Best Family Ever

by Karen Kingsbury

  “Do you think Dad will grill hot dogs tomorrow night?” Ashley hit the ball to Kari. But she must have hit it way too hard, because the ball sailed over Kari’s head out to the water.

  “Oh no!” Kari ran into the waves.

  Just then a voice yelled behind her. “Look out!” Kari turned, but it was too late. She got knocked into the water. At the same time a wave crashed over her and suddenly the boy from next door was helping her to her feet.

  “Sorry.” He had a Frisbee in his hand. “I didn’t see you.”

  Kari was drenched. She let go of his hand and wiped the salt water from her eyes. She spit a piece of seaweed from her mouth. “It’s . . . okay. Accidents happen.”

  Brooke and Ashley ran up. Brooke looked really worried. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” A shiver ran over Kari. Her teeth started clattering. “J-j-just freezing.”

  “Wow.” The neighbor boy looked upset. “I’m really sorry.”

  Kari figured the boy was about her age. He ran up the sand and grabbed his towel. Then he ran it back to Kari. “Here. Use this.” He stepped away. “I’m Braden. Looks like we’re neighbors this week.” He studied Kari. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes.” The towel helped. Kari pulled it more tightly around herself.

  The girl from next door walked up. Braden looked at her and then at Kari and Brooke. “This is my older sister, Lilly.”

  Kari smiled. “This is my older sister, Brooke.” The neighbor kids seemed very nice. “I’m Kari.”

  Lilly turned to Brooke. “I like your swimsuit!”

  Brooke smiled. “Thanks! I like yours, too. I have an extra towel and some magazines if you wanna sit with me?”

  “Yeah! Of course.” Lilly seemed thrilled.

  Braden grinned at Kari. “Wanna play Frisbee?”

  Ashley stepped up and made a coughing sound. “I’m Ashley. The other sister.” She held her hand out to Braden.

  He shook it. “So . . . how old are you all?”

  “I’m in fourth grade.” Ashley tilted her chin up. Clearly proud of the fact. “What about you?”

  “I’m in sixth.” He looked at Kari. “What about you?”

  “Fifth.” Kari liked these kids. “Where are you from?”

  Kari looked over at Ashley, who seemed to be getting upset that she wasn’t being noticed. But Kari didn’t think it was her fault. For some reason, Braden seemed more interested in talking to her, and not to Ashley.

  “We’re from Ohio.” He squinted at Kari again, the sun on his face. “So . . . what about Frisbee?”

  “Sure.” Kari dried off some more. She looked at Ashley. They had just started their paddleball game, after all. “Is that okay?”

  Ashley looked frustrated, but she shrugged. “I guess.”

  Brooke and Lilly headed for the towels up the beach. Ashley took both paddles and the ball and turned toward the house. “I’m going in.”

  “Don’t you want to play Frisbee?” Kari started after her.

  “No.” Ashley looked over her shoulder. “I don’t like Frisbee.”

  Braden watched her go. Then he smiled at Kari. “I guess it’s us two.”

  They played Frisbee for half an hour, until Kari’s mom called them in for dinner. Kari couldn’t believe how much fun the new kids were. Who would’ve thought she’d be friends with the neighbor boy so quickly?

  Later, when the whole family was seated at the table, Brooke shared her news. “I met a new friend named Lilly. She’s our neighbor and she’s super nice.”

  “Me, too.” Kari felt even happier about the coming week. “His name is Braden. He’s great at Frisbee.”

  “Please.” Ashley rolled her eyes. “He almost hurt you! Boys are always knocking girls over. All because of sports.”

  “What happened?” Their dad looked concerned.

  Kari explained the story and Ashley didn’t say anything else. After dinner the family went out back to play games on the beach.

  Not long after, the kids from next door joined in. Braden brought a soccer ball and everyone played.

  Everyone but Ashley.

  She and Erin stayed to themselves playing paddleball a long way from the rest of the group. Kari made a note to talk to Ashley later. Until then she was having the time of her life. The beach . . . the warm air . . . the ocean waves and her family.

  And a new friend.

  Which taught Kari something that made her heart happy. Maybe moving to Bloomington wouldn’t be that bad, after all.

