Free Isle of Enchantment by Precious McKenzie, Becka Moore Page A

Tomas’s face.
    â€œShut it, smarty pants.” Tomas ducked and the pillow slammed Dad in the face.

The Plan

    Dad’s face was a little red where the pillow hit him. He laughed it off good-naturedly.
    â€œI hope that pillow bomb was not really meant for me, young lady.” Dad tried to sound stern but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away.
    â€œDid you guys finish packing? Your mom ran to the grocery store to pick up last minute toiletries and medicine.”
    â€œNo, we’re not even close. Tomas is way overthinking and trying to fit an outfit for every season in his bags.”
    â€œAlways be prepared. That’s my motto,” Tomas snorted.
    I rolled my eyes. He was such a Boy Scout.
    â€œTomas, Marisol, there’s just one season in Puerto Rico: hot. Pack T-shirts, shorts, and bathing suits. You’ll be fine.” Dad was matter of fact. I couldtell Mom had probably given him a huge to-do list to finish while she was out. Although he was excited about the trip, I knew there were a gazillion things for him and Mom to finish before we boarded the airplane tomorrow morning.
    Tomas nodded his head and mumbled, “Okay. Fine.”
    â€œLeave room in your carry-on bag for your laptops and notebooks for school.”
    Tomas and I nodded. How could we possibly forget school work?
    â€œI’ve got your passports and boarding passes,” Dad continued, then paused, obviously trying to remember what Mom told him to tell us. “Toothbrushes? Floss?”
    â€œCheck and check,” I said. “Tomas and I have our toiletries together.”
    â€œGood. Good.” Dad said. “Oh, and young man, don’t forget your deodorant.”
    Tomas blushed. I laughed so hard I almost fell off the bed. This time, Tomas aimed a pillow bomb at me and clocked me on my back.
    Dad took a deep breath. “Settle down you two.I’m supposed to tell you the plan. Listen up.”
    Tomas and I straightened up. We knew we needed to find out exactly what this trip was going to be like.
    â€œWe leave tomorrow at 7 a.m. and arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico around 4 p.m., with a one hour layover in Atlanta.”
    Tomas and I answered in unison.
    â€œGot it.”
    â€œThat means we’ll need to be at the airport at 5 a.m. to go through security. I’ll wake you up at 3:30 so you can shower and get dressed.”
    Tomas moaned, “I don’t need to shower. I need to sleep. Wake me up at 4 a.m.”
    â€œNo sir. We’ve got a plane to catch and no time to mess around. You can sleep through the flight.” Dad was all business now. “We might have time for a quick lunch in Atlanta. We’ll have dinner when we get to Puerto Rico.”
    â€œCan we take snacks?” I asked Dad.
    â€œYou can buy a few when we get to the airport in the morning. But not too many. You two don’t need all that junk food.”
    â€œI’m stashing candy bars in my duffle bags,” Tomas muttered under his breathe. Dad didn’t seem to hear him.
    We heard the apartment door open and went out to the living room. Mom bustled in with her arms full of grocery bags. Snow dusted the top of her hat, coat, and boots. “Whew, I can’t wait for Puerto Rico. This time tomorrow, we’ll be sitting on a warm, tropical beach. Goodbye Chicago winter.”
    â€œHello sunshine,” Dad smiled. He gave Mom a kiss on the cheek and helped her carry the bags to the kitchen table.
    â€œI think I’ve got everything. Vitamins, bandages, shampoo, cold medicine.” Mom dug through the bags and organized the items on the table.
    â€œI think they have grocery stores in Puerto Rico. You know, they are a US territory,” I said.
    â€œWhy yes they do. But I like to always be prepared.” Mom gave me her professor look that told me not to get sassy. I certainly know where Tomas got his attitude from. He is a mini-Mom.
    â€œDid your father go over the plan with you