friendly?” asked Meghan, as he disappeared.
“Ivan? He’s not so much unfriendly, as all about business.”
“All about business?” questioned Colin.
“Hates wasting time, always working, that sorta thing.” Meghan offered again to help him back to his campsite.
“No! I mean, thanks, but I got it.”
“Are you sure? Cause it’s no bother,” she said.
“No, I’ll be fine. I gotta hurry, though. They will be expecting me back by now.”
The twins piled the last packages back onto Jae’s arms.
“I hope you didn’t get into trouble yesterday for getting home so late,” said Colin.
“Yesterday?” he appeared deep in thought. “Oh, that.
Uh, it was okay.”
The twins were pleased they had not caused him any trouble.
“Sorry I can’t hang longer,” he added tiredly. “So many things to do today.” He trudged toward his campsite.
“Maybe our path’ll cross again sometime!”
“Yeah, maybe,” shouted Colin.
“Good luck, wherever you go next,” she shouted.
59
“Thanks. Same to you,” Jae echoed back.
“Wonder where they are heading with such a big group?” asked Meghan.
“Can’t imagine,” replied Colin. “It must be a ton of work.
It’s a lot with only you, me, and Uncle Arnon. There must be two hundred of them all together.”
Sebastien then materialized from the secret path.
“Finally,” said the twins in unison.
“Sorry. Got held up helping my dad with something.” The twins forgot about Jae and his caravan, and the trio headed into town. Their uncle and the Jendayas were going to join them later.
It was about a mile walk down a winding country road, which opened up to a sunny clearing about half way to the town. The thick pines gave way to birches and maples, surrounded by vast, blueberry bush covered fields. The surface of the lake shimmered in the distance as the trio walked passed a graveyard, which indicated their arrival into the town of Cobbscott, Maine.
Music streamed through the breeze, followed by the hum of a crowd behind it. They quickened their pace, and Meghan, wanting to make sure her hair and clothes were just right, said, aloud, by accident, “Hope I look okay.” She did not get the response she expected.
“I think you look great!” said Sebastien, grinning.
Colin did not wait for the two of them to get over their awkwardness. He continued onward, making a nasty face at Meghan as he passed by.
“Sorry, you weren’t talking to me, were you?” Sebastien realized.
“Not exactly, but, thanks,” Meghan replied, blushing.
60
“I meant what I said. You always look great! I’m especially partial to when you wear slimy lake plants and leeches in your hair.”
She humpfed and hit him in the shoulder. They hurried to catch up with an outwardly annoyed Colin.
As soon as they were in Cobbscott, they went directly to the music. A rock band played, so they listened and danced. After a full set of music, Colin sent Meghan a thought saying he was bored and was going to the flea market. She noticed agitation in his voice.
“We’ll find you later, okay?” she said. Meghan sensed him throwing angry thoughts at her and said, “Now what?”
Sebastien threw a questioning gaze her direction.
“Oh, not you. Colin, mad at me again.”
“For what? Something I couldn’t hear you guys arguing about?” he asked, slightly miffed.
“Well, yes and no.” She stalled, not wanting to admit, we were fighting over your attention.
“Anything you want to share?” he prodded. His handsome eyes peeled into the layers of her skin and she nearly let the truth fly.
“I think we should just go find Colin,” she mustered out.
“I have a feeling he might get into trouble. Those same bullies are around and I’m the only one…”
“Who gets to bully my little brother. I haven’t forgotten, Meghan.” He then asked, “Why do you call him your little brother?”
“He’s small,” she shrugged. “An easy target for trouble.
He always needs my
“Ivan? He’s not so much unfriendly, as all about business.”
“All about business?” questioned Colin.
“Hates wasting time, always working, that sorta thing.” Meghan offered again to help him back to his campsite.
“No! I mean, thanks, but I got it.”
“Are you sure? Cause it’s no bother,” she said.
“No, I’ll be fine. I gotta hurry, though. They will be expecting me back by now.”
The twins piled the last packages back onto Jae’s arms.
“I hope you didn’t get into trouble yesterday for getting home so late,” said Colin.
“Yesterday?” he appeared deep in thought. “Oh, that.
Uh, it was okay.”
The twins were pleased they had not caused him any trouble.
“Sorry I can’t hang longer,” he added tiredly. “So many things to do today.” He trudged toward his campsite.
“Maybe our path’ll cross again sometime!”
“Yeah, maybe,” shouted Colin.
“Good luck, wherever you go next,” she shouted.
59
“Thanks. Same to you,” Jae echoed back.
“Wonder where they are heading with such a big group?” asked Meghan.
“Can’t imagine,” replied Colin. “It must be a ton of work.
It’s a lot with only you, me, and Uncle Arnon. There must be two hundred of them all together.”
Sebastien then materialized from the secret path.
“Finally,” said the twins in unison.
“Sorry. Got held up helping my dad with something.” The twins forgot about Jae and his caravan, and the trio headed into town. Their uncle and the Jendayas were going to join them later.
It was about a mile walk down a winding country road, which opened up to a sunny clearing about half way to the town. The thick pines gave way to birches and maples, surrounded by vast, blueberry bush covered fields. The surface of the lake shimmered in the distance as the trio walked passed a graveyard, which indicated their arrival into the town of Cobbscott, Maine.
Music streamed through the breeze, followed by the hum of a crowd behind it. They quickened their pace, and Meghan, wanting to make sure her hair and clothes were just right, said, aloud, by accident, “Hope I look okay.” She did not get the response she expected.
“I think you look great!” said Sebastien, grinning.
Colin did not wait for the two of them to get over their awkwardness. He continued onward, making a nasty face at Meghan as he passed by.
“Sorry, you weren’t talking to me, were you?” Sebastien realized.
“Not exactly, but, thanks,” Meghan replied, blushing.
60
“I meant what I said. You always look great! I’m especially partial to when you wear slimy lake plants and leeches in your hair.”
She humpfed and hit him in the shoulder. They hurried to catch up with an outwardly annoyed Colin.
As soon as they were in Cobbscott, they went directly to the music. A rock band played, so they listened and danced. After a full set of music, Colin sent Meghan a thought saying he was bored and was going to the flea market. She noticed agitation in his voice.
“We’ll find you later, okay?” she said. Meghan sensed him throwing angry thoughts at her and said, “Now what?”
Sebastien threw a questioning gaze her direction.
“Oh, not you. Colin, mad at me again.”
“For what? Something I couldn’t hear you guys arguing about?” he asked, slightly miffed.
“Well, yes and no.” She stalled, not wanting to admit, we were fighting over your attention.
“Anything you want to share?” he prodded. His handsome eyes peeled into the layers of her skin and she nearly let the truth fly.
“I think we should just go find Colin,” she mustered out.
“I have a feeling he might get into trouble. Those same bullies are around and I’m the only one…”
“Who gets to bully my little brother. I haven’t forgotten, Meghan.” He then asked, “Why do you call him your little brother?”
“He’s small,” she shrugged. “An easy target for trouble.
He always needs my
Similar Books
It's Always Darkest Before the Fridge Door Opens: Enjoying the Fruits of Middle Age
Phil Callaway, Martha O. Bolton
