The Twins

Chapter 5: Kenzie

True to her word, she brought home the packet and her mom signed it. When Kenzie turned in the packet, she got another packet with information about boarding. To save money and to let the other teams get to know the kids better, the students selected a family to stay with. Of course, they had the option to stay in a hotel, but hardly anyone ever did. Who, in their right mind, would choose to spend more money for a hotel when the other option is a free one? The town hosting the National meet nominated people for the boarding houses and then they were approved by a committee. At least, that was how she thought it worked.

Kenzie scanned the online list:

-Pullman family (3 of 3 spots open)

No kids. They are an older couple.

Um, maybe. Kenzie kind of wanted a household that already had kids.

-Jackson family (CLOSED)

Fun loving young couple with a dog who ran track in high school.

Students: Emma Meyers, Katie Garcia

Well, that sure didn't help any. She went further down the list, where one name caught her eye.

-Carter family (1 of 1 spot open)

Aloud, Kenzie wondered, "Is this Karen's family?" Underneath the name, it read:

1 girl, age 12, grade 7, would like a girl around that age. ;)

Yes! This was the house. Kenzie applied for the spot and immediately got accepted. More preparation followed in the weeks leading up to Nationals. It was the day before she was to leave when Kenzie's father asked, "Where is Nationals, anyways?"

"Oh," replied Kenzie, "It's in North Carolina. Some pretty big town, I guess." Then, before her father could even open his mouth again, she added, "Charleston? Wait, no, Carville? Hold up, it's Carlston. Yeah, that's right."

Her father yelled, "Mary?" and her mother came running.

They'd made up from the fight last week. Kenzie filled her in on the situation, and she replied, "Kenzie, I'm sorry, but you can't go then."

Kenzie argued her case, but it was no use.

Finally, she asked, "Please, Mom, can I go to the airport in the morning to go see them off, and then go to my club meeting?"

Thankfully, her mother agreed.

Early the next morning, Kenzie thought of a plan to go on the trip. She was going to get on the plane in the morning, and by the time her mother realized Kenzie was gone it would be too late, she would be in Carlston already. You see, Kenzie was supposed to be at school all day to help with a club, so her absence wouldn't be noticed until the evening. She'd quit the club last year, so she could do drama and track, but Kenzie's mom didn't approve of drama club.

"Bye, Mom, see you Tuesday!" Kenzie hopped out of her mom's car and waved, then grabbed her bag. Oopsies. It was Sunday and her club meeting only lasted until late that night, but she had 'plans' to stay the night at the school.

Her mom had been distracted all morning taking phone calls, so she didn't question Kenzie's bags. Now, as her mom got off the phone, she paused. "Why do you have luggage? You're only supposed to be seeing them leave." Maybe she wasn't as distracted as Kenzie thought after all.

"It's for," Kenzie tried to remember what the club she quit had been, "Environment club." Kenzie only felt a little bit guilty about her lie, but she was going to meet her sister, so it was worth the lies. Her mom believed it and drove off.

"When is the plane going to come?" whined Kenzie's close friend Emma, who was in on her plan.

"For the 500th time, Emma, I don't know!", then to get Emma's mind off the plane coming, she asked, "Who are you boarding with?"

"Me? Oh, uh", she looked in her bag for a paper, "The Jacksons. I'm with Katie too. Who are you boarding with?"

"The Carters", Kenzie said, laughing at the expression on Emma's face. Just then, the plane arrived, and they began boarding it.

"Glad you made it.", said Emma as the plane took off.

About 2 hours into the flight, Kenzie decided she should text Karen to tell her about the whole twins thing. She got Karen's number when she booked the house to stay in:

Hi Karen. I am Kenzie and I am the student staying in your house for the meet. This is going to sound weird, but I have big news for you.

Karen responded quickly: Cool? Like what?

Kenzie paused, thumbs hovering over her keyboard, finally she decided to send a picture of the birth certificates.

What?? Are we twins?????

Kenzie laughed at Karen's response, but typed back: Yes, actually. We are.

After a long text conversation, they agreed to meet at the airport. Then Kenzie's phone binged again. She glanced at the screen, and her heart sunk. It was from her mom. And there were multiple messages. She had not seen the ones that were sent in the middle of the conversation with Karen.

Can you stop by the office and call me from school? Your aunt wants to talk to you, honey.

Are you too busy to talk to your auntie?? Mind your manners. I suppose you could be doing a group project or outside and your phone is not on you.

I'll tell your aunt Cleo that, OK? Don't worry about it.

Kenzie? Answer me, please.

Makenzie Jackson!!! I'm going to call your school if you don't answer me in 10 minutes.

MAKENZIE ANNE JACKSON WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOU???? I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AT SCHOOL!!!!

Oh, she was mad now. Kenzie sat there, phone in hand, trying to decide what to say, when her phone binged, alerting her to a new message.

Makenzie, I know you read them, so you better answer me or else. I can and will find you, young lady. Believe me.

Kenzie supposed she'd better reply now. "What's that? Ooh, you in trouble!" Emma said aloud, reading over her shoulder.

"Shush up. You're lucky I am in this airplane with you, so watch it." Kenzie typed quickly, I'm so sorry mom, I didn't think you would worry, but my coach convinced me to come. I am one of the strongest runners, and besides, me and Emma have a hotel room together. I am truly sorry. He said you didn't tell him I wasn't coming, and that he would call and tell you so you wouldn't worry.

"You didn't just lie about me, did you now?" asks Emma, rereading the message. "And coach, too? You are going to be punished so bad!"

"No." Kenzie shook her head. "Don't. Yes, I lied about you, but not coach. I won't stay in a hotel, but I have to meet her. I wasn't going to stay the whole time, and I wasn't going to run, but coach convinced me otherwise. So, if you want me here, don't comment."

"OK, girl, I get it. I want you here."

"Well, then..."

Kenzie had managed to convince her mom to let her stay, after a lot of lying, and one phone call from coach. Thankfully. Now, as the plane began its decent, she was worried. What if her parents called the hotel she was 'staying' in? It just so happened that coach and all the adults on the team were staying in a bed-and-breakfast near the high school they were to compete at. She'd told her mom the bed-and-breakfast was where she would stay, also. One of the many lies told for Kenzie to stay on the trip. Coach knew all this, and was the one encouraging all the lies.

"I thought of the solution to the calling problem. Tell your parents that the bed-and-breakfast doesn't accept non-guest calls for students, you have to contact the student..."

Kenzie tuned out the rest of what coach said, she had a good enough idea of what he was thinking of anyway. Her coach was a brilliant liar. Her thumbs flew over the keyboard, typing. She copied and pasted the message and sent it to coach also. For safety of the lies, she had sent him all the lies. And truths.