AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Me: Truth.
There are three other O’Dell brothers, and at least two of them are pretty wild. Apple Valley wild, but still. Owen and Jill have told me stories.
Jill: Hey. The kids are coming out from lunch with their counselors. Should we just go when they’re ready?
Me: Give me five minutes, and I’ll walk the first-aid backpack out to you.
Jill: See? RESPONSIBLE. In all-caps. Forget Mrs. Lockhart. YOU should run for mayor.
Me:
Seven minutes later, I dash out of the camp office. Jill waves at me from over at the mouth of the trail where she’s with a group of campers. “Hurry up, T-Time!” She’s wearing cargo shorts and hiking shoes, a long black braid, and a crooked grin. As I cross the road, heading over to the trail, Jill gets the kids chanting.
“T-Time! T-Time!”
I hate being rushed, but I love my nickname. So I decide to forgive my best friend for instigating the chant. Instead of waiting for me to get to her, Jill leaves the group and meets me in the middle of the road. Man. She reallyisin a hurry to start the hike. “It took me a little longer because I had to restock the first-aid kit,” I tell her.
I hand off the backpack. Besides Band-aids and Neosporin, we’ve got all the usual stuff, including Epipens for allergic reactions. There’s even a bear whistle, although the hills surrounding the ranch haven’t had much wildlife since they turned into a movie set.
Still. Better safe than sorry.
“You’re good to go now,” I say, blowing a strand of red hair out of my mouth. I’m sweating already, and I’m not even hiking.
“Are we sure the kit’s fully stocked?” she asks. I frown and try not to be insulted. She was just texting me how responsible I’m being now. “Let me double-check.” Jill reaches down, extending her hand to unzip the front pocket. Then she wiggles her fingers dramatically. That’s when I see it.
And I shriek. “You’re engaged!”
Jill shrieks back. “I’m engaged!” We snatch each other’s hands and start jumping up and down, stomping our feet like we’re trying to escape a mouse or a rattlesnake or something.
“He asked me last night,” she blurts out, when we finally stop hopping around.
“AfterFrozen?”
“Yes! But it’s more romantic than it sounds. Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of our first kiss.”
I smack her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to surprise you in person today. And it was late. And you were here at camp. Being all responsible.”
“Hey, everyone. Guess what?” I drag Jill over to the kids. “Miss Jill’s going to be a Mrs! She’s getting married.”
A couple of the kids say, “Ewww.” Others cheer and clap.
Jill hoists the pack onto her back. “All right. Everyone go woop woop!” All the kids call out, “Woop woop!” When she says they’re not being loud enough, they all keep woop-ing until the group is a frenzy of woops.
This is Jill in her element, woop-ing right along with the kids. When she raises her hand, two fingers up—kind of like the Mockingjay sign—the campers instantly settle. They’re silent and focused because she’s that good at teaching and making learning fun. I kind of want to be her when I grow up.
“Now I’mreallysorry I can’t go with you,” I say. I love watching Jill in action. I learn as much from her as the kids do.
“That’s okay,” she says back. Then she addresses the kids again. “T-Time’s got important director work to do. But before she goes, I’ve got a story to share with you all. And T-Time can correct me if I get any of the details wrong.”
That’s when Jill starts to tell them all about the legend of a mysterious breed of Oregon bird.
“It’s called …” she darts her eyes at me, “the squinky.”
Okay. I get it, Jill.Squinkyis what she called my face while we were sitting on the porch that day after the car wash.
Right after Spencer texted me.
