Two months later...
Skye was thrilled. She was on her way back to Cameron. She hadn't been sure that she would be able to get back for Spring Break, but she, and everyone else, was going to make it. At least, she hoped she survived the car ride there. Jeffrey, who should have been sitting quietly in the passenger seat, was singing along to the music and shaking his 'percussion instrument'. Skye referred to it as an egg shaker.
But it was a pleasant drive anyway. The windows were open, and the two could hardly be worried with the cool spring air blowing through their hair. It was one of those perfect days. A day when everything was right, and the universe just seemed to line up. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the stark contrast of the blue air and the green hills was stunning.
The only problem was Jeffery's 'percussion'. As musical as he was, there was only so much you could do with an egg shaker. The incessant shaking had accompanied the soft rock they were listening to for the past hour and a half, and Skye was just about at her limit. Snatching the small plastic egg out of his hand, she tossed it out of her window, ridding herself of it forever. At least until he got a new one, that is. The look on his face was so comical, she almost burst out laughing. He looked absolutely betrayed.
"Skye! What did you do that for?"
"To keep my sanity intact! You and your shaking were driving me crazy!"
"Well, it's a little late to save your sanity. You just threw a percussion instrument out of the window of a moving car!"
"It was an egg shaker, for Pete's sake! And you have a dozen of them."
"Yes, but not with me!"
"That's the point, you moron! Why else would-"
"Red light!" Jeffrey yelped and covered his head as the car came to a screeching halt, just before the intersection. "Can you please pay a little attention to the road!? You almost got us both killed!"
"Sorry! But it's your fault for making me distracted."
"Sorry! But still, Skye!"
"Shut up." Leaning forward, she pecked him on the lips.
"Green light, hot lips! Pay attention!"
"Aright, alright! I'm going! You know, Jeffery, for someone who shakes a little plastic egg while they drive, you certainly are-"
"Stop sign! Skye!" Closing his eyes, he just hoped that he survived the next few minutes.
"Here we are!"
Shaking slightly, Jeffery climbed out of the car. He didn't know what had gotten into Skye. She was usually, with the exception of when she had first learned, such a good driver. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he followed her into the knot of Penderwicks gathered on the front lawn. It was good to be home.
"Pass the salad, please."
"She said pass it, not throw it!"
"How am I supposed to help it if she hits the bowl with her arm?"
"Girls, girls... Calm down. Let's talk about something with a point to it." Mr Penderwick sighed and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "If that's possible for this group..." Disgruntled and bored sighs spread around the room. "Well, we do have to talk about who's going to teach Batty to drive. She got her permit last week. Any volunteers to take over the teaching?"
"Why don't you do it, Daddy?"
"Oh, no. Skye is the last child I will ever teach to drive. I almost didn't survive those first few months..."
"Oh, come on, Daddy. I wasn't that bad." Jeffery snorted at that. "Oh, you just be quite." She glared at him, but there was a smile on her face.
"No offense, Skye, but Daddy's right. You were a scary driver at first."
"At first?" The look on Jeffrey's face was incredulous.
"Shush! I don't want another word out of you!"
"Anyways... To get back on track, who is going to teach Batty to drive. Iantha?"
"Not I. I was fortunate to live through teaching Jane. I'm afraid the duty falls on you, Rosy. No way around it..."
"Come on! You all make it sound like its going to be a chore to help me learn. I'm excited!"
"No chore, Batty. We'll start in the morning, okay?" The whole family fell silent as the thought that they might loose two sisters tomorrow set in.
"Good luck!"
"Don't drive on the sidewalk!"
"Don't worry about the sidewalk, just don't hit a tree!"
As the car bumped and lurched down the street, the remaining family members sighed. There was nothing to do now but wait.
Two hours later...
The residents of the Penderwick household, minus Rosalind and Batty, were watching a movie.
"And so, my good fellows, the murderer is -"
"Oh, God!" Pausing the TV, they turned around to see Rosalind leaning against the front door, hair ruffled, and eyes the size of silver dollars. "You wouldn't believe what I just went through! I quit!" And with that, she stormed up the stairs and slammed her door. Looking at each other and shrugging, the others turned back to the TV. Just as they were about to un-pause it, in skipped Batty, grinning.
