Chapter Seventeen
Claudia-Friday Night
So here we are. It's our last night. We finished all of our projects-the mural turned out great! I love it and I'm very proud of it. Everyone else loved it too. After dinner, we had a bomb fire. All the kids were with their pen pals, the adults were talking and the BSC was talking, some more privately than others…
Shea, Charlotte and I finished the mural this afternoon. It looks really good. It's a map of the US, which we outlined in black and pained yellow. In New Mexico, there is a star where Zuni is. In Connecticut, there's a star where Stoneybrook is. Around the starts are pictures of the pen pals. Across the middle of the map, we wrote "Zuni Elementary School & Stoneybrook Elementary School: Sisters" It turned out really good. All the kids loved seeing their pictures. Don't worry, though. We're going to send pictures of other pen pals who aren't here now. Mr. Woodsworth also made me put a BSC picture by Stoneybrook.
After dinner, we got dressed and went outside. A fire was going full blaze and it was nice and warm. I sat down on a log and looked around. Logan and Mary Anne were together, talking quietly. Mal and Jessi were talking. Kristy, Dawn and Stacey were talking. The kids were with their pen pals…I saw Nancy and Haley, and Jordan and Sam.
"Claudia? Earth to Claud!" Stacey said, waving a hand in front of my face. I looked at her and saw Dawn and Kristy laughing.
"What?"
"I said, what's better: a Snickers or a Milky Way?"
"Snickers. Why?"
"Just wondering." Stacey said, laughing.
"What? What's going on?"
"Nothing. It's not important. What are you thinking about?"
"Of how I want a S'more." I said, and the girls laughed. We became involved in a discussion of the latest fashion trends and nail polish colors. Kristy left us and joined Mal and Jessi. I jumped when I heard Ms. Bessers voice.
"All Stoneybrookers! I'm afraid it's time for bed. We have to be up at five AM tomorrow!"
All the kids groaned, but they said good-night and got up. We followed them inside and helped them into bed. We didn't want to go to bed just yet, so we went to the gym and sat at a table. Logan joined us.
"I can't believe that the week is already over." Dawn said. "I don't really want to leave."
"I know. Most of the kids don't either." Kristy said.
"I'm really surprised." Stacey said. "Charlotte really held herself together."
"I know." I said.
"I think Jordan and Byron are ready to go home." Logan said.
"Why?" Mal asked, sounding kind of concerned.
"I think they want to see Adam. I heard them talking about that again."
"Oh." Mal said. "They'll be okay. I mean, what are they going to do when the get to college?"
"True." said Jessi. "Well, I'm going to bed."
"Me too." I said, getting up. "Good-night."
"'Night." Everyone said as Jessi and I walked to the girls' room. I fell into my bed and went to sleep instantly.
Chapter Eighteen
Haley-Saturday morning
Today we had to say good-bye to the Zuni people because we had to go home. I didn't want to say good-bye. I'm having such a good time and I really like hanging out with Nancy. Even being here with the boys is fun…
"Good morning Ladies!" Ms. Reynolds called out. "Time to rise and shine!"
I rolled over and groaned. I slowly sat up and saw Kristy and Mary Anne getting out of bed. The rest of us were still in the horizontal position. I was about to lay back down and then I remembered that we flew home today.
I sat up and got out of bed. I went to the bathroom and washed up. I returned to the girls' dorm and found the room alive and kicking. Girls were trying to close suitcases and fold up cots. I quickly got dressed and packed up my bag. I checked my travel bag to make sure I had the stuff for the plane, as well as Nancy's present. I stripped the sheets off my cot and tried to fold it up. By this time, everyone was doing that, but the girl's couldn't do them. So we called in Logan and he came and folded all of our cots.
We went to breakfast, which was cereal and toast. We ate quickly because it was a long ride to the airport. As soon as we were done, we loaded up the van.
"10 minutes till the van leaves." Mrs. Randolph said. I went inside to use the bathroom one more time and then I found Nancy.
We looked at each other and immediately we began to cry.
"I'll miss you." I whimpered. She just nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I have something for you." I said. I reached into my bag and pulled out 2 matching lockets. They were heart-shaped and on gold chains. One said "Best" and the other said "Friends". I gave her one and put the other one on.
"Thanks Haley. I've never had a best friend before."
"Well, you are one of my best friends."
"Same here."
"Okay Stoneybrookers! Time to board the van!" Ms. Reynolds called. I looked around and saw all of the kids hugging their pen pals. Even the boys. I looked at Nancy and gave her one long, last hug.
"I have something for you too." Nancy said, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a Polaroid of the two of us. I took it and looked at.
"Thanks. Be sure to write!" I called as I walked to the van.
"You too!" Nancy called. I climbed into the van and as the door closed behind me, I saw Nancy's mom giving her a hug. Nancy had buried her face into her Mom's sweater and her shoulders were shaking. I starting crying again, too.
In fact, most of the kids on the van were crying. Mary Anne was sitting next to me and she put her arm around me. We rode to the airport in silence.