When Life Gives You Lemons

10. Road Trip

"Road trip! Road trip! We're going on a road trip!" Will sang as he pranced through the door.  

I sat on the couch with Jack, with his arm around me, watching TV. Jack and I stared at him, not sure of what to say. It was so childish, considering his age.  

Jack being Jack, he found words. "Honestly, Will, that was the gayest thing I've ever seen in my life."  

Will just glared and sat across from us.  

It was true, though, we were going on a road trip. I didn't know where because Burn hadn't officially told us yet, but Will had overheard him and Miah talking about it last night.  

Conveniently, as the three of us mulled over where we were headed, Burnum walked in with a US road map in his hand with Miah close behind him.  

We all watched... waiting. The anticipation grew until Will couldn't contain himself.  

"Okay, Burn, we know about the road trip, so just tell us where we're going, alright?"  

He simply shrugged. "Fine, I'll tell you. We're going Detroit for the weekend."  

Jack, Will, and I cheered. But just as I got lost in the excitement, I remembered a discouraging detail.  

"Burnum?" I said.  

He looked at me.  

"I have no passport. That's one thing my parents didn't leave behind when they left."  

I could feel disappointment washing over Jack with the prospect that I would have to stay behind.  

Burnum winked at me and smiled. "Don't worry, I have a plan for such situations."  

"Which would be...?"  

"How many wolves need passports to cross borders?" Cheeky. I liked it.  

I thought for a moment. "How many people will notice a timber wolf checking into a hotel?"  

"I don't know, but here's my plan."  

We waited as he paused.  

Burnum continued. "You will pack a bag of one change of clothes and basic toiletries. Once in wolf form, I'll strap it to your back and you'll run across the border unnoticed.  

"Once in Michigan, you will do your best to follow road signs to Detroit while remaining out of sight. We will meet you on the outskirts of town where you'll then morph back and wait for us to meet you there, sound good?"  

"I guess..." I said, my voice dripping with hesitation.  

He clapped his hands together. "Great. We'll leave tomorrow."  

I gasped. It was Wednesday. Why would we leave in the middle of the week? "Burn, why are we leaving tomorrow? Jack, Sarah and I have school."  

He laughed softly. He seemed very animated and cheerful today... "I checked that already. Friday is a PA day - for all of you."  

"Oh!" the three of us said in unison.  

So, I had the biggest weight on my shoulders because in the time span of twenty-four hours, I had to learn and memorize a far chunk of the state of Michigan, along with a way to cross the border that didn't involve being in plain sight or swimming in six-foot, subzero waves. Yah, that was going to be so easy.

Given my situation, I wasn't comfortable. No one would be. Not only could I not move, talk, or anything accept breathing, to do so would be suicidal.