Best Family Ever

by Karen Kingsbury

Ashley put her face close to Kari’s. “He’s a pretty good cow. Realistic,” she whispered.

  “True.” They both giggled. Then Kari tapped their brother’s shoulder. “Luke, buddy, maybe not so loud.”

  “It’s better loud!” Luke grinned over his shoulder and kept singing. “And on that farm he had a chicken . . . E-I-E-I-O.”

  Ashley liked his spunk. He was effervescent, just like her. When the song ended, Ashley put her hand on his shoulder. “Did you play basketball at recess?”

  “Yep.” Luke was waiting for two new teeth to come in. Ashley thought he looked cute. Luke grinned. “I scored three times. Wanna know something else?”

  “Sure.” Ashley loved her little brother. “What?”

  “We started learning to write the alphabet today.” Luke pulled out his notebook and opened the pages. He laughed as he looked at his work. “Mine wasn’t the best.”

  Ashley studied the page. Nothing there looked like the alphabet. At least not the English alphabet. “I think it’s perfect.” She smiled. “I’m proud of you!”

  “Thanks.” Luke grinned. Just then his friend across the aisle started talking about dinosaurs, so Ashley leaned back in her seat and turned to Kari. Her older sister was quiet, staring out the window. Ashley tapped her shoulder. “What’re you thinking about?”

  Kari’s eyes were soft when she turned to Ashley. Her voice, too. “Dreams.” She looked like her thoughts were far away. “You know, like being a grown-up.” Kari thought for a minute. “Ashley, when you think about the future, where do you think you’ll be?”

  “Oh wow. Now that’s a big question. I’m not sure.” Ashley puffed her cheeks big, and blew the air out, dramatic. Then all at once the answer came to her. “Actually I do know. I’ll be a professional soccer player . . . and a painter. And I’ll be so good at painting that I’ll move to Paris, where the famous artists live.”

  Ashley stopped for a breath. “Remember Paris? Dad told us about it last week at dinner. He and Mom want to take us there sometime. You know, the pretty buildings . . . the river. The Awful Tower. Paris is right by London, where the Queen lives.”

  “The Awful Tower?” Kari didn’t seem to be following.

  “Yes.” Ashley rolled her eyes. “It’s famous. Everyone knows about it.” Ashley could see her grown-up days like they were happening right now. “And after that I’ll have lots of kids like Mom and Dad and I’ll be a cook so I can make them dinner.” Ashley laughed. “Yes, I can definitely see it. Soccer. Paris. Family. All that.” She thought for a few seconds. It was possible, right? She lifted her shoulders a few times. “What about you?”

  “Wait. So you’re moving to Paris?” Kari looked horrified, like the time when she had come home from a weekend at her friend Sarah Grace’s house to find a million fall leaves spread out over their bedroom floor.

  Ashley had only been doing a little fall decorating. Mom had made her clean the room, of course. Every leaf. And looking back, Ashley had to admit that it hadn’t been her best idea. But the thing Ashley remembered most was the shocked look on Kari’s face.

  It had looked like her sister was going to faint.

  Which was exactly how Kari looked now. Plus she looked very sad about Ashley moving to Paris and being so far away. “Don’t worry, Kari.” Ashley patted her sister’s hand. “I won’t be gone very long.” She tried to think of something encouraging. “And you can visit.”

  Kari looked out the window again and sighed. Finally she faced Ashley. “I think growing up is going to be hard.” She paused. “We had an assignment today, to make a collage of dreams. I guess I never really think much about it.”

  “A collage of dreams.” Ashley smiled. “I like that.”

  “I guess.” Kari looked at her again. “I don’t know my dreams yet.”

  “Okay.” Ashley faced her sister. “Let’s say you could do anything in the whole world. What would you do?” Ashley waited. “That’s what should go on a collage of dreams.”

  “Hmm.” Kari waited a few breaths. “I want to help people, I guess. And have a family like ours.”

  Ashley bit the inside of her cheek. Kari’s idea was nice, but not really like a dream. She had an idea. Something that she knew would help. “Maybe you should talk to God about your dreams.” It was something their mother would’ve said. “God will help you figure it out.”

