The Trouble Is

Chapter 7: The First Night

The day moves on. Doug goes over to a friend's for the night, carrying a backpack full of plastic action figures. He spends a good ten minutes scavenging around for his Captain America mask while I gather his toothbrush, toothpaste, and PJs for him. Captain America's face covers his head and forehead down to his nose, making him look a little fierce. His tiny little mouth grins at me under the weight of the mask.

"How do I look, Annie?" he asks as he heads to the door. He is so adorable that I don't even tell him to quit calling me that.

"You look awesome," I tell him, straightening his cape a bit.

"Where are you going?" I ask. I know my Captain America lines. Doug is a movie fan. Actually, he's more than a movie fan. I think he has crossed over into the land of the fanatic. Skip says to let him have those things that bring him comfort right now. His life is changing, and that's a scary thing for a little boy. I get that, but sometimes I think it just makes it easier for Skip to be with Doug if there's something distracting them both. I mentally add an item to the summer list: teach Skip to talk to Doug.

"The future," he replies with a grin and a small salute. He heads out to the car idling in the driveway.

"Mind the gap," I whisper.

As the car pulls out of the driveway, the texts start rolling in.

<1st nite of summer A>

<get ready>

     <4 what?>

<4 whatever.4 everything>

     <whats the plan?>

<wear your bikini n that little white gauzy skirt w/ cami>

     <first nite/first impressions>

It appears that Katie has a definite plan that ends at the lake. I have no idea what she means by first impressions. I've spent my entire life with the same people I'm likely to see tonight. We will sit in the same groups and talk about the same things. A gauzy skirt and a little mascara are not going to change my life.

But, whatever, I think. I'm game.

<be there in 10. meet me outside.>

I dress quickly since there are no decisions to be made and spend the remaining time pulling my hair into a fishtail braid. I'm not so good at smoky-eyed makeup, but I can do hair. I tie a thin leather bracelet on my ankle and clip my tiny elephant charm to it for luck. Exactly five quick up and down motions of deodorant per side and I'm ready to roll.

I stick my head in Mom's room to say good night. The only answer is the sound of '80s music coming from the old iPod speaker by her bed. Skip's already at the door to remind me of the rules as Katie pulls into the driveway.

"Be home by midnight," he says, "and all that other stuff. You know."

"I'm good," I say. "It's just me and Katie messing around tonight. We'll probably just hang at the lake for a few hours and then go for ice cream or something."

Skip hugs me quickly, without adding any unnecessary emotion to it. He has had to work on this lately. After Mom got sick, he would grab us and hold us too tightly. It felt weird and like too much pressure. I had to ask him to knock it off, or else he would scare Doug. It seems to have worked. He is at least pretending to be normal these days.

There's something about the first night of summer. It seems as if your entire future is out there, waiting for you. You just have to go out there and get it; or, allow your best friend to drag you into it. Either way works.