"That was so much fun! Can we go again tomorrow?" Mr Penderwick and Iantha looked at each other and then turned to Jane.
"Looks like it's your turn, honey." Jane groaned.
"Well, if my life's going to end tomorrow, we might as well finish this movie." Hitting the play button, they turned their attention to the movie, prepared for a tricky, twisted ending. No one, not even Skye, had been able to guess who the murderer was. Holding their breath, the watched in anticipation as the detective announced the murder.
"...the butler."
Groans filled the room as Skye threw the remote at the the TV, shattering it.
"You see, that's what happens to TV's that play movies like that!"
"This time, try not to hit any pedestrians!"
"Good luck, Jane. I promise to be nice during your eulogy!"
"Skye!"
Jerking like crazy, the station wagon left the family in the dust, with only their prayers to stand on.
Mr Penderwick and Iantha were making dinner in the kitchen, while Skye and Jeffery set the table. Everyone stilled as they heard the car pull up in the driveway. The front door slammed and footsteps could be heard running down the hall. The next noise was that of retching, coming from the bathroom.
A few minutes later, a very green-faced Jane stumbled into the kitchen. Wiping her mouth, she grimaced.
"That is the last time I ever set foot inside a car with her at the wheel!"
"So, what do we do now? We're out of instructors!"
"I could do it." Skye looked very indignant. Everyone visibly paled at her suggestion.
"Skye, I think that one radical, speed-hungry driver in a car is plenty."
"Alright. For everyone's sake, and against my better judgement, I'll do it." The looks Jeffrey received for this comment clearly questioned his sanity. "Come on, it can't be that bad!"
"Of course not. After all, what could happen in 30 minutes?"
His head pounding, Jeffery woke up to sight of his fiancé's face hovering over him.
"Oh, good! His awake!"
"What happened?" His eyesight was a bit fuzzy and he didn't know how he had gotten here, on the living room couch.
"You attempted to teach Batty to drive. God, I'm glad you're okay. I was worried for a while. You've been out for an hour!"
Despite his protests and yelps of pain, she grabbed his face, and kissed him hard. Almost passing out again from lack of oxygen, he pulled away gasping.
"I think, Skye, that you deserve a chance to deal with this. Batty! Skye will go with you tomorrow!"
"Ready, Batty?"
"Yeah. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Of course! This will be fun!"
"You know, I think Jeffrey's right; you are addled."
"Oh, shut up and start the car." She smiled at her sister' as she buckled her helmet. "Now, the first thing that most people will tell you to do is just start the car and then coast. But that's boring. Why don't you hit the gas and see what happens?" She did so, and the car jumped down the street. "Where did the others take you?"
"Down to the school parking lot, mostly. That and the side roads."
"Okay. You known that big undeveloped field by the library? Let's go there. That's the way! Don't break! Use the gas peddle! You'll crash into something if you break as turn. Woah! Other side of the street, you nut!" Both sisters burst out laughing as they skidded around the corner.
"This is better than a roller-coaster!"
"You bet it is!"
Jeffrey stood at the front window, looking out into the night, hoping to see his fiancé and her sister come down the street. They had been gone for three and a half hours, and he was worried. All of the sudden he spotted headlights coming door the street. To his surprise the car was moving along smoothly, and as the pulled into the driveway, there was no bumping.
Oh, God. Skye must have had to drive home. I wonder what happened? Running outside, he opened the driver's door and peered inside, expecting the worst.
"What on earth?" Sitting in the driver's seat was Batty, and both of the sisters were grinning and laughing. "What happened? Are you alright?" Skye laughed.
"We're fine! Things started out a little sketchy, but she's got it now. I'd say she is the best driver in the family at the moment."
There it is! I hoped you enjoyed it. Thanks for the reviews, as usual, especially those concerning the romance level. It was really good feedback back for me. Things will most likely stay at this level for now, but I am going to start planning wedding/honeymoon (even though we still have a ways to go before then) and so I wanted a bit more info. Thanks!
Rachel Alexandra 9 - Thanks!
Guest - Thank you for your feedback. I probably won't even go that far, but it's nice to know people limits. :-)