Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech

Author:Sharon Creech
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins

CHAPTER 26

PROVISIONS

Three days later, when I had convinced myself that my parents had forgotten all about my plan and that I’d have to make another plea, they surprised me by telling me that I could go. I nearly fell off the porch from shock. There were, however, conditions:

1. They wanted to see my gear before I set off, and they insisted I include certain safety items: flashlight, flare, matches, knife, and first-aid kit with snake-bite remedy.

2. I had to plan reasonable meals and, although they would pay for the food, I had to go buy it and organize it.

3. I had to promise not to do anything stupid.

4. I had to agree to return home once every ten days (originally they insisted on once a week, but I bargained) so that they could see that I was alive.

5. If a bear ate me, I had to leave a note explaining what had happened. (This last condition was their idea of a joke.)

It took me two days to organize everything. First I made lists of food and equipment, feeling proud of myself for being able to manage with so few items, but my family kept suggesting additions.

“What about water?” Bonnie said. “Don’t you need water?”

“I guess I do,” I admitted, adding water to the list.

“What about fruit and vegetables?” Mom asked. “You can’t just eat canned beans.”

I added fruit and vegetables.

“What about a sleeping bag?” Dad said. “You can’t just sleep on the bare ground. What if it gets cold?”

“And a tent,” Mom said, “or at least a tarp, for when it rains.”

One sleeping bag and one tarp joined the list.

I rejected the lantern because I already had a flashlight. I also rejected the portable stove because I couldn’t lug it up there with everything else I’d already be carrying. Reluctantly, I included a change of clothes because Gretchen made a scene over how disgusting it would be if I wore the same clothes for ten days.

“What do you think the pioneers did?” I had argued. “Do you think they carted around a suitcase full of clean clothes?”

“I’m sure they did,” Gretchen said.

Mom insisted that I take my toothbrush, and when I reminded her that someone had swiped it, she said, “You can have mine.”

“No thanks,” I said. “I’ll buy one.”

I felt as if I had that trip planned down to a gnat’s eyebrow.

With my food list in hand, I went to Mrs. Flint’s store. When I saw Jake’s truck parked outside, I stewed over whether I should leave and return the next morning, but that would mean another day’s wait before I could get up to the trail. I made a firm resolve to be quick, and to keep my mouth shut as much as possible.

“Zinny! Dang it, Zinny! I—you—what—I—” He stumbled all over himself, knocking over a pyramid of soup cans he’d been building, and backing into the magazine display. “Cripes—dang it—”

I busied myself gathering the items on my list, crossing them off as I found them. I’d decided not to speak at all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.