The Adventures of Frankie – 5 – Spring Break

“FRANCIS, RONNIE, GET IN HERE!” Frankie’s father yelled out the front door.

The two kids were taking their sweet time wandering over from Scrawny’s house. When they finally walked through the door, inside Frankie’s parents were sitting in the living room looking as though they were ready to chew them out for something or other. For the life of him, Frankie couldn’t figure what they had done wrong.

“I just got off the phone with …” his father paused for effect.

Ronnie’s eyes grew to the size of Oreo cookies.

The elder Dwyer continued, “… your grandparents in Florida.”

Shoulders slumping, Ronnie relaxed into the couch.

Mrs. Dwyer raised an eyebrow at her son’s best friend. “Is something wrong?” She was noticeably annoyed at Ronnie’s mannerisms. Even though he assured her otherwise, her maternal instincts kicked in and began to brew. Dad hadn’t taking notice of the side conversation.

“They want to fly the two of you to their house for spring break.” He beamed as if he were giving them this huge gift himself, but he was really just so excited for them. “This is a major gift for the two of you. Certainly you’re a couple of lucky kids. Your mom and I never got an opportunity like this at your age.”

The boys sat up straight and smiled, glanced at each other then back at Frankie’s dad. Could this be true? All the kids at school were going to be so jealous.

Mom dropped her hands on her knees, “Well aren’t ya gonna say anything?”

Ronnie jerked forward, “We’re gonna fly and everything?”

“And everything, even Disney World,” dad replied.

“Universal and Sea World, too?” Frankie edged closed, nearly fell off the couch.

“Universal Studios, Sea World and the space center, too. That is, of course, if you stay out of trouble between now and then.” Mr. Dwyer enjoyed adding that little caveat.

Ronnie’s eyes popped again. Now mom knew something was up.

That evening mom sent Frankie’s little brother to the kitchen to do the dishes. “Frankie, Ronnie won’t be going to Florida with you. I talked to his mother just before dinner. It appears that he stole something from the drugstore yesterday.”

Frankie squeezed his eyes closed as he pushed a hand through his hair and leaned back in the chair. “I told him to put it back. I knew he was gonna get caught. I wouldn’t touch those Oreos with a 10 foot pole.” He dropped his hand and looked at his mother, then father, “And they were my favorite, double stuff.” Afraid to keep eye contact with his dad, he turned back to mom. “How’d she find out?”

Her voice softened, reassuring him that he was not the one in trouble, “The owner of the store watched the whole thing then called Ronnie’s mother. I knew something was up with Ronnie.”

“Oh great, now I’ll have to take my punky little brother.” He dropped both hands to the table in defeat. “Guess who gets to babysit for the whole week!”

“Not exactly,” Frankie’s dad was smiling again. “I talked to Paulette’s parents; they agreed to let her go in Ronnie’s place.”

Now Frankie’s eyes were as big as Oreo cookies, maybe even double double stuff! This was better than terrorizing the tourists with his best friend. He was going to spend a week with Paulette! In Florida!

The next month dragged on and on, but spring break finally did arrive. The flight was at 6 a.m. so they were up long before the sun. That didn’t matter, Frankie hardly slept the night before, anyway. Apparently, neither did the pretty girl from across the street; Paulette was standing on the front porch when he walked out to put his duffle bag in the car.

“Good morning!” he called, “I’ll be over in a sec to get your bag.”

The night before, Frankie’s father coached him on his manners with women and how to be a good guest. “If you want to be invited back, then be a good guest. Do things to help out without asking, clean up after yourself and when you are asked to do something, do it right away.”

Neither kid had ever flown before. All they had to go on is what they’d seen on T.V. The stewardess seated them near the front. It was a direct flight so there was no chance of getting lost in a strange airport. Still, they were a bit nervous. Paulette more so than Frankie because his dad had already shared statistics with him about how safe it was to fly, especially compared to riding in a car or jumping over trash cans with a bicycle. He shook his head as he remembered the lecture.

The entire plane shook when it started moving back from the gate. Paulette grabbed Frankie’s hand as if it were her mother’s. The shock snapped his head around and their eyes locked. Almost by instinct he squeezed ever so slightly, placed his other hand over the top of hers then softly recited the statistics his dad shared with him the night before.

Shortly after takeoff, lack of sleep and the tenuous build up to the trip allowed them to drift off. As the wheels touched the runway in Fantasy Land they woke to find their fingers laced together. Frankie held tight until his grandparents were in sight. He never would have imagined wishing away a vacation like this, but right at that moment all he could think about was getting back on that plane and holding her hand. Then his grin grew larger and larger.

“What are you smiling at?” Paulette asked.

Holding up his hand he said, “They have scary rides at Universal Studios.”

Paulette slugged him in the arm.

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