Salamander Girl

One

"Samantha, Abigail! Are you two ready?"

"Coming, Mom!"

I stampeded downstairs, phone in one hand, reluctant sister in the other.

"Sammy Sammy Sammy!" my little brother held out his arms to to me in the universal signal for a toddler wanting to be picked up, a big, banana-stained smile on his face.

I smiled, despite the inner wince at the use of my nickname. Ammon was only four, he didn't know any better.

"Heya little goober," I swung Ammon into my arms and spun around, nearly crashing into the family picture hanging in the front hall

"Samantha Hannah Smith, put your brother down," Mom warned nervously, "Ammon needs to learn to walk on his own, remember?"

"Dad, do I have to go?" Abigail, the middle child, turned to Dad as a last resort.

Dad just smiled, and ruffled Abigail's hair. "Come on, Joshua's going on a mission! This'll be the last time you'll get to see him for two years!"

Abigail rolled her eyes, following me and Ammon out to the big family van.

"He's only going to Washington DC, it's not like it's the end of the world." She grumbled. I buckled Ammon in the seat behind Mom and Dad, and waited for Abigail to climb in the very back seat before I rammed the van door shut.

"Airplanes, Airplanes, Airplanes!" Ammon crowed, keeping diligent watch out the window for anything in the sky that might be heading for the San Diego International Airport.

"Is that Joshie's plane?" Ammon asked, tapping the window where he saw a jumbo jet coming in for a landing.

"I don't know," I mumbled thoughtfully, tapping my chin, "I think Joshua's plane is at the airport getting ready to take off."

Ammon's eyes went wide, "It won't leave without Joshie, right?"

I ruffled Ammon's baby-soft brown hair. "Don't worry, goober, it won't leave for another forty minutes."

"How long is that?" Ammon asked.

Ten minutes later, Dad parked the Smith Veterinary Practice Van in front of San Diego International.

"Joshie Joshie Joshie!"

I ran after Ammon as he dashed through the airport to our cousin Joshua, Aunt Ellie, and Uncle Josh. 

I got my no-nickname attitude from my cousin, he wanted to be called Joshua to be defined from his dad, and I agreed that the nicknames for both our full names were too common. We wanted something original.

"Hey, Ammon!" Joshua picked up my little brother to give him a hug, and I completed the hug sandwich.

"Will you send me presents?" Ammon asked in what he must have thought was a quiet voice.

"Ammon!" Mom scolded him. 

Joshua laughed and set Ammon back on the ground. "Maybe. If you remember to send me presents too. Deal?"

"Deal!" Ammon bumped his fist against Joahua's and, satisfied, began to run around the airport, mom chasing after him.

"Hey, Gabby Abby," Joshua slung his arm around Abigail's shoulder, and she finally turned off her phone and actually looked at him, "am I gonna see you on the field in ten years?"

Abby twirled her blue-dyed bangs around her finger. "Maybe," she shrugged.

"That's my girl." Joshua hugged her, Aunt Ellie snapping pictures. And of course, because she was Abby, she had to take at least three selfies.