It's an Aardvark-Eat-Turtle World Read Free

something my mother would have said. Unpacking all of these boxes must have temporarily deranged me.”
    â€œActually it’s been a very moving experience for me,” I tell everyone.
    They all groan, and then Jim says, “Okay, let’s all go over to the pool.”
    â€œI don’t know where my swimsuit is.” I stare at the mess around us.
    â€œWe could always go skinny dipping,” Jim kids.
    My mother smiles and nods.
    â€œNO!” Phoebe and I both yell at the same time.
    Sometimes parents can be so embarrassing.
    â€œLet’s all just go over there in what we’re wearing and jump into the pool that way.” Jim’s not going to give up on his idea.
    We all decide to go for it.
    Just before we leave, Mindy says, “Listen, everyone. If we’re really going to have the ceremony, let’s have it here . . . not at the other place where thereare old memories. This is the time for us to make new memories.”
    I understand. The place where Phoebe and her father used to live was the place that her parents bought before their divorce. Her father got it in the settlement and her mother got the New York City apartment.
    Jim puts his arm around Mindy and kisses her.
    I tie my shoelace so I don’t have to watch.
    â€œHoney, I’m sorry. Would you rather we didn’t go to the other house at all?” he asks.
    She kisses him back.
    I tie my other shoelace.
    I hope they don’t kiss again. I’ve run out of feet.
    Mindy says, “It’s hot tonight. It’s the last time we can use the pool before the new tenants move in. Of course I want to go swimming. I’d just like to have the ceremony here, not there.”
    â€œOkay, then let’s all hold hands right this very instant.” Jim grabs Mindy’s hand, then Phoebe’s, then mine. Our hands are all mashed together. It’s a good thing that he’s got such big hands so we all fit.
    â€œThis is so sudden,” I say. “It’s like we’re eloping. I’ve always wanted a big formal wedding.”
    â€œFor your own, your very own, you can do that. For this one, we’ll be much less formal.” Jim grins.
    What an understatement. He and Mindy are wearing cut-off jeans. He’s got one of his political T-shirts on, the one that says A WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE . . . AND IN THE SENATE. That was a present from Mindy. His ex-wife used to give him shirts with alligators on them.
    Mindy’s got her long blond hair piled up on top of her head. She’s wearing one of Jim’s shirts that he uses when he’s oil painting.
    I’m wearing one of my favorite outfits—a thrift-store Hawaiian shirt, an old pair of gym shorts, and a beaded headband.
    Phoebe’s wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt that used to belong to her boyfriend, Dave.
    We’re definitely not going to make the cover of
Bride
with our outfits.
    â€œWe should all say something. I’ll start.” Jim looks a little nervous. “I just want everyone to know that I love you all very much . . . all in special ways, separately. And I love us together and will do my best to honor our commitment to be a family.”
    Mindy nods. “Me too. And we’ll all work togetherto honor the originality and creativity in each of us.”
    That makes sense. With Mindy trying to write a children’s book and Jim trying to earn a living as an artist, that’s a very important part of our lives.
    Phoebe kind of clears her throat and doesn’t say anything for a minute. Finally she says, “I just want to be the best daughter that I can be . . . and the best sister to my best friend.”
    I can feel my tears starting. I feel like a real nerd until I look around and see that I’m not the only one crying. “I want us to live with love . . . and understanding . . . and I don’t know what else to say.