Preparing
I was reading in my room when there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find my sixteen-year-old brother, Jordon. He had blue eyes and blond hair. I was nineteen (well, eighteen but my birthday was in a week) with blue eyes and ink-black hair. I lean against the door frame. “What’s up, Jor?” I asked.
He grinned. “Father’s planning another hunting trip and this time I’m coming with you!”
I smiled. “Ah, but what weapon?”
“Father says I have to use a Tranquilizer gun,” he said unhappily.
I chuckled and ruffled his hair. “I started out with that until Father realized I was better with a bow.” I looked at it. I was hanging on my wall. I sighed. “That reminds me. I need to make more arrows.”
He shook his head. “I forgot you make your own arrows.”
I shrugged. “Better start packing.”
He blinked. “Ah, that’s one of the reason I came to you. What should I pack?”
“Hiking boot, jackets, hats, a tent, and mom will tell you the rest,” I said over my shoulder as I pulled out my already packed bags from under my bed.
“You’re already packed?”
I snorted. “I let mom clean the stuff then I repack the the stuff.” I shrugged as I pulled out my pocket knife so I can make my arrows. “I never wear this stuff unless we’re on a hunting trip anyway.”
Jor nodded. “See you later.” He hurried to his room.
I pulled out the rest of my supplies and sat on my bed and got to work. By the time mom called for dinner I had fifty arrows. I already had fifty in my quiver so adding these made me have a hundred which is the number I always put in it. I went downstairs. “Hey, mom,” I said as I helped her set the table.
“Did you hear about the trip?” Mom asked.
I nodded. “Yup. I made all the arrows I needed. Jor’s going to need help with what to pack though.”
She grinned. “Already done.”
I giggled. “Are you going to be okay having the house to yourself?”
She nodded. “Yup. I’ll only be cooking for myself and maybe I’ll even get some work done on my book.”
I snorted. “I bet you’ll get the whole thing done before we come home.”
She put dinner on the table. “Oh, Liz. You’re faith in me is amazing.”
I shrugged. Dad and Jordon come in. “Hi, Dad. So where are we going for this trip?” I asked eagerly.
He smiled. “India.”
I’ve always wanted to go there. I threw myself at him. “Thanks, Dad!”
He chuckled as he hugged me back. “I knew you’d like it. Mom and I discussed it and decided this would be your present for your birthday.”
I smiled and hugged mom. “So how long will we be gone for?”
Jordon grinned. “I chose that one. We’re going to be gone all summer.”
I blinked. “Three months?”
“Yup.”
“Didn’t you have plans with your friends?” I asked confused.
“I told them this came up quickly.”
“When will we leave?” I asked looking at Dad.
“Tomorrow.”
We all sat to eat. I nodded. “Tomorrow makes sense if we’re going to use the whole three months.”
Jordon sighed. “I wanted to do four but mom and dad said I wasn’t going to miss school.”
I giggled. “Don’t worry. I tried to do do that and it was meant with big disapproval.”
Mom and dad smiled at one another. “Actually, Liz, your brother is the only one being in India for three months. You and dad are staying for a year.”
I froze. “A year?”
Dad nodded. “Mom need more time to work on her book and four people in the house is distracting. Jordon will come home but he’s always with his friends anyway.”
Mom nodded in agreement. “I’ll fly to India to pick him up and then we’ll leave. How does that sound?”
I hesitated. “What if I decide that I want to stay there after the year is up?”
Dad chuckled. “Then you stay.”
My eye widen. “Really?”
“Yes.”
This is my dream come true. I glanced at Jordon and saw he was grinning. “Do you like it?” He asked.
I huffed out a laugh. “Yes. I love it!” After dinner I went upstairs and decided to stuff a couple of books into my bag. I looked at my notebook and sighed. I put a couple of those in and grab my drawing supplies. What? I have to have something to do when it gets into the winter months. Though we might not stay in the forest at that time. Hmm. I looked through my closet until I find my hunting cloak. That stays unpacked so it doesn’t get wrinkles. I fold it up nicely and put in the backpack with my supplies. I put my arrow making supplies back into the go bag and look at the time. Ten pm. Damn. I lay down to see if I can get some sleep. Nope. I toss and turn then give up.
I do some exercises and watch some tv. Still not morning. Ugh, the waiting is killing me! I lay down again and this time actually fall asleep. I wake up to Jordon shaking me. I groaned. “I’m up!”
He grinned. “Come one! We don’t want to miss our flight.”
I sat up quickly and look at the clock. I get up, kick my brother out, take a shower (what? it will be a while before I take another one), and get into jeans, a T-shirt, and boots. I pull my cloak out and put it on. I put my bow in it’s case and hurried downstairs with my stuff. I put them in the car and eat breakfast quickly like Jordon and Dad. Mom smiled. “Boy, are you all so excited.”
I nod. “This will be so much fun.”
Dad chuckled. “Shall we go?”
I jumped up and race Jordon out to that car. We both launched ourselves into the back of the car and buckled up fast. Mom and dad got into the car and mom drove us to the airport. She waved as we got on the plane and finally we were on our way to India!!!
