Ann Martin - Dawn On The Coast

When we got to the airport and got me all checked in, Jeff didn't want us to go to the gate.

"Wait! Let me take your picture by the John Wayne statue," he said. "Wait! Don't you want to buy another postcard?"

I think he thought that if he stalled long enough, I would miss my flight and then I would just stay in California forever.

Dad rested his hands on Jeff's shoulders.

"We'd better get your sister to her plane," he said. "Flights don't wait for passengers buying postcards."

By the time we got through the metal detector (we got delayed there — Jeff had a "Super

Special" jackknife in his pocket) and to the gate, the flight was already boarding. Dad gave me a last big hug.

"You take care now, Sunshine," he said. "And don't go forgetting about your California family."

"Don't worry, Dad," I laughed.

Jeff was shifting from one foot to the other.

"Come on," he said. "The plane's gonna leave."

I think now that he knew I was really going to go, he just wanted to get the whole thing over with. But as I got in line and was waiting for the flight attendant to take my ticket, Jeff called after me.

"Hey, Dawn!" he said.

I turned around.

"Smile!" he called. Jeff took my picture one last time, then gave an awkward little wave.

I went through the door and boarded the plane.

Out of one world and back to another. I was a little choked up as I found my way to my seat. I had a window again, this time over the wing. Outside, on the runway, the heat was already shimmering off the asphalt. I wondered what the weather was like in Connecticut.

I dug my hands deep into the pockets of my

cotton jacket, just for comfort, I think. Inside one I felt a little slip of paper. I pulled it out.

"Cat Dancing, Romeo in Joliet, Scheherazade's Tales," it read.

Hmm. What was tha — ? Oh, yes, the list of plays that Tom, my seatmate, had written down for me exactly two weeks before.

I found myself wondering whether Tom might be on my same flight back also. It wasn't impossible. Maybe his auditions had taken two full weeks. I glanced around at the other passengers on the plane, looking for Tom's sandy hair and fair complexion. The flight was not very crowded. There were lots of empty seats. I didn't spot Tom, but as I glanced back toward the kitchen in the rear, I spotted . . . Oh, no! That stewardess! I crunched down in my seat and covered my eyes. I bet she was assigned to my area. It was fate! There was no escape!

Sure enough, when it was time for the safety demonstration, there was the Kewpie doll, right at the head of my row.

Well, there was only one thing to do. I waited until we had taxied to the runway, had taken off, and were safely in the air. When the "Fasten seat belt" sign clicked off, I gathered

up my carry-on bag and the blanket I had tucked around my legs. I glanced behind me. The flight attendants were back in the rear, preparing beverage carts, or whatever they do back there. I made my way up the aisle and across, to the other side of the plane. Since there were lots of empty seats I plunked myself down at another window. I stowed my bag, tucked the blanket up around me, and started the postcard to Dad and Jeff. (I had saved one last John Wayne postcard and decided to use that. I knew it would make Jeff smile.)

When the beverage cart came around, I had a regular, nice stewardess, one who even gave me extra orange juice when I asked for it. I threw a glance back at my old row. My old friend was at work, all right. I could see a passenger trying to wave her down. She had passed that person just as, two weeks ago, she had passed me.

Me, I was safe on the other side of the plane. Two weeks older and two weeks wiser. I smiled and went back to my postcard.

As the plane droned on, I got kind of sleepy. I don't think I'd ever really woken up that morning. My eyes started to slip shut and I think I slept through a lot of the flight.

I did wake up for the movie, though. It was (can you believe it?) Adventures in Baby-sitting,

Hurray! That got me thinking about all my friends waiting for me at home. I couldn't wait to see Mary Anne and, of course, Claudia, Kristy, Jessi, and Mallory, too. And then there were all the kids I sat for. I wondered if Nicky Pike really would come over on Sunday to explore the tunnel with me. I wondered if Mary Anne might want to come, too.

Going home felt very exciting all of a sudden. It really was home I was going to, too. "One home out of two," as Dad had put it, but I sure did have a lot of ties there.

I started thinking about Mom and how glad I would be to see her. I had packed her some avocados in my luggage, the wrinkly, dark green California kind. I'd picked out ones that weren't yet ripe, so she could eat them all next week. A little piece of California for Mom, because I knew she missed it sometimes, too.

I looked at my watch and set it ahead to East Coast time. Right about then Mom would probably be darting around the house, looking for this and that. I hoped she would remember to pick up Mary Anne and bring her along, like she said she would. With Mom, you just never knew.

When we had watched the movie and eaten our meals, the pilot came over the loudspeaker

and told us about the weather on the East Coast.

"A light rain is falling," he said. "But the sun is apparently trying to peek through."

Exactly, I thought with a smile. That's Connecticut. (The sun, of course, was me.)

As we started our descent, my stomach got butterflies. It always does for arrival. I don't know if it's the descent of the plane, or the anticipation of arriving somewhere, but I always feel it.

When we finally landed, I jumped into the aisle, ready to race out the door. The people in front of me were blocking my way. One was reaching into the overhead luggage compartment and handing each bag — slowly — down to the other. "Come on!" I thought impatiently. I was ready to burst off that plane!

"Dawn!" a voice called out to me as I came through the door. It was Mom. She broke through the crowd, ran to me, and threw her arms around me. I was so glad just to see her — that Mom face of hers, that funny smile, and that pretty, light, curly hair.

"Mom," I cried. Again I got choked up.

What was it with my emotions lately? I felt like a regular crying machine.

Mom picked up my tote bag and led me

through the crowd. It was only then that I noticed the big white banner stretched across the room.

"Welcome home, Dawn!" it said.

Mary Anne was holding up one end of the banner, Claudia was holding up the other, and Kristy, Mallory, and Jessi were gathered underneath. It was the whole club!

"Surprise!" they cried.

In an instant, the banner was dropped and everyone was crowded around me, firing questions at me and hugging me hello.

"You're so tan!" Mary Anne cried.

She grabbed my arm and held it up for the others to see.

"Did you have a good time?" asked Claudia.

"Did you miss us?" asked Kristy.

"Tell us about We ¥ Kids," said Mallory.

"What was Disneyland like?" asked Jessi.

Phew! I couldn't answer everything at once, so I just stood there grinning. I dug into my tote bag and pulled out the five pairs of Mickey Mouse ears I had bought my friends as presents. Everyone grabbed for them and put them on right there in the airport.

We made our way to the baggage claim area, giggling and talking in a tight cluster. I guess we looked pretty funny. The people walking by smiled at us as they passed.

"We've got you signed up for some jobs," Mary Anne told me. Throughout the chaos, Mary Anne had stuck right by my side. "Hope you don't mind."

"Mind? That's great!" I said. Home just a few minutes and already I was booked. That was the Baby-sitters Club, all right. Bustling and busy.