Sammy petted the purring cat, picked her up and scooted down the bench to make room for her parents. On the table were a wrapped present and a plate of her beloved cream puffs, covered with sticky caramel glaze from their French friend Marie-Jeanne’s bakery on Fillmore Street.
Her eyes lit up, but she waited for the right moment — talk time first.
“What happened? I knew you weren’t too keen about going on this excursion to Alcatraz, but you changed your mind and said it would be interesting to see the island and the old prison with your classmates. It’s something else, isn’t it?” Jack asked.
“I tried not to let it get to me before, but this time it just got too much,” Sammy said, biting her lip. “I can defend myself, but this girl Maya is a special student who can’t handle all the teasing.”
“What were they teasing Maya about?” Yvonne asked, and suddenly snapped her fingers. “Of course! Maya is that sweet, beautiful girl who sits in your class. I’ve met her mother.”
“These girls at school think they’re so hip. They don’t have anything in their heads, except brushing and tossing their silly hair around and imitating the way their singing goddess talk,” Sammy said, gritting her teeth.
“All they do is buy teeny bopper magazines and read all about what their idol had for breakfast and who her latest boyfriend is. I mean, what’s up with that?”
“Singer?” Jack asked. “Oh, you mean that girl who struts around on stage in her underwear and doesn’t really sing anything? Sam, it’s all just marketing hype. Pretty girls and boys are a dime a dozen. It’s what public relations sharks sell to adoring fans. Soon this pretty singer will be yesterday’s news in the plastic fantastic world of celebrities.”
Sammy smiled. Dad sure had a way with words.
“She sets a bad example for young girls,” Yvonne said. “She doesn’t even have an original thought. I’ve seen her interviewed on TV, and after a few minutes of drivel I turned it off in disgust.”
“OK, so the little vamp is not a real artist,” Jack said. “Now let’s hear the reason you’re so riled up.”
“When those girls tease me, I just ignore them, but today they were picking on Maya.” Sammy said, the anger creeping back.
“They circled Maya and kept saying her mother dresses her funny. At first, she just stood there, smiling at them. And then Maya started waving her arms and tried to get away, but they held her there. They just laughed and laughed.”
Red tinges formed on Sammy’s cheeks. “So, I went over and yanked one of the girl’s arm to get to Maya, but she lost her balance and fell hard on her butt.”
Jack stifled a laugh. Yvonne gave him a frown.
“Her friends ran to our teacher Mrs. Ramirez, and told her that I picked a fight with their girlfriend, who was still on the ground crying,” Sammy said, looking at her mother. “I told Mrs. Ramirez that I was just trying to help Maya, but I think you’re going to get a call from her.”
“I don’t want you fighting, Sammy, but in this case I would have done the same thing,” Yvonne said. “I’ll call Mrs. Ramirez tomorrow.”
Sammy felt much better now Not only was her mom the pickiest, cleanest person in the world, she was also good with confrontations. She never backed down, especially when righting a wrong.
The problem discussed, with hopefully a solution to solve it, Sammy turned her attention to the treats on the table. The present wrapped in cool blue metallic paper and the cream puffs begging to be eaten.
Yvonne looked at her daughter’s face full of anticipation. “Put that cat down and wash your hands before you eat one of those,” she said, pointing at the cream puffs.
Sammy let go of the indignant Delilah whose purring time had been interrupted, and ran to the sink to wash her hands. She returned to the table and began scarfing down one of the cream puffs. Munching happily she pointed at the wrapped present.
“Um, who is the present for?” Sammy asked, between mouthfuls.
“We thought you needed a new one since the other one’s all used up from your last trip. And what a trip that was! Who would ever believe all the stuff happened, except the family, of course,” Yvonne said, thinking back to a year ago when her daughter, her mother and siblings were in danger from the duwende and her treacherous cousin, Jenny.
“Go ahead and open it.”
Sammy unwrapped the present. “Oh, great. I only have a few pages left in my journal. Thanks, you guys,” she said, eyeing the bright lime green plastic case of her new journal.
It was bigger than the old one, and had more space for the collage of drawings and photographs she would use to describe her journey.
Her old bright pink journal saved all of them a year ago.
“Write down all the anger you felt toward those girls, and what you did to defend Maya, even though it was unintentional,” Jack said. “It will make you feel a whole lot better.”
“OK, Dad,” Sammy said, closing her new journal. She looked up to see Jack staring at Yvonne.
Something else was up, and it didn’t have anything to do with her. A nagging feeling tagged at her as she watched her parents. They had been too quiet lately.
“You didn’t get to the best part,” Yvonne said, interrupting her thoughts. “There’s something inside you missed.”
Sammy leafed through the pages until she got to the back casing. A bulky envelope fell out. She opened it. An airline ticket jacket and a small card were in it.
She took out the ticket. “We’re going to the Philippines? Oh wow, wait until I tell Ollie. This is great!” She picked up the card. It read:
Dear Samantha,
Your birthday’s coming up, and because you did so well in school, and especially because you are our special girl.
Love,
Mom and Dad
p.s. May your next adventure be a very happy one!
Sammy got up and hugged her parents. “This is the coolest birthday present. But Mom, if we’re leaving soon, how come we don’t have boxes and boxes to pack?”
“You know me too well, Sammy,” Yvonne said, laughing. “It’s not our turn to give the fiesta, that is another family’s responsibility. We had our turn last year.”
“So, we’re not going to go nuts packing this time?” Sammy asked.
“No boxes this time, promise. Well, maybe a box for the obligatory pasalubongs,” Yvonne said. “But it’s only you going this time. Your Dad and I will stay here.”
“Huh?” Sammy looked at her parents. “That’s no fun.”
“You’re not going alone,” her mother said. “You’re flying with Tita Mari and Victoria. Tita Patti is already there.”
“Oh yeah, right,” Sammy said. “Isn’t she learning pottery from her friend Ugu?”
“Yes, and you guys will be staying for a couple of days in Honolulu to visit with John, Solo and Nani before flying to Manila,” Yvonne said.
“Wow! That’s way cool. When do I go?” Sammy asked, flipping through the airline ticket.
“Next week. We need to do some shopping and organize the things you’ll need for your trip,” Yvonne said.
“Ah, that’s your mother. The woman we all know and love,” Jack said, getting up. “I think I’ll retreat to my sanctuary and let you two plan the trip. I know when I’m not needed.”
Sammy