Greenland - Scouts

1985The Here and Now

The walkie-talkie crackles on my bedroom desk. Annie, come in. Beans here.

I snatch up the gadget. This is Annie. Over.

Dont forget your walkie. Over.

I roll my eyes. So typical of Beans. Like I would ever forget my walkie. Yeah. Over.

Unzipping my backpack, I start cramming in all the stuff Ill need for our camping trip: ball cap and toothbrush (I hate dirty teeth), chore money (last time I counted, I had twenty-three dollars and thirteen cents), box of matches, flashlight, can of Pringles, and I finish it all up with my sleeping bag.

Im digging under my bed for some spare batteries when Mom peeks in my open door. Annie, do you want to take is that your new yellow dress crumpled on the floor?

I look out from under my bed and cringe. Whoops.

With a sigh, she sits down on my bed. What am I going to do with you, Annie? Your room is a disaster.

Ill clean up when I come home. Promise. Standing, I give her my best smile because I so dont have time to clean up right now. The Scouts are waiting.

Mom looks me up and down for a second, taking in my cutoffs and Guns N Roses tee, before letting out another sigh. Uh-oh.

I think we need to talk. She pats the spot next to her on the bed. Sit down for a second.

My shoulders drop. What? Why? Am I in trouble?

No, she says. Its just its just well

I hold my breath. Whats going on?

Youre getting older now. Youre not a little girl anymore. Your friends arent little boys, either. Before too much longer, those boys are going to want to do different things and they might not want you to come along. Youre going to want to do different things, too.

What? No! I snap, knowing thats never going to happen. Theyre my only friends!

I know. Mom runs her fingers down one of my two dark braids. But maybe its time you made some friends who are girls.