Chapter One

D.J.

Sunday

Okay, it's official. All of us are traveling cross-country on our way to Maine. We've all decided where we want to go and who's riding with whom and who's driving. If only we could finish packing and stop yakking so we could leave.

My idea to have trip journals is genius...My teachers will be impressed...

"Where are the keys to the RV?" Dad bellowed in frustration.

Aunt Becky, who was trying to wrestle my twin cousins, Nicky and Alex away from the street, replied, "Ask Jess. I think he put them in his luggage by mistake."

Dad groaned and walked back inside the house. My littlest sister, Michelle and her best friend, Denise, were sitting on the curb singing cartoon theme songs. Joey, of course, joined in with gusto. Stephanie was inside one of the RVs with the music blasting. Uncle Jesse was talking to his radio show boss loudly on the phone. Me? Aside from waiting for my best friend and boyfriend to show up, I was totally about to lose my mind. I was trying to get organized. Trip journals and not only that, but I had to make sure everyone knew where they were going and that everyone was here. But I couldn't concentrate, so I blew my whistle for silence.

"Thanks. Um, I need to know where everyone is going...Uh..."

"I'm going to Seattle. The Space Needle's going to be a blast," Vicky, my dad's girlfriend piped up.

"Wow! That sounds cool! I wanna see that!" Michelle exclaimed.

"I thought you wanted to see Four Corners," Denise reminded her.

Michelle's face fell. "Oh, yeah," she replied. Then she brightened. "I can stand in four states at one time!"

"I'm dying to see New Orleans. I want to get me some Cajun food. And Jesse and I agreed to take Nicky and Alex to the San Diego Zoo," Aunt Becky told me.

"Okay...anyone else?" I asked, writing everything down.

It wasn't easy, but I managed to get everything. Here are our trip destinations:

Vicky: Seattle

Dad: Mount Rushmore

Denise: A rodeo in Texas (anywhere)

Aunt Becky: New Orleans, LA

Joey: The Grand Canyon

Uncle Jesse: Graceland in Memphis, TN

Michelle: Four Corners

Stephanie: Washington D.C.

Nicky and Alex: San Diego Zoo

Steve: Chicago

Kimmy: Bloomington, MN

Me: Philadelphia, PA

Aunt Wendy: Virginia Beach

"Figured it out yet?" Aunt Becky asked, craning her neck to see my handwriting.

"Yeah. Dad, Vicky, Steve, Stephanie, Kimmy, and I are traveling north. Unless Steve and Kimmy get here, it'll only be four people."

Stephanie, by this time, had turned the music off. "You mean, I'm traveling with Gibbler!? Across the country? Oh, God. My wish has come true."

"I thought you hated Kimmy," Denise replied.

"I do. I was being sarcastic."

"What's scartastic mean?"

"Never mind, Denise. Anyway, who's driving south?"

"Who'd you think? Me, of course. Why?" Uncle Jesse replied.

Stephanie blushed. "Nothing. Just asking. Uh-"

Michelle jumped up and down. "WOOOHOO! Going to see Four Corners is going to be cool, but traveling with Uncle Jesse will be even cooler!"

"Well, I'm glad someone wants to travel with me. Thanks, munchkin."

Dad and Stephanie looked at each other. I think they were thinking the same thing I was thinking: Uncle Jesse, in an RV? No offense to him, but he's not really the RV type. Uncle Jesse's more the motorcycle or hot rod type.

"Uh, maybe Wendy can drive the RV?" Dad suggested.

"You think I'm a terrible driver?" Uncle Jesse asked.

Dad shook his head. "No, I just think that RVs aren't really your thing and-"

"Hey, just because I like motorcycles, doesn't mean-"

"HEY! STOP!" Aunt Wendy yelled, stopping Dad and Uncle Jesse in mid-sentence.

When all was quiet, she spoke up. "Danny, you aren't even driving with us, so leave Jesse alone."

Uncle Jesse stuck his tongue out at Dad. Dad just made a face.

"Real mature, you guys," I replied.

Aunt Wendy just rolled her eyes. "But all the folks who are eligible enough to drive...well, we can take turns. Danny and Vicky in the north RV and Jesse, Joey, Becky and I can drive the other."

"Hey, what about me? I got my license. I'm eligible!" I said indigently.

Aunt Wendy gave the matter some thought. "Okay. Maybe your father can work out some kind of compromise with you."

