McKenna by Mary Casanova

Author:Mary Casanova
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION/Sports & Recreation/Miscellaneous, JUVENILE FICTION/Readers/Chapter Books, JUVENILE FICTION/Social Issues/Friendship, JUVENILE FICTION/Social Issues/Emotions & Feelings, JUVENILE FICTION/Social Issues/Special Needs, JUVENILE FICTION/Social Issues/Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, JUVENILE FICTION/School & Education, JUVENILE FICTION/Girls & Women
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2012-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

Mid-bite through my buttermilk pancakes the next morning, Dad announced, “Girls, we’re taking the weekend off—from everything.”

I set down my fork. “But I have practice on Saturday,” I reminded him.

“Your mom is getting extra help at the coffee shop, and we’re all heading to the Olympic Peninsula for a little hiking, biking, and hanging out together,” Dad continued, as if he hadn’t even heard me.

“Yippee!” Maisey said.

Mara joined in, her mouth full. “O-wimpic Powin-sow-uh?” she mumbled.

But what about gymnastics? Didn’t anyone care about that?

I glared at the twins. A drop of syrup dotted Maisey’s chin. “It’s Olympic Peninsula, Mara,” I corrected her. “And don’t eat with your mouth full.”

Dad laughed. “Now look who’s talking, McKenna,” he teased. “I believe it’s ‘don’t talk with your mouth full.’”

I refused to meet Dad’s eyes as I finished my pancakes and sausage links. If Mom were home, she’d stand up for me. But after breakfast, I tried again. “Dad, I really need to practice,” I insisted. “The demonstration isn’t far off now.”

“I realize that,” he said as he poured himself more coffee. “But you know, honey, it’s actually ‘Family first, school second, and gymnastics third.’”

I couldn’t win—not if what was important to me kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list. And though I wanted to argue, I could tell this was something that was already decided.

As I packed up my backpack, I sighed, thinking about a weekend away. I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I had been pushing myself pretty hard lately between gymnastics and school. Maybe a break wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Dad, if I have to go, can I invite a friend along?” I asked. I thought about inviting Sierra, until I remembered she’d be at practice on Saturday. Maybe I could ask Elizabeth.

“Actually,” said Dad, clearing the plates from the table, “your mom said the Myers family might join us. They’ll rent their own cabin. It’ll be fun.”

“Josie Myers? Dad, she’s in a wheelchair. How’s that going to work?” I asked. The words came out sharper than I’d intended.

Dad set a plate in the sink and then walked back to me. He rested his hands on my shoulders and pecked the top of my head. “I’m not sure how it will work,” he said, “but I’m confident that Josie’s family will figure things out. Now, you’d better hustle and catch that bus.”

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