The Baby-Sitters belong to Ann M. Martin

I was packing my suitcase because we- includes my friends, Dad, and Mr. Thomas- who recently moved back to Stoneybrook (Kristy decided to visit him on weekends)- would be traveling for entire summer and I, Mary Anne Spier, am so excited! In fact, we'd be camping in some of the states. I never been camping before even though my friends and I went to Camp Mowark, but we didn't do it near the woods. I'm 13 years old and just graduated from Stoneybrook Middle School, here in Stoneybrook, Connecticut and would be in tenth grade in September- only I won't be here, I'll explain in a minute.

We would be using two RVs. Dad, who would be off from work, rented one of them and Mr. Thomas rented the other one. My friends are thrilled, too. My neighbors, Kayla and her twin, Kaylee Willis, and my adopted brother, Carlos Peters, will be coming as well, which is even nicer. Kathi, Patti, and Marci had family plans, so they couldn't make it, which is understandable. But since there would be changes, they promised to come to my birthday party.

My family is getting ready to move Maine, so Dad took the summer off until he starts his new job in late August. Oh: Kayla and Kaylee are moving there. Best part: we're going to be next door neighbors (we were three houses apart). Happy Days were here and we had a pizza party along with the graduation, which was fun. Also, my grandmother's moving in with us, so I'm excited about it. We planned to get her when we stop in Iowa. The only person I knew in Maine was April. I saw her recently to give me a tour at the new school I just got accepted to: Portland Voc- Tech High School. Kayla and Kaylee will be going there, too.

"Girls, Carlos, can I gather you guys for a moment before your friends get here tonight?" asked Dad.

"Yes, what's up?" asked Dawn as we gathered in the living room.

"I'm doing some thinking here while we're doing the road. Our new house is ready for us to move in, so we can bring our stuff there before we continue on," said Dad. "I already packed my things."

"So did we," said Carlos.

"Your mom can't join us. She had to work. Her last day here is late July and we'll be finished by August, so she offered to unpack her things," said Dad.

"Should we unpack our things there before it gets lost or misplaced?" I asked.

"If you want to," said Dad.

"It would be a perfect timing for our friends to see our new house in between," said Dawn.

"Yes," said Dad. "Mrs. Willis will be helping out. Your grandmother still needed to get things organized before we get her halfway."

"Okay, sounds good," I said. "Too bad Sharon's working because she would've join us and enjoy her vacation before we get settled in Maine."

Here are the people in my dad's RV:

Me

Kaylee

Kayla

Dawn

Carlos

Here are the others that are joining Mr. Thomas:

Kristy

Mallory

Jessi

Stacey

Claudia

All of my friends and Mr. Thomas are staying over at my house because we are leaving at seven tomorrow morning, so we would have to get up at between 6:00 and 6:30 am. They'll be here shortly.

First came were Kristy and her father. Claudia and Stacey came together. The rest came thirteen minutes apart. Dad decided we can sleep in the basement since it's bigger.

"We still can't believe this would be our last time together," said Kristy.

"I know. At least we'd be together the whole summer though," I said.

"True," said Claudia.

The next day, at 5:50 am, I was up before anyone, but for a good reason: I was getting an upset stomach. Why did it had to happen now is beyond me. But I was trying to ignore because I wanted to enjoy the road trip. It usually doesn't happen during our trip. I went to get dressed. The others got up by the time I was finished. I also put my nightgown in my suitcase before I went to go put it in the RV.

At 6:55 am, we were all ready to leave as we went into both RVs and we took off five minutes later.

We stopped at Dunkin Donuts. My friends and I liked that idea only I wasn't hungry. When I get an upset stomach, I barely eat because I'm always afraid to be sick. I didn't say anything because I didn't want Dad to be concerned. I went to get some TUMS and took it with water.

When I didn't come out to join, Dad was wondering where I was.

"Is Mary Anne alright this morning? I thought I saw she looked pale," said Dad. "It wasn't like her not to join us."

"I'm not sure," said Kaylee.

"We didn't even notice she wasn't behind us," said Kayla.

When the girls came back with their donuts and drinks, Kayla noticed I didn't look good.

"Are you okay? You look pale," said Kayla.

"I got up with an upset stomach," I said.

"Was that why you didn't come out with us?" asked Kaylee.

"Yes. I barely eat when I get an upset stomach. I'm trying to ignore it so I can enjoy the trip. It never happened to me during vacation," I said.

