what really happened. She was so brave about everything, but I just remembered saying to myself, I wouldn’t want that to happen to me. So that was another reason why I didn’t think about boys—well, until I met Charlie.
“Well, this boy better keep his hands to himself, if he knows what’s good for him,” my dad continues. Okay, Dad!
“I can handle myself, Dad.”
“Well, okay,” says Mom.
“So are you, um…” Before I can find the words to ask about them and what they’ve decided, Cameron starts to tug at the phone. “Cameron, stop.”
“I want to talk too,” insists Cameron. But I haven’t told them how I made it to the double Dutch finals. Did my aunt tell them? Why didn’t they mention it? Do they even care?
“Let me speak to my boy,” Dad says before I can ask my question and get an answer. I just sigh and let Cameron have the phone.
“Hi, Mommy! Are you coming here?” Cameron asks excitedly. “Daddy!” I’ve never seen my little brother so excited to speak to my dad before. He may be young, but I think he understands what’s going on.
Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong! I walk to the front door because someone is ringing the bell as if they like pushing buttons. And I am right….Because when I open the door, I see four Bouncing Belles in their sunglasses and bathing suits. Uh, what? I hear Aunt Jeanie calling Sally to the door. Sally comes running, not knowing what to expect, but opens the door wider to see her enemies. I think every drop of pool water evaporates off her face at that very moment. I stand there with her. I’ve got her back.
“Can I help you?” asks Sally, trying to be polite.
“We heard there was pool party and we were invited,” Ivy says smugly. “And a party’s not a party unless we’re there.”
“Invited? By who?” Sally asks. Brie looks toward Aunt Jeanie, who pretends not to be watching or listening. She’s whistling about her business as she stirs the iced tea. She stops and looks up at us.
“Well, I thought it would be a good idea, since you are going to be on the same double Dutch team and all,” Aunt Jeanie says matter-of-factly.
Sally looks at Ivy, then at me, as if she’s thinking of the best way to handle this. Then: Slam! She slams the door right in their faces. I didn’t see that coming! We high-five like we one-upped them big-time. Aunt Jeanie doesn’t say a word but shoots Sally a fiery look and stands with one hand on her hip. Now I see where Sally gets that stance from.
“I know, Mama, but it’s time they stop bullying,” Sally says.
“I couldn’t agree more. And now is the perfect opportunity for you to set the record straight,” Aunt Jeanie says as she gathers the tea on a tray. “I trust you’ll do the right thing.” She grabs the tea and heads out back to the pool. She was a little wrong for inviting Sally’s bullies over without telling her first, but what she said was right. It’s time for Sally to settle this once and for all.
“So what are you going to do?” I ask. Sally stares blankly at me, then quickly swings open the door. Ivy, Brie, and their team are still standing there.
“I knew you’d come to your senses,” Ivy says. “Come on, guys! I smell Mr. Walker’s barbecue.” Sally steps in her way before Ivy and the other Belles can set foot in the house.
“Not so fast,” Sally says. “Is there anything else you and your friends would like to say to me before I let you back into my house?”
Ivy sulks, and then she leans over Sally’s shoulder to whisper in her ear.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” Ivy says discreetly.
“No, not okay!” Sally says loudly. “You guys kicked me off the team because I made one mistake. And then you’ve picked on me every day since. Do you know what that’s done to me? I’ve become free game for anyone who wants to pick on me at school.”
Love Double Dutch! Page 13