  The bus pulled up to their stop, and Ashley and her siblings got out. The snow crunched under their boots as they headed for home. On the way, they spotted something that made them all stop in their tracks. A big yellow moving truck was parked in their neighbors’ driveway.

  The house looked empty and sad.

  Ashley’s stomach started to hurt. “The Johnsons are moving?” She stared at the truck. The Johnsons had lived there forever.

  “Mom said that Mrs. Johnson got a job in California.” Kari’s breath hung in the freezing air.

  Ashley couldn’t believe it. “But school just started up again . . .”

  “I’m never moving.” Erin took Luke’s hand. “Not ever.”

  “Me, too.” Kari looked back at the truck once more as the four of them started walking again.

  Ashley thought of something. “I’m glad our dad has a job right here. Because I’m never moving, either.”

  Kari looked at her. “I thought you were moving to Paris.”

  “I changed my mind.” Ashley thought about her family, the best family, the Baxter family, and how hard it would be to leave here. Nowhere in the world would be as good as Ann Arbor.

  Not ever.

  Kari must have known what was on Ashley’s mind. She took her hand. “Don’t worry. We aren’t moving anywhere. This is our home.”

  They rounded the corner of their street and there, at the end of the cul-de-sac, was their house. Two stories tall, made of bricks as white as the snow. Black shutters and lights on in the windows. In the spring the trees that lined the side yard bloomed the most beautiful pink flowers in all the neighborhood. The steps to the door were brick, and a metal porch railing ran along either side. Just perfect for spiky icicles. The cobblestone driveway was prettier than anything in Paris.

  It was theirs. And it was Ashley’s favorite place.

  The four of them walked up the steps and Ashley opened the door. As they stepped inside, the smell of warm cinnamon and brown sugar rushed to meet them.

  “Snickerdoodles!” Ashley started to run to the kitchen. She didn’t need to worry about moving. The Baxter family would never leave home.

  “Boots off!” Their mom’s voice sounded like a smile from the kitchen. Ashley dropped to the floor, grunting as she yanked her snow boots off one at a time. She threw her bag on the floor. Thwap! At the same time, Kari, Erin, and Luke hung theirs on the racks bolted to the wall near the front door.

  “Ashley.” Her mom came around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. Mom’s eyes were friendly, but her words were definitely firm. Her do-it-now-or-else voice, Ashley called it. Her mother put her hands on her hips. “Hang your backpack please. I tell you every day.” She turned and walked back to the kitchen.

  Ashley opened her mouth and stared at Kari. “How does she know?”

  “She always knows.” Kari giggled.

  Five minutes later they were in the kitchen, staring at their mother’s fresh-baked snickerdoodles. Ashley sat on one of the barstools along the counter. “Where’s Brooke?”

  “Upstairs. Speech and debate competition Friday.” Her mom took another tray of cookies out of the oven, checked them and put them back in.

  Ashley slumped a little. “She’s always in her room.”

  “She’s three years older than you, honey.” Her mom looked straight at Ashley, the kind of look that felt like a hug. “She has to study. And she does love you.”

  Deep breath, Ashley told herself. “I know”—she sat a little straighter—“I love her, too.” She tapped her finger on the counter. “Now . . . about that backpack.”

  “It belongs o
n the hook.” Her mom returned to the plate of cookies. “Let’s talk about your day. Who’s ready for a snack?”

  Ashley’s siblings talked all at once. “We are!”

  “Yes, please.”

  Ashley waited till they were finished. She still had a point to make. “I have to get my backpack down for homework anyway. Besides, then I leave a hook for Daddy. For his briefcase.”

  Her mom looked at her. The same kind of look Miss Wilson always gave. “Ashley. Your father hung those hooks for you kids. Not for his briefcase. This isn’t open to debate.” She looked at Kari and Luke and Erin. “Grab a napkin. Two each.”

  Fine. She would use the hooks. Ashley jumped up and grabbed a pair of snickerdoodles. She took extra time picking the supersoft ones.

  “Luke, stay away from the batter.” Their mother spun around and looked at Luke. He was in the corner, fingers covered in dough. “Where are your cookies?”

  “I ate ’em.” Luke was always hungry. “The dough’s so good, Mommy. Please!”

