M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.
It's been two days since we let Hermione run free at the concert. Two days of Levi posting on my Instagram. Two days of Lucy acknowledging how cute every single horse we pass is. Two days of Emmett Rubix-cubing. Two days of Antione not understanding English.
A lot can happen in two days, but it's been quiet back here. We've been sleeping in the bus, eating my PB&J sandwiches, hanging up string lights in the evening, listening to Levi play his guitar, and going to more antique shops (despite almost being killed in the last).
Only one thing worth telling you guys happened- we got a record player.
"That's not gonna work, stupid!" remarks Lucy to Levi. She takes a nibble of her PB&J and sets it down onto its transparent Ziploc bag.
"I've done this millions of times, Lucy! If you didn't want this to happen, maybe you should've bought an actual record."
Lucy playfully crashes into Levi and steals the CD from his sandalwood-smelling hands (he can't have a normal smelling hand sanitizer).
"We will not be breaking Joey's CD just so you can listen to Material Girl!"
(Don't judge me! I like the eighties!)
"I don't think Joey will mind," scoffs Levi, looking over at me, mouth drawn up into a thin, malevolent line. I want to tell him no, but just shrug it off, looking back to the freeway. There is slight traffic, but I really don't mind. Their conversations are relaxing and fun to listen to. Reminds me I'm almost to my goal (well, halfway, I guess, but still).
"Okay, Lucy," says Levi, angled down at the little suitcase record player with my CD in his hand. "It's time your mind was blown. You're a very boring person."
"Oh, shut up. If you want to summon demons from Hell with that CD, go ahead. I'm not coming with you."
"Shame," he whispers sarcastically, shaking his head. He slides the CD down the spindle, onto the platter. He looks up at Lucy, eyes wide with perk. "Would you like to do the honors, Lucille?"
Lucy sighs and leads the needle to the CD. A Satanic chant (in the tune of Madonna) fills the van, louder than no other. My heart jumps and before I know it, the headlights of my van are submerged in the grey Honda in front of me.
I sink to the carpeted floor once I see my dad step out.
A wild aroma of Cheez-It's flows into my nostrils from the carpet, the opening of the car door creating a brisk breeze. The gray hair atop his head blows slightly to the side in the traffic-swept air, but he never sees me. I shuffle, mustering up every swear word I can and try to consume them in my mind.
Don't be an idiot. Don't be an idiot or you're going to Juvie.
Maybe I shouldn't have thought of this journey in the first place. Maybe I should've just hung out at the beach like all the other kids do on Spring Break. Maybe I haven't been so stupid. I want to scream, and I think I am, just so high only dogs can hear me. I stop and look up at my dad's crooked nose, his tired eyes and realize how much wrong I've done, and how I really should correct myself. My left arm meets the seat cover, and I sigh.
Just as I'm about to give myself away, Lucy's foot hits me square in the eye.
"Ah!" I moan, curling myself into a tiny ball at the pedalboard.
Lucy crosses her legs, wearing sunglasses with her curly hair tucked into her sunhat. Emmett pops up next to her in the passenger's seat, a red bandana tied around his mouth and chin.
YOU ARE READING
Road-Trippers
Humor"In retrospect, I could've gotten away with this even if my parents weren't attending Mr. Frank's Kitchen Convention this spring break." Joey's not the kind of boy who wastes the week he has off from school. Staying local while his parents are away...
