Cassie's Perfect Vacation

Chapter 12

"Ready?" I questioned. Clara nodded.

We (Cassie and Clara) promise to never switch again for longer than thirty seconds or we will suffer the consequences of whatever happened last time. With this new contract in hand, we swear to never ever again do it.

Signed,

Cassandra Elaine Benson and Clara Eileen Benson

I nodded and so did Clara. We ripped up our old contract, throwing it into the bonfire Grandpa had made for us. It was especially for this and for roasting marshmallows in a few minutes.

Clara and I stared into the bonfire as the paper slowly burned knowing that this was the end of it.

Clara turned to me, "Well, I guess we've officially gotten too old for that kind of thing. It sort of feels good in a way, but it's sad too."

"What do you mean?" I asked still thinking that we hadn't gotten too old for that sort of thing. I mean, we had just written another contract which was kind of childish.

"You know, we made that contract when were at least in third grade," explained Clara, "and now...it's gone, forever."

"You're right," I said, "But we had to do it sometime, and I think we are old enough now."

Clara nodded, "This trip has made me feel older and made me think about what I want to do."

"What do you want to do?" I asked her interested. Clara and I had actually never discussed this which was a big surprise.

Clara shrugged, "I would like to teach voice lessons maybe or dance. I've grown to like them both a lot more over the years. Oh, and I would like to be a mom."

"Really?" I asked, "You never told me you wanted to be those things before, and I never would have guessed a mom."

Clara shrugged, "You know, after being here a while has shown me that I miss my family and that I would like to raise one someday." I was very impressed with Clara speaking from the heart and finally making some big decisions that she wanted to do.

"Wow Clara, I hope you do those things," I said, "I still haven't figured out what I want to do yet."

"You will," Clara answered patting my back.

"But how will I know?" I wondered.

"You just will Cassie," said Clara, "These are things that make me smile and I'm sure you'll find something too."

"Thanks Clara." I hugged her just as Nana and Grandpa walked down the steps of the deck stairs to join us by the bonfire. The four of us were silent for a moment as we roasted marshmallows. I knew I was getting major bug bites and that I should probably run to get my sweatshirt.

Nana smiled, "We used to do this all the time with Uncle Lex, Uncle Ray, and your father." Uncle Lex and Uncle Ray were my dad's brothers.

"Did you all live here?" I asked flipping my marshmallow onto a graham cracker with a piece of chocolate on it.

"Yes," Grandpa answered, "Uncle Ray and your father shared the room you're in now, and Uncle Ray had the sitting room. It was later changed."

"Wow, I wonder why Dad never told me how cool this place was," said Clara making my grandparents smile. It was true though, for some reason my dad wasn't really one to share lots of memories.

That's why we were surprised about any old story from the past that he told or that someone else told. We were getting a lot of new stories told to us by our grandparents.