  11

  Being Invisible

  ASHLEY

  It was turning out to be the worst trip ever, as far as Ashley was concerned. It was just before lunch on day three and she was about to build a sand castle with Erin. Again.

  The problem was the kids next door.

  Ever since the first day, when that Braden boy crashed into Kari, and that Lilly became best friends with Brooke, Ashley had become invisible. At least it seemed that way based on how Brooke and Kari were acting.

  This morning she even stood in front of the mirror to see if she really was invisible. But her arms and legs and face were right there in the glass on the bathroom wall. So it must just be that her sisters couldn’t see her.

  “What are we building today?” Erin had found five sand buckets and an array of yellow and blue plastic shovels in the downstairs closet. She sat beside Ashley. “Another sand castle?”

  “I guess.” Ashley tried to smile. It wasn’t Erin’s fault. “Let’s make it taller than yesterday.”

  “Maybe like a city building.” Erin’s eyes lit up. “Instead of a castle.”

  Ashley patted her younger sister’s hand. “That might be fun.” Erin was still so little. Spending time with her was the best part of being ignored by Brooke and Kari.

  Definitely, Ashley was trying to find the silver cloud here.

  Or something like that.

  Their mom and Luke joined Ashley and Erin. Mom had a big red beach bag full of lunch for whenever someone got hungry. Ashley watched her mom set up her beach chair. She adjusted her sunglasses and sunhat and opened a book.

  Luke ran up and slid into the spot on the other side of Ashley. “I’ll help. What are we building?”

  “A castle.” Ashley looked from Luke to Erin. “Made of sand.”

  “Or a city building . . . Hi, Luke!” Erin looked even happier than before. “You can help, too!” She handed him a plastic rake and he got to work.

  “I have a busy schedule today.” Luke looked over his shoulder as he flattened the sand in front of them. “Me and Dad are going snorgling.”

  “Snorgling?” Ashley wrinkled her nose. She looked at her mom. “What’s snorgling?”

  “Snorkeling.” Her mom glanced up from her book, her eyes happy. “Your brother is going to learn how to snorkel.”

  “That’s right.” Luke hesitated mid-effort with the sand rake. “I always forget. Snorkel. Snorkel. Snorkel.” He giggled. “Sounds like a seal laughing.”

  Ashley figured that was as good a way to remember it as any. A seal laughing.

  Their mother put her hand above her eyes. “Where’re Kari and Brooke?”

  Ashley pointed down the beach. Her sisters were on tubes, floating and laughing with Braden and Lilly. “Over there.” Ashley rolled her eyes and looked back at the sand field in front of her. “Having the time of their lives.”

  “Hmm.” Mom set her book down and looked at Ashley. “Didn’t they have another tube?”

  “No. Just four. All week there’s been only four of everything.” Ashley lifted her chin. “It’s fine. I’m not sad. I don’t want to play with them, anyway.”

  Her mother’s voice was gentle in the ocean air. “Well I’m sure it’s not intentional, sweetheart.”

  Ashley raised one shoulder and dropped it again. “Whatever. I’m fine.” This wasn’t the time to talk about it. She was trying to be happy, so she smiled.

  “Okay, then. If you say so.” Her mom’s voice told Ashley
there would be more conversation about this later. When Erin and Luke weren’t around.

  Mom knew everything, so she definitely knew Ashley would have more fun out in the ocean with the big kids. But that wasn’t going to happen, so they both dropped the subject.

  Now Dad came around the corner of the house headed their way. “Beautiful day at the beach!” He was always happy, whether he was in the waves or on the sand.

  Ashley tried to learn a lesson from him. But she wasn’t the best student on days like this.

  “Time for snorgling!” Luke jumped up and ran to their dad. Midway he stopped and did a single laugh. “Not snorgling.” He scratched his head. “Oh! Snor-kel-ing. That’s it. Snorkel. Snorkel. Snorkel.” His laughter made the afternoon feel a little lighter.

  That’s why Luke was one of Ashley’s favorite people.

  Dad set up a chair next to Mom and all five of them ate lunch.