  “No.” Their mother set the bowl out of reach. “Come wash up.”

  Luke looked disappointed, but he did what he was told. “Yes, Mommy.”

  Their mom turned to Erin next. “And how was your day?”

  “Good.” Erin didn’t look up. She was sitting at the counter reading. “We worked on pluses and minuses.” She peered over the tops of the pages. “I have homework. I might need help.”

  Their mom walked around the counter to Erin. She patted her hair. “Adding three-digit numbers. Very impressive.”

  “On my last one.” Her answer was lightning fast.

  “Two hundred and thirty-six plus two hundred and sixty. You sure you got it?” Her mom sounded extra proud, like she was sure Erin knew the answer.

  “Yep.” Erin wrote out the answer and set her pencil down. “Easy.”

  Ashley couldn’t believe it. Erin was practically perfect. She never got a wrong answer and she always hung her backpack on the hook.

  Mom looked proud. She gave Erin a kiss on the top of her head. “I think you’ll do just fine.” Her mom looked over Erin’s shoulder. “Charlotte’s Web. I love that book.”

  “Me, too!” Erin smiled up at their mother.

  “That’s my little reader.” Their mom returned to the oven and removed another tray of cookies. This time the snickerdoodles must’ve been perfect because she set them on the counter. Then she looked again at Erin. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”

  Ashley crossed her arms and stared at her youngest sister. How did she do it? Erin had it all together in math and reading. And she wasn’t even ten years old. Always so sweet and quiet.

  Erin moved to the couch in the next room.

  Ashley watched her. The truth was, she could never be like Erin. And she was okay with that. She could only be herself. Her very best self.

  Their mom crossed the kitchen to Kari. “What about you, sweetheart? How was your day?” Mom untied her apron, folded it, and set it on the counter.

  Kari’s eyes got bright. “We’re making dream collage boards.” She did a little shrug. “I’m trying to figure out my dreams.”

  “That’s important!” Their mom found a wet rag near the sink and started cleaning the counter. “So what have you come up with?”

  Ashley listened. Maybe Kari had some new dreams since the bus.

  But Kari just stared at her cookies and then back at their mom. “I guess I’m still thinking about that.”

  Was it ever going to be her turn? “Mom.” Ashley leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. “Aren’t you going to ask me?”

  “Yes, dear.” Her mother looked at her. “You were next.”

  “You mean I was last.” Ashley took a bite of her cookie. “Because I didn’t hang up my backpack, and because I’m always in trouble.”

  “No.” Her mom’s eyes were shiny, like maybe she was going to laugh. “You were last because you’re sitting at that end of the counter, silly.”

  Ashley nodded. Maybe. That was a fair enough reason. Anyway, she raised her eyes at her mom. “So . . . aren’t you going to ask me?”

  “Ashley, please.” This time an actual laugh came from her mom. “Give me a chance.”

  Fine. Ashley took another bite of her cookie and waited. Her mom walked around the counter and right up to her. She put her hand soft against Ashley’s back. “And what about your day, my darling daughter?”

  Darling sounded nice. Satisfaction came over her. “It was effervescent. Thank you for asking.”

  “Effer-what?” Luke gave her a confused look.

  Their mom smiled at Luke. “It means . . . enthusiastic. Full of life.” She turned back to Ashley. “Why was it effervescent?”

  Ashley was proud of herself. Miss Wilson had challenged them to use effervescent in a sentence today, and now she had done it. She waited until everyone in the room was looking at her. “I have very big news.” She sat taller on her stool and cleared her throat. “Yours truly is in charge of the class Valentine’s Day party!”

  “Ashley! That’s wonderful.” Her mom hugged her.

  For the next ten minutes that’s all everyone talked about. Even Erin put her book down and said she was excited for Ashley.

  A smile filled Ashley’s heart. Being last today wasn’t the worst thing, after all. Her news was definitely the biggest of the afternoon.

  When they were done talking Kari looked at her, and suddenly Ashley knew. This was the time. She mouthed the word, Now.

  Kari seemed to understand exactly what she meant. Ashley watched her take a deep breath and turn back to their mom. “So . . . can Ashley and I please go skating . . . before homework?” Kari was expert at looking hopeful. Like a kid on Christmas morning. “Please? If we wash the pans first?”

