Chapter Nineteen

After camp, I tell Mom about the beach cleanup day on our Metra ride. She’s pumped.

“¡Qué padre! It’s great that we’re starting in our own backyard. Count me in!”

“And some of the kids from camp are going to be there, too,” I reply.

“I can’t wait.” She smiles.

The happy mood changes quickly when we get back home. Mom receives an email saying that they need her help at work this Saturday. Unfortunately, this means she’s going to have to work during the beach cleanup.

“Don’t worry, mi amor. I’ll ask your brother.”

For the first time all week, Nick is home in the afternoon and not at the pizza shop. It’s hard to tell, though, because he is hiding in his room.

Mom heads up to talk to him. I sneak up closer for a better listen. Right away, I can tell he is not enthusiastic about this.

“But, Mom, I was going to hang out with my friends on Saturday. Not my kid sister.”

“Lo siento, niño, but I really could use your help with this. You know we’ve only got each other.”

“What about Linda?”

“You know it’s too far for Linda to have to go.”

He groans.

Mom continues. “Plus, it’s for a good cause. Why don’t you invite Jason? That way you can hang out with your friend at the same time.”

“All right. I guess. I’ll ask him if he wants to go,” replies Nick, letting out a big sigh.

“Thank you, niño. Tú eres el mejor hijo,” she replies, saying he is the best son.

I walk back to the kitchen quietly before Mom sees me.

“He’s going to take you,” Mom says, returning with a big smile on her face.

“Great,” I reply, but really, I feel a little bad. I don’t know why Nick doesn’t want to hang out with me. Maybe Nick has been replaced by his secret twin brother. And the twin is named Nicolas. And that twin doesn’t like me as much. At least I hope so. That would be easier to accept than Nick not wanting to be around me anymore.

“Why don’t you ask Jenny, too?” Mom suggests.

That’s a good idea. I could use my best friend right now. Why didn’t I think of her first?

But when I call Jenny, like Nick, she’s not enthusiastic about it.

“I can’t, Stella. I have to practice for my recital.”

I groan. “You’re always busy now.”

“Dancing is important to me,” says Jenny, sounding very annoyed.

“I know, okay. It’s all you talk about,” I reply. I can’t believe how selfish Jenny is being. The oceans are in crisis, especially the marine life. Now is not the time for dancing.

“Stella, you’re not being a good best friend to me right now,” replies Jenny.

Frustrated, I blurt out, “But this is more important than dancing!”

I cover my mouth. Even though I had been thinking it, it sounded really bad when I said it out loud.

Jenny is silent on the phone.

“I’m so sorry, Jenny. I don’t mean that.” My face turns roja with embarrassment.

“It’s okay, Stella, but I should go now.”

We say our goodbyes.

When I hang up, I feel awful. Jenny isn’t being selfish, I am. As much as I want to save the oceans, I need to fix things with Jenny first.

I work on a poster-size “I’m sorry” card for Jenny until bedtime.

The next day is the last day of the Shedd summer camp. To celebrate, we finally share our enrichment toys with the animals. The dolphins squeak and whistle when we give them the toy we designed.

“I think that means they like it,” says Mr. Kyle.

Mariel smiles proudly at me for a second.

I take this as my last opportunity to try to talk to Mariel. I have to at least try. I take a breath and say, “You did a really good job.”

“Thanks. I’m sad camp is ending,” Mariel replies.

“Me too.”

I pause and decide to ask her to join the conservation group.

“It’s a way for us to make a big difference. We can’t do it alone. Plus, we will be able to still hang out. That way camp sort of doesn’t have to end.”

I tell her that we’ve just started and then she replies, “I overheard you guys at lunch.”

It occurs to me that I haven’t seen her sitting with anyone at lunch all week. Could it be that Mariel is a little shy, too? She doesn’t seem like it. She looks calm in comparison to me when I’m nervous. I’ve never seen her turn roja or sweat.

“So do you want to join?”

She nods. I can’t tell if she’s excited or not, but it’s a step in the right direction with her. I add, “We’re going to talk about it more at the cleanup. Will you be there?”

She shrugs. “I have to check with my parents,” she replies, “but I do want to come.”

At the end of the day, I wave goodbye to my new friends. Mom throws her arm around my shoulders.

“By the look of it, I’d say it was a pretty successful week, Estrellita.”

It really was, but I have something else to do right now.

“Mom, can we drop something off at Jenny’s tonight?”

“Of course. Let’s do it when we pick up el niño from work.”

I sigh. I had a good day with my new friends, but nothing feels right until I get my best friend back. I hope my poster-size card works.