Chapter 1
I am sitting in the living room on our cream colored couch waiting for my parents to tell me why we are having a family meeting. They were talking quietly in the kitchen. I could almost make out the words but then they would get all jumbled together. Finally they came out and sat across from me on our red couch. I knew they were about to speak when my mom took a depth breath and looked at my dad. Then she says, "Honey we, me and your father are going to go on a very long trip sweetheart."
"So can I come?"
My father answers "No darling, you can't come for you will miss so much school, and we want you to have a very good education." I start to roll my eyes then stop. Mom was giving me the "Motherly death stare" the one that says don't give me that tone or don't give me that face.
"Where are you guys going?"
Mom says "We are going around the world." My family owns a yacht, a really big, really nice yacht. We are pretty rich.
"And you are taking the yacht to do that?"
"Yes." My mother says.
"So if you're traveling around the world in a yacht that's gonna take a year or so right?"
"Yes you are correct; we will be gone for a year to two years." My father says. I'm thinking: What the Heck! You are Going to be Gone for two FREAKING YEARS?! But I don't say that, and I keep a straight face of course. I always want to look tough because I don't like to freak out and say stuff like that, it makes me feel pathetic.
"Alright if you are going to be gone for two years then where am I gonna stay? Where am I gonna go?"
"That is basically the same question my dear!" My mother says "Well anyway you are going to go to your Grandmother Betty's house to live with my sister and her Daughter Zara in Bedford, Maine!"
"But it's cold there!"
"We know sweetheart but me and your father thought it would be nice for you to have some quality time with your aunt, cousin and Grandmother." My mother says.
"But she isn't actually my Grandmother, more like my step-Grandmother!" I say.
"I guess that's what she really is but she IS your only Grandmother." My father says.
"O.K. fine, when should I start packing my bags?"
"You should start packing now!"
And I do.