Page 16 of Side Trip

“Fine, but I’m not leaving.” She’d never admit it openly, but she liked hanging out with Judy, and her sister would be moving out soon. She started college in two months and Joy wasn’t looking forward to her leaving. The house was going to be too quiet.

“Suit yourself, but I have to get ready for Kent’s party.” Judy closed her bedroom door.

The party. Joy smacked her forehead. That was why she’d come looking for Judy. Kent, a guy in Judy’s graduating class, was hosting a graduation party at his parents’ cabin on Lake Arrowhead, a forty-minute drive from their house in San Bernardino, and Joy needed a ride. Kent’s younger brother Kevin would be there, and Joy had been crushing on Kevin since they were in the same fifth-grade classroom. Her best friend, Taryn, had a cabin down the street. She and her parents were spending the weekend there, and Joy had told Taryn earlier that she’d get a ride up with Judy and they could hang. Taryn had promised to invite Kevin over.

Judy slipped a vinyl from the cardboard sleeve and balanced the record on the turntable. Nat King Cole crooned “The More I See You” and Joy groaned.

“Your music is torture.” She hugged Judy’s pillow to her ears.

“Door’s over there.” Judy pointed. She changed out of her Bermuda shorts and into skinny jeans cuffed at the ankle and a white button-down blouse with a baby-doll collar.

“What time are you going to the party?” Joy asked while Judy brushed her hair into a high ponytail.

Judy glanced at her wristwatch. “A couple hours, why?”

“I need a ride. Taryn invited me up for the night.” Small lie. Joy had invited herself up.

“Mom and Dad know?”

“Yes.” Another lie. She hadn’t had the chance to ask them yet. They’d been at the country club all day playing in a tennis tournament and would barely be home before they returned that night for the club’s annual gala. She also suspected they’d say no anyway. Her parents hadn’t been thrilled with her grades last semester. As punishment they’d piled on the chores.

Judy sighed, sounding put out. “I’ll drive, but I don’t want to see you and Taryn anywhere near the party.”

Joy blew a raspberry. No worries there. She and Taryn had their own plans. She put her earbud back in and turned up her music so that she didn’t have to listen to Judy’s granny music on her sister’s ancient record player.

Weezer’s “Hash Pipe” faded into Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week.” Joy didn’t hear a knock, but Judy opened her door. Their parents stood in the hallway dressed in their tennis attire, grinning like kids. Something was happening. Joy tugged off her earbuds. Her dad had a hand behind his back. Her mom squealed, clapping her hands.

“What’s up with you two?” Judy asked.

“We have a graduation gift for you.” He showed her the small gift-wrapped box he’d been hiding.

“You gave me one.” Last night, after graduation, their dad had slipped Judy a card with a $1,000 check. Still, Judy greedily swiped the box and hurriedly unwrapped it. She opened the lid and gasped.

“No way.” Her gaze darted from their dad to their mom, then back to their dad. “For real?”

“What is it?” Joy raised to her knees and hobbled to the end of the bed.

“For real,” their dad said.

Judy put the lid aside and lifted a set of keys. She showed Joy. Joy’s jaw dropped. Judy got a new car. They were going to drive to the party in a brand-new car.

Excitement shot through Joy. She flew off the bed. “I want to see.”

Judy beat her through the door. “Me first!”

They raced down the hallway and out the front door to the driveway. Joy screeched to a halt. Judy just screeched.

“Omigodomigodomigod!”

Joy made a face. “What isthat?”

Judy danced around the car, screaming and laughing and spazzing out. “It’s a 1955 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe. Isn’t she a dream?” She gingerly touched the hardtop.

Was she nuts? It was the ugliest car Joy had ever seen. And it was teal.

“It’s hideous.”

“Joy, be nice,” her mom said from behind her. “Don’t ruin this for Judy.”

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