  “If you could be any ocean animal, which would you want to be?” Ashley’s dad took a bite of his sandwich and looked out at the ocean. He was always asking them questions like this.

  “I think I’d be a clown fish!” Luke was the first to find an answer. He was pretty funny, so a clown fish made the most sense.

  Ashley furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. Her imagination ran wild. If she could be any ocean animal . . . ? There were too many to name just one.

  “I think I’d like to be a sea horse.” Her mom took a sip of her iced tea. “What about you, Ash?”

  “This is a tough question.” Ashley grabbed a handful of chips. “But, I think I’d have to pick a dolphin. They seem the most friendly.”

  “That’s perfect for you.” Ashley’s dad finished up his lunch and winked at her. “Because you’re the most friendly Ashley I know.” He wadded up his napkin and put it in the trash bag. Ashley turned back to the waves and smiled. She liked hearing that. It made her feel better about being left out by her sisters.

  Ashley’s eyes found the spot along the shore where her sisters were still having fun with the neighbor kids, and she felt sad again. She wanted to be with her older sisters. They looked like they were having the best vacation ever.

  After lunch, Ashley and Erin and Luke worked on the castle, but before they were half done, Luke set his shovel down and jumped up. “I’m ready to snor-kel.” He grinned at their dad. “Can we go now?”

  “Excellent idea, Luke-ster!” Their dad dug through their mom’s beach bag and pulled out two snorkels. He gave Luke an adventure type of smile. “Now’s the perfect time!” He stood and handed one of the snorkels to Luke.

  “Can I go?” Ashley looked up at her dad. She wouldn’t be left behind again, right?

  “Oh.” He frowned. “Ash, we only brought two snorkels. I’m sorry. Maybe after Luke, you can have a turn.”

  “Okay. . .” She slumped down into the sand. This day was not going her way. Only four floating water tubes. Only two snorkels. She looked at Erin. Her little sister was still happy, filling a castle mold with sand. Nothing ever bothered her.

  Ashley sighed. If only she could be more like Erin.

  After Dad and Luke walked toward the water, her mom stood, too, and approached Ashley and Erin. She put her hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” Ashley brushed some sand off her nose and began filling a pail. “No big deal.”

  Her mom patted her head. “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Ashley looked up at her mom, then at her sister. “We’re going to build the best sand castle in the whole world. Right, Erin?”

  “That’s right.” Erin smoothed out the spot where the first part of the castle was coming to life. “Best castle on the whole beach.”

  Whole beach? Ashley blinked. That didn’t have quite the same ring as best in the world. She laughed a little. “Sure. Okay. Whatever.” Her laugh felt good. First one in a lot of hours. “The world. The beach. As long as it’s the best.”

  “It will be.” Erin stopped and patted Ashley on her back. “Don’t worry.” She grinned. “Being happy is a choice.” She looked at their mother. “Right, Mom?”

  “It is.” Their mom was still watching them. She sat back in her beach chair and smiled at Erin. “I like how you think, honey.” She shifted her eyes to Ashley. “Sometimes you have to choose happiness. Your whole day gets better when you do.”

  “That settles it.” Ashley smiled at Erin. “These happy sisters are going to get this castle built!”

  Ashley and Erin spent the rest of the afternoon building the greatest sand castle creation Ashley had ever seen. It had three tall towers, pretty seashell decorations, pathways and a bunch of doors. They even made a moat around it with a bridge from the world to the castle entrance.

  Like something from a fairy tale.

  When they were finished, Ashley stood and surveyed their work. “Pretty impressive.” She put her arm around Erin’s shoulders. They were both covered in sand and worn out from the effort.

  But the time spent was worth it.

  “See?” Erin grinned at Ashley and then at their mom, who was still reading in her chair. “Look, Mom! It’s perfect.”

  Their mom stood and studied the castle and right away her eyes got impressed. “Girls! It’s incredible.” She grabbed her camera from her beach bag. “Okay, kneel next to your castle.”

  Ashley and Erin did as they were told, arms around each other while their mother took the picture. Then Erin turned to Ashley. Her eyes sparkled, like she was about to do something crazy. “Now let’s knock it down and start again! Before the waves do!”

