What I asked loudly so she would take the hint to speak up I’m not going I’m going to Circle M camp instead I was stunned into complete and absolute silence We always talked about going to Circle M she said quickly You know how much I love horses We both love horses I wanted to say but couldn’t My throat had closed up and my eyes began to fill with tears How could you I tried to say but my voice was gone All that came out was a squeak Either Frankie read my lips or knew what I was saying because we were best friends and best friends know what their best friends are trying to say even when they are only able to squeak We wanted to go to Circle M she said Together I said as I swiped away tears with the back of my hand Because best friends do everything 4 Joanne LEVY
together or not at all I couldn’t even imagine camp without her I couldn’t even imagine a week without her let alone a month without her A month alone at a camp where I didn’t know anyone She looked down at her iPad again Well it’s not my fault that your parents can’t afford it I really want to go You should be happy for me that I can I stared at her I couldn’t believe she’d just said that to me Before she could say any more horrible things I ran out of her room and didn’t stop running until I got to my house four blocks away I managed to get inside the door before the water works really began I went to drop my backpack on the bench beside the door like I always did then realized I had left it at Frankie’s house That made me cry harder Mom came out of the kitchen She’d obviously 5 The Sun Will Come Out
heard me because I’m not going to lie I was crying pretty loudly I probably sounded like a cat that had been kicked Hard Honey what’s wrong I sniffed and wiped my arm across my eyes and started to tell her but all that came out of my mouth was wailing and hiccups and it probably sounded something like Sh Sh Frankieaaaaaaa Cir hic cir Circle hic emmmmm Mom knelt down and wrapped her arms around me Somehow she had understood my blubbery warbling Moms are good at that Oh honey I’m so sorry Your dad and I were going to tell you about that this weekend She huffed out a breath Frankie’s parents weren’t supposed to tell her so soon They’d had her on a waiting list and a spot just opened up But but I said into Mom’s hair between hiccups She squeezed me tighter I’m so sorry Bea 6 Joanne LEVY
But ca ca can’t can’t I go too Pleeeeeease Mom pulled away and sat back on her heels She looked sad as she shook her head I’m sorry Bea We just can’t afford it this year It’s more than double the cost of Camp Shalom There had to be a way I would do anything I’ll drop out of Hebrew school I offered Mom rolled her eyes Nice try Busted Mom knew I hate Hebrew school but there was no way I’d get out of that It’s not that I don’t like being Jewish I just hate sitting in MORE school after regular school and on Sundays A girl can only handle so much school no matter how interesting the topics might be She sighed I know you’re disappointed but there just isn’t enough money Bea You know your dad and I went to Camp Shalom and we both had great experiences there meeting other kids from all over the world 7 The Sun Will Come Out