  Their mom was cleaning the counter again. She looked from Kari to Ashley. “Hmm . . . Homework should probably come first.”

  “Yes, Mom. But it’ll be dark by then.” Kari clasped her hands. “Please! If we don’t stay out too long?”

  Going off her sister’s cue, Ashley brought her hands together, too. “Yes, please!”

  Their mother seemed to think for a minute. “Okay.” She smiled. “After the pans.”

  Ashley jumped right off the ground. “Woo-hoo! Thank you!” She raced Kari to the kitchen sink, where they did their fastest cleanup.

  In no time the pans were put away and Ashley and Kari were decked in coats and scarves, gloves and snow pants. They flung their skates over their shoulders and headed out into the cold. The rink was five houses down, at the end of Keech Avenue in Allmendinger Park.

  Ashley figured the next hour would be good for more than skating and dreaming.

  It might even be effervescent.

  • • •

  The park rink was frozen solid, the ice more like thick cement. Ashley loved it that way, because at least she knew that she wouldn’t fall through to the grass below, the way she had last spring when skating season was almost over.

  Four other kids from the neighborhood were on the rink that afternoon. Ashley and Kari waved hello to them, then they laced up their skates and headed out onto the ice. They held hands the way they always did when they skated.

  They talked about Lydia, and Kari’s friend Brittany, and the Valentine’s party in Ashley’s class. “The first rule is everyone gets a valentine card.” Ashley shook her head. “Sometimes Eric Powers forgets to give me one. I think on purpose.”

  “Eric Powers. He’s that cute boy, right?” Kari whispered the words, like the kids across the rink might hear her.

  “Definitely not.” Ashley made a face. “He’s the meanest boy in our class.”

  “Mean . . . but cute.” Kari released Ashley’s hand “Watch this!” She did a spin. For a minute she looked like a professional ice skater. She even lifted her leg in the air.

  “Wow!” Ashley clapped her gloves together. She was never the most coordinated kid, but it didn’t stop her from trying. “My turn.” She p
icked up speed.

  “Ashley!” From behind her, Kari sounded a little scared. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes!” Ashley focused like an Olympic champion. “Look at this!” She felt her feet leave the ice, and suddenly she was in the air. Yes! She was doing it! This could be one more dream on her list. She felt graceful, like a beautiful ice skater.

  Just like Kari.

  Ashley was about to perform the most perfect landing when—Whack! She flopped onto the ice, sliding across the cold surface on her stomach.

  Kari skated over to her in a hurry. She sounded scared to death. “Are you okay?”

  Laughter made it easier for Ashley to catch her wind. Which was good, because laughter was something she was good at. “I’m fine.” She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest.

  Now Kari started laughing, too. She helped Ashley to her feet, but after a few more laps, they were still giggling about the fall.

  “I think it might be time to go home.” Ashley grinned at Kari. “A warm fire sounds perfect right about now.”

  They took off their skates and slipped back into their boots. And then they saw Sarah Grace coming toward them. She was walking her big furry brown dog, Roscoe.

  “Hey, Kari. Hi, Ash.” Sarah Grace stopped at the bench they were sitting on. Her dog sat down, panting. Like he was thirsty.

  “Hey, SG.” Kari pulled on her other boot and looked straight at her friend. “So . . . we saw the moving truck.” Kari put her elbows on her knees and tilted her head. “I can’t believe you’re leaving.”

  Sarah Grace looked down at the ground. “Yeah. It all happened kind of fast. Because of my mom’s job. We have to be in California right after Valentine’s Day.”

  Ashley couldn’t believe the news. “That’s in ten days!” She zipped up her coat. “That’s no actual warning.”

  “Even worse.” SG put her hands in her pockets. “We leave Ann Arbor on Sunday.” She frowned. The news was hard for her, Ashley could tell.

  “We have to get back home.” Kari stood and walked toward SG. “But we should hang out before you go.”

  “That’d be fun!” Sarah Grace smiled, still sad and defeated.

  Kari hugged SG and then patted the dog’s head. “Bye bye, Roscoe.”