An Exchange

Chapter Sixty-Six - Girls Camp

June 2005

Penny

Chilling with Zoe in the cabin had to be the best thing ever. I had to make the most of my last few weeks, and Girl's Camp definitely helped with that.

Zoe laughed as I told her how I finally busted Jonas. With a little help from Giles, we set a trap that turned Jonas' hands blue for days.

"It was awesome." Sarah popped her head in the doorway. "He was so mad because he had to go to work."

"He had it coming." I grinned sitting up. "By the way, what's this I hear about you and Jonas kissing?"

"What?" She turned bright red. "I'm not sixteen yet!"

"Uh huh." Zoe sat up, smirking. "That's the face of a guilty person."

"No!"

I laughed. "Giles totally caught you."

"No! Shut up!" She dashing in and slammed the door shut. "You've got to keep that quiet."

"Ooh, really?" Zoe jumped down from the top bunk.

"Shh." Sarah folded her arms as she chewed her lip. "It just kinda happened."

"Giles did say he made the move," I said.

"Oh my gosh, Jonas?" Zoe swung to me, wide eyed. "Jonas made a move on a girl? I though he was completely socially inept when it came to girls."

"I guess not all." I laughed.

"So, Sarah." Zoe swung back to her. "Details."

"I'm not supposed to be here," she mumbled. "I just wanted to ask Hailey something."

"Giles said," I intervened, grinning. "Jonas came over to play video games, but Giles was finishing off something so he told him to wait for a few minutes. When he came out of his room, Sarah and Jonas were standing in the kitchen-"

"Stop!" Sarah rushed over to me. "It just happened! I was talking to him and all of a sudden, he kissed me. It lasted like two seconds because he freaked out and rushed away."

"Giles said that, too." I laughed.

"Maybe I don't like you as his girlfriend after all." She pouted.

"Don't you dare say that!" Zoe said sharply. "After all they went through-"

"I get it." I winked at Sarah. "Anyway, why did you need to talk to me?"

"It's about my mom." She dug into her pocket. "You know how our parents wrote us notes?"

I nodded, remembering the four notes I received: two printed emails from my parents, and two handwritten notes from Pat and Alma.

"Well, hers are usually the same, you know, I love you, I'm proud of you, blah, blah, blah. But this one's different."

She opened the note and read:

Dear Sarah,

Every day I thank the Lord for the blessing of having you in my life. After two boys, I was so excited to have a little girl of my own. You were such a beautiful baby, and a sweet, bright, little girl. But when you were still so small, we lost Kyle.

These past few months I've thought more and more about him. With Giles' mission coming up, and him fulfilling Kyle's dreams, I couldn't be prouder. But things have happened lately that have opened my eyes. All this time, and for years, I've been so caught up in Kyle, in missing him, in blaming myself for his death that I've neglected my little girl. I forgot my other children. As you grew, I saw him in everything you did, not you. It wasn't fair to any of you.