  Ashley raised her eyebrows. She could feel her face get full of question marks. She had never seen this side of Erin. “I like the way you think.” Ashley nodded. “Yes! Three . . . Two . . . one . . .”

  “Go!” Erin knocked over the first tower with a shout.

  Ashley and Erin were having fun kicking up sand. Their mom got a few funny photos of them. Something they could laugh at later when they remembered this day.

  “I’m a dinosaur! Rawwwwr!” Ashley stomped on the foundation of the castle.

  Erin giggled. “Me too!” She stomped on another section and growled.

  This was actually super fun!

  When dino demolition was over, and the castle was just a bunch of sand again, the girls sat there. Quiet. This day didn’t turn out so bad, after all. Erin was little, but she was a lot of fun. Which was actually a new thought for Ashley.

  Plus, she had chosen to be happy like Erin and that had worked out. Because happy was who Ashley was deep down inside. And being happy was being true to herself.

  Also, sometimes the best times are unexpected times.

  Ashley and Erin moved their towels next to their mom’s chair. She handed them each an apple and the three of them sat there staring at the beach. Brooke and Kari and the neighbor kids were still playing in the waves. Dad was still snorkeling with Luke.

  But none of them had the thrill of pretending to be a dinosaur while leveling a whole entire sand castle.

  “I have an idea.” Their mom leaned back and looked at the sky. A million puffy white clouds drifted over the beach. Mom grinned at Ashley and Erin and then looked up again. “Let’s see what we can find in the clouds.”

  Ashley loved this game. She leaned back and stared at the clouds. Just then she saw something. “There. That one’s a car.” Ashley pointed up. “See the tires? And over there’s a centipede. Look at those legs!”

  “I see it.” Her mom sounded excited. This was another thing Ashley loved about their mother. She knew how to pretend.

  “I see a tree!” Erin pointed a few clouds over. “See it? The branches are super enormous.”

  “They are!” Ashley loved this. “God’s the best artist.” She saw another one. “There’s a castle. Just like the one we built.”

  Their mother laughed. “You’re the sweetest girls.” She turned soft eyes to Ashley and then to Erin. “I love you both so much.”

  “Love you, t
oo.” Ashley and Erin both said it.

  And it occurred to Ashley that on this afternoon—even while missing out on tubing or snorkeling, and wishing she could be there—fun was right in front of her. She just had to pay attention to find it.

  They really did have the best beach day of all. Erin and Ashley hadn’t missed out. Because they had made a choice for happiness. Which was something Ashley was going to remember.

  Because lots of days, you just needed to make that choice.

  12

  Choosing Happy

  ASHLEY

  That night Ashley wanted to sketch a bit. Drawing made her feel happy and calm. Like maybe God had created her to draw the way He created some people to dance or sing.

  She found her new journal in her suitcase and took it out onto the upstairs back deck. Then she found a quiet spot with a view of the whole ocean and she turned to an open page. Today she would sketch two things.

  A sand castle bigger than anything on the beach.

  And a cloud shaped like a tree.

  For a long time she sat there drawing. When she was finished she smiled at her work. Perfect, she thought. Just how she saw it in her heart. She sniffed the air. Her dad was grilling chicken for dinner and it smelled like home and vacation all mixed together.

  “Dad.” She ran down the stairs and found him standing at the grill. “Your chicken smells professional.” She tucked her journal under her arm and smiled at him. “How do you do that?”

  “Hi there.” He laughed and closed the lid of the grill. “It’s all in the marinating.” He winked at Ashley and they took chairs beside each other.

  Just then Brooke and Kari came up the sand, laughing and talking.

  “Hi!” Kari waved at them. “We had the most fun day!”

  Ashley looked down at the journal on her lap. She rolled her eyes. Never mind her own great day. She wasn’t going to tell Brooke and Kari. They didn’t care about her news, anyway. Not when they had ignored her all day.

  Kari didn’t seem to notice Ashley’s hurt feelings. Ashley watched her carry a pail full of seashells. She couldn’t stop talking about their great time. “After we played in the waves, we walked the whole beach and picked up the prettiest shells.” She stared into her bucket. “But we never found a single sand dollar.”