Lucid Waking

Archive for April 2nd, 2010

To Look for America (6)

        But he could tell that she did. He straddled the bike like he always did to start, but the rush of adrenaline was ruined by a pair of arms tightly clutching his trunk. He tried turning on the engine and revving it to make him feel better, but he just felt embarrassed. Mechanically, he turned his bike around to return back to his house. A little ways down the road he felt that familiar adrenaline, but it was just a tinge rather than a rush. Bree held on tighter and he was forced to yell back at her not to hold on so hard. She apologized rather sheepishly and loosed her grip just a bit. Enough, at least, for John to take a deep breath. That feeling of home returned and he lost himself in the speed, the wind, and the open fields.
        He went passed his house once and had to turn around to go back. Bree genuinely did not seem displeased with this accident, but she was more relieved at having both feet on the ground than anything else once he had parked his bike back in the Walker’s garage. He escorted her into the house and asked, as he was taught to do, whether or not she wanted a drink.
        “No, thank you,” she replied. “Sorry if I held on too tight.”
        “It’s fine,” he said.
        Bree cleared her throat. “Anyway, I have a plan. I mentioned to my parents that I wanted to go on a trip this summer and they were quite enthusiastic. I also sent a letter back to the Miss America contest letting them know I was going to arrive. The big problem is, the contest is before school lets out, but I talked to Mrs. Anderson and she said that it was fine and I could still graduate—”
        “Wait a minute! Slow down! What about me? And where are we getting money for gas, food, hotels? What if my mom doesn’t let me go? And it doesn’t feel right that we should be allowed to miss school for this.”
        “Me, slow down?!” Bree chuckled. “Mrs. Anderson said that we could miss school on the condition that we come back with an essay finished about something we learned while in New York. She’s hoping we write about something you could find in a museum, I’m sure. Anyway, as for the money, my grandmother is willing to give me cash for the trip and my mother has insisted on giving me a credit card. So we’re set there. You just need to tell your mom.”

Author’s comments on post 378: Oh, planning. There’s always something that you forget to think of. I believe an order of business might be better for them to start in order to keep organized.