Out of Tune by Gail Nall

Author:Gail Nall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

“Are you sure you still want to do this?” Mom asks Dad the next afternoon, as we wait in line at the visitors center. “What about the killer mosquitoes?”

“They only seem to come out in the evening. I’ll hide in my tent and read.”

“That won’t help with bears.”

Dad waves his hand like bears aren’t any scarier than Hugo.

While Mom goes through a litany of bad nature stuff and Dad shrugs it all off, I check out a display of framed photos on the wall. Maybe I should send a postcard to Kenzie. I should send one to Jack, too, just to remind him that he already has a partner. Except by the time the postcards arrive, I’ll already be there. If I can find Remy, anyway.

“What’s that?” Shiver pokes my backpack.

“What?” I slide it off my shoulder.

“It looks like that huge book.”

A corner of Everything Y’all Ever Wanted to Know sticks out of my bag. I yank the zipper shut. “Nothing. Just a book. Why, what’s in your backpack?”

Probably a book on how to ruin people’s very important life plans.

“None of your business.” She wanders across the small room and studies a map tacked to the far wall.

The couple in front of Mom and Dad turn to leave. As they walk through the door, Mom points to the ginormous bags on their backs with stuff dangling from the sides and bottom. “But you don’t have any of that,” she says to Dad.

“Can I help you?” the woman at the desk asks. Her long curly brown hair cascades out from under her ranger hat. If my hair did that, I wouldn’t be stuck with Heidi braids all the time.

Dad gives her a huge grin. “I’d like to go backpacking!”

The ranger bites her lip. I’m pretty sure she’s trying not to crack up at Dad’s enthusiasm. “All right. How many of you, how many nights, and which trail?”

“Just me. I’m not sure which trail. Maybe a week?”

“One night,” Mom corrects him.

“Have you backpacked before?” the ranger asks Dad.

“No, but I’m ready to start.” He pulls out his Your First Backpacking Trip book.

“Well, we advise you to go with at least one other person, especially if you’re new at this. For safety reasons.”

Bug practically leaps toward Mom and Dad and places her hands palms down on the counter. “I’ll go with him! I’m a Girl Scout, and I know all about trail safety.”

“No,” Mom says before Dad can even open his mouth.

Bug’s face falls. I squeeze her arm. As annoying as she can be sometimes, I hate seeing her disappointed.

Mom studies the map taped to the counter. “What’s an easy trail to start out with?”

“Challenging,” Dad says. “I’d like a challenging trail.”

Behind the ranger, a door labeled OFFICE opens and another curly brown head pops out.

I blink. I can’t believe my luck!

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