Chapter 3
Packing up
Elizabeth rushed to Mr. Jones' van, knowing that they needed to hurry to start packing.
"You know that your mom and your sister are also coming along, right?" Mr. Jones asked as Elizabeth got into the van.
"I know, Mr. Jones. Mrs. Jones and Crystal are coming along for the ride. I also remember that Crystal is twenty and bringing her boyfriend to tag along," Elizabeth replied before Mr. Jones could ask the second question. Mr. Jones' jaw nearly dropped at this immediate response.
"You seem to read my mind quite often, sweetums. What's your secret? Can you actually read minds?" Mr. Jones sweetly asked, trying to discover his stepdaughter's true abilities.
"Classified information, Mr. Jones. I've told you that before and yet you ask again. Please don't ask again," Elizabeth hid frustration in her voice as to not egg on Mr. Jones' temper.
"I won't ask, then," Mr. Jones looked disappointed, though inside, he was actually relieved that he didn't get an answer.
The drive home was mostly quiet, with the noises of Elizabeth's DS following the beat of the occasional bumps in the road. Mr. Jones eventually tried tickling his stepdaughter's ankle, and it succeeded. Elizabeth laughed a little and soon pushed off her step dad's hand from her ankle.
"Stop that, Mr. Jones, it tickles! You know I'm ticklish," Elizabeth gasped, trying to catch her breath from the little episode.
"I was trying to make sure that you weren't asleep," Mr. Jones retorted with I'm-just-checking tone in his voice.
"How long until we're home, Mr. Jones?" Elizabeth anxiously asked as she adjusted her sitting position.
"A few more minutes, Miss Impatient," Mr. Jones replied in a teasing manner. As they approached, Elizabeth became both increasingly excited, as well as nervous, not knowing whom she would meet Sunday afternoon.
Whoever she, I think it's a she is, I hope this person is nice and can be a very good friend, Elizabeth thought to herself.
"Alright, sweetums, get packed with a few days worth of clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, and anything else that you'll need because if you leave something at home, we aren't coming back to get it, understand?" Mr. Jones' serious voice showed that he wasn't joking about the situation.
"I understand, Mr. Jones, I'm on it. I won't forget anything here," Elizabeth answered Mr. Jones' statement.
"We'll see, sweetums, we'll see," Mr. Jones' serious voice never fading from the conversation. Elizabeth rushed upstairs to pack up.
"Dinner's ready!" Mrs. Jones called to her family. Elizabeth ran downstairs to eat her dinner. Katrina followed, but she jogged down instead of running. Elizabeth, Katrina, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones all sat at the table, prayed, and began eating. The table was silent through the first few minutes of dinnertime.
"Well, sweetums, have you finished packing yet?" Mr. Jones asked to break the silence.
"I'm nearly finished. All I have to do now is to finish picking out my movies and putting them in the DVD holder for my portable DVD player," Elizabeth replied.
"You know what to do after dinner, right?" Mr. Jones questioned his only stepdaughter.
"What do I have to do, Mr. Jones? No, I'm just joking, I have to finish getting my DVDs into the holder, put in the headphones and charger, and put the DVD player and the DVD holder into your van, correct?" Elizabeth replied, and asked.
"Correct, sweetums. Now, let's finish eating so that you can finish up," Mr. Jones answered his stepdaughter's question. After another few minutes, Elizabeth got up, put up her plate, and started walking downstairs to the basement.
"Where are you going, sweetums?" Mr. Jones asked, not once looking away from Elizabeth's back. Elizabeth felt as though he was trying to bore two holes straight through her body.
"Doing what you told me to do. That would be to pack up my DVD's," Elizabeth yelled from halfway down the stairs.
"Ok, but hurry! We have to wake up early if we're going to make it to Tallahassee," Mr. Jones yelled back.
"Alright, Mr. Jones," Elizabeth answered Mr. Jones' call like an army lieutenant responding to a commodore's commands.
I can't wait to get to Disneyworld! I'm so excited, my butterflies in my stomach have butterflies, Elizabeth thought to herself, seeking for the next day's arrival.