Sure enough, the fog has lifted completely and for the first time I can see the road—and the beautiful covered bridge that is only a few feet in front of our car.
Looks like we just might make it on time after all.
3.Snaking Around
I TAKE A STEP FORWARDbefore I even think about doing so. But how can I not now that I know I’m just a minute or two away from Anaximander’s?
It feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life and now that we’re this close, I can’t wait another second to get moving.
But my parents are still arguing with PT, who’s beginning to look like he wants to rethink that “coexist” motto he’s got dangling around his neck. Or like he at least wants to clarify it to omit nervous parents who refuse to get with the program.
Of course those parents are my mom and dad. Spontaneous isn’t exactly their style.
Normally, it’s not my style either. But I can make an exception for something this important, this huge, thisso incredibly cool.
“Surely you’ve got two more donut holes,” my dad implores. “Or even one. We could split it. Or a donut. We could split a donut and—”
“I’m sorry, but I truly am completely cleaned out.” PT’s bun quivers as he shakes his head. “Besides, even if I had any more donuts, they aren’t what you need.”
“I know, but—” For what might be the first time in my life, my always unflappable, never emotional mother looks dejected. “It’s their first year.”
“We’ll be fine.” Paris leans forward to pat my mom’s shoulder, and for what feels like the millionth time (but is really only the third), the bakery box gets too close to the lantern. And this time it’s so close that I practically smell it burning.
And no. Just no.
I grab the bakery box from him and toss it in the large black trash can next to the farm stand. Then, without asking, I lean forward and blow out the ridiculous lantern. Now that the fog has lifted completely, it’s not like he needs it anyway.
With that emergency waiting to happen taken care of, I turn to my parents with my most competent-looking smile. “Paris and I can walk across a bridge by ourselves. Right, Paris?”
“Absolutely,” he agrees.
But my parents aren’t listening to either of us. They’re just gaping at me, eyes wide and mouths open, looking for all the world like they’ve never seen me before.
I turn to my brother for help, but he looks as mystified as I feel.
“Itisjust a bridge, right? No big deal?” If I sound a lot less certain, it’s because I am. Their reaction is starting to freak me out.
“Just a bridge,” PT agrees, though he looks as shaken as my parents. His eyes search my face like he’s hoping to find something there, though I have absolutely no idea what that something could be.
“Did you just blow that fire out?” my mother asks in a strangled voice.
Oh, I get it. They’re embarrassed that I didn’t ask first. I give PT a conciliatory look. “I’m sorry, I should have made sure that was okay. It’s just that Paris kept getting too close to it. I was afraid he was going to set the bakery box—and himself—on fire.”
“It’s okay.” PT attempts a grin, but he still looks so shaken that it comes out more like a grimace.
In the meantime, my parents just keep gaping at me like I’ve suddenly grown more heads than Cerberus. But that’s the least of my problems right now considering we’re wasting precious time.
They need to get it together, because standing here as my watch tick-tick-ticks the minutes away is pretty much my idea of torture.
“But it is—” my father starts, his voice breaking on the last syllable.
“He says it’s fine for us to go on our own,” I interrupt, glancing back at PT. This time he manages an actual smile as I continue, “I really am sorry. But we’ve got to go.”
I say the last part to everyone, because I have no doubt my parents will stand here dithering for the next hour if we let them. And since I have absolutely no intention of missing even one second of my first year at Anaximander’s, I decide to take matters into my own hands.
I start walking toward the Subaru.
“Penelope? Where are you going?” My mom’s voice goes up a little more with each syllable that falls out of her mouth.
