Spain or Shine Read Free

go.
    â€œBe sure to call us as soon as you land,” she said.
    â€œMom, it’s going to be, like, three in the morning here when I get to San Sebastián.”
    â€œI don’t care. You just use the calling card I gave you.” She roped Elena in for the third hug in five minutes. “And remember to stick with the group. Don’t dawdle in the airport, or you might get lost. Pay attention to the chaperone.” Elena was so used to these pleas from her mother to stay focused that she just tuned them out.
    When her mom pulled back, pools were forming in her eyes. That was Elena’s cue. If her mom started to cry, she’d never get out of there.
    â€œShe’ll be fine, Carla,” her dad said softly.
    â€œI know.” Elena’s mother’s tears were on the verge of spilling now. “Try and visit your great-aunt Elena and your cousins when you’re there. They’re your family. Nothing’s more important than family; remember that.”
    â€œI want to visit them, Mom. I just don’t know for sure if I’ll have time. I already told you that.” She glanced over at the lady in the khaki shorts. “Now I really have to go,” she said, giving both of her parents a quick hug and looping her backpack strap over her shoulder. Her mom thrust a bag into her hand as she headed toward Khaki Shorts.
    â€œSo you don’t get bored on the plane,” she whispered.
    Elena approached Khaki Shorts and gave her name.
    â€œHere you are,” Khaki Shorts said after scanning her list. “Elena Holloway. Welcome. My name is Brenda. Have you ever been to Spain, Elena?”
    â€œNope. Never left the country,” Elena returned, hoping she sounded casual.
    â€œWell, this will be exciting. Okay, Elena, line up with the rest of the group. It’s time to go through security.” The way she kept using Elena’s name felt forced. It was as though someone had taught her that repeating the kids’ names would make her sound more trustworthy.
    Elena walked up to the group of students who were forming a line and inserted herself between a girl in jeans and a tank top and a boy wearing a black baseball hat pulled down low on his forehead. She didn’t feel too out of place yet. But she knew that would change once they got to Spain. The program she would be attending in San Sebastián was situated on a local high school campus, so she knew she would be seeing lots of Spanish people on and off of school grounds. Plus, even though all the students in the International School were English speakers, they would be coming from all over the United States, as well as England, Ireland, and even as far away as Australia. She decided to enjoy the comfort of being with people who dressed and spoke like her friends for the short time it lasted.

    The plane was nearly full when Elena found her seat next to a man in a charcoal business suit. She squeezed past his knees and slid into her window seat. In order to get a deal on prices the school had been unable to seat the students together on the plane. Brenda had apologized profusely for this, but Elena was privately glad since she was really too nervous about the upcoming trip to make small talk with a stranger. The man sitting next to her, scowling at a stack of papers, didn’t look like one for chatter.
    She peered through the oval window at the streaks of red dawn rippling through the fog-sodden sky. Looking out over the bay made her feel homesick already, so she closed the window shade and dug into the plastic bag her mom had given her, pulling the contents onto her knees. Inside the bag she found three magazines, a guidebook on Spain, a pack of gum, candy, earplugs, and eye shades.
    Elena was probably the least likely one of her siblings to go on a journey like this, but she was hoping to surprise everyone with her bravery. She set the plastic bag down, slipped her iPod out of the front pouch of her backpack,