I looked at Dad hopefully and eagerly. Dad looked apprehensively at Vicky, who nodded in agreement with me. "Well, she does have her license," she shot back in defense when Dad glared at her.

Then, Dad sighed. "Alright, alright. You can drive the RV," he said in defeat.

"YES!" I shouted.

"But only on the small roads. You're not really ready for the highway yet."

My face fell in disappointment. "I knew you wouldn't let me get away that easy," I replied.

Michelle stared at her Barbie watch. "Can't we leave now? What are we waiting for?"

"For Kimmy and Steve," I said. "We can't leave without them."

"Well, can't we just pick up Steve and leave Kimmy behind?" Stephanie asked. "Wouldn't we all love to leave Kimmy behind?"

"Who'd love to leave me?" Kimmy asked from behind, making us all jump. Behind her, was my boyfriend, Steve.

"Sorry we're so late, but Kimmy picked me up from my house to take her to a shoe store," Steve replied, rolling his eyes. "Actually, she made me go with her."

"You can never have enough shoes on a cross country trip," Kimmy added.

"You can never have enough foot powder either," Stephanie cracked.

"Can it, Miss Brainiac," Kimmy shot back.

"Zip it, Halfwit."

"Squirt!"

"Moron!"

Steve grimaced. "Am I riding with them?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, you are. So am I," I replied.

"Great. Just what I needed," he replied sarcastically.

"Can we leave now? The USA is waiting for us!" Michelle replied.

Dad sighed. Then he began to yell. "Okay, whoever's riding north, please stand here," he said, pointing to the RV he was standing next to. Vicky, Kimmy, Stephanie, Steve, and I put our luggage neatly in the compartment underneath the RV (thanks to Dad). Everyone from the south RV just threw his or hers in. Seizing the opportunity, I gave Aunt Becky one of the trip journals and quickly told her the purpose.

"I'll be the first one writing in it. Good idea, D.J.," she said.

"Okay, are we really ready to leave?" Joey asked in his best impression of a little boy.

"I hope. Hey, if we make it in time, we might be the first in line to see the Elvis impersonators show at Graceland," Uncle Jesse replied. He looked at his watch. "Whoa! We're behind schedule! Let's go!"

"I'm right behind you!" Michelle said, grabbing Comet and dragging him into the RV.

We watched as Joey, Aunt Wendy, Denise, Aunt Becky and the twins followed them inside.

"Wait! Jesse, where are my keys to this RV?" Dad yelled.

"In the kitchen!" Uncle Jesse told him.

"Oh, thanks!"

Uncle Jesse started the ignition. "We'll see you guys in two weeks in Maine!" he shouted.

"Bye, you guys!" Aunt Becky yelled from the passenger seat next to Uncle Jesse. Michelle was standing between them, waving like a nut.

"See ya, Daddy! Bye, Stephanie! Bye, D.J.! Bye, Steve! Bye, Vicky!" she shouted (ignoring Kimmy) as the RV backed up onto the street.

"Take care of my little princess, you guys! Bye, Michelle! Bye, everyone!" Dad called.

We all kept waving as the RV descended down the street.

"BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" We all yelled. Uncle Jesse honked the horn. The RV soon disappeared from view a few seconds later. After they were gone, I said, "Okay, we have to leave now. Is everyone here? Is"

"Deej, you're starting to get on my nerves. Please, calm down," Stephanie replied. I just rolled my eyes at her.

"Hey, when we get to Maine, can we stop in Kittery?" Kimmy asked.

"For lobster?" Steve asked.

"No way. To go to Yummies, the biggest candy store in the world."

"We're all going to Bloomington to see your great-grandmother," Dad reminded her, grimacing at the thought of seeing one of Kimmy's relatives.

Stephanie made a face. "Ugh. More Gibblers."

"C'mon. Let's leave now. We've got a lot of ground to cover," Vicky replied.

"Well, let me just get the keys and we'll be out of here in no time," Dad said.

We all sat inside the spacious, monstrous RV and waited for Dad. About twenty minutes later, he came back.

"What took you so long, honey?" Vicky asked.

"Sorry, but I was checking all the rooms to see if they were clean and tidy and then every door and window to check the locks and then the burglar alarm and..."

"Boy, I'm beginning to wish I'd rode with Uncle Jesse and the others," Stephanie replied.

"Can we go now, before we start a riot, Mr. T?" Kimmy replied.

Dad ignored her and turned the ignition.

Finally, we were leaving! I grabbed Steve's hand as we drove along down the street, away from our home.