"I know," said Kayla.

"I just took some TUMS," I said. "I didn't want to worry Dad."

"He was just looking for you when you didn't come out to join us," said Kaylee. "We just didn't knew what it was."

"You should take it easy," said Kayla.

"That's what I'm doing," I said. "I'm going to lie down until our next stop."

When the rest got back, I had just went to lie down. When Dad came back, Kayla said, "She was just telling us she got up with an upset stomach, which is why she didn't want to eat. She told us she already took TUMs and she was going to lie down."

Later, when I got up, I noticed we were stopping to our first location. When I looked out the window, it was the fair. Kayla, Kaylee, and I enjoy that in New York City. I was getting nauseous and I needed some fresh air.

In the fair, I was watching my friends going on rides. I was on the bench. Dad got some cotton candy and sat with me.

"How are you feeling, honey? Kayla told me you had an upset stomach," said Dad.

"I'm feeling a little better. I'm just taking it easy by not doing anything. The nap sort of helped, but I'm feeling nauseous," I said. "I didn't want go on rides yet. This doesn't happen to me as a rule when we're on vacation."

"I got some cotton candy. Do you want some?" asked Dad.

"I'd like to have some, but I'm still not hungry right now," I said. "I'll go get some water."

"That's fine," said Dad.

I went to get a bottle of water and came back with it. I'd have ginger ale, but it didn't make my stomach get better last time I had, so I ended up sticking with water ever since.

"There's a camping site down the road from here," said Dad.

"This would be my first time going camping near the woods using the RV," I said.

"Us, too," said Dad. "When you feel good enough later, we can hang out."

"Okay," I said. "I'll see how I feel."

"If not, we have time," said Dad.

"Sounds good," I said.

We like to do everything together. Then, we met up with others for lunch. I still didn't want to eat. I still had my water. It helps with my stomach. We stayed for another hour until it was time for us to leave. When we got back to the RV, I was still nauseous.

"Do you mind if I join you in the front?" I asked. "I'm still feeling nauseous."

"Of course," said Dad.

Thank god that helped me. When we got there, the nauseous was getting worse. I've been drinking water.

"Mr. Thomas and I just need to go check in, I'll be right back in a moment," said Dad. "You can just take your time."

After he stepped out, I was getting up slowly.

"Do you plan to get some more air since it helped you earlier?" asked Kayla.

"Maybe," I replied. "Dad said if he and I don't get to hang out today, we have more days."

"Good, it would help you take it easy," said Kaylee.

"I know," I said.

"When we move to Maine, does your dad plan to keep the RV?" asked Kayla.

"Yes. He already got his car attached to the RV," I said.

"Oh, yeah," said Kaylee.

"Speaking of that, Dad had a plan last night," I said as I told them about his plan.

"That sounds like a good idea to save time," said Kayla.

"I forgot that Mom told us last night," said Kaylee.

"I know, but my grandmother still needs to get things ready before we get her," I said.

"That's fine," said Kayla.

"Are you getting nervous about going to a new location?" asked Kaylee.

"I don't think so. It's just an upset stomach," I said.

"Oh, we were just curious," said Kaylee.

"It's okay, I'm not really nervous because I'll have you both and April," I said.

"That's true," said Kayla.

I knew what they were talking about though: It happened to me when I was little while I was going to dance recitals. It turned out that it was the nerves, but I couldn't continue: I had a stage freight while getting ready. It was the first time Dad knew about it because I didn't want to let him down.

Dad came in. "All set. You guys can do your own thing for the afternoon."

"Okay," said Kayla.

"Do you want to join us, Mary Anne?" asked Kaylee.

"I was planning to get more fresh air, but I'm just going to stay in here for a bit," I replied.

"That's fine," said Kayla.

The girls and Carlos went out while I went to take more TUMS.

"I'm going to go lie back down for awhile," I said.

"Okay. If you need me, I'll be with them," said Dad.

I went to take another nap. When I got up, I was feeling better to have dinner.

"We're going to eat in the snack bar for dinner. Do you feel good enough to join us?" asked Dad.

"Sure, but I'll just take it slow," I replied.

"Okay," said Dad.

I was glad that I was able to eat just fine, but I took it easy.

"I might go to bed a bit early just to make sure I don't relapse," I said.

After dinner, I changed at 8:00 pm and went to bed 30 minutes later.