Not Home for the Holidays by Isabelle Drake

Author:Isabelle Drake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
Published: 2019-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Marilyn is the first to respond. She’s put her hands on her hips. “Let me at it.”

Nula fluffs her hair. Flynn nods.

Cannabis Carl mumbles, “Yeah, dude. Cool and stuff.”

“We’ll be roaming around the city, visiting some of the usual tourist spots, waiting to see what unusual things you all can do with them.”

My mind starts spinning. It seems doubtful that we’re going anywhere where there will be chickens, barns or country stuff. I know nothing of the city. Crap. I don’t even know what the usual tourist spots are.

Marilyn already has her phone in her hands. “When will we be in the park?” she wants to know.

Tom steps forward, sheets of paper in his hand.

As soon as he hands one to Marilyn, she scans it over. Within seconds her fingers are a flurry over her phone.

“The only rule for the challenge is that we have to keep to the time schedule.”

I look over the list. We end at Central Park. We start at a park called Washington Square. Then to the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, a surprise spot, then Central Park.

Marilyn is the only one of us who looks like she knows what to do. She’s clicking and tapping, her firm mouth in a steady sure position. I pull my phone out and stare at the locked screen. Louisa’s black eyes stare at me from the glossy surface. Do something, her gaze says.

“We’re going to five places.” I say, looking at the four others circled around me. “There are five of us.”

Carl pulls his phone out and sets it on the table. “Dude. That’s radical.”

Marilyn is nodding. The others are staring blankly, probably feeling as lost and confused as I am. “How about we highlight one of us at each location? Take pictures of one person, mostly, and cross post.”

There’s a beat of quiet, then Marilyn lowers her phone. “Excellent plan. Perfect way to build momentum. The park for me.”

Flynn lifts his hand. “Empire State Building.”

Nula does a little shimmy. “The surprise spot.”

“You cool with Rockefeller Center?” Carl asks me. “I heard of that Washington Square Park. It,” he pretends to straighten a tie he’s probably never worn then changes his tone to what must pass for him as a serious businessperson. “It aligns with my brand identity.” He drops his hand, his voice again sounding vaguely buzzed. “At least I think it might. It did at one time.” He looks at Tom, “Is the city still clean like that?”

“That park is a hangout place for the NYU kids.”

“Cool. I know it’s a different world out there now, but one thing never changes. College kids dig weed.” He pats his chest. “And weed icons.”

This is the most Carl has said at once, and his attitude is exactly what we need to lighten the mood. Nula starts to giggle. Flynn follows, also giggling. Marilyn guffaws, then the rest of us join in. Carl is laughing too, until he starts to cough. That makes the rest of us laugh harder, and soon I have to wipe tears from my cheeks.

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