“No way!” I smile, giving my mom the most sincere smile I can get. I really don’t want to do this. No one wants to take a trip down memory lane with their mom. But my mom sounds excited so I might as well act like I am too.
“I might be staying with my friend, Kathy at the hotel. I think she has a kid your age.”
“Who?”
“Not sure. I think her kid is younger, though. Maybe Anne is the name?” My mom shrugs but the smile won’t leave her face.
“We’re investing in the presidential suite. It only has three room parts though, so you and Anne might have to share a room.” she warns. I smile a little, trying to show how happy I am. Or not. I’m not actually happy about this.
At least I’ll have a use for my Spring Break now. I won’t have to spend the whole time with Madison dreaming over Freddy and me over Anthony. My mom has never seemed so happy about anything before so I guess it’ll be fun. Maybe I’ll make a new friend too. I can talk to her about Madison’s weirdness and my major crush on Anthony… maybe if I keep an enthusiasm up karma will be nice and give me an amazing time.
“I recommend packing now!” My mom yells after me. “We only have a few days until we leave!”
I glance at her as I turn to head up the stairs. My mom really is excited if she’s telling me to pack now. Normally it’ll be the night before we have to catch a plane and not be packed. We’re spur the moment most of the time, especially with any type of trip. She’s still reading that stupid paper too, as if looking for clues. Mom usually looks like she’s about to faint from excitement. I refrain from rolling my eyes and walk up the stairs. It’s not that exciting.
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I dial Madison’s number and start picking out what I should bring. Since its Spring Break in Florida it’s going to be hot and probably humid. I look at my shorts I can’t wear for school anyway. She’s on speaker phone and I start counting the rings. She has her phone set at ten rings because she never hears it right away, especially at work where I’m guessing she is.
“Yello,” she says and I hear chatter in the background.
“Guess where my mom is dragging me?”
“Where?” She asks, sounding generally interested.
“Her old high school. She says I should learn about her old high school life and everything.”
“Ew! Ohmygod. That sounds ridiculously terrible!”
“Right? I mean, it’s over spring break and everything.”
“Not spring break! That’s the time we get tans and chill and watch bad TV!” Madison says, making some noise she learned from her mom. Her mom tries to embrace her inner French girl so Madison learns all new habits from her.
“Exactly. And my mom is forcing me to stay in a hotel with her and her friend and her friend’s daughter who is younger then me.”
“That’s insane. Younger then you?”
“Yeah. Like, I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing there. Tan? Go to the reunion?”
“You better not tan or you’ll turn some gorgeous golden brown color and I’ll be stuck all pasty and white. I’ll be white bread next to your wheat.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “You’re crazy.”
“But I’m speaking the truth. You’re allowed to tan if you promise to score some cute guy numbers. In Florida it’s a huge thing for guys to surf so you know, hint-hint,” I hear some noise on the other end of the line and some talking. She must be taking an order. I turn from my bed where my phone is and look in the closet.
“Cute clothes where are you…?” I grumble. All of my clothes are so not Florida ready. Most of them are old t-shirts. I should impress Anne or whatever. If I’m older, she needs some good influence no the girl that walks around wearing old band camp T-shirts and sweat pants.
“I’m back! Just had to take an order.” Madison sounds happy so it must’ve been a good simple order or something.
“Do you have any cute clothes I can borrow?”
“Hell, I mean heck, yes! Just come over later and pick some out. Impress those Florida boys,” Madison giggles.
“I have to go; I’ll see you when you get off shift…” I tell her.
“At four,” she says and I nod.
“See you then.”
“Bye,” Madison hangs up and I walk over to hang up my own phone.
