Escaping the Giant Wave Read Free

the beach, I wanted to tour a cheese factory, and Dad planned to visit an airplane museum.
    BeeBee kept asking if we could rent a car and drive north into Washington state so she and Bill could see the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Luckily, Redmond was too far away.
    â€œI hope you won’t mind being our sitter one night, Kyle,” Mom said. “For the ‘Salespersons of the Year’ celebration, the company has rented a huge private yacht, the Elegant Empress.”
    â€œThe ship will leave in mid-afternoon on the second day we’re there,” Dad said. “We’ll cruise until sunset, when a buffet dinner will be served followed by the award presentations.”
    â€œThe cruise is the only part of the vacation that doesn’t include you kids,” Mom said. “I’m sorry, but the invitation says ‘adults only.’ ”
    â€œThat’s okay,” I said. “We don’t want to listen to a bunch of speeches, anyway.”
    â€œYou and BeeBee can get pizza from room service that night,” Mom said, “and rent a video to watch in our room.”
    Mom and Dad still had not caught on that I liked being the one in charge, so I pretended that I was doing them a big favor when I agreed to baby-sit during our vacation. Maybe if they thought I was being especially cooperative, they would let me buy a really good souvenir.
    â€œHow much does it cost to rent the Elegant Empress ?” BeeBee asked.
    â€œI have no idea,” Dad said.
    â€œA lot,” Mom said.
    I picked up Bill the bear and made my voice high, pretending to be my sister. “You could rent a fleet of rowboats instead,” I said, “and feed everyone a sandwich instead of the buffet dinner. Then you could use the money you save to buy presents for your children.”
    â€œVery funny,” said Dad.
    â€œGood idea,” said BeeBee. “Except forget the rowboats. Give everyone a life jacket and let them float in the water.”
    We all cracked up at the idea of Dad getting his award as he floated around in the ocean.
    â€œThis will be the best vacation ever,” I said.
    â€œThe best vacation in the whole world,” BeeBee agreed.
    The Saturday of our departure for Oregon finally arrived, and even though we had to leave the house at five o’clock in the morning to get to the airport on time, I woke up before my alarm went off. Our family had never taken this kind of trip before. Usually we camp at a state park or visit relatives. I tried to look nonchalant at the airport, as if I flew somewhere every week, but I was so excited I couldn’t sit still while we waited to board.
    I was standing at the big windows, watching planes taxi down the runway, when someone punched me from behind.
    â€œHey, Kyle. I hear you’re heading for Oregon too.”
    I recognized the voice, and the punch. Daren Hazelton.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” I asked as I rubbed my shoulder.
    â€œSame as you,” Daren said. “Going to Oregon with my mom and dad for the real estate convention.”
    No! I thought. Say it isn’t so.
    I said, “I didn’t know your parents sold real estate.”
    â€œThere are lots of things you don’t know,” Daren said.
    â€œWhere are you staying?” I asked.
    â€œSome new hotel.”
    â€œThe Frontier Lodge?” I crossed my fingers. Please say no, I thought. Please, please stay anywhere except at my hotel.
    â€œYeah, that’s it,” Daren said. “The Frontier Lodge.”
    My plans for a carefree vacation flew away faster than the jet outside the window. With Daren on the scene, I would spend my time trying to avoid getting punched, or tripped, or shoved into the pool, or worse.
    One of Dad’s Oregon brochures showed a picture of some loggers beside a huge cedar tree. An image of Daren with a chain saw buzzed across my mind.
    I backed away from Daren